Lulu snuck into the house, praying her brother wasn't here. It was always a fight with him. If it wasn't curfew, he was complaining about the music she listened to or the volume she kept it at. When she got ready to go to class, he would ask her to pick up this or that for him. Didn't he have a secretary? If she had become just that over the last couple of weeks, where the heck was her paycheck?
She thought about leaving her jacket on the floor, her shoes in front of the coat closet, and her socks stuffed into the couch, but it would probably lead to eviction. It didn't matter how many places she looked at; they were all out of her price range. She hadn't realized just how hard saving money would be. She was going to have to get a job besides her gig at the PCU library and that meant goodbye Friday nights. It wasn't like she was incredibly busy since Bradley had cheated on her. There was this guy in Calculus that she had her eye on. He was always flirting with her. Maybe she would drop him a hint over the next day or two. Staying anywhere overnight would be a blessing compared to living here.
"Lulu? That you?" Elizabeth wandered out from the kitchen holding a new cup of soup in her hands.
"Should I be wearing one of those hospital masks? Are you still stick? Is it contagious?" Lulu teased, relying on the flu shot she had gotten before this epidemic swept in and took two hostages: Elizabeth and Cameron.
"Funny. You should go on the road with that act." Elizabeth sat down on the couch. "That had to be the quietest you ever come in. My benefit or avoiding your brother again?"
"Neither. I wasn't cursed with giant Spencer feet." Lulu smiled.
"So found a replacement to make Bradley drool yet?"
"Yes I have. His name is Stanley. Stanley Walker." Lulu nodded smugly.
"Stanley?" Elizabeth shook her head. Would Lulu never learn? Inviting someone named Stanley near her father, brother, and cousin? Did the younger woman have some sort of sadomasochistic streak running through her? "Honey, do you think about what kind of nicknames your family can give these boys before you date them?"
"Who said anything about dating him?" Lulu asked innocently.
"I'm sorry I even asked." Elizabeth dropped her head into her hands. "So I guess you're planning on crashing on Patrick's couch next."
Lulu made a face of disgust. "I think not. My family has made it quite clear that they don't want me around. I'm about ready to go on my own."
"They love you Lulu. You just don't want to admit it."
"I'm used to being the black sheep. Have you been to the doctor to see about this cold of yours?"
"You're not the black sheep. And it's the flu. I'll be fine. No need to go to the doctor."
"What if you caught some mutated strand or something? That could be deadly."
"Thank you for your concern." Elizabeth chuckled. "Do me a favor and don't mention that theory to your brother. He'll run right to some soap-opera style disease with it."
"I figured you would have canceled his subscription to SoapNet by now." Lulu shook her head in dismay.
"I've tried. It keeps coming back. He blames you."
"Of course he blames me. I'm not even sick. See?" She held out her arm to show off her Band-Aid. "I was the only one smart enough to get a flu shot."
Elizabeth patted Lulu on the top of her blonde head. "Good girl."
Lulu glanced at her watch. "I'm sorry to admit this, but isn't it time for Sponge Bob? What have you done with my nephew?"
"Nothing." Elizabeth gestured toward the stairs. "He's just upstairs taking a nap."
"He's taking a nap? You mean he sleeps?"
"Yes. It's amazing how taking his remote out of his room encourages that."
"You took his remote? Do you have a death wish?"
"It wasn't that hard."
"I tried to do that once and he threw it at my head. I ducked, but the wall wasn't so lucky."
She had wondered what had caused the crack Lucky had tried to cover up with a lamp. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. "I just talked with him and he handed it over."
"What did you say? Did you threaten him with something? Go for the bear."
"No threats. Although the information about the bear is good for future use."
"Damn. I didn't mean to tell you that." Lulu grumbled. "So you just asked for the remote, he handed it over, and you suggested how taking a nap was a good thing?" Lulu didn't even try to keep the incredulity out of her voice.
"More or less." Elizabeth shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal. I just used the routine we had in class last year."
"Guess it's good you get that down now since it's getting pretty serious between you and my brother, hmm." Lulu thought on that for a moment.
Elizabeth leaned back away from the younger woman. "Have you been talking with your mother again?"
"Are you trying to be flippant?" Lulu narrowed her eyes in suspicion.
"No. It's just that sounds exactly like every conversation I've had with your mother since I met her."
"It's not like I called you Cameron's mother. Jeez!" Lulu snapped heading upstairs to run a shower until the water ran cold.
"What did you say?" Elizabeth fell back stunned. Now there was something she knew for a fact Laura had never said.
It was too late. Lulu had already sprinted up the stairs, leaving Elizabeth staring after her retreating form in disbelief. All she did was get Cameron to take a nap, not broker peace in the Middle East. Ok so she knew it wasn't exactly Cameron's normal routine but it was just a nap. And what was with Lulu's comment about getting that down now since she and Lucky were getting serious?
Yes she was spending more time here on the weekends, but they both worked. The only time they had to see each other was the weekends. It wasn't like she lived here. Right now she was staying here because she was sick, her grandmother wasn't home, and Lucky had an overactive imagination. That was all. And when she was here on the weekends, Cameron wasn't even aware she stayed over. At least she didn't think he was.
She grabbed for her phone and hurriedly punched in the familiar number. There was only one person who could help her with this one. Sighing when she heard the voice mail message flood her ear, Elizabeth waited impatiently to leave her message. "Robin. Emergency. Call me."