a distorted reality is now a necessity to be free

IT'S BEEN A MONTH?!

A MONTH!

Someone PLEASE remind me via message/note next time I EVER LET IT GET SO LONG BETWEEN CHAPTERS!

Things have been excrutiatingly busy, and mom is on Facebook more than I'm on the computer...

 

BUT NO EXCUSES

 

I write now...

 

XOXO

Someone Who Understands is Better than a Lover's Arms

 

"What?" Mr. Dawes said. The fingers clicked away at the keyboard.

 "Don't bother," Zachary muttered, "Mandy is wiL's ex wife and the godmother of Elizabeth Gregory. Mandy did not kill the Gregory parents, but like another former psychopath, she guided the hands that did."

 "Do you have proof?"

 Zachary smiled. "I started recording our conversations after she blackmailed me."

 "We will need these..." Mr. Evans trailed.

 "And you will find them at my house under the TV," Zachary nodded and found it time to continue his story. wiL could only cross his arms as he tried not to explode. The doubt had been erased and as maniacal and impossible as it seemed, he knew it was true. Something about Elizabeth's unfailing loyalty towards this man gave it away, as did the sick memories of Mandy's weird words around the times he had mentioned.

 "Mandy was a friend of the family. She had grown up next to the Gregory's. When they moved, Mandy tried to stay in touch. Lives continued, and Mandy grew incredibly greedy. It was a result of the lavish lifestyle she'd now grown accustomed to. With the threat of losing her rich boyfriend, she turned desperate. When she heard of the 'sixth-in-line' fortune her friend's daughter Elizabeth was inheriting, she snapped.

 "She didn't go unassisted. On a drunken stupor, she ran into Barnaby. He talked sweet, but she wasn't going to put out. So instead they talked. After many hours, Mandy discussed her 'niece's' fortune. Barnaby used his forked tongue to convince her that the money would be worth anything lost. And he got her to want to commit the murder. However, she wouldn't do it herself. He told her to look for me.

 "First, she began calling them more, and eventually asked if she could be the godmother to Elizabeth, since she was sort of like a distant aunt. At first they were opposed, but a falling out with her grandparents made it happen. She played the part nicely.

 "Second, she found me. Going off Barnaby's tip, she first tried to get my shoots all the time, though totally by accident. I noticed it and finally decided to talk to her," Zachary lowered his head, just as he had when Elizabeth had heard this earlier, "and she played me like a piano. She charmed me and even though I knew about her boyfriend, we began a relationship that lasted several months.

 "One day she asked me if I would do anything for her. Thinking I loved her, I said of course. She asked me to kill for her.

 "I laughed at first until she told me how she'd found me and practically admitted that I was just a pawn in her scheme to get money. Then I refused. However, she had predicted this and since sleeping with your photography subjects is cause to be permanently fired, she blackmailed me. So I started recording our conversations. I got every detail of how it was to go down. But I refused nonetheless, forgetting my career to save lives.

 "Somewhere during this time, Barnaby spoke up and said if he got a percentage, he'd do it. And since she's a spiteful bitch, she asked him to frame me. He used old blood from when I'd gotten the fake ID, as well as my fingers prints.

 "By then, I'd known all the plans. The day before it was supposed to go down, I went to the house. However, I came there just in time to see a woman crying at the beach. She told a young girl, who looked about seventeen, that her parents were dead. I knew it was done, so I left.

 "When I was arrested, I knew exactly why. And I also knew that until I got to let that poor girl at the beach know she wasn't alone, I wouldn't say anything more than I'm innocent. Now she knows I've felt her pain. So I've given you everything."

 Stillness was defining. wiL's head reeled again, the shock and disbelief studded into his head.

 Mandy had hired a man to kill her parents to get the money. And it had almost worked.

 wiL felt everything leave him, but it was like a promise of the calm after the storm, and it reassured him enough to grab her hand. She squeezed back with undoubtedly the only strength left in her body.

 "We're getting proof of this," Mr. Dawes said, but as he continued to check the computer, it was clear the stories started to check out.

 "We will know for sure later," Mr. Evans said.

 Zachary looked up as they started to cart him away.

 "Let me see her again, please."

 Without question, they led him to the civilian hallway.

 She didn't hesitate as she raced to the door. wiL held tightly but as she stepped into the hall, he released. Zachary stood there, tears in his eyes. No one spoke, the cops even sensing the surreal moment.

 "You didn't deserve all this," he whispered.

 "Neither of us did." She whispered back.

 Something clicked and his hands fell loose. Sheriff Dalton looked him straight in the eye.

 "Try anything funny, and I kill you."

 A strange look crossed Zachary's face as he realized that he was being allowed a solitary moment of freedom. It was relief. It was peace.

 His gaze then turned to Elizabeth and she made a whimpering noise. She started running towards him. Almost knocking him over, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He embraced her back.

 At first, wiL was jealous. In a single second it went away.

 What wiL could never do was understand the pain Elizabeth felt every day. Zachary did. Instead of seeing it as a curse, wiL saw it as a blessing. He smiled, knowing she could finally feel understood. He smiled even more knowing now he could too.

 Though it was only intended to last a minute, Elizabeth and Zachary were eventually led to the couch in the sheriff's office. They broke off, only to hold hands until reaching the ugly orange couch and embrace again. He wrapped his arms around her protectively and she lay on his chest. At first, wiL felt wrong, but Zachary noticed.

 "Come here," he said, She looked up, red eyed and nodded.

 "I don't know your pain," he mumbled.

 "You feel her pain," Zachary insisted, "and your ex wife is Charles Manson. Besides, Elizabeth would be more comfortable in the nook of your shoulder than mine."

 Obediently, he sat next to her and she instantly lay her head on his shoulder, her hand staying connected to Zachary. He took his other hand and wrapped it behind her back. wiL threw his arm over her shoulder to rub her farther shoulder. Both of them took the same hand Elizabeth left on the center of her lap.

 All three of them wept for hours, their pain each unique, yet the same.

 

**long time no post. My fail. But I've had carpal tunnel and school and work... you know. So wiL's a daddy! Yeah, holy shit. I am writing more right after this so...YAY!

Oh and go read "A Beautiful Stranger" by xsaccrintoxicityx. It was the reason I came to buzznet and it's still awesome. After a LONG time she's back and writing more. BEst fanfiction of all time.**

XOXO

**Here it is, children. The chapters written before the chapters. The one that started it all. The revealing of the Gregory murderer. Enjoy**

Silent Eyes

 

"He's ready to talk, Sheriff," Elizabeth said as she came through the door. wiL shot up and walked to her. Oddly, she turned back to nod at the man before the metal door completely closed. wiL glanced up at Zachary. His eyes smoldered with a certain passion.

 "He what?" Sheriff Dalton asked, "He's ready to talk? About what?"

 "There are things he's been leaving out," she admitted, "but after our conversation, he revealed a few more details that you have to know."

 That's when wiL noticed her. Elizabeth looked dead. Her eyes were drained of any joy, color, or life in general. She was ashen faced and looked as if Casper had glided through the jail walls. Her mouth was attempting to hide a frown, yet it looked as if a frown would not express the emotion his beautiful love was feeling.

 Pain was evident. Yet her eyes said nothing. They were completely silent.

 "Elizabeth," he whispered to her and grabbed her shoulders. She titled her head to look at him and her eyes finally showed signs of life: tears.

 "I am so sorry," she choked, "for the both of us."

 Gently, she took his hand and led him back to the interrogation room. The light was already on, Sheriff Dalton waiting in anticipation as Zachary was placed at the table.

 "This is rather soon," the prosecutor said, a cup of coffee now resting on the metal table, "why the change of heart?"

 The defending lawyer looked warily at Zach. He nodded, and Zach looked back up at the prosecutor, "I need to prove my innocence."

 "Save it, we have your blood."

 "Yes you do," he nodded, "because it was placed there."

 "Oh and I assume the fingerprints were as well?"

 Once again, Zachary nodded, "Yes." He paused as the prosecutor scoffed and spoke up, a hint of anger in his voice, "Please understand my confession is a risk to my life. If the people find out I've told them they killed Ms. Elizabeth's parents, they may not be too happy with me."

 "You mean when they hear that you've helped us they're going to kill you?"

 "Are you threatening my client?" The defending lawyer asked, but a raise of the hand silenced him.

  "Of course not; I was merely going along with this idea that others are responsible."

 "It's not an idea, Mr. Dawes," Zachary said, giving the prosecutor a name, "It is fact. The same person who placed my DNA at the scene of the Gregory murder, and the same person who killed them, is the same person who murdered my parents."

 "Your parents?" Mr. Dawes asked, "Your mother died in an accident, and your father in the war."

 "According the files by Barnaby Williams, yes," Zachary agreed, "however, my name is not Zachary Gray."

 The defending lawyer immediately tried to stop the talking, but Mr. Dawes had already ordered a computer to be brought into the room. wiL cocked his head to the side.

 "What are they doing?" he asked.

 "Checking his statements," the sheriff answered, "we don't have time for guessing games anymore, so we check it out on the internet as they say it, just to skip all the formalities."

 "Then what is your name?" Mr. Dawes asked.

 "Gabriel Smudge," Zachary...or not Zachary...said, a smile crossing his face, "I do prefer my new name."

 The tech nerd at the computer clicked away instantly, "Gabriel Smudge was murdered years ago, along with his-"

 "Sister and parents," Zachary finished, "the bodies of the two children were never recovered."

 Mr. Dawes let curiosity get the best of him as he snuck a glance at the computer. wiL could see the picture of the teenage Zachary, then known as Gabriel. There was no denying it was him.

 "So you're alive," Mr. Dawes confirmed.

 "As is my sister," Zachary continued.

 "Claire Smudge," Mr. Dawes said.

 Zachary's lawyer looked at the picture and his eyes went wide. The bewilderment made the lawyer next to Zachary look at him.

 "No...Hayden Gray isn't your daughter, is she?"

 "You've seen my daughter's pictures, but this newspaper only has her as a baby," Zachary confirmed, "but no, Mr. Evans, Hayden is not my daughter, but my sister."

 "Why didn't you come to the cops?"

 "Because I knew who killed my parents and why, but with that information I knew going to the cops was pointless."

 "Who killed your parents?" Mr. Dawes asked.

 wiL realized immediately that the answer to this next question was the person who killed Elizabeth's parents. As she had believed Zachary to be telling the truth, he listened intently.

 "Barnaby Williams."

 Unfortunately, no sudden sense of relief was present.

More clicking ensued and the nerd spoke again, "Barnaby Williams, famous in Seattle for creating new identities a decade or so ago. Mr. Smudge was the sheriff. He hunted Williams for years."

 "Why would this man kill your parents?"

 "Because first they were friends. And when my father named a godfather, he named Barnaby. Except that he forgot about that and when he wrote his will and let it be known, Barnaby discovered the amount of money I would receive at eighteen."

 Zachary's story suddenly merged with the one next to wiL, and nausea hit him.

 "He was always a greedy man," Zachary kept going, "Card games never went well when he was over. He knew that my father had forgotten that if he died, Barnaby was guardian. So without a second glance, he killed my father and mother. I knew it was him, but he simply told me it was for the better and left, the bloody knife lying around. So I cut myself and my sister to leave blood. Somehow, I knew if I told, I wouldn't be believed. They had been such good buddies. Plus I knew then Barnaby would get all the money. So instead, I bit him back. I went to him a day later and told him I wanted to start over. Williams was furious, but I bluffed and said I had proof, so he had no choice but to give me a new life and never get his money.

 "My parents died in vain of even the worst of reasons to be killed.

 "Barnaby Williams, I thought, was dead. Then I found out otherwise after a few photography sessions made me find out otherwise."

 "How so?" Mr. Dawes asked.

 "The person I was photographing told me. We kept seeing each other at these sessions and finally one day we decided to talk. And after a few incidents, I found out by accident that Barnaby was alive."

 "Who told you this? How did you find out?"

 "I found out because she stalked me," Zachary began, and his voice increased volume and intensity with every sentence, "I found out because she tricked me and seduced me. I found out because we started sleeping together and she stupidly fell in love with me, though she had mentioned a fiance and told me her plans. I found out because she had heard my story and wanted me to cause the same pain to another innocent girl. I found out because when I refused, she told me an old friend wouldn't mind killing a seventeen year old child's parents again."

 "Who was she?" Mr. Dawes yelled, matching the tone.

"The devil!" Zachary screamed.

"THE NAME! GIVE ME THE WRETCHED NAME!"

wiL's stomach sank in, like he already knew the answer. Yet there was no way.

Then he remembered Elizabeth's stone gray face as she exited. He thought of the treachery of another. He recalled many memories, including one slip of the tongue his ex had made, calling him Zach. And somehow, impossible as it seemed, he mouthed the name right along with Gabriel Smudge/ Zachary Gray.

