Two days later, during one dreary evening, Elaine found herself carefully looking over her possessions. She didn't have many. All she had was a few dollars that had remained unharmed and in her pocket during her fall and the clothes she'd been wearing the night Scipio had found her. They were ripped in several places, covered in dirt, and stained with blood, so unless she was really desperate, she wouldn't wear them. Even though they'd all gone shopping earlier in the day, they couldn't exactly afford new clothes yet, so this was pretty much all she had.

Oh well, she thought. It doesn't matter. I'll be just fine.

Liar.

"Elaine, can you go help Prosper with the salad really quick? I---" Hornet, who had been walking towards her bed, stopped when she saw Elaine. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," said Elaine, quickly stuffing her old clothes and small amount of money under the bed. Hornet still looked suspicious, so she hurried on: "What were you saying, Hornet?"

"Um, we're making dinner, and I was asking if you'd help Prosper with the salad? You don't have to, but---"

"Sure, that's alright," said Elaine, standing up and exiting the room. Hornet stole one last glance at her friend's old clothes, which she could see slightly peeking out from under the bed, before following her.

After dinner, Elaine went back up to the room she shared with Hornet and started digging around the room for anything else she might own, even though she knew that there was nothing else in there that was hers. A few minutes later, Hornet came in. Elaine didn't hear her, so she was rather startled when Hornet said, "Seriously, Elaine, what are you doing?"

Elaine jumped and turned around, her heart beating suddenly fast. "Geez, Hornet, you scared me!" she exclaimed.

"Sorry."

Elaine went back to her search and ignored Hornet's question, though she knew she was still waiting for an answer. Finally, Hornet said, "Elaine---?"

"Well, if you really want to know, I'm packing up my stuff," responded Elaine, suddenly annoyed. "Okay? Are you happy now?"

Hornet looked aghast. "What? Packing? Where are you going?"

"I don't know. I really don't know, Hornet."

"Then---?"

"God, Hornet, shut up!" Elaine's harsh reply shocked both of them into silence. Elaine stared down at the carpet, guilt already beginning to approach. On the other hand, she was angry at Hornet: Why the hell was she in her business, anyway? Hadn't she been taught better?

"I'm sorry," she said quietly after a moment.

"It's okay."

"No, really, it's not. You and everyone else have been so nice to me, and I've been such a bitch, and..." Elaine paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I really am."

Hornet leaned over to give her friend's hand a pat. "Elaine," she said, choosing her words carefully, nervous she would get angry again, "Scipio said you can stay here as long as you want."

Elaine sighed and slid her hands over her face. "I know. I just...I don't know. I feel like I'm asking too much from you guys." This was not the real reason she had such an intense desire to leave the Stella, but that was another story, for another time. Saying this little lie was so much easier than going into that.

Besides, she didn't really know where she was going, but in a way, she didn't quite care. But then again...that was exactly what she'd thought the night she left her parent's house, and look at where she'd ended up: nearly dead, if it hadn't been for Scipio.

Is that really such a bad thing? she thought.

"Well, it's fine with me and everyone else, but if you want to leave, I understand," said Hornet, not adding that she would be quite upset if Elaine left.

"No, it's just that..." Elaine stammered over her words, finally giving up. "Just...nevermind."

She dropped her hands and sighed again. Hornet looked over at her, concerned. "Are you alright?" she asked.

Elaine smiled, the opposite of what she was feeling inside. "Yep, fine. Never been better!" she chirped, and Hornet turned around and picked up a book, satisfied.

Perhaps, if Hornet had noticed the look of exhaustion and sadness in Elaine's eyes, she might have known that she was lying. Perhaps, if she had noticed the small tears glittering in them as Elaine hastily blinked, trying to get them to leave, she would have realised it. And maybe --just maybe-- if Hornet had asked her what was really wrong, she might have gotten the answer, or part of it, anyway. But she didn't, and as she floated into the story of an old man with too many reckless grandchildren, Elaine was dealing with problems of her own...but they weren't so easy to get over.

Author's Note: Lame ending, lame chapter, I know. Hopefully you like it though. (Hey, that ryhmes!) Also, in the next chapter, there will be a somewhat big time jump, but nothing that important will have changed. So this is the last time you'll be seeing Elaine as a seventeen-year old. )
Everything up to this point has been prewritten, so updates might be coming a little slower, but I really do enjoy writing this story, so much that I'm usually writing on the next chapter. So you won't have to wait too long.
I'm going to be spending the whole afternoon and night and my friend's house tomorrow, so expect the next chapter in probably about 2 days. Whew! Done talking now, teeheehee. Review, please! )