And the story continues...hopefully ya'll remeber what is happening...

Thanky to those who read and reviewed 333

La la la

The next morning found Elizabeth too jaded to do much of anything. Her alarm clock went off, but she completely ignored it. It was too much off a hassle even to hit snooze. She rolled to the opposite side and pulled the covers around her ear, hoping to fall back asleep before the guilt of skipping school another day dawned on her. Her walk from the sofa to her bed sometime earlier that morning had proved that her legs were far from reliable. If she didn't really have to get out of bed, she'd rather skip the risk of breaking her neck. Anyway, lying down was so pleasant…and school... she was content at this moment; she didn't need to ponder the mess that was waiting for her there. As her eyes closed, Elizabeth drifted back away from the reality she was so desperately trying to escape.

A little past noon Elizabeth awoke again and for a brief moment, she actually felt good. Of course, the realization of why she was lying around on a weekday afternoon brought her to her usual mood with haste. She stretched her arms and abdomen then sat sit still for a moment as she decided what she should be doing at this point in time. The obvious choice was digging her self out of the hole her respite was bound to cause- catching up on her running and studying-, but in her current state of mind she felt like doing absolutely nothing. She yawned…nothing was just so boring. For once she didn't want to go back to sleep. The long period Elizabeth had spent sleeping must have been enough rest for even her so she swung her legs over the side of the bed and slowly got to her feet. The wobbliness in her legs was almost completely gone, but she used the wall to stable herself anyway (by now it was basically a habit).

Elizabeth stripped as soon as she had shut the bathroom door behind her. Her pajama pants and t-shirt bunched around her ankles until she kicked them off. She had been wearing those same clothing since she first got home two days ago and that pretty much disgusted her to no end. The steel knob in the shower was cold, which surprised Elizabeth since the air in the house was warm to the point of near suffication. A shiver ran through her body so she hurried to turn the knob as far to the hot side as it would get. Immediately it began to rain. Elizabeth stuck a foot under the flow then backed away; she'd have to wait a little while longer before she could safely enter the shower.

There was a small window on the wall next to the shower and from what Elizabeth could tell from the line of light peaking through the crack in the curtains: it was a beautiful day. She sighed as she stepped into the now steaming downpour. The water was numbing on her flesh. A slight smile flashed across her face. Usually her showers were rushed, but today she could take as long as she liked shampooing her hair and combing it until it was satiny. She could afford the time to breathe in the flowery scent of her body wash mixed with the steamy air. And Elizabeth would as long as the supply of heated water lasted.

As Elizabeth stepped out of the shower, she realized she had forgotten to grab a towel from the linen closet. Her first instinct was to curse her absent mindedness, but she refrained. She'd save that for later when she- and she was sure she would sooner or later- really have something to be agitated about. For now, she was still in a humid, floral smelling bathroom. There was nothing she needed to worry about at that exact second. Elizabeth ran the comb through her hair once again, squeezing the excess water from it with her hand. The lavender, shag rug below absorbed the falling water. She grabbed her discarded t-shirt and quickly threw it on inside out so she could fetch a towel without having to risk dripping on the carpet in the hall or indecent exposure. Stacks of folded beige bath towels filled the top shelves of the closet. Elizabeth reached for one of them, almost stopping herself when she saw the rows would not be of equal height after she stole a towel. Her fingers felt the soft fabric, but didn't pull the prize free. Elizabeth shook her head as if to throw off the unwanted thoughts that seemed to be taking root in her mind. Oh the things she noticed when her attention wasn't properly focused…

When Elizabeth finally returned to the bathroom, the air smelt stale. Try as she may, she could not convince herself that the only difference in the environment was the towel that hung in her left palm. She opened the door a crack so could at least breathe as she dried off. Only the water that dripped from her hair remained on her skin now; the rest had evaporated during her short walk. The towel didn't feel right -not the way it should. Elizabeth remembered warmth and comfort even when she was in such a hurry she got dressed before the towel had fulfilled its whole duty. More vividly though, she recalled the faded beach towel that dangled over the wooden deck, fluttering in the breeze as she splashed…The towel slipped from her hand. Her elbows flesh against the wall, Elizabeth banged her forehead until she saw only a flashing light…

What was she doing?

The urge to run was growing in Elizabeth's joints. She crept back to her room where she fumbled through her draw for a pair of running shorts and an appropriate t-shirt. The will to lace up her shoes didn't come though. Elizabeth collapsed into her chair.