"Mandy Vaughn."

He turned his head as Elizabeth's silent eyes screamed.

 

**and now comes the ending... the ending that was written before it ever began...**

 

(so a few references above. One is fairly obvious for any devoted fan. The other is much harder to spot. Both are movies. One is a series. The other has only two movies so far, but since the AMAZING costar died, they're bringing in Johnny Depp I hear)

 

XOXO

Those Who Cause Death Are Human Too

 

The sudden cold wind that passed over her made her body shake. Having just darted away from wiL's arms, the change from comfortable warmth to foreign chill was unsettling.

"He's in a minimum security cell because of his fancy lawyer, so you'll get the clear bullet proof door," Sheriff Dalton was informing her as they walked deeper and deeper into the confines of the prison, "there is a small slot in it that is meant for food or mail. Watch his hands in case he decides to reach through there."

"I'll be sure to," she promised.

"Are you sure Mr. Francis is ok with this?"

"wiL loves me and he knows I need this," she answered simply, trying to sound mundane. Nonetheless, the officer made a noise.

"Oh yes, I can tell," he replied, almost mockingly.

She secluded back to her mind instantly, except unlike she'd ever done before, she spoke out.

"You judge us."

Sheriff Dalton coughed a bit and stopped in front of a heavy metal door, "What do you mean by that?"

"You see it, and yet you consider it wrong in your head," Elizabeth stated, a sick feeling in her gut. She didn't like speaking to adults like she knew more than they did. Now it only seemed appropriate to make him feel the gravity of perception she held in her mind.

"I see what?"

 "You see us! You notice how he hovers over me and you have come to the conclusion that there is something more."

 "I have a daughter, Ms. Gregory," he said sternly, "I have seen her habits too. Her boyfriends are touchy feely as well, but I don't call that love."

 "Does it look like that?" She challenged, "Does it really look as if he is just wanting that?"

 The man stopped and his face contorted. Elizabeth knew she was right. She'd won.

 "His door is directly in front of you," Sheriff Dalton surrendered, "we will have cameras monitoring him in case he does something rash."

 "The sound-"

 "There are no microphones on the cameras or anywhere in that room," he said firmly.

 "Thank you, Sheriff," she responded politely. A buzzer sounded and he immediately pushed the door open.

 "Mr. Gray: visitor," he said behind her. The door shut, and she was alone.

 The room was small, his clear door leaving only a foot of space left on the far wall. Of course, far wasn't a proper word to use as it was only three feet away. It was the normal egg-shell white with concrete walls. The only thing that kept her optimistic now was that light shined in through barred windows placed as close to the ceiling as possible, at least a good ten feet up. Still, it was a bright room, and it continued her hopefulness.

 She looked into the large bullet proof glass door, but did not see him. His bed was against the farthest wall in the cell, a chair, and the toilet was visible, but he was nowhere to be seen. However, that could have been because she hadn't moved any closer to the door. Watching her feet she stepped up a square and looked back to the door.

 His brown eyes greeted her and she jumped.

 "I didn't see you," she said instantly, a reflex response. Suddenly she realized her nerves and all the determination drained. This man staring at her was responsible for the death of her parents, and yet she couldn't feel any of the anger she had before. All that was left was fear.

 "You're her, aren't you?" he asked, his voice rough. Yet in Elizabeth's mind, she imagined hearing it elsewhere and thought it would have been a most pleasant sound.

 My subconscious is making him human. She fretted over this reflection, and directly went into her former mode of purpose.

 "If by her you mean the daughter of those wonderful people you brutally slaughtered, than yes," Elizabeth replied smoothly. His eyes went to the floor.

 "It wasn't me," he said quietly.

 "Let's not talk about that now," she said at once, "I didn't come in here to argue about you persistence in lying. I wanted to know who you were before all this happened."

 He squinted his eyes, "Why?"

 She sighed and moved to lean against the wall to her left, "I have no idea." Out of the corner of her eye, she watched him smile.

 "You say your parents were wonderful?" he questioned. A flame rose on her neck. He couldn't be mocking her.

 "Yes," she answered out of curiosity, "they were more than magnificent."

 "Maybe they wanted you to meet me," he pondered, leaning against the door, bravely looking at her, "so that you could know the truth."

 "We'll get to that later," she said, "for now, tell me about you yourself."

 He titled his head back for a moment, eying her with a smirk on his face. "Ok then, I will humor you," he replied, and turned to lean against his glass door. "I was born-"

 "Face me, if you would," she said immediately. His head turned, no doubt wanting to ask why again so she beat him to it, "I want to memorize your face."

 "As you wish, my lady," he said and turned onto his side. Her anger at being patronized was boiling, but she tried to simmer within herself.

 "I was born," he began again, "not far from Seattle. I grew up in a very normal family. There isn't much about my home life in the beginning that will benefit you to know, except this one thing..." he paused and completely faced her, "My parents were murdered when I was seventeen years old."

 Cold air rushed into her lungs as she breathed in quickly through her nose. She'd meant to hold in a gasp, but it hadn't worked as well as she may have liked. His smirk faded as he continued.

 "I will go further into that afterwards, as you said we'd discuss my innocence later," he teased, "Anyways, after that I became the father of my younger sister. I knew we'd get separated by the system, so I ran away. I'd been cut so on my way out of the house I was bleeding quite a bit. I remembered something I'd read a while back: if there's blood on the floor and no body, the cops will assume there's a body to be found. So I stopped and cut my sister's arm as little as I could, but enough to get blood on the floor. Sure enough, when the house was discovered it was two days later and the cops started looking for us. By the end on the first month, without our parents to fight for us, they deemed us both dead and ended the search parties and Amber Alerts."

 "Where did you go?" She asked, unintentionally deep into his story, "Why haven't the cops realized you are who you are?"

 "The questions you ask have the same answer," Zachary smiled lightly, looking at Elizabeth. His eyes swirled with the control he had over her at that moment, a pool of deep brown ready to engulf her, "Barnaby Williams was his name, or at least that's what everyone called him. He had been a friend of my father's when I was still in elementary. He was an older gentleman. I recalled, that day I ran away and was sitting out by an old boxcar near the train station, that he and my dad had fallen out. My dad's job clashed consistently with Mr. Williams' profession."

 "What was that?"

 "My father had been a local detective. Mr. Williams changed who you were."

 "He was a criminal," she nodded, "He changed identities."

 "He called himself Witness Protection, of course," Zachary nodded with her, "but when my dad found out, you can imagine how annoyed he was with his best friend. He cast him out, not really wanting to turn him in. Then things started changing. People were disappearing. Not disappearing, but just being wiped off the face of the earth. My dad knew Barnaby was allowing people to start over, and he wanted to find him. They spent ten years playing cat and mouse with each other, but more Tom and Jerry style: they played each other, not one side dominating."

 He paused, leaving Elizabeth gripping her own arm in anticipation. If Zachary was telling the truth, he knew her pain. And though he claimed it would prove his innocence, somewhere she wondered if it had warped his mind to want to make others share the pain she was.

 "When my parents were murdered, I went to Barnaby and my sister and I officially disappeared. He knew who I was when I came up the stairs. He said I needed a boy's name or else I would never get anywhere. He called me Zachary Gray and my sister Hayden Gray. The story was that I had messed up and gotten a girl pregnant. The mother died and now Hayden was legally by all means my daughter."

 "That must have been hard," Elizabeth found herself commenting.

 "No more challenging than your friend wiL's dispute of calling you his daughter except our reasons were different."

 He stared at her intently and turned back around. "He loves you more than a father is allowed. I loved my sister in the appropriate ways. She grew up thinking I was her father, and I took the position as best I could. I made a humble living for a long time. I became a photographer a few years ago, and when Hayden turned 18 she left for college. She's still there, even though she's asked to come see me. I haven't told her about her past. I wish I could.

 "Our paths cross during a particular photography session, and this is where I defend my innocence."

 Elizabeth nodded and began her words. "You killed my parents after this happened to you," she said, "how could you?"

 "I did mention it wasn't me. I have proof that everything I've said has happened."

 "So by proving your parents were actually killed, that will prove your innocence,"

 "No but a few photographs will tie me into this case and provide an alibi at the same time."

 He stopped again and pressed both hands against the glass, his face inches away from it, "If you knew who killed your parents, what would you do?"

 "I thought I did know," she breathed, stepping a bit closer to the door.

 "You have proof," he expanded, "you know it was him. Would you want them to pay for what they've done?"

 She stepped closer, "Yes, I would."

 "You feel the pain I have felt all these years," his eyes softened into dark warm chocolate and she felt entranced. He hadn't done it and she knew it then as he continued, "it is so wonderful to have someone who understands, but I could never be the cause of such suffering."

 Calculatedly, she looked down and slipped her hand through his food slot. He looked into her wet eyes and gently took her hand.

 "I want the true cause to pay for what they've done," she said, "I want you to get out of here."

 "Well then you must know who killed my parents and who killed your parents."

 "Who killed yours?" She asked, "Who killed mine?"

 "The questions you ask," Zachary said, pressing his forehead against the glass, "have the same answer."

 

**AND THE BIGGEST TWIST EVER IS NEXT! OFF TO WORK NOW!**

Haunting Connections

 

"How do you know him?" Sheriff Dalton asked instantly.

 "I wish I could tell you," wiL answered, "I can't remember where I've seen him, but I know him. Zachary Gray, right?"

 "Yes, that's him," Officer Sherman nodded. Elizabeth's head whipped in his direction.

 "Damn it, I wish I could remember..." wiL trailed off, trying to recall what made the man so familiar; his eyebrows, definitely. They were rather large and created the hint of Neanderthal look to the man. His nose was a bit bigger than normal too. wiL knew what made him familiar, but he didn't know how he knew him or why.

 The yelling in the interviewing room was growing louder, and when wiL looked back, Zachary was being slammed against the metallic table by two guards and getting warned of how he was acting by his lawyer and the prosecution. Suddenly the lights flicked off and the room was silent. wiL turned to see the Sheriff had shut the connection it off.

 "I think that's enough for today,"

 "Enough?" Elizabeth asked, her voice cracking, yet so hostile and unnecessarily angry, "What? You think because I cried that I can't handle myself?"

 "Relax Lizzie," wiL said, placing his hand on the small of her back.

 "No, I won't relax, I want to see him! I want to see him!"

 "Not now, hun, he's going back to the cell," Sheriff Dalton informed her.

 "I want to talk to him then!" she persisted. wiL, almost scared by the intensity of her mood, wrapped her into a side embrace.

 "Liz, I don't know if you yelling will make him any better," wiL tried.

 "I'm not going to yell," she answered, suddenly hushed but still intense.

 "Then why do you want to see him?" wiL asked.

 "I just want to talk to him," she insisted.

 Sheriff Dalton exchanged a worried stare with wiL. Would this be a good thing, or would it be as disastrous as both men were visualizing?

 "All right, but be careful of what you say," Sheriff Dalton warned, despite wiL's look of worry, "don't get him worked up."

 "I will, when I speak to him alone."

 Both men froze on their way to the door.

 "No," wiL said instantly.

 "Now Ms. Gregory-"

 "Don't start," she interrupted promptly, "I have my reasons. He's not going to kill me from his cell and he can't even touch me."

 Stubbornness; wiL had never seen this before. Nor disrespect for authority, but it was still there. Maybe it only came out when she was angry.

 "If it's all right with Mr. Francis," Sheriff Dalton complied. Elizabeth instantly turned to wiL.

 "Can we have a minute," he answered. The Sheriff nodded and walked out. The minute the door shut her arms were wrapped around his waist and her lips were on his. It was deprived and passionate, knowing it was an explosion of the tiny kisses and embraces they'd wanted to lay on each other the multiple times during interrogation.

 "How is this possible?" she whispered. He heard the tears in her voice.

 "What, beautiful?" he asked, trying to layer his voice over her like a defensive blanket.

 She broke off from him and went over to the wall, immediately sliding down to lean against it.

 "You know the man who killed my parents. You, of all people, have met the murderer," she said, her voice wispy.

 "Granted, it is bizarre, but it's not something to be concerned about," wiL tried to comfort.

 "That's your opinion," Elizabeth replied, rising to her feet and turning away from him. She leaned against the blank windowsill. For a moment he just stood there, staring at her, before instinct walked him over to embrace the small quivering body.

 "Why are you so troubled about this?" he asked, trying to understand.

 "Don't you understand?" She turned to face him, "I knew you as a music star. I knew you were with Mandy. I had no idea Mandy was my aunt, or anything close to. All of the sudden my parents are dead. For some odd reason, you know the killer. You, who would have no connection to me otherwise. Then, my parents are dead and Mandy's my aunt and you're my stepfather and you know the man that started it all."

 wiL cocked his head and looked back at her. "Yes that is weird," he agreed, "but it doesn't mean you should talk to him."

