Chapter 7

Sunday morning brunch had become a ritual for Elizabeth, Ryan, Emily and her boyfriend, Patrick. Always Kelly's, always 10:30 a.m. Elizabeth rolled into the restaurant at 10:40, large sunglasses on her small face, to find the usual suspects present and accounted for, however Ryan looked less than pleased to see her.

"Hey," she offered sheepishly, removing her sunglasses.

"Where have you been?" questioned Emily, glancing over at Ryan. "We've been worried."

"I've been sick as a dog," Elizabeth said as she sat.

"Sick?" asked Ryan. Elizabeth noticed Emily raise her eyebrows in question.

"Yeah. I guess it started because I had way too much to drink the other night, no thanks to you three, and I didn't wake up until yesterday afternoon. I felt like garbage so I went back to bed and here you see me." Elizabeth opened her arms slightly as if presenting herself.

"I called," clipped Ryan.

"I'm sorry, Ryan. This flu had me wiped out. I promise I will make it up to you." She planted a large smile on her face and Ryan appeared to relax.

"Hey, there's Tom from running club. Let's go give him shit about beating his time yesterday," Patrick said with a grin.

"You're so mean," Emily said as she smacked Patrick on his chest.

"Me? Mean? Oh Emily, that hurts." Patrick grinned as he and Ryan left the table.

"Ok, spill," Emily said to Elizabeth as soon as the guys were out of earshot.

"Spill what?"

"Did you see him?" Emily asked with sympathy in her eyes and voice.

Elizabeth stilled. She dropped her shoulders and closed her eyes. "Yes," she stated as she nodded her head. "You?" she looked up at Emily.

"Yes, last night," her best friend responded. "I asked him if he'd seen you and he told me he didn't want to talk about it… so I kinda figured…"

"He broke in to my apartment Friday night when Ryan was there," Elizabeth stated quickly and quietly, her voice straining.

"What?!? Wow… that's my brother for you." Emily sighed as looked to be considering Elizabeth's face. "Elizabeth, are you ok?"

"Em," Elizabeth whispered as her eyes began to fill with tears, "I feel like I'm drowning. All this time and the mere sight of him wrecks me. I don't know what to do," she said in a broken voice.

Emily reached out and touched her friend's hand. "Oh Elizabeth, I am so sorry." Her eyes moved over Elizabeth's head and Emily straightened as she saw Patrick and Ryan returning to the table.

"That pompous ass isn't going to know what hit him come race day," Patrick exclaimed as he and Ryan took their seats.

Elizabeth quickly wiped her cheeks, hoping the action would go unnoticed.

"E, are you ok?" Ryan asked as he reached over to touch her arm.

"You know," she responded, "I'm not feeling as well as I thought. I think I need to go home." Elizabeth stated rapidly and began to collect her things, feeling as if she had too poor a grasp on her fragile emotional state.

"I'll go with you and play nurse," Ryan said as he stood.

"No, no. You stay here and enjoy yourself. No sense watching me sleep," she offered him a slight smile.

"Elizabeth, I want to," he said as he opened his wallet and began fishing through his cash.

"Really it's ok," she said, "I can take care of myself."

Ryan dropped the money on the table, "Do you want me to get some soup to go?"

"No, Ryan," she snapped, "I just want to go home…alone."

He stared at her with a stunned look on his face.

"I'm sorry," she pled. "I didn't mean to snap at you. I just really want to go home." Elizabeth reached out and placed her hand gently on Ryan's arm. "Maybe we can go to a movie later this week. What do you say?" Elizabeth lifted her eyebrows.

"Um… sure, I guess," Ryan stammered. "Will you call me if you need anything?"

"I promise. Scout's honor," Elizabeth smiled as she held up two fingers. "Bye guys," she stated as she turned and left Kelly's, aching to stop the chatter in her head and go back to sleep.