"Now what?" She asked the desk that stared at her. The silence was rarely this intolerable. Save beating pots and pans, Elizabeth would do anything to break it. The desk offered no help so she turned her back to it. Her gaze wandered to the mirror above the dresser. She watched herself blinking and breathing. Funny how she usually only saw the escaped strands of her hair do, the flaws in her make-up and the wrinkles in her clothing. Her skin was pale- an unfamiliar sight- and it must have gotten thinner. Bone was a commonplace sight in her reflection. The clothes she had just changed into appeared even baggier than they felt. Elizabeth blinked, suddenly fearing that a stranger had snuck up behind her. She did not want to be in the house alone anymore. As soon as she could muster up the courage, Elizabeth would blot down the stairs straight out the door. Then she'd run as fast she could so nothing could catch her.

It never came to that since Elizabeth's phone rang as she was still gathering her wit. She snapped around and grabbed it desperate to hear another human voice. Nothing James or Lindsay could throw at her could be worse than this…

"Elizabeth Swann, you are getting quite good at answering this phone of yours."

Elizabeth sighed. She sensed another pointless argument approaching. "Weird, you are the only one who seems to have that problem."

"That sure makes me feel loved…"

"Well, I'm not going to lie. Sometimes you make me want to punch a hole right through the wall."

"And that would be your problem."

"Oh, trust me; I'd just force you to re-plaster it for me. Guaranteed."

"Figures, I'm only allowed in when you need something…which concerns me. What is wrong now?"

"Stop making bizarre assumptions. Why would you say that?"

"We are talking on the phone, aren't we?"

"I'm actually feeling better for your information."

"Best news I heard all day…no actually….Jack's discovery was stunning as well…."

"…"

"Hey, hey just kidding!"

"Whatever."

"So I managed to gather all your missed work from each of your classes. That English class was the hardest to secure since none of my people- actually my person- are in the class…but I was rather persistent. I'm glad I don't have that teacher though, let's just say that."

"I'm sure you got quite the kick out of that."

"Or you coulda just said 'thank you.'"

"Where are you? You aren't driving right now are you?"

"I'm at the grocery store picking up some exotic fruit for my mom. Book club meeting tonight and all her friends are on diets so kumquats are the obvious choice. I never heard of a kumquat before…"

"It's a fruit, yellowish, and grows on a tree. Why aren't you picking some? I mean I'm a like disappointed."

"Jack kinda got locked in his room after the suspension. Dogs chasing you down to street after you pirated their master's prized kumquats aren't too funny alone. I'm a little disappointed too…and bored. Which is why I called."

"And you accuse me of only calling when I want something."

"I know. I'm an awful friend. I can't imagine how you put up with me."

"Like you mentioned earlier, you are persistent."

Will laughed. "I wanted to say one thing: I'll swing by with your homework if you want, but I'm not going to beg. You sound fine and I know you ate and slept in the past 24 hours so there is no need for me to…"

"You can come, Will. I need to start catching up."

"Glad to hear it. Actually, I'm surprised you aren't freaking about all the school you missed. Wait; pretend you never heard that…I don't want to give you any ideas."

"Will, I'm going to go eat something. Your ramblings about fruit made me hungry. I'll see in a few minutes."

"Sure thing, Liz. I'll be looking forward to it."

Elizabeth smiled as shut her phone. Will's call proved the perfect distraction from her terror. She actually was hungry and yesterday had given her hope in ability to keep food down.

The kitchen seemed less intimating than it had yesterday. Elizabeth pulled the cabinet door open and stared at the packets sitting on the shelves. She rolled her eyes at the sight. Though she was hungry, she was not quite at the point were she would be willing to cook. The refrigerator was her next stop. There was a head of lettuce in the bottom drawer and some jars of various sauces on the inlets in the door, but nothing worth eating, which didn't surprise Elizabeth in the least. There was no one around to go shopping. She finally discovered a box of English muffins near the back. Elizabeth would have to give the toaster another chance…

Will's tapping on the door pulled Elizabeth's attention from the heated coils of the toaster. She spun around and headed to answer it. Will stepped in, smiling. Elizabeth tried to smile back, but her mouth turned more into a straight line than any sort of a grin.

"Howdy, Elizabeth. What's new?"

"New…You just talked to me less than fifteen minutes ago."

Will shrugged. "Bet your toaster wasn't smoking last time we talked."

"Toast…er!!!" Elizabeth sprinted back into the kitchen and ripped the cord from the wall. "Never fails…"

"Better luck next time?"

"I'll eat raw bread next time…"

"Rubbery much?"

