AN: Wow! So, I didn't know people would actually like this AU stuff, but I sure am glad you do! Some asked what Red looks like in this fic and though I do love James in Tuff Turf and Pretty in Pink, I absolutely adore his hair in Storyville. So let's make him a mix of Tuff Turf, wearing a nice leather jacket and tight fitting pants with Storyville hair, how does that sound? Thanks for the feedback, guys! This fic isn't even finished, but Madi pushed me! Bad girl! Let's hope I can pull this off. Special thanks to jackandsamforever, who beta-ed this.

Disclaimer: I do not own TBL or James Spader *sigh*

Feeling my hands start shaking
Hearing your voice I'm overjoyed
I'm sorry but I have no choice
You're only getting better

"Overjoyed" - Matchbox Twenty

Enough To Keep You

Chp. 2

"What was that?"

Liz watched the retreating back of her savior and sighed. "I don't know," she said to her friend.

"Well, he sure was cute." Liz rolled her eyes. "And did you see that ass?"

She turned to Amy. "Really?" She asked flatly. "Maybe you should go find him, get his number." They started making their way over to a table in the back.

"Mhm… I don't think that would do much good. Seems like he has his eye set on someone else," Amy said.

Liz eyed her friend and sat down on a bench. "What are you saying?"

They started unwrapping their sandwiches. "Just that I can't remember a time when a guy displayed such a lack of interest in me. I think he likes you."

Liz rolled her eyes again but she couldn't help the butterflies in her tummy. "Yeah, right."

"I'm serious. The way he made that bastard bail, how he looked at you and then helped you up. Did you really let him touch your scar? You never let me do that!" Amy mock-complained.

Liz looked towards the entrance of the building again, willing the cute blond to come out again. Maybe she could actually manage to talk to him. She could stare at him and daydream at least. She could still smell the leather of his jacket, still feel the warmth of his touch.

"Oh, you're so crushing on him."

Her head shot around and she looked at her grinning friend. "Am not!"

"Liz, we've been best friends ever since you pushed that kid off the swing so I could have a turn. That was ten years ago; I think I know your tells by now. And right now, you're giving it all away. You're crushing on your knight in shining armor."

She bit her lip, knowing full well that her friend was right. "He is kinda cute."

"Are you kidding me? He's hot. Like really hot! What did he say his name was?"

Liz smiled. "Red."

"Red?" Amy asked. "That sounds interesting. Well, let's hope we can find him again." She watched as her childhood friend smiled off into the distance. She was a goner, even if she was denying it at the moment. "Scott, you so have a crush on him," she pointed out, taking a bite of her sandwich.

This time Liz didn't argue. What Amy said wasn't all that off-target. There was something about him, Red, the guy who had come out of nowhere and protected her. And damn it all to hell, he was hot!

A couple of days later, Liz had given up searching the hallways for her hero. It was as if he didn't want to be found and was nowhere to be seen. Liz really didn't want to go asking everyone if they knew someone named Red. That would be pathetic.

She was sitting at a table with some girls from her AP psych class listening as Amy told one of her infamous stories. The girl could talk to no end, how she would ever manage to become a shrink was beyond her. She would never let her patients get a word in edgewise. Liz played with the straw in her beverage, she couldn't wait to get home. It was Friday, and in only a couple of more hours she would be free and ready for the weekend.

"Ladies." She knew that voice! Her head snapped up towards the source. "Lizzie," he greeted her with a smile.

She almost forgot to breathe at the sight of him. His eyes sparkled and his smile was infectious, making one spread over her face as well. "Hi." Liz felt her friend kick her leg under the table, but she couldn't bring herself to say more.

"Hi there! I'm Amy." Her friend came to the rescue. "I was with Liz the other day."

"I remember." He held out his hand towards her. "Nice to meet you, Amy. Red."

The blonde eagerly shook it. "Red. That's an interesting name."

He gave her a smile. "Nickname. Lizzie, do you have a moment?" He asked, his eyes settling on their target again.

"Uhm… sure."

Red's smile widened and he held out his hand to help her up from the bench. As they walked to a secluded spot, Liz could feel his hand at the small of her back just resting there. It seemed odd, but at the same time it didn't. He waited until she had sat down and then lowered himself onto the bench next to her.

"How are you?"

She shot him a quick smile. "Fine, you?"

He nodded, noting her discomfort. It was kind of adorable. "I'm fine as well, thank you. Did dear Thomas approach you again?"

Her smile disappeared at the mention of his name and she absently rubbed the spot where he had grabbed her. "No, he didn't. Thanks to you."

"Did he hurt you badly?" Red asked, seeing how she touched her arm.

"Mhm? No, it's fine. Just a bruise."

She could see something change in his eyes. "He left a bruise?"

"It's nothing really. I'm sure he didn't mean to."

Red looked at her for a long moment. "Why are you defending him, Lizzie?"

"I'm not," she answered quickly and then sighed. "I just don't want to cause any trouble."

His lips twitched into a smile and his gaze softened. "I'm sure you couldn't possibly cause any trouble." He gently tucked an errant strand of hair that had somehow managed to fall from her ponytail behind her ear.

"You'd be surprised." She grinned and he chuckled.

"Lizzie?" She looked at him expectantly. "Would you like to go to the movies tomorrow? We could have dinner afterwards."

Liz felt her heart banging against her sternum. "Uhm."

"I'd really like to get to know you better."

Was he asking her on a date? How should she respond? She had never been on a real date before.

"Lizzie?" He asked and Liz realized that she had been quiet for too long.

"Uh… this is going to sound really stupid."

"I doubt it," he replied.

She fiddled with her fingers and then stroked her scar, not knowing that that drew his eyes to her hand. "I'd have to ask my dad."

He was silent for a moment. "Just how old are you, Lizzie?"

"Fourteen," she mumbled.

"Really?" He asked and his voice sounded surprised. "I'd have never thought so."

Liz sighed. "Yeah… I guess that's a problem then."

He put his hand over hers, stopping her from rubbing her scar raw. "Age is just a number. It's not an issue for me; for your dad it probably is though."

"Right." Was she really going to get emotional about this? Her damn hormones could at least wait until she got home.

"How about lunch instead. Then ice cream in the park?"

She looked up and saw him smiling at her. "Just how old are you, Red?" She asked back and his smile widened.

"Eighteen."

She would be turning fifteen soon and even if she wasn't, she really wanted to meet him and to get to know him more. "I guess age is just a number," she replied, smiling widely at him.

"Wonderful. I'll pick you up around noon then?" He asked and she nodded enthusiastically. "I'll need your address."

"Oh, uh, right! Let me just… I need…" She was stuttered and she knew it. She could feel the heat creeping up her neck. This was so embarrassing.

"Here." He held out a piece of paper and a pen.

"Uh, thanks." She could already see herself being stood up. There was surely more than enough girls craving his attention. Most of them definitely older than her and more… accustomed to this kind of stuff. She scribbled down her address anyway and handed the paper back.

"Thank you," he said, folding it carefully and putting it in his wallet. He covered her hand with his and squeezed it lightly, making her look at him. "I'll see you tomorrow at noon then." Liz couldn't help but smile, and Red didn't hesitate to return it.

After saying their goodbyes, she went back to her friends and sat down next to Amy. "So?"

"What?"

"Spill the beans, girl!" All eyes were on her.

"Well," she started slowly, "I guess I'm meeting him tomorrow." The girls started squealing and everyone spoke at once while Liz just laughed at their antics, feeling better than she had ever felt before.

She couldn't wait until tomorrow.