I have a feeling I will have tomatoes and sharp objects thrown at me by the end of this chapter… You'll know why and if not, well, it means my virtual bones won't be broken ^_~ I promise the next chappy will be nice and long and full of our lovely Death... Thank you to my LOVELY reviewers- you guys have no idea how wonderful it is to hear from you!! On with the chappy!!

Chapter 3

Elisabeth's 18th Birthday

"So do you know if you're dad is coming home for the party tonight?"

Elisabeth looked up from the pile of textbooks on the library table and stared at her friend, Becky. She paused for a second and then shook her head, causing her curls to fall in front of her face. For once she was thankful for the mass of chocolate colored hair atop her head; Becky was unable to see the pained look on her face.

"What?" Becky cried which received a loud "Shh!" from the librarian. "Sorry," she whispered, waving to the old woman behind the desk.

Elisabeth took the opportunity to wipe the pained look off of her face and put on a façade of apathy.

"What do you mean? He isn't coming?" she whispered.

Elisabeth shrugged. "He said he couldn't get away from work. I don't mind, really! I completely understand."

Becky looked at her with skeptical eyes. Elisabeth had not spent quality time with her father in four years. Of course they had talked on the phone and she had gotten cards on her birthday and Christmas, but she hadn't hugged him, seen him, laughed with him for four long years. His job kept him abroad and busy- she understood that… but still…

"But it's your 18th birthday!" Becky cried again.

"Sssh!!"

Becky rolled her green eyes and shouted, "Sorry!"

Twirling her bright red hair around her finger and biting her lip for a moment she decided:

"Let's get out of here," as she began to pack up her trigonometry. "You'll be late for your party."

"Alright," Elisabeth whispered.

The two girls walked out, arms linked.

"Sisi, did your mom invite Joseph?"

"Who?" Elisabeth asked, looking at her friend.

"You know, the President's son? He is so handsome… Hopefully tonight I can make my move! Wouldn't it be fun to be the wife of a successful politician?" she said in an excited voice.

"Is that all you ever think about?" Elisabeth asked as she rolled her eyes. "Besides he's so old!"

"Ssh!" the librarian hissed as the girls walked past.

"Sorry," Becky said in a tone that made it obvious that she did not mean it in the least. "You know, there isn't a sign that says 'No Talking'."

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Elisabeth flopped down on her bed and closed her eyes tight. What a night! She rolled over to look at her alarm clock… 3am. She sighed and rolled onto her back, looking up at the ceiling. He hadn't come. She had hoped against all hope that her father would fly through the doors and walk over to her with a bouquet of daisies and a kiss for her. But the evening had been eventful enough.

The beginning of the party was like any other. She had to be a good hostess and welcome all of her guest and make small talk—even if she had no idea who they were. She didn't have many friends present. Only Becky and three boys from her class. The rest of the guests were all Helen and her mother's friends.

After several hours, she was introduced to her mother's best friend, Sophie's, son. So this was the famous Joseph that everyone was always talking about. He was the President's only son and, at 27 years old, already a successful politician.

"It's a pleasure Sisi," he said as he kissed her smooth hand.

What is this? The 19th Century? Elisabeth thought. Apparently, the questioning look reach her face, for the man before her asked in a worried tone:

"May I call you Sisi?"

Quickly, she wiped the look of mockery off her face and in its place, a beautiful smile.

"Of course." He wasn't so bad.

After that, the remainder of the night flew by in a whirl of music and colors. Elisabeth spent all of her time with Joseph. They laughed and joked, danced with one another, and at the end of the evening even shared a small kiss.

"I hope I will be able to see you again," Joseph said as he stared into Elisabeth's brown eyes.

"I hope so, too," Sisi whispered in a trembling voice. Their kiss, however short and simple it had been, had left her breathless- your first kiss will usually do that to you.

"Joseph!" Sophie cried from the door.

"One minute, Mother!" he called over his shoulder. They were the only two left in the large room. All the guests had left and she and Joseph were sitting at a corner table. "I have something for you."

"For me?" Elisabeth asked, surprised. She had already opened all of her gifts.

"Yes," he said softly as he pulled a blue velvet box out of his coat pocket. "I hope you like it."

Elisabeth stared at the man in front of her for a minute with a perplexed look and opened the box. As she opened it, she gasped.

"Oh!"

"Do you like it?" he asked. He knew that Sisi was not one to appreciate the beauty of womanhood and jewelry. But all the same…

"Joseph!" she cried as she looked up. "Thank you so much! I love it!"

"Here, let me help you put it on," he said, excitedly. His shaky hands held up the white gold chain that held a sapphire heart surrounded by multitudes of diamonds. His hands were rough but warm as they brushed against her pale neck. "I hope that whenever you wear it, you will think of me."

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She absent- mindedly ran her hand along the sapphire that lay in the hollow of her throat. The stone felt much heavier now. She had ignored her best friend all night. And for what? A boy? No. A man nine years her senior. And yet, he wasn't just another man. He was a gentleman. He was kind and fun to be with. She enjoyed herself with him. She felt as if a thousand butterflies were buried deep within her body just fighting to break free and fly away. What was this feeling? Could it possibly be love? She had resigned herself to a life alone. And yet, in a chance encounter she had found someone who made her feel complete.

"Oh, Becky…" Elisabeth whispered as she rolled over onto her side, the sapphire falling to the comforter with a light thud. "What am I going to say to you tomorrow?"

With a sigh, she got up from her bed and walked over to her cherry wood vanity. She remembered when she wasn't tall enough to even see herself in the mirror. And now? Now she was 18. A woman. A woman ready to take on the World and whatever it might bring her. A woman ready for Love.

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