 "I've made up my mind," Elizabeth argued. wiL opened his mouth to try and stop her again, but she raised her hand to silence him.

 "This is for me," she said calmly, placing the raised hand on his cheek. "My parents were taken from me and I have to know why from the horse's mouth."

 The protective bones were shrieking to hold her close and keep her safe, but he knew it would be nothing but a fool's errand. Elizabeth, he realized, wasn't as young as he'd thought. She had been going through a rough time, and now she had grown from it.

 Grown; exactly. She was a grown woman now. A woman on a mission.

 And before he could realize it, the door was closing and Elizabeth was no longer in his arms.

 

**a shorter chapter, but I wanted to include that reflection before she met Zachary. and yes...if you haven't realized it yet, zachary Gray...like Zachary Quinto/Gabriel Gray? Sorry, but when I first started writing this, I didn't have an image for my murderer and now I do...so :P. Hopefully you can stick with me. These chapters are amazing to finally write. Watch as it all ties in... shockers await!**

 

XOXO

Twists and Turns Unfold; Not Always For the Better

 

"Ms. Gregory, it's nice to meet you," Sheriff Dalton extended his hand as a greeting, and all the protective bones in wiL's skinny body went off. No other man was allowed to touch her. Every last one had the potential to hurt her. These feelings emanated off of him to the point where the sheriff looked up and nodded.

 "I see you've taken the role of stepfather on with stride, Mr. Francis."

 "Not really, sir," Elizabeth said quietly.

 "What she means," wiL interrupted, trying to prevent the statutory rape charge while he was ahead, "is that I am more of a protective best friend than a father figure."

 "Unless you're George Michael's type of father figure," Nick laughed, "then you'd be right on!" Instantly Elizabeth turned a deep shade of red and Angel jabbed Nick in the ribs.

 "Well, I'm not sure what that means, Mr. Wiggins, but I'll let it slide under my nose for my own safety. Of course, you should know that Woody Allen would also work." The blush crept back onto Elizabeth's neck and wiL had the urge to cup her ears in his hands to feel the heat he knew she was producing. He wondered who Woody Allen was.

 "How'd you know my name?" Nick asked as he realized he had been addressed as Mr. Wiggins.

 Jake and Jade arrived on cue, letting Jake be a cocky jerk, "Don't you think that they'd have information on all of us for this?"

 "Actually no," Sheriff Dalton corrected, "I have a teenage daughter who just went to your concert," his eyes shined with pride, "she was so happy when she came home I did a little research. It's how I found you, Ms. Gregory."

 It stopped the room cold. The sheriff let it be silent for one moment before laughing.

 "I saw that wiL had some apologizing to do, hence my comment about taking it in stride," he chuckled again, "being a dad isn't easy to accept when it's a surprise huh?"

 wiL let out a smile of relief "Sure isn't."

 *****

 "All right, enough with the crowd, let's talk Ms. Gregory." The sheriff began to walk away, only to turn back around when he realized all six people were following him, "I can only have Elizabeth and Mr. Francis in here; sorry guys."

 Grumbles followed, but wiL, Elizabeth, and Sheriff Dalton finally got into one of the interviewing rooms. It was relatively small, but there was a desk with two chairs. One of the typical mirrors donned the wall across from the chairs, and though Elizabeth wasn't under suspicion, nervousness crept across her stomach.

 "There's nobody back there," Sheriff Dalton assured, as if reading her mind, "it's just you and me." He held out the chair for her and moved quickly to do the same for wiL.

 "I want you both to comfortable, but I doubt this is helping, huh?" the kindly mannered man smiled and sat down diagonal to Elizabeth. wiL tensed on the other side of her.

 "Not very, but it will serve its purpose," Elizabeth said matter-of-factly.

 "Ah yes, I was curious as to why you wanted to hold council before you saw the perp," the sheriff rubbed his gray mustache, "and wondering how you knew about the right to hold council in the first place."

 "What can I say?" Elizabeth shrugged, "Politics fascinate me, as do Jodi Picoult's writings, which are most often correct in the practice of the law."

 "That they are," Sheriff Dalton laughed, "you got yourself a smart one." He nodded to wiL.

 "More than aware of that," wiL smiled, though there was still a protective edge to his facial expressions.

 "All right, then what is it you were wanting, little lady?"

 "I was wondering how you know it's him?" Elizabeth began, "I was informed by one of my social services' lawyers that there wasn't any substantial or credible evidence to point to any sort of suspect." wiL almost fell back in his chair. This didn't exactly sound normal coming from her. Perhaps that had been what she'd been whispering under her breath the whole time, making sure everything was perfect. That seemed like something she would do.

 "That proved to be incorrect. The state turned out to be holding crucial evidence, which opened the case back up and led to the easy discovery of the murderer."

 "Why?" wiL asked.

 "Why were they holding the evidence? Most likely due to the circumstances. When social services got a hold of the case they argued that funding for a lawyer would take away from money Ms. Gregory didn't have, and since this could very well lead to a trial, they were not willing to take that risk."

 "Take what risk?" wiL asked again.

 "The state itself would have to pay for her lawyer. Basically the reason this man was not behind bars earlier was greed, Mr. Francis. Therefore the state, or rather a now very unemployed judge, withheld important evidence."

 "What kind of evidence?" Elizabeth questioned.

 "First of all, there were a few fingerprints on the toilet handle that were recent and did not match you or your parents. Your mother didn't go without a fight, Ms. Gregory; there was blood on the wall of your bedroom that took the shape of three blurred lines. In English, that means she had scratched him and he'd fallen against the wall. When it didn't match your parents or you, we sent it to the lab. The test results were not received until the case was 'closed' so they were not enough."

 "Not enough?"

 "To start the case back up; it could be blood from anyone if the defendant's lawyer is trained well. He could make it look like we were getting desperate."

 "I didn't know that was possible," wiL commented.

 "It only takes a seed of doubt to sway a jury or a judge," Elizabeth responded. With every ounce of strength she had, she looked meaningfully into the sheriff's eyes, "How did it happen?"

 *****

 The weight of her words was sudden and forceful, yet still it was sinking over the room like molasses. Sheriff Dalton coughed lightly before leaning forward a bit. "I'm not sure you need to hear that sort-"

 "Don't you DARE tell me what I don't need to hear!" Elizabeth said strongly, pointing an accusing finger, "I'm not grown up, but I'm getting there and if I keep getting babied  I'll never learn. I want to know. I've wanted to know since the first time I heard it. I wanted to know what Mrs. Carlin meant when she said they'd been shot. How did it happen?"

 Silence followed and it only frustrated her more, but she kept her outer cool. Right now, it felt lame and stupid, yet she couldn't deny that she wanted wiL's arms around her then. It wasn't strong, like the tough front she was fighting to put up, so she tried to relax.

 "It wasn't bad. It was quick and painless, especially for your father. He didn't see it coming. Your mother wasn't as lucky-she saw the man come for her and ran to your bedroom. She put up a fight but he got her before she could leave the room. She didn't see your father's body. Both died relatively happy. They had made pancakes for themselves and there was a delivery..."

 In the middle of his description, Sheriff Dalton stopped. He had finally noticed the tears Elizabeth had been fighting to hide.

 "I'm sorry, I don't mean to upset you," he instantly started apologizing.

 wiL was at her side in that very instant, crouching next to her chair. His ever concerned eyes looked at her and it broke her barrier, and she began to cry on into her hands. wiL's arms wrapped protectively around her to say nothing will hurt you when I'm here. She wished so much that it could be true. His shoulder became the perfect pillow and his shirt began to darken and soak with teardrops.

 "It's ok wiL," she said after a minute or so.

 "Are you sure?" he double checked.

 "Yeah," she reassured him, "I just needed to let it out." The door opened and Officer Sherman poked his head in.

 "We're going to need you to identify him now, Ms. Gregory," he said, almost apologetically. She nodded and looked up at wiL, who helped her up. Sheriff Dalton led them to a room on the far end. They stood in a small dark room and he knew they were behind one of the glass mirrors.

 "Are you ready?" Sheriff Dalton asked, his finger on a switch.

 Carefully and unnoticeably, wiL weaved his fingers with hers, giving her every bit of his warmth he could.

 "Yes, I'm ready."

 *****

 The sound came on and they saw through the mirror. Yelling shattered into the tiny area.

 "I never been to that house, not in my life!" a man was yelling, his hands handcuffed, an orange jumpsuit already donning his body. wiL glanced at Elizabeth. Her face was unreadable. He couldn't imagine the conflict going on in her head. This man had killed her parents. How could she not get angry? wiL looked back up at him, studying the lines over his forehead and the odd dent in his cheek.

 "We've got your prints and blood at the scene," the prosecutor, a woman, was yelling, "You have everything to lose here. All I'm asking is why you did it."

 "I didn't do anything!" the man bucked, hitting the table. The lawyer next to him flinched.

 "Relax, Zachary," he said, "I don't want my client to appear angry or distraught. You're instigation is going to make you lose this case."

 "I didn't do it!" the man, Zachary, insisted, standing up to knock the table onto two legs for a moment.

 "Do you know this man?" Sheriff Dalton asked, bringing Elizabeth out of the trance she was in.

 Her head went down. "No, I'm sorry, I don't."

 Disappointment crossed Sheriff Dalton and Officer Sherman's face.

 "You don't" wiL breathed out, catching the attention of everyone in the room. He took another deep breath before exhaling his answer, strong and clear.

 "But I do."

 

**So it's been a while again. I got a job so things are slowing down dramatically. However, I have two mroe chapters already written out and ready so I may post as soon as next week. Hopefully this all makes sense. I love these climactic chapters XD***

 

XOXO

Your Past: Stalking You Since You Know When

 

"Check it!" Nick said in Toledo two days later. Shortly after his outburst, his friends surrounded him, all starring at the computer screen.

 "Aw, someone heard about it!" Angel observed.

 "What does it say? I can't read it!" Jade said from behind wiL and Elizabeth.

 "It's a featured blog on buzznet. It says 'On this particular evening, a lover's quarrel resulted in amazing rewards to the select fans backstage that night. wiL's new friend, a girl who's name that is still unknown, had been hanging out incognito until one of the girls there started saying particularly cruel insults. After a short back and forth argument between wiL's friend and the fan, wiL interjected himself in defense of his own fans, which in reality is what he has been doing for years. The trouble maker was thrown and to the pleasant surprise of the fans, wiL's friend requested they receive a little extra. Shortly after, the merch crew turned in, but not before giving every single fan a concert shirt of their choosing, signed by all members of Aiden. It's another reason to adore the rebel loving band and to start getting to know this new friend. Questions on her identity still remain. More on this later.'"

 "Is this a good thing?" Elizabeth asked, concern in her voice. wiL smiled and kissed her cheek.

 "This is a VERY good thing!" he assured her, "If the fans like you, then they may accept us a little better."

 Elizabeth shrugged, "If I weren't me, I would think it was all a setup to do exactly that."

 Nick laughed, "Most people don't think like you."

 "That's where you're wrong," she nodded at him, "you've never read fan fictions. These girls will take things and make it work to prove that Angel is screwing Jake."

 "Um, how about if I say I'm not!" Jake interjected. Elizabeth simply laughed.

 "That will fuel their fire," she insisted.

 "Is this actually a rumor?" Angel questioned nervously.

 "No, it was an example," Elizabeth giggled, "but it is legitimate."

 Angel subconsciously shuddered, "That is a new level of sick..." he muttered. wiL noticed an evil smile creep across Jake's face but instantly gave him the death glare. Angel would not appreciate even the joke of being gay. Well, he would, but not from Jake.

 Another harbinger, or by definition, something that foreshadows or anticipates a future event (a fact he'd only just learned from Elizabeth) came from the door. It was a knock, which was odd by itself. Hugo had been allowed to burst in at any time, and any others wouldn't come directly to the band themselves... for anything; that was the reason for roadies and stage directors. It couldn't have been Mandy, and as the guys were thinking all these things the reason it couldn't be Mandy was presented again: Mandy would never risk her nails to pound on the door in that manner.

 "I'll get it," Nick finally mumbled. He rose up from his seat and went to the door.

 "Can I help you sirs?" he asked, his voice on the verge of cracking. Now wiL was nervous. Who would make Nick feel threatened?

 "Yes, we're with the local police department. We need to speak with an Elizabeth Gregory. We're told she'd be on this bus?"

 "I'm right here," Elizabeth spoke up. wiL could sense how worried she was. Though, it could have been him too.

