The Story of You and Me

by K.Henderson

Elizabeta returns to the small town of Stadt after 10yrs. Once there she must choose to either stay in Stadt with Gilbert who has always loved her or to return to Roderich who has known Gilbert's feelings the whole time if she chooses either at all?

2. BOTTOM

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BOTTOM

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"He's too promiscuous." Elizabeta complained over a parfait. She was out with her boyfriend Roderich. "Who just stays at girls' houses and never at home? And a different girl every week. I don't care that he is in college!"

"I don't see what the issue is. He's an arrogant uncouth mongrel-this shouldn't surprise you." Roderich placed a warm smooth hand over hers and smiles. "Let's talk about something else, someone else anything else. I don't think I like it that Gilbert Beilschmidt is always on your mind."

Her green eyes softened.

"I'm sorry I just, I just worry. You know how his father is I mean, Gilbert's your cousin. Of course you know how his life has been."

He nodded.

"Of course I know and it pains me that I can't do anything about it. No matter how much of a pain Gilbert is, I still care for him and for Ludwig." Roderich moved his hand back. Elizabeta's hand felt cold from the loss of contact. "But it can't be helped."

From the age of ten after her parents had been killed in a traffic accident, Elizabeta Hedervary had played mother to the neighbor children Gilbert and Ludwig Beilschmidt despite Gilbert's age over hers an Ludwig's stubborn streak. She had also, on many occasions, beaten Gilbert silly due to his arrogance-again despite their age difference. She had no qualms beating a teenager senseless because he deserved it.

When she had begun to date Roderich in her junior year things between Elizabeta and Gilbert changed. No longer did her grope her(accidental each time, they usually wrestled and Gilbert always apologized afterwards) or tease her like he used to he had begun to avoid her. Ludwig said it was Gilbert being his usual stupid self while his two friends Francis Bonnefoy and Antonio Carriedo had said it was because he was jealous of Roderich.

What did that even mean?

Perhaps it was the words Grandmother Anya had used while sitting in her old rocking chair mending a pair of Elizabeta's shorts, that spoke to Elizabeta the most. Her old green eyes seemed to shine all knowingly as she stared at Elizabeta who had voiced her annoyance. "Well, perhaps young Gilbert is realizing that he misses what he never knew he wanted. Maybe you are beginning to realize the same."

Elizabeta did not act on those words for ten years.

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