"Charred much?" Elizabeth tossed the toaster's victim to Will, who quickly flung it into the trash.

"I brought you some apples…You could use some fresh fruit." Will dug in the bag slung across in his shoulder for the apples. Elizabeth accepted the gift without her usual resistance.

"Did you find any kumquats?"

"Yeah…my mum was kind of shocked too…I knew she was sort of kidding, but I thought it would make a nice joke."

"They kept you entertained for most of the afternoon."

"And you had a more exciting afternoon sitting at home?"

"It was alright." Elizabeth wandered into the kitchen with the fruit. Will dropped his bag on the sofa then followed her. The sound of running water began and ended before he reached the room. Elizabeth crunched on an apple and Will smiled to himself- reassured in his ability to aid her.

"You didn't need to come in here…I was going to come right back out."

Will's face dropped. "I'm not sure I trust you alone with those appliances." Elizabeth made a face, but greater interest in her apple prevented another remark. Before she plopped on the sofa, Elizabeth opened the blinds to let in some of the invigorating afternoon sun. Will grabbed for his bag, knowing Elizabeth wouldn't settle for small talk for long. She sat, knees crossed, facing him.

"Anything new at school?"

Will rested his chemistry book in his lap and made a deal of opening it. "Well as I'm sure you know this already but today is Norry's big day. Everyone who thinks they are someone was in high spirits today…surely expecting to be high by its end." He raised an eyebrow as he scanned the page.

"You could at least look at me when you talk…"

"Now I did overhear some hushed whispered about his girlfriend's absence …some say she ditched in silent protest of his suspension, others think she's scheming, but my favorite is definitely those who hit the nail nearly on the head: James is moving on."

"Says you! What of the track team?"

"That one evades my knowledge, sorry. I would have asked Miss Marie, but I am not on good terms with her. Jack has made one too many lewd comments for me to approach her without reason."

"I'm a bad captain…If we lose it is because of me…I might as well never go back…"

"But you will so don't dwell. Plus, I really can't imagine anyone beating you, Liz."

"I'm not the only-"

"Yeah some of those girls are quite interesting to say the least…but rest assured their biggest obstacle will be standing after a few minutes at James'."

"Blame Lindsay for spreading the joy…"

"Oh on that note, interestingly enough, guess who talked to me today?" Will had turned his head toward her as he spoke. He hoped to gauge her reaction without making it extremely obvious. Elizabeth frowned.

"The deans? After they found you spying on other's conversations and stalking teachers to get my work?" The slightest chuckle was evident in her voice.

"With Jack not wreaking havoc, that would be their most notable catch all day, but no. That is not who I'm talking about…so I was brooding over Calculus in the lunchroom when your dear friend Lindsay pops up in front of me. I was curious so I heard her out. Don't know where she got the idea I'd know where Elizabeth Swann was."

"….Lindsay?" Elizabeth shifted. "What did you say?"

"I reassured her you were well. I wasn't going to lie; I said you needed some time to rest and get your mind back in one piece. Then I quickly added I called you because of the impending due date of a certain Chemistry project."

"And she said?"

"'Oh' in a kinda dejected voice. She claimed to have figured as much, which is why she didn't call."

"She fled with the crowds…" Elizabeth mumbled.

"Huh?"

"Ahhh, it has been over two days since we talked really… so….it's weird."

"You didn't answer, right?" Will leaned back so he could keep an eye on her less conspicuously.

"She is having a blast with Eric and James and all the others now so don't sweat it. She is my closest friend…easily patched come morning."

"…Lizzy…do they expect you to come?"

"I turned my phone off so I won't have to find out. I was sick all along…"

"You wouldn't have gone anyway?"

"Of course I would have! Those are my friends…I just can't be there…not now. I'll make it up." Elizabeth forced a smile to her face. She needed a few more hours of little worry…

Will extended a hand to her, but she didn't heed it. He held his arm out; he never expected to touch her, but he couldn't suppress the thought. Elizabeth stood up and walked back into the kitchen, presumably to throw away the apple core. Will said nothing until she was again firmly planted in her seat.

"I stayed up most of last night finishing our project."

"Really?"

"Yeah…it takes hours to complete something to your standards…but it was the least I could do." Though he wasn't certain he wanted to, Will held his gaze on her eyes.

"My standards?" Or your pitiful attempt at them?"

Will placed a packet on the table. "Teacher is bound to get a laugh out of this when he realizes it is not written in your style."