 Nick didn't say a word as two men invited themselves in. Both wore police uniforms, one in tan and one in blue. The front runner was suited in the brown and had a sheriff's badge pinned to his chest. They both solemnly entered, the man behind scanning the bus. wiL couldn't help but thank God for Elizabeth's OCD causing her to clean it the day before.

 "How can I help you gentlemen?" she asked politely.

 The front man cleared his throat, "Ms. Gregory, my name is Ethan Kissinger and this is my second William Sherman," he motioned to himself and the blue donned officer.

 "How do you do," Elizabeth said, offering her hand to both men. Nick, Jake, and Jade took positions behind the two men, Angel and wiL hovering close behind Elizabeth. Instinctively (or perhaps possessively) wiL placed his hand on her shoulder.

 "We're just fine ma'am," he replied. His eyes were sad, his whole face downcast. Something was wrong. What could it possibly be was the question.

 "We didn't want to disturb you, but the FBI has been trying to catch you for a while and we didn't want to miss our chance," Mr. Sherman informed them.

 "What's going on?" wiL asked, his alpha male side taking the best of him, "Does this have to do with Mandy? Is she fighting for guardianship?"

 "As far the case is going, this has nothing to do with Mandy," Mr. Kissinger told him, using his hand to signal him to calm himself. wiL instantly felt relieved, but at the same time a new wave of worry crossed. He couldn't imagine what Elizabeth was feeling, her emotions and anxiety no doubt tripling his.

 "We wanted to deliver the news to you personally," Mr. Sherman continued.

 "What? What is it?" Elizabeth asked.

 The two men shared a glance, before brightening up a bit. Mr. Kissinger gave her a soft smile.

 "We caught him."

 A moment of confused silence passed.

 "We caught him," Mr. Sherman repeated, "We got the man who killed your parents."

 wiL didn't know when exactly it happened, but next thing he knew, Elizabeth had fallen from his grasp on his shoulder and was lying on the floor.

 

*****

 

She didn't recall falling, nor did she have any idea how she'd gotten there-the bed at the police station. Yet there she was, starring above at the ceiling. Chatter was making its way into the room and she immediately tuned her ears.

 "Let me in there! Come on, I'm a friend!"

 "Not a chance, bub, only family allowed."

 "This is her stepfather!"

 "Yeah, why didn't you bring that little piece of information up earlier then?"

 "It's not something I like broadcasting to the world, ok?"

 "wiL?" she whispered.

 "Look I don't have time for this. The victim needs to be well rested if she's going to have any shot at recognizing this guy."

 "wiL?" she said a little louder.

 "She has to meet this guy? Wait, how do you know this is him? The cops told her there wasn't any one..."

 "This is really none of your business!"

 "I'm married to her adoptive mother! Mandy Vaughn!"

 "Mandy Vaughn? She recently filed for divorce at the...never mind. The point is, if you were married to her, she doesn't want it to be that way."

 "wiL?" Elizabeth said much louder. She couldn't see it, but she knew all three of them-wiL, Nick, and the jackass officer-had turned their heads to face her.

 "Hey you can't-"

 "Save it, let him in." Nick defended, and then wiL was at her bedside.

 "Hello darling," wiL whispered softly.

 "wiL," she smiled and turned her head to face him. He looked different. His eyes were still done up in eyeliner. Had his hair always been that long? She could only remember that it had been shorter, that night in darkness lit by the single kitchen light. How long ago had that been? Three or four months?

 "I'm so sorry! I didn't even know you'd passed out or else I would have grabbed you," he apologized.

 "Stop it, silly, I'm fine," she giggled, making herself sit up. It was a blessing she didn't have any weight in her head.

 "Ok good, because you have to take on a big project here," he warned.

 "I know," she said.

 "You do?"

 "Yeah I heard you guys out in the hallway," she admitted.

 A silence settled over the room like a slow moving liquid. It covered her in thought. She had to meet the man who killed her parents. How do you do that?

 "Do what?"

 "What?"

 "You asked me how do I do that; what did you mean?"

 "Oh, I hadn't realized I spoken out loud..."  Elizabeth trailed and dismissed subtly, "I need to speak with the sheriff before I do anything. He might some answers."

 "To what?"

 Elizabeth looked up and tried her best to give him an unreadable stare. "My questions."

 

**aha loyal readers, there are so few of you left, though I have gained a few. I thank all of you. It really means a lot that you still read. Anyways, as I said this is where it gets interesting. This is where everything ties in, questions are answered, yada yada...I'vehad this ending in my head for ages now, and it is such a relief to write it. Keep reading! It only gets better from here!**

 

XOXO

Double Check as you Please

 Elizabeth waited patiently in the back tonight, the hard rain discouraging her from joining the crowd. However, it wasn't challenging to mingle with the teen fan girls backstage.

 "What's up ladies?" She asked harmlessly, clinging to her soda like a life ring.

 "Oh my God, only the best thing ever!" a particularly annoying blonde girl yelped. It was a perfect picture of stereotypes; fan girl after fan girl, and the leader was blonde.

 "Aiden?"

 "YEAH!" the blonde said. Elizabeth nodded dismissively and headed towards a a few more odd looking girls. They wore the "scene" look with the cropped hair dyed black and blonde, bows and all, pink, yellow, and turquoise. The skinny jeans and band t-shirts were another part, with the added on Vans shoes. It was the only group she hadn't talked to yet.

 "Ugh I just can't believe it," one of the girls said, almost apathetically.

 "Yeah," said a lower pitched girl, "I thought for sure he was married."

 "What's up now?" Elizabeth asked. Surprisingly, the group immediately brought her up to speed.

 "wiL isn't wearing a ring," said one of the scene girls with a turquoise bow in her hair, "and I saw a video where he said he was married, but then brought up another chick."

 "What if it was a Gerard Way thing?" The girl farthest away with the pink bow said, "like when he was engaged to that chick Eliza and then they were over?"

 "That's probably what happened." Elizabeth nodded. "It's awful isn't it?"

 "You think it had anything to do with the new chick?" the turquoise asked.

 Instantly, Elizabeth felt sick. "No way, I mean she was like our age right?"

 "Good point." The pink one said. The yellow bow spoke up.

 "Yeah but today it's not too far fetched. I was there. I saw how he looked at her-it was something."

 Trying to laugh it off, Elizabeth waved her hand. "Nah, and even if he does have a thing for the new chick, I doubt he would have married Mandy then just left her in the same week."

 "Now that is true," the yellow bow agreed. "wiL's a good guy, as far as I can tell. I didn't know her name, but that Mandy chick didn't match him nearly as well as this girl did. Maybe he realized she was too different."

 "You got all that from one stage appearance?" the pink bow said.

 Yellow bow shrugged, "I read people sometimes."

 Sighing with relief, Elizabeth nodded, clinging once again to her drink. "Then that's probably what it is."

 "Rumor has it, the two women are related." Pink bow informed the group.

 "How's that?"

 "The girl apparently lives with them on the tour bus!" Pink bow continued. "She was adopted by Mandy."

 "It has to be a rumor." Elizabeth said hurriedly. "There is just no way."

 "They're coming ladies," a familiar voice said. A grimace crossed her face as she turned, seeing Mandy in the door way. The ring still donned her left hand.

 "Oh yes!" the blonde girl from earlier squealed, her and her friends jumping up and down.

 "Relax girls; he's a married man!" Mandy said confidently. Red clouded Elizabeth for a split second, and that was all it took.

 "Not anymore, he's not."

 She instantly wished she had just hidden in the corner. Obviously knowing Elizabeth was there before, Mandy merely smiled.

 "Aww aren't you cute!" Mandy said, spite hidden so perfectly it was like a piece of cotton amongst a silk blanket; it was hardly noticeable unless you knew it was there.

 "She's right you know," the yellow bow said. "He isn't wearing his ring."

 "Perhaps he doesn't want to ruin it?" her aunt continued on.

 "Like you would know if he actually hated you." the pink bow shot out.

 "I would know actually," she said and shut the door, menace radiating from her skinny body and intimidating stare down. The security guards in the room visibly weren't sure what to make of Mandy. They knew who she was, probably because she was on a list allowing her access (that needed revision), but the red in Mandy's glare made them uneasy.

 "Not if you were biased, wishing he cared about you anymore!" Elizabeth shot out again.

 "Has he confirmed that he doesn't?" Mandy shouted at Elizabeth. The act was almost dropped, but her expression was sharp for only a moment, before it went back to the cocky glare.

 "Yes he has. He doesn't want you."

 Girls turned to look at her and then to Elizabeth, who was bravely stepping forward to her aunt.

 "How would you know?" Turquoise bow said, obviously confused. "This is Mandy Murders! Don't you think she knows wiL better than you?"

 "They don't know, do they?" Mandy said quietly, a smirk plastered onto her face. Automatically, Elizabeth knew her plan.

 "Don't you dare breathe a word of it."

 "You know I do love you," Mandy said softly, leaning back against the door, "but I love him more."

 "Love her?" Yellow bow said in a thoughtful tone. 

 "I got that. It doesn't matter. You shouldn't be here, and when he gets here, he'll kick you out."

 "I wish we weren't fighting, I really do."

 "When this is over, we won't need to because you'll have to accept reality."

 "Ladies," a security guard said suddenly. Elizabeth smiled. It was Hugo.

 "Yes?" Mandy said through her teeth.

 "Please take it to another room." He glared. A cocky grin went onto the young girl's face.

 "Seriously, let it go! You're arguing with her?" Pink bow said, but Yellow bow touched her arm and shook her head. Confusion was settling into the room.

 The door shut behind them.

 "What else do you want?" Mandy asked.

 "You have to let it go," Elizabeth insisted, "he already assured me I wasn't a replacement."

 "Has he really assured you though?" she persisted, "It's quite possible his words alone are not enough. I want hard evidence."

 "What else do you want?" Elizabeth threw her hands in the air.

 "I want to talk to him," Mandy said. Elizabeth nodded.

 "That's fine."

 A pause happened. It wasn't a normal silence, because the tension whispered in their ears and made every movement louder than it was. Mandy finally broke it, releasing all the tension with one word.

 "Alone."

 "Not a chance!" Elizabeth fired back.

 "Why not?"

 "You'll hit on him!"

 "Now is that a problem?"

 Elizabeth just gave her a look.

 "Think about it, Lizzie," Mandy continued, "if he really truly loves you, he would push me off him. I'll put my best moves on him, and if he refuses me, then we'll both know."

 "Did you get impatient or something? I thought I would tell you if he wasn't replacing you with me."

 "I just realized that flaw in the plan." Mandy said smugly, leaning back and crossing her arms.

 "And that flaw is?"

 "You can easily convince yourself that it's true love," Mandy argued. It was semi true, and even Elizabeth couldn't deny it, "I want it to be confirmed; a clear cut sign."

 "Ok so you have a point," Elizabeth reluctantly admitted.

 "It's not a point. It's the new plan." Mandy said confidently. "You'll get too curious yourself as to whether he'll accept me, so I will ignore any protests right now."

 Of course, from that comment, Elizabeth went to speak up for herself, knowing full well that Mandy was one hundred percent correct. Being a girl was terrible; the crazy drama that seemed unavoidable. How had she gotten dragged into this?

 From that, where was she to begin?

 Just before she got a word out, someone banged on the door. "All right ladies, the boys are on their way." The door opened, Hugo's figure blocking a majority of the entry. "I'm sorry Mandy, but you have to leave."

 "Naturally; I'm sure my husband wouldn't want to see me," Mandy sighed, and raised her hand before both Hugo and Elizabeth said what they were aching to yell:

 "I know, I know, ex husband."

 Screams came into the room: piercing, screeching, horrible sounds. Fan girls, as expected, were pouring themselves onto the shadows of the five no doubt exhausted men. Mandy made an annoyed snarl.

 "Is there a back exit?" Hugo pointed behind her and it was that direction Mandy clicked away. Elizabeth walked with Hugo back into the room to see the boys signing the multitude of items being shoved in their faces. Nick and Angel were being swamped by a few giggling girls. Jade and Jake were hanging back with the three bows. And not shocking her at all was the original blonde falling over herself (she'd skipped tripping and gone to full out falling) to impress him. She twirled her hair nervously and laughed when he said anything and asked him to sign every last thing she was wearing.

 "Hmm, I don't feel jealous," she mumbled.

 "Lizzinator, jealous? I wouldn't even hear of it." Hugo laughed.

 "As long as she doesn't try to get him to sign her boobs," she agreed. However, at that very moment she began reaching around her to grab the top of her shirt.

 "AHEM!" Hugo shouted loudly and on purpose. Every head turned. wiL looked up and instantly his weariness vanished replaced by little sparkles. The blonde looked in wiL's direction, so Elziabeth took advantage of the situation and walked up next to her, whispering so only she could hear.

 "They don't sign boobs,"

 "Pch, they'll sign mine." She said, obviously dismissing her. It wasn't rude, but more of a comical tone.

 "Well, let me rephrase, he isn't allowed to sign underage girl's boobs,"

 "What are you, a security guard?" the girl said rudely, "Back off me!"

 "Hey whatever she said is probably right," wiL said. "She's been to a lot of our shows before."

 The blonde turned back to wiL, her glower bouncing into a giddy smile. "I was just curious as to if you'd sign one more thing."

 "We don't like to sign skin, but especially not if it's anything you wouldn't expose next to your dad." wiL recited, almost making Elizabeth break out in giggles-she'd certainly exposed those kinds of things to her "dad". Instantly, the flighty girl fell downcast.

 "Oh," she said, "That's all right!" she said, perking up, "You could make it up to me!"

 Elizabeth and wiL exchanged a nervous glance. "Um, how?" he asked.

 "Well, I don't think a kiss would kill you," she hinted, dragging her toe along the floor-her toe barely visible through the huge heels.

 "Well, uh, it's not, uh, something I can exactly..." wiL stuttered. Surely he'd encountered this before. Why was he acting like it was new?

 "What?" the girl asked.

 "Well, see, I'd like to, but I'm not allowed. I'm sure you'd want it to mean something, something special, and it would, but then if I did it to you, I'd have to do it to all the other girls here."

 Blondie looked around at the others. As her gaze turned to the three bows, she glared.

 "Well, I'd rather deprive myself then let them have anything. They aren't worthy of you."

 Elizabeth's earlier rage betrayed her, "Worthy? He's a normal guy, and they are pretty cool girls!"

 "Yeah I saw you with them," Blondie said scornfully, "I'm going to fight for my man," she continued, winking at wiL. He tried not to laugh.

 "Fight? Those girls wouldn't waste their time being fan girls!"

 "No, they waste their time cutting their wrists to get attention! Seriously, why don't they just kill themselves already? And for that matter, why don't you?"

 "Now that's enough!" wiL yelled, his voice commanding and strong. "No one should have death wished upon them! Especially not MY Elizabeth," wiL paused here to bring Elizabeth into him, "or anyone she believes is a good person. Hugo, get this trash out of here!"

 "Gladly," he sighed, taking the girl by her arm and leading her out. The blonde continued to yell, threatening to sue and cursing everyone in the room.

 "Thanks," Elizabeth mumbled, her head down as she moved away from him; the act still had to go on, "I was afraid I'd punch her."

 wiL's hand found it's way on her chin. "No one talks to you like that."

 Elizabeth's eyes darted to the bow girls. "Yeah well it's nice of you to do that for a fan."

 wiL's eyes widened as he remembered. "Hey, you're a loyal fan. I can't just stand by and watch as that thing that I sing against goes on."

 "Why would anyone like that like your music?"

 "No idea. I also didn't know those types of girls actually existed. I was fairly certain those were just the made up bad chicks from fairytales."

 "Yeah, me either," Elizabeth finished. She looked back up at wiL and for a moment tried to convey how much she wanted to kiss him right there through her eyes. However much she meant it, the expression she was met with said the exact same thing times ten.

 "I knew it." Yellow bow said suddenly, triumph on her face. The silent couple turned to face her.

 "What?" Turquoise asked.

 "That's her," Yellow bow explained, "the girl he brought on stage."

 "What?" Elizabeth said, trying to appear confused.

 "Please," Yellow countered, "that's the exact same look he gave you on the stage. I'd recognize it anywhere."

 "Oh my God, you're the girl?" Another teen said from the other room. It was one of the guys (the few guys) in the room.

"Dude, she is hot," said another one of the guys.

 "No," wiL said, "she's beautiful, and she's all mine."

 "Hey wiL?" Elizabeth said as wiL began to wrap his arms around her.

 "Yes?"

 "Before you do the romantic 'she's all mine, kiss, end scene' thing, can we, uh, do something nice for these guys?" she asked, referring to the fans in the room.

 wiL smiled. "I think I know just the thing."

 

**told ya I'd be posting faster. It's all coming together now. I'm gonna go watch the Movie Awards now...maybe Zachary Quinto will be on it XD**

 

***ps I will not be eliminating any characters, despite current band lineup***

We All Need Confirmation; I Got Mine

 wiL pushed the curtain back. "Can I come in?" he asked. Elizabeth looked up and smiled.

 "Of course," she grinned.

 Whether it was the morning's cuddles or the feeling of being tested or her still in her running shorts, it overcame him. He instantly rushed into her, pressing his body so hard on hers his intentions were clear, and kissed her passionately but roughly. It hadn't even meant to be that. He'd wanted to talk to her and find out what was going on. Yet suddenly, all he wanted was her again.

 "wiL Angel's in the next room," she reminded him. He sighed, releasing her neck from his teeth.

 "Why?" he asked desperately.

 She giggled, "Because he lives here."

 "Damn him," wiL muttered. Her mouth formed a grin that he erased with his lips.

 "wiL, seriously," she said. He backed up a bit. The tone was annoyed. It didn't make any sense.

 "Is there something wrong?" he asked warily.

 "Yes, if you'll kindly look down I think you'll see it as well."

 Crap.

 "Sorry, it happens," he apologized and immediately began trying to think of old ladies, "what's really wrong?"

 "I told you...before."

 He sighed and moved away from her another step. "I don't want you to think that way. I am not going to forget you and be all about the physical. I've never been that way."

 Elizabeth switched her stance, reminding him of just how young she was. It was vulnerable and fear was obvious. She bit her lip and grabbed onto her arm across her stomach, shifting her weight to her left foot.

 "I don't want you to hurt me."

 "What?" he said, feeling like she'd just punched him in the gut, "I'd never..."

 "I know you wouldn't on purpose, and I don't think you would on accident," she assured him. Very gently she rested her arms on his chest, his hands immediately travelling to her back to embrace her.

 "What I mean," she continued, "is that I just never want to be mad at you or not talk to you. I would feel like I was missing a part of me."

 "Yeah," he mumbled. Meanwhile, his thoughts were taking him back. She was young. She had a future to build and it couldn't be backstage or in a mosh pit. She probably had big dreams too. With her soon to be inherited fortune, she could make it happen. Was he holding her back?

 "You have to get ready for the show," she reminded him, bringing him out of his trance. He pulled back and looked in her eyes.

 The crooked smile came back onto her face. "You see it too."

 "See what?"

 "Everything we didn't see before," she sighed, "blinded so much by rapidly- emerging, unexplainable emotions that we ignored facts and issues that should have been addressed before all of this. Like, for instance, the whole thing about you left you potential wife for a girl your not even sure you're going to marry, etc."

 They both let out a small laugh. "You're close," he admitted. She reached up and kissed his cheek.

 "Should we worry about this after the concert?"

 "Yes!" he laughed and hugged her. She turned to go back to the living room, but heard himself stop her.

 "You know, for a while I worried you would think you were a replacement."

 She turned back to him. Instantly, he noted the poker face she was putting on. "Why would you think I'd worry?"

 "That day when we sang Erase/Replace," he recalled, "you joked about it. But I know things, and that's normally a sign that the thought had crossed your mind."

 "You read into me well," she confessed.

 "I want you to know, it's not like that." He nodded towards her, "at first, I considered it myself, but even Mandy wasn't this amazing."

 A smile came across her face, telling him he'd done well.

 "You know that I'm testing you,"

 Or so he'd thought.

 "I had a feeling."

 "Well...keep it up. You aren't doing too badly." She giggled and walked out.

 Hopefully, he thought to himself, this is just an evil plan to satisfy Mandy. I will not be tested again.

**end of school, so rather busy. I feel awful. My fanfic is dying in popularity and it is getting so good! Everything is tying in! Next chapter is exciting..GAH! I'm actually going to tag this one...it needs to be read! anyways...please bear with me!**

 

XOXO

All Out Silent Brawl

 "Where's Lizzie?"

 It was a warm morning and wiL had slept in. As a very typical thing for him to do, no one really cared. It didn't bother them, and nothing bothered him. It was amazing how much he'd slept. After months of insomnia, he slept like a baby. This morning he hadn't heard a thing. It felt way too cliché that he woke up when someone said her name.

 "Why?"

 "I don't know...I'm bored and feel like hackling someone who gets all scrunchie faced and stuff."

 "I don't know Nick."

 "Well...let's face it; she might be in wiL's bed..."

 The curtains flew back almost instantly. The sunlight burned and wiL instinctively hissed and rolled over. "She's not here!" he yelled.

 "You're lucky..." Angel mumbled.

 "Angel, chill. If she's in his bed, it doesn't mean anything anyways," wiL noted Jade's point. He secretly wondered if that would always be a valid statement.

 "That's weird," he heard Nick say to himself, "where the heck can she be?"

 "Did you check the roof?" wiL asked.

 "Yeah I checked there too, but she-"

 "Hey guys!"

 Elizabeth's voice was so ringing and clear, but obviously winded. wiL finally raised his head off the pillow enough to see her and pushed his upper torso up to see her from his bunk.

 "Hi guys! Sorry, I went out for a morning jog." She said, breathily. That much appeared to be true. She wore athletic shorts that came down far enough to be considered modest, but didn't go to her knees. Her tank top was a nice white color that just barely showed the pink bra underneath. wiL took mental notes again that he wished he didn't, such as he was curious to whether he'd ever take it off himself.

 Being a guy sucks sometimes...he muttered to himself as he fell back onto his pillow. Footsteps warned him of upcoming disturbances.

 "Angel I swear if you open this curtain again, I'll stab you."

 "Thanks, unless you meant Angel- Angel. If you are saying angel as a cute name, I'm offended." Her voice soothed him. It wasn't high pitched like most seventeen year old girls. wiL decided that maybe it had to do with mental capacity. Tragedy might also take part. Nonetheless, it worked in his favor, as Elizabeth's voice sounded like soft rain with an added touch of thunder. It rolled off his bare back like shockwaves, and goose bumps rose on his skin.

 "Morning, beautiful," he said rolling over to look at her.

 "I was going to say the same thing," she joked. To his surprise, he felt her lay down beside him, her small arms wrapping around him. Adding to his shock, she nudged her body closer, so much it made him roll over and face her.

 "You're very affectionate." He smiled.

 "Negative ghost rider; you're just comfy." She giggled. He moved so that he was completely towards her and reached around, pulling Elizabeth closer to him. Her breathing was heavy from running and he could feel the heart in her chest beating so rapidly yet it felt like paper gently pushing him. wiL sighed into her as her head fit nicely under his chin, their legs entwining instinctively.

 "I missed you," he whispered into her hair.

 "You saw me before you went to bed last night silly," she laughed, her breath batting at his chest like sunshine.

 "Yeah but I had a dream and you weren't in it and I got all weird," he said sleepily. Elizabeth must have recognized his fatigue.

 "Do you want me to let you sleep?"

 "No I want you to stay here and sleep with me,"

 "There will be NONE of that you two!" Angel's voice shouted from the other room, followed by juvenile laughter.

 "Come off it Angie!" Elizabeth shot back. The laughter increased in volume. Luckily, Angel rolled it off his shoulders and no noise was heard indicating his argument.

 "What are we going to do about him?" wiL whispered as softly as he could.

 "I don't know," she said in the same urgent hushed tone.

 "I mean, I know he supports us, but I doubt he'd be so 'oh this is fine' if he knew..."

 "We're not going to worry about that now," Elizabeth insisted. "We're going to enjoy this. Eventually, the media will find out about you and Mandy breaking up and, frankly, you and I haven't been very subtle. No doubt they will assume it's me and soon enough that will have to be revealed, and then your fans will have to decide whether it's ok and there will be a lot of controversy, but that might also be positive since it will get the band in the spot light, except that's a dark topic,"

 "Liz," wiL whispered, letting out a sigh, "I'd rather worry about Angel."

 She let out a small laugh and nodded. "Yes, but I doubt the media, fans, and angry mothers will be as forgiving as Angel."

 wiL laughed a bit and kissed her forehead. Even though it seemed like a sweet sensitive moment, there was a feeling in the air that he'd never experienced before, like the story wasn't over. It was as if there was so much more to be said, and it wasn't from him.

 "Elizabeth, what's going on?" He said, almost out of fear. The vibe of this brand new aura was unnerving.

 "Nothing," she said, instantly. Her head never even moved.

 "I don't need superpowers to know that's a lie," wiL persisted.

 "It's not important," she mumbled and readjusted herself on his chest. He pushed his hand out to grab her chin so she looked in his eyes.