"This isn't a joke." Elizabeth seized the project and began her scrutiny. The cover page was nice; she'd give him that much. They sat in silence as she read over the full eleven pages- flipping back now and then to check on something she must have forgotten. A smile was creeping its way onto to Will's face even as he fought to repress it.

"Congrats, you managed to sound like you know what you are talking about. Quite well at that. But you still seem like an idiot to me…if you put in this much effort all year, you might not spend half the day whining about how you despise chemical equations and elements and-"

"No, I do love my elements. But just as Geometry is not just about shapes, Chemistry is not just elements."

"Hah! I bet you signed up for Geometry thinking you'd get to play with blocks."

"Good thing I did. Remember that was the first class we had together. You totally impressed me. I must have forgotten you were quick as a whip."

"…We never attended school together before high school…not really anyway."

"Oh you were always figuring stuff out. Once you dared to count all the waves as they hit our beach just so you would know how many to expect each day so you wouldn't miss a single one."

"I lost count because you spotted a ship on the horizon." Elizabeth knew her face had to be turning red. If she were so inclined, she could have fried an egg on it.

"It was just a convincing cloud formation."

"Whatever. I was a foolish child."

"Passion is often mistaken as such."

"Is that what you repeat to yourself as you and you partner worm out of your messes?"

"Something along those lines. Remarkable fun, don't you think?"

"I have nothing more to say."

Will shrugged. "You got two night's worth of work to chug through…"

"I'm going running first. I won't feel right until I do."

"Are you sure your body is ready for that?"

Elizabeth nodded. Of course, she was in no way positive of this, but she had again reached the point were she could push herself. Even if it were on sheer will power, Elizabeth would run faster than ever.

"Just promise you'll eat when you're done and try to sleep a bit before you get up at like four...or whatever is the norm for you." He rose.

"Will, don't worry. I ate just now, didn't I?"

"Keep up the good work."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Will's fingers brushed against her should as he passed. "I left the sheet with your missed work on the table. I assume you know your way around all those books well enough to complete it."

Elizabeth smiled. "Thank you, Will."

"Yeah anytime." He scratched at the back of his head. "I'll see you tomorrow for sure, right?"

"Indeed."

"Goodnight then, Liz."

"Same to you."

Will left, waving as he disappeared. Elizabeth didn't move until he heard his car pool away. At that time, she slipped her feet into her running shoes. She saw noting wrong with leaving all her schoolwork where it was, but did shut the blinds. Once Elizabeth completed this task, she departed without further delay.

The sun was in its earliest stage of setting and everything around Elizabeth was beginning to look as if a piece of pink cellophane clung to it. The streaks of orange clouds drew her attention away from the pavement. Elizabeth was walking for now, but as the light weakened her strides grew longer and faster. As the first star poked through the black, she reached a comfortable yet stimulating pace. Her breath was steady and her limbs weren't too sore. Strength began to flood back into Elizabeth; she needed only to act. There was no cause for fretting…

Elizabeth honestly had no idea what time it was when she returned to her home. It had been a nice run, but the soreness in her neck and her inescapable fatigue had won over finally. The clock's announcement of half past midnight made Elizabeth blink. She wasn't angry at the loss of sleeping time, but joyous that she still had that in her.

Elizabeth fetched an apple and her water bottle from the kitchen and sat down to her schoolwork. After the fuss Will made over bringing it to her, she couldn't ignore it. Chemistry and Physics passed easily, but somewhere between the pages of her Literature book, Elizabeth's eyes slid shut. The book soon after hit the ground as she involuntarily gave up on studying.

The home phone began ringing a few hours after Elizabeth dozed off and rang steadily for a good hour. It was nature's call that awoke Elizabeth up though. On her way up to the bathroom, she noticed the still ringing phone. That was new- no one would call that phone during day let alone in the early hours of morning. Instead of answering, she went to check her cell. It was off, but as soon as she turned it on a load of stored text messages came through. Elizabeth hit the green button as another incoming call arrived.

"Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth looked at the number that registered on her screen since she didn't have a clue from the voice. Sara. Elizabeth blinked. What would random track member want so urgently at this hour?

"Elizabeth, answer me. What the hell?"

"Geeez, I was sleeping. What the hell yourself?"

"Oh my god Liz, are you okay?"

"Yeah…."

"I'm so sorry then…I shouldn't have volunteered to be the one to tell you this…but I gotta…Liz are you listening...maybe you should sit down."

Elizabeth's knees collapsed and she fell onto the bed behind her. Sara had her full attention.

Whistles I'm not going to enjoy future events...some of you may though... XD Why not review since you read. Thank you mateys!!!