 "Yes it is,"

 Elizabeth fought for half a second then grabbed wiL's hand. "I went to see Mandy last night,"

 wiL almost felt like a hole had been shot through his chest. It wasn't from hurt, but all from shock and surprise.

 "How are you still here?" wiL joked, then something dawned on him. "Where is she?"

 The young girl shrugged. "I had a hunch so I just started walking and I found Hugo's car in an apartment complex." She shifted. "When Hugo went out, I went in."

 "So she's as close to me as she can get?" wiL guessed. Elizabeth nodded. Silence followed and it made him roll his eyes. "And what happened?"

 "Well... we just talked I guess." she responded, lowering her head a bit. Only then did he notice the little bit of yellowing around her eye.

 "What the fuck!" he shouted, sitting up. Elizabeth shushed him, but the boys had already heard and they were running into the room. wiL instantly sat up and away from Elizabeth, propping himself in the corner. Elizabeth sat up just as Angel threw the curtain back.

 "What?" he asked, the other three right behind him.

 "Nothing Angel, just go please," Elizabeth mumbled. That wasn't like her.

 "Why is there a bruise on your face?" wiL asked, not wanting her to slink out of it.

 Elizabeth suddenly glared at him, "Like I need to answer that stupid question? What are we, a fan-fiction? Are you going to get mad and hit Mandy and then get arrested and leave me to rot in my house, never getting over my music man?"

 No one said a thing.

 "She hit me all right? It was instinct, because she wanted to. I mean, we're all girls and I 'stole her man' so she wanted to. So for half a second when she opened the door, she lost her head and punched me. Big deal, I've had worse!"

 No one spoke.

 "She wants you back- duh- and she's promising to be a good girl and going back to her old self. It's my job to choose if she can or not."

 It was that comment that made wiL speak up. "Wait...you're choice?"

 "Yes sir, my choice," she repeated.

 "On what grounds?" Angel questioned. She smiled.

 "Mine, now let me be so I can change into clothes and you all can get ready for the show tonight." With a sarcastic evil grin, Elizabeth jumped off the bed and around the boys in a cartoon like fashion and went to the back. 

"Right...the concert tonight." Jake said, grabbing Jade and Nick by their sleeves. Angel eyed wiL, who stared right back. 

"I don't like this," wiL said plainly. Angel nodded.

 "It's not Elizabeth's test, I don't think," he sat down on the bed next to wiL. "This seems like a Mandy thing." 

"Then why would Liz agree to it?" 

"Maybe Mandy said something and she figured it made sense," Angel speculated, "or perhaps it's an old school 'I'll prove he loves me' girl brawl." 

wiL let out a breath, "I'd love to see that." 

An uproar of laughter was heard, Elizabeth's giggle evident. "I think you are seeing it wiL."

 

**HOLY CRAP You're lucky I remembered (if any of you are still bearing with me). We're going on vacation so I thought I'd leave this here. TELL YOUR FRIENDS NUTTERS! Love to all**

 

XOXO

Hell Hath No Wrath Like A…Well I’m Sure You Know

 

 Blood rushed to her face, most likely from adrenaline. wiL would not be able to handle this, but she knew she could. Elizabeth was tired of being the crying girl. It was time to end this, or more so, begin everything. Once she swayed Mandy, it would just be her and wiL.

 

Selfish

 

The only word going through her head and it had to be that one. It lingered like an incessant ringing in her ears. It was ridiculous. She wasn’t being selfish, because he wanted to be with her too. He knew what they were going to face. They just hadn’t countered any opposition yet. Hugo had too easily supported wiL and Elizabeth. Not everyone would be as accepting.

 

The night was not as warm as the day had been, but that was ok. Florida was too hot for her, and even though it was the first week of November, it was still boiling. Her jeans rustled, no matter how she tried to avoid any sound. It was lucky for her Mandy had left some clothes; the chic-style moccasin slippers were coming in handy, as there was no noise coming from her steps.

 

Hugo’s car sat in the parking lot of an apartment complex. If it had been anyone else she never would have noticed, but the shiny black Mercedes stood out against the rusted Luminas and Taurus’. She could hear the typical suburban sounds: babies crying, couples screaming, TV’s way too loud. However, it was so close to the bus that it was obvious of Mandy’s incentive for staying here. There was no doubt in her mind now: Mandy was as close to the bus as she possibly could have been. She wished she’d known that Hugo was Mandy’s bodyguard before; it would make him seem like less of a traitor. He wasn’t at all, but the bitterness toward him told her that she felt otherwise for some reason.

 

The different doors confused her. How was she supposed to find Mandy? Putting her ear up to every door would be hard, but she’d have to. At least it seemed hard until she heard a door squeak open and the yelling of conflict get louder. Light spilled onto the parking lot and Elizabeth did all but leap into the nearest bush to hide herself. Why did I do that? She thought, but it proved to be necessary.

 

Hugo walked out of the same apartment. That was it: he and Mandy were arguing. No doubt he’d taken wiL’s side.

 

“Don’t have to! I quit!” He hollered. Hugo trudged down the stairs, anger obvious. He muttered irate words under his breath while Elizabeth thanked God for showing her Mandy’s door.

 

Car lights suddenly beamed as an engine rumbled, or rather purred. Trying as desperately as she could to hide, she fell flat on the ground. Hoping Hugo hadn’t seen her, Elizabeth held her breath. The headlights shined on the shrubbery for less than a minute before the car went into reverse and tailed out of the complex. Sighing with relief, Elizabeth rose and began to tiptoe up the stairs. Mandy’s door was so close and all she had to do was knock.

 

Her hand went to tap the door, but after three times of getting millimeters away from the wood, she couldn’t do it. There was so much that had to be said. She began pacing in front of the door. How did you start that conversation?

 

And then there was light, with the exception of the shadow that blocked most of it off. Elizabeth froze dead in front of the door as she observed Mandy standing there, trash bag in hand.

 

“You…” Mandy choked out. Without any sign of movement, the trash bag fell to the ground and a fist collided with Elizabeth’s jaw.

 

And then it was dark.

 

*****

 

“Oh God get up please!”

 

The frantic worried voice was not a nice awakening, but it worked. Elizabeth’s eyes fought to open, glue seeming to hold them together. The light was even more of a discouragement, but she fought back and opened her eyes. Mandy was hovering over her and the relief that washed over her face was obvious, and as a bonus, completely genuine.

 

“Oh thank you!” she mumbled before hastily grabbing Elizabeth into a hug.

 

“I will never forgive myself for that!” She said over and over again. As Elizabeth regained consciousness, she felt wetness on her shoulders. Mandy was crying…real tears too.

 

“I’m so sorry Lizzie! I am so stupid! I can’t believe I did that to you!” Mandy repeated. Trying to form words felt impossible, but Elizabeth managed:

 

“Mandy, let me go; it’s fine.”

 

“No it’s not! I punched you!” Mandy exclaimed, pulling back to look at her face. There was suddenly a stinging on her cheek, which most likely meant a bruise was to be had, “I knocked you out! No matter what I’m feeling, that’s not right!”

 

“That’s what I’m here for. I did deserve that.”

 

“No, you didn’t! No, no, no!” Mandy cried even harder and brought Elizabeth’s head back to her own shoulder. Softly pushing away was harder than expected, and it was a lot of energy.

 

“Please. I need to talk to you and it’s killing me to have to fight out of your grasp.” Mandy then released her. Cautiously, as not upset her stepmother (which felt weird to say) Elizabeth backed up a bit.

 

“We need to end this now if any of us are to move forward.” She began. She made it very serious and it seemed Mandy had received the tone. She shut her mouth and with the exception of a few lights sniffs, she hushed. A small moment of silence was shared between them as Elizabeth gathered up her energy.

 

“I don’t blame you for any of this you know,” Mandy suddenly admitted, “I suppose I just lost it. I mean, you replaced me and it just boiled up. Seeing your face made me wonder…how many times his face had…” she was trailing off, her eyes glancing away.

 

“It’s ok Mandy,” Elizabeth whispered, her voice hoarse, “I understand. I never intended to make it feel like I stole him away.”

 

“I’m angrier at wiL. He didn’t give me a chance.”

 

“I think he had.” Elizabeth said bravely, “I know about the times you cheated on him. Can you not consider those chances? And plus you were spending the band’s money on clothes. On top of all the things, you changed.”

 

Reality seemed to sink in a little bit and it made Mandy’s shoulders slouch. “Oh God what have I done?” she asked in a whisper, “I assume you know about the papers? He grabbed those before he ran off.”

 

“Yes, I saw them. You adopted me. At first the whole wiL being my stepdad thing was the big issue, but that’s not what bothers me the most. You adopted me to inherit my money.” Elizabeth said. Recalling the facts started a hole of sourness in her gut that left her sick.

 

“Yes I did.” Mandy confessed. She paused before continuing. “I also did it to make sure you and wiL never happened.”

 

“That’s a new level of selfish. You even knew that me and him were meant for each other. Adopting me in one last attempt to prevent us is just cruel.” Elizabeth boldly stated. Or are you doing the same thing? Making sure Mandy never gets in the way again?

 

“How am I supposed to take it?” Mandy semi shouted, standing up, “I love wiL and you were blinding him from my true dedication! I am in love with him and that has never changed or dwindled.”

 

“Then why did you cheat on him?” Elizabeth shot back, her voice and body rising as well, “Why did you become exactly what you had once said you never would? Why did you become so cruel to him that it made him want to let you go? Why did you ruin a possible future for him that, even though it didn’t include you, would make him happy?”

 

“Yes I know! I’ve messed up for the last time. I want to give up my modeling for him! I want to try and show wiL that I can be who he fell in love with! I want to have a family that includes him! I want Francine back! And now he’ll never look at me again!” Her eyes had finally spilled over as she cried, leaving her cheeks stained with makeup lines.

 

“It’s too late now.” Elizabeth choked out. How could she feel bad?

 

“It wouldn’t be.”

 

The words were flowing with previous suggestions: Mandy loved Elizabeth, but she was in the way of Mandy’s new dream. If Elizabeth wasn’t in the picture, everything would go back to normal. It laid out a certain level of disdain between them. Nonetheless, both of them sat down and sat in complete quiet. Even the other sounds of the apartment complex were gone.

 

“I’m sorry Mandy.”

 

“In that aspect, I deserved that apology.”

 

“Yeah you did. If it helps, I did everything in my power to hold him off.”

 

“What do you mean?” Mandy asked. Even sitting down, the returned burst of hostility was apparent.

 

“Never mind…” Elizabeth mumbled, trying to dismiss it.

 

“No! The cat is out of the bag my friend.” Mandy insisted. The red in her face was not comforting, “Whatever it is, I want to know now. There’s no going back.”

 

Taking a deep breath was hardly enough to contain the sudden regret in coming here. Elizabeth just began to lay it out. “wiL was lost to you before, but according to him and others I was like a wake up call. He just sort of noticed that he was looking at me funny and he realized it was because you weren’t the same.”

 

A pause was necessary for most people, but Mandy didn’t falter. She just nodded, so Elizabeth continued, “We didn’t do anything for a long time. We were friends. We sat up and talked and that was it. And then one day he kissed me, almost like a joke, but then it happened again. The day you called him -the day you got married- was also the day we both kind of came out about our feelings. When I turned him down, he just gave up and…”

 

“Gave up?” Mandy suddenly shot out. “So I was him just settling?”

 

“He told me himself he loved who you were before, but now you’d become so different he can’t imagine why he’d stay with you.” Elizabeth tried to reason, and to her luck, it worked. She thought of another excuse, “I think he really loves you, but I remind him of who you were.”

 

The sudden possibility horrified her. What if that was the case? What if he only loved her because she was like Mandy? The thought made her sick to her stomach.

 

This is where selfish comes into play: you want wiL all to yourself and that means eliminating Mandy from the picture even if the truth is that he really loves her and you’re nothing but a copy.

 

“Lizzie, what’s wrong?” Mandy asked out of the blue. Only then did Elizabeth feel the chill of tears on her cheeks. Explanations were getting stuck behind a huge cutting lump in her throat. Instead she just tried to calm herself.

 

“I know what it is!” Mandy said, her expression revealing, “You’re having second thoughts on his feelings about you.”

 

Elizabeth said nothing. She still couldn’t talk. She did not want to lose him. Mandy sadistic side chose to hide, as she wrapped her arms around Elizabeth.

 

“I know this must be hard to think about,” Mandy tried to reason. Elizabeth felt numb, even as she pushed Mandy off of her and stood up to try and pace off this new thought.

 

“No, he loves me. I know he does.” She said to herself. A sudden smile crept on Mandy’s face.

 

“It’s so hard not to be happy that you are realizing this now,” she acknowledged, “I mean, after all if you’re thinking it, it must be true. wiL still loves me and he’s using you.”

 

“No he’s not!” Elizabeth screamed. “You were human and kind and compassionate before and suddenly you’re being maniacal!”

 

“Do you even know what that word means?”

 

“Yes, do you?”

 

Silence. Stare down.

 

“I’ll make you a deal Mandy,” Elizabeth dared.

 

“I’m all ears.”

 

“If you prove to me that you can be human for more than two minutes, I will talk to wiL and convince him to give you another chance.”

 

“What’s the catch?”

 

“If he doesn’t feel anything, you can’t ever interfere with us again.”

 

Mandy seemed to think this over. “Better idea: you go and see whether or not he’s using you. If he isn’t, then you don’t have to do anything. He’ll be happy with you and I will have to move on, because his happiness is my biggest priority.”

 

Elizabeth sensed this as a lie, but said nothing. Mandy stood up and walked over to the apartment window.

 

“However, if he is using you, even if he doesn’t say it at first— the minute he does— come December you leave and convince him to come back with me.”

 

Heat flushed her face, but she nodded. “It’s a deal.”

 

“Then get out of here: I want my husband back.”

 

 

**still not done writing it...the Creative Writing class is taking every bit of inspiration I have...it's much annoying... but the trimester ends soon so i can finish this one and start with a brand new story...

oh yes...there's so many files labelled "draft" right now...and they are all great. One is a fanfiction, and the other one isn't. Most likely, I'll post the fanfiction. You'll love it. Hopefully

Let me know what you thought**

 

~there's no room in this hell, there's no room in the next~

XOXO

<a href="http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/brenyg0135/?action=view&current=breakingdawnmom.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/brenyg0135/breakingdawnmom.jpg" border="0" alt="Breaking Dawn Mom"></a>

<a href="http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/brenyg0135/?action=view&current=twilightdad.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/brenyg0135/twilightdad.jpg" border="0" alt="Twilight Dad"></a>

<a href="http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/brenyg0135/?action=view&current=thetwilightfreaks.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u136/brenyg0135/thetwilightfreaks.jpg" border="0" alt="Twilight Freaks"></a>

Most likely those pictures didn't work so

1 was my mom with Breaking Dawn (which she's all ready read)

2 was my dad reading Twilight

3 was the two of them sitting there with the books

Yeah not so cool now is it?

Good Lord, tell me this isn't getting out of control?

Now granted I love the books (shoot me, but I do) they're great

what I DESPISE is this reaction to the movie!

DO NOT LIE

you never thought Cedric Diggory was hot until this thing!

If you say you did

YOU LIE!!!

He's good looking yeah.
SEXXI EDWARD CULLEN WORTHY NO!

And Bella? God stutter much?

"N-n-n-n-o! Don't-t-t ev-v-er say that!"

The chick showed the most emotion when she got her truck. Tell me I'm wrong.

Charlie and the Cullen family were on the money.

It was good for a low budget film.

I'm missing the point,

THE POINT

is that the result of this movie makes me want to go on a shooting spree.

Why do preps want to be vampires all of the sudden?

Why do little girls walk into karate centers with vampire teeth telling ME vampires are cool?

Why are there chicks in Hollister venturing into Hot Topic and asking the guy with the purple hair how much the "Cullen crest" is?

GOOD FREAKIN GOD!

The books were good...not for my dad (who is reading new moon and going WHERE IS THE ACTION THIS IS BORING thank heavens or I'd have something to worry about as that book is mainly for girls) but they were good. I like Edward. Sure he's creepy in the stalker sense, but he loved her and the guy waited 100 years so give him a break.

But the following of the movie is ridiculous.

God South Park got it right!

I don't know...I'm mad right now.

Actually I'm really happy. I have fun critisizing the movie lovers when I'm happy. Eh I know. I'm weird.

Main idea= Books Great/ Movie ok/ Movie following OUT OF CONTROL

**WARNING it swears. It's South Park gimme a break, but this clip expresses EXACTLY what is happening! Seriously.
**

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JUPaFVgFCGk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JUPaFVgFCGk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

and if the video doesn't work either

it's South Park the Ungroundable Part 1

~and how can we win when fools can be kings~

XOXO

 

Why Didn’t You Just Leave it at That?

 

“Hate me if you want, but I got it anyways.”

 

Elizabeth glared at him. “You can’t be so cruel. It’s not in your nature.”

 

“It is, darling, it is. And now it’s mine and you can’t have it ever again.” Angel grinned menacingly.

 

“Give me the damn drumsticks back!” Elizabeth ordered. wiL giggled at the two. In celebration of her return, wiL had gone out and traded some of Mandy’s clothes she’d left behind for cash. Obviously a whopping amount, wiL had taken a smidgen and gotten an Xbox and Rock Band (notice it says smidgen). It was everyone’s favorite new toy, and it was annoying Angel that Elizabeth seemed to dominate every instrument she touched.

 

“I don’t think so sweetie,” Angel continued mocking, “we all deserve a chance to catch up on our skills.”

 

“Look, Nick and wiL are writing so it’s just me, you, Jade, and Jake. Four instruments; we switch each time. It’s more than fair.”

 

“wiL help me out. Come play with us!” Angel pleaded. wiL huffed.

 

“Not if it’s going to end an argument between you and Liz,” he shook his head, “this never happens but seeing her mad, and not at me, is refreshing. And as an added bonus she’s mad at you. When does this happen?”

 

Elizabeth made a noise of approval and gave Angel a victorious look. He stared her down as best he could before both of them burst out laughing.

 

“Lizzie, you sing!” Jade commanded, “Angel can drum, but there’s no doubt that the Jakes will own these guitars.”

 

“You wish,” Elizabeth mumbled. The two shot her a look.

 

“Now, now my love,” wiL interjected. He seductively wrapped his arms around her waist slowly, lowering his head to whisper in her ear. “The ego needn’t continue. You can dominate other things later.”

 

Her shudder made Angel go cold. “There will be no jokes about that.”

 

“Right, sorry Angel,” wiL said, backing up a bit. Of course they hadn’t told anyone. Angel especially; he’d murder them both.

 

But wiL was sure he would only kill him, but he’d kill him for both of them.

 

“No fuzzy stuff!” Jake teased. The game began playing, and they all shut up.

 

And things were fine again. Everything was bliss. Some people wouldn’t like that, as they crave drama, but the group was more than happy for the peace.

 

Five seconds later, a knock on the door became a grave harbinger.

 

The entirety of the bus almost knew it seemed that this was no one they wanted to see. wiL walked over to the door and opened it.

 

“Hugo!” Elizabeth screamed. She dropped the microphone and ran to him. His big arms opened wide as she leaped off the bus steps and jumped into his large chest.

 

“Hi-yea sweetheart,” he smiled, “how have you been?”

 

“So much better now,” she giggled. At first wiL was confused, but remembered that she hung out with Hugo when they went on stage.

 

“Because I’m here?” Hugo joked. She shifted her eyes.

 

“Sure…” she said, as her gaze went to wiL absentmindedly. Hugo laughed, not noticing her straying glance, and set her down.

 

“Well, I hate to break up this pow-wow, but you better get your stuff packed.”

 

“Huh?” everyone asked simultaneously.

 

“Well, Mandy’s requiring she come home. She knows you’re miserable stuck with the guys…” he trailed off, “though frankly I don’t see how.”

 

“I’m not! She’s…she’s…” Elizabeth stuttered.

 

“She’s your legal guardian.” Hugo finished, “I have no choice but you bring you to her residence. Which sounds really silly, but you know rules are rules. I was just quoting her.”

 

“Yeah but…she can’t!” Elizabeth’s face reddened in anger. “This is so low!” she exclaimed and sunk to the pavement outside. The Florida sun was blinding, but all of them ignored it. The clink of drumsticks was followed by the dropping of fake guitars on couches. They all rushed to entrance of the bus, wiL obviously getting to her first. He lifted her off the ground and let her cling to his chest. He motioned for them all to get out of the bus doorway so they could be inside.

 

“It’s just spite and you know that,” Angel tried. She mumbled, but didn’t give an exact answer.

 

“What’s been going on guys?” Hugo asked, his concern clear, “I’ve only gotten bits and pieces. I need to know.”

 

“Mandy and I are over,” wiL explained, “since I couldn’t take the bitchiness anymore. Now she’s angry and is trying to get back.”

 

“Why would she take away poor Lizzinator?” Hugo asked. Everyone laughed at the nickname. Jake nudged Jade and said something about “because she can destroy anything she wants to”.

 

“It’s complicated…” Elizabeth started to say. Nick covered them up.

 

“Obviously Lizzie’s wonderful. So when she’s gone things are kinda lame right?” He tried to explain it using laymen’s terms to seem casual, “and it’s like once you know her, you don’t want to lose her.”

“Sure, but it’d only be for a few months,” Hugo reassured, trying not to show his confusion. “After all, then she can just come back. Friends get separated all the time. It’ll be ok.”

 

wiL gripped her tighter, holding her to his chest. He gently kissed her forehead, brushing her hair back. He was sure it might give it away, but she needed to be consoled. Tears weren’t even brimming on her eyes, but the solemn numbness she was feeling was very evident to him.

 

“Unless there’s something I don’t know about, or that you’re leaving out an important detail.” His eyes went to their interlocked hands.

 

“Friends can hold hands; no biggie,” Nick covered again.

 

“No, it’s ok. Hugsmonster is my BFF.” Elizabeth smiled weakly. “Please be open- minded. I know it doesn’t seem right, but—“

 

“What? You and wiL?” Hugo asked. They nodded, “How wrong can it be? We don’t choose our ages. We don’t choose who we really fall in love with. Plus, I think it’s cute.” He leaned back satisfied.

 

“Sure makes a lot more sense now.” He said, borderline under his breath.

 

“Obviously I don’t want to be apart from her. If she was just a good friend we’d be able to deal, but this just happened,” wiL continued, “and the guys will not know what to do either.”

 

“You’re leaving out the other detail,” Angel reminded, “how is Mandy going to treat Lizzie? After all, wiL might have stayed with Mandy longer had Liz not come here and opened his eyes. Mandy’s got to be holding a grudge, even against her own niece.”

 

wiL felt his heart sink, as he hadn’t told them that either. Now he had to.

 

“She’s not her niece anymore,” he admitted.

 

“What?” Jake asked, “Why?”

 

“She let go of custody of you?” Jake guessed, “You’re a ward of the state?”

 

“No!” Angel exclaimed. “She adopted you!”

 

Silence was nothing but realization as to what that meant. Everything didn’t click instantly, but when it did everyone’s face grew pale.

 

“Does that mean…” Jade started. His eyes went wide seeing Elizabeth lower her head. wiL reached around and grabbed her other shoulder.

 

“Why did you adopt her?” Hugo asked him accusingly.

 

“No, no, no!” wiL insisted, “I would have never agreed to this even if I wasn’t in love with her. Mandy went behind my back. She might have even forged my signature.”

 

“Can I be honest here?” Jake questioned. wiL nodded. “This whole situation is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, who does that? No one does this in the real world; a demented fictional character maybe. How didn’t we see how crazy she was earlier?”

 

No one spoke. No one knew the answer.

 

“You know, I watch too much TV and I’ve got news,” Hugo said, “yes they do. You should see some of the things on shows like Cops. People are weird.” wiL stood up, gathering strength.

 

“The point is, you can tell Mandy that Elizabeth’s…” wiL choked, “step father has as much rule as she does now.”

 

It sent a cold chill out, and Elizabeth whimpered. wiL instantly sat back down and wrapped his arms around her.

 

“Will do, cap’n.” Hugo smiled. He rubbed Elizabeth’s shoulder for a second before standing up and exiting the bus.

 

“Bitch,” Elizabeth mumbled. wiL let out a small laugh.

 

“It’ll be ok.”

 

He prayed that she believed him.

 

**ok so I need to get writing! I've gotten two more chapters done so good, but I need to get to gettin'! But i will because I'm finding a lot of inspiration.

Like from Elliott Smith XD**

 

~a distorted reality is now a necessity to be free~

XOXO

I lost the vibe and excitement i had for it, mostly because people kind of stopped reading it.

So yeah.

I don't know if I'll even be on buzznet much longer.

Don't get me wrong. I love buzznet.

I've met a lot of great people via buzznet (Jordy, Hannah and many more)

I also love reading the rantings of other members (Kitty/undead4gerard who probably hates me and deleted me a while ago BUT I don't know, swingthefocus,  etc)

but I'm loosing the reason I originally joined buzznet, and that was for fanfictions.

The first (and the best) fanfiction I read was A Beautiful Stranger by xsaccrintoxicityx and my best friend Catherine had printed it off for me to read. Then I joined buzznet.

 I fell in love with fanfictions and it wasn't long before I attempted to write. Buzznet gave me my start in writing.

Nowadays, I've realized fanfiction is slightly creepy. There are still some writers I would log on to read (abbeylovesgod has awesome stories, xxxalyxxx, bloodravyn). However, the fanfiction population is dying. I cannot find good fanfiction anymore.

So i'll keep it for the few I do read, such as veesevenexx3 or xxmcrmyxx and so many more.

But unless someone has SERIOUS OBJECTION to me cancelling my fanfiction (because I know I can finish it and maybe start a sequel if need be) I'll probably just be silent and just read stuff.

I'm growing up too fast...

 

~I hurt myself today~

XOXO

Listen to Dave Grohl, as He Speaks Wisdom

“I can’t say I’ve ever felt so wonderful,” Elizabeth confessed to wiL as they walked back towards the bus. She saw his face burst into a grin.

 

“There’s no words to express how reassuring that is,” he admitted. His face went crimson, and not due to the sudden chill in the air.

 

“I missed Halloween,” she said, lowering her eyes to the pavement. Small puddles of water pooled everywhere, the edges tinted with ice.

 

“It’s not a big deal,” wiL replied hastily. She saw out of the corner of her eye as his head looked away.

 

“Yes it is. You revel in Halloween!” She argued, “It’s like a second birthday and third Christmas!”

 

“Third?” he questioned. She shrugged, making him laugh under his breath.

 

“I feel awful.” She whispered. She heard wiL mutter something incomprehensible, and then suddenly felt warmness around her hand. Peaking once again through her bangs she saw he had wrapped his tattooed hand around hers. Now the warmness spread throughout her and the very corners of the soul she thought she’d lost smiled.

 

“There’s no need to,” he assured her. Lifting her head now he saw his soothing smile. Elizabeth’s eyes wandered around and it made her stop.

 

“Oh,” she uttered. The red and yellows of fall trees shown brightly. Her black jacket along with his dark apparel also seemed to stand out. Their hands were entwined and red from the cold. The familiarity of it all crashed on her ears.

 

“I shouldn’t be so happy,” she said aloud, “this is like the picture of my mom and dad. The one with me in the middle.” wiL nodded, obviously aware of what she meant. Her eyes went to his.

 

“Why am I so happy?” she asked nervously. She saw his eyes melt and wrinkle a bit at the edges as he smiled.

 

“Because maybe,” he whispered, turning to face her, “that is your idea of happiness. Walking hand and hand with the people,” he paused again to grab her other hands and bring them to his lips, “or the person you love most.” He kissed her fingers very gently once, before looking back into her eyes.

 

She wasn’t sure who instigated the heated kiss, but they certainly weren’t cold after a moment. His arms were wrapped around the small of her back, and hers thrown over his neck. The wind whipped at their skin, but neither acknowledged it.

 

“Thank you,” she mumbled, breaking it apart.

 

“Never,” he said in response. They smiled at each other before turning again to walk to the bus. Her grin was wide and her heart was full. Suddenly, wonderful words blew towards her ears with the wind. She deciphered them easily, and listened as wiL sang:

 

You and I were two old and tortured souls
Repaired by a love of broken things
In a life, just some bodies growing old
No fear of the end, of anything

We're just ordinary people, you and me
Time will turn us into statues, eventually

 

wiL paused before continuing on, noticing that Elizabeth had joined him on the chorus. She blushed.

 

“You know it?”

 

“Foo Fighters; of course I do,” she answered. “Dave Grohl is my hero.”

 

“Mine too. He’s a nice guy.”

 

“No way!” Elizabeth exclaimed.

 

“Hey, I’ve met him. I don’t have tea with the man every day but we did talk.”

 

“Why that song?” she asked him.

 

“I’ve always loved that one,” he explained, “it has a lot more meaning now.”

 

“I figured ‘Erase, Replace’ would say something too.” She giggled.

 

“Nice,” he laughed along. Instantly they began the intense tune, knowing exactly the part Elizabeth was referencing:

 

A vision, division, revision
Recognate
An action, a reaction, distraction
Question the fate

Oh no don't talk about it
No please don't talk about it
Oh no don't talk about it
It goes away

We made these promises, you made these promises
Erase, replace, erase, replace
We'll make more promises, we'll wait for promises
Erase, replace, erase, replace

 

Their laughter was playful.

 

“I knew it!” She teased, “I’m just a replacement!” She dramatically threw her hand to her forehead.

 

“Must we go back to that little moment of passion?” he mocked back. Her shudder of something that most would call pleasure was obvious. “Yeah, now tell me I’d do that to a replacement.” Elizabeth giggled at his odd sense of logic.

 

The bus was just suddenly there. Elizabeth took a deep breath.

 

“Will they be mad at me?”

 

“Why don’t you go see?” wiL suggested. His face gave nothing away. Hesitant but determined, Elizabeth pulled at the handle and gently pushed the door aside. wiL stopped her suddenly, his hand on her chest. She looked down at its interesting position, before looking up at him. He indicated to himself, meaning that he wanted to walk in first. She nodded and stepped back for him.

 

“Hey guys,” he said solemnly as he trudged up the steps.

 

“You’re alive!” Jade said, “we missed you dude!”

 

“Yeah, we kind of thought we wouldn’t be able to make our next tour stop.” Angel’s voice teased as he played along.

 

“Yeah, I brought my stuff with me too.” wiL continued. “So we can leave.”

 

“What?!” Jake rang out.

 

“We can’t leave!” Jade argued as well, “Lizzie isn’t back!”

 

“She knew we had a schedule,” wiL pointed out, the act continuing. His hand that was hidden motioned for a box by the bus. Though it seemed insane, it was also brilliant. Elizabeth climbed into the box.

 

“Angel, help me get this,” she heard from inside. Without warning, she was in the air. It was comforting that neither of them were heaving.

 

“Whoa, wiL, what is that? A body?” Nick joked. That was funny; it was obvious that he really meant it. He didn’t think it was really her.

 

“Yeah seriously is it?” Jake asked, also teasing.

 

“Yeah, seriously it is,” wiL said; her cue.

 

“Why did you have to put me in there?” she mocked as she rose out of the box. Looking instantly at Jake and Jade she watched as their faces burst into happiness. Nick’s did the same, and her thoughts were confirmed. He had had no idea.

 

“OH MY GOD LIZZIE! IT’S YOU!”

 

This was repeated at least thirty times. She was lifted out of the box and spun around by Jake, who passed her to Jade. Jade kissed her cheeks a hundred times and gave her to Nick. He gently hugged her and kissed her cheek lightly. Finally released, Elizabeth ran back to Angel. His open arms were familiar and affectionate. She fell into his chest.

 

“It’s good to have you home again,” he whispered so only she could here.

 

“The feelings mutual,” she smiled. She looked up at his adorable baby face. His eyes were bright and his smile was wide. He nervously pecked her lips. Elizabeth giggled and pecked his lips again. Angel’s joy was astounding.

 

“So this is it, isn’t it?” Jake said.

 

“What do you mean?” wiL asked, grabbing her arm and bringing her into him. She leaned her head back to rest on his shoulder, enjoying the feeling of his hands on her stomach.

 

“This is us now. It’s me, Jade, Nick, Angel, you, and Lizzie.” He named off everyone, indicating each with his eyes. “It’s our gang.”

 

No one had really thought of it that way. “Does that bother anyone?” Nick asked.

 

“No,” Angel said boldly. “I like it this way.”

 

“It’s amazing.” Jake said.

 

“It’s happy.” Jade agreed.

 

“It’s meant to be.” wiL nodded. Elizabeth looked up in his beautiful eyes and smiled.

 

“Yeah…yeah it is.”

 

 

**Hey guys. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I'm going to be honest, life is rough right now. My dog Casey passed away after five years as my dog and fifteen years in the family. It's really hard because she was my best friend literally. On top of that, my parents are cracking down on me. I'm driving, for one. Secondly, the possible love of my life is returning from North Dakota. Yes. 15 and I'm in love, yeah right. No seriously. I said possible. Anyways, my parents don't like him because he snuck into my house once. And we didn't even do anything. But they got mad, and for two months Matt and I only saw each other in school, something happened and we ended up in a "fight", he left in April, we made up in July and started dating again, and yeah. So he's coming home and we're going to develop our relationship so that he doesn't get nervous hugging me haha. So my parents are being extra cruel as his arrival date comes closer. Oh yeah and uh Stephenie Meyer stalked my future. Watch this: I'm in love with Matt. He's the most amazing person I've ever met, so intelligent... lately I've lost all my friends because... I don't know. Well I got closer to another one. My friend Jake. Yeah. Jake... full name Jacob. He and I hang out all the time and my parents love him. They allow him to come over when they aren't home and for me to go over to his house. And I realize that I would die for this kid. Part of me loves him... a lot.

SHE.FREAKIN.STALKED.ME

Did I mention Matt is pale and has that color hair? Or that Jake is buff and tallish?

The only difference (other than Matt's name and muscle haha) would be that Jake and Matt don't loathe each other XD

THAT'S IT

So I feel a tad crazy right now.

and I did not intend to write that much

nor confess that I have two pieces of my heart.

Damn it.

Going to play "Hello" by Evanescence on the piano

because it's the only song I can play completely.

~how can I decide what's right when you're clouding up my mind~

XOXO

 

ps if you read ALL of that, virtual cookie.**

Hi.

I'm still writing Father May I? I promise

However, as that is coming to a close, and the sequal is being processed, something happened.

I came up with an idea for a story.

It was inspiried by music artists, yes, but I can't make it a fanfiction.

Nonetheless, I sense it's genius

I mean, I have NEVER EVER EVER EVER written a "Character evaulation" or EVER EVER EVER written a draft of chapters on paper. Nor have I written ANY type of alternative route etc

Point being, the idea is genius. Creepy, but absolutely brilliant. I am complimenting my own idea--it's gotta be good.

I'm doing research on it! and while I still have to make up a little bit of stuff, it is still very interesting. I am in love with the idea and the development. I have written several drafts (on PAPER!!!!) and I am even considering NOT posting it on buzznet...

BUT I need names.

The lead guy is named Elliott. He has a brother. He meets a girl. The girl and brother need names.

Here's how it stands

First Character: Elliott ________ ________ (ok so there is a last name but that would give away part of the story)

Second Character (brother): _______ Gabriel  _______ (has different last name than Elliott)

Third Character (girl): ______ _______ ______ (needs a name that is bouncy like Lily or Alice)

It would be greatly appreciated!

The help is mostly for the brother's first and last name and the middle name for Elliott. The girl might just be Lily...we'll see.

ANWAYS...please let me know!

~sunshine; been keeping me up for days~

XOXO

Do All “Last Night was a Mistake” Conversations Go Like This?

 

She saw his head pop up suddenly, but it quickly fell back to his pillow. Elizabeth finally let her breath out. The coffee bubbled inside of the heater. It probably wasn’t a good sign, but she couldn’t take any chances. He needed to be awake for her planned conversation.

 

Her stomach twisted in knots. She hated this part. She knew they had to have a serious conversation about everything. She was so ready to be with him, forever if possible, but there were a lot of things in the way.

 

The biggest one, in her mind, was whether or not what they had was lust or love. She knew she loved him, but did he return the same feelings? After last night, would he still feel the same as he said he did before?

 

Stupid, stupid, stupid; she should NOT have done that. Her faith said she should wait for marriage. That had gone out the window.

 

Did it count if she married him?

 

A groan went through her thoughts. Turning her head, she realized wiL was awake and was now stretching out in the bed. His body arched as he felt the new pleasures of the morning. A small smile crept across her face. It was so adorable, she could hardly stand it. She looked away as he stood up, reaching to pull on his clothes. Realizing how silly that was, she turned her head back slightly. Seeing he was dressed a bit she looked fully.

 

wiL’s eyes met hers and his face burst into a full grin. As Cheshire cat as it was she couldn’t help but giggle.

 

“Morning sleepyhead,” she greeted. He stood up and walked over to her. Warning not included, he placed his warm hands on her sides and brought her into a long kiss. Like every other time, she shivered at his touch. The fire on his lips made her head spin. This was something she could only imagine in fairy tales.

 

“Morning to you,” he said, breaking off the kiss. Her breath released as his crooked smile came to be.

 

“That was definitely a first,” she laughed.

 

“Now what are you talking about here?” he joked around. Playfully, she slapped his arm and turned back to the coffee. Her face beat red, and she hoped her ears weren’t doing the same.

 

“I need to talk to you,” she said, as her priorities came back into focus.

 

“What about?” wiL responded, the confusion obvious in his voice.

 

“This is serious, so please listen carefully,” she insisted. Elizabeth’s own voice made her wonder where that poor little girl had gone. The girl who’d lost her entire home. The girl who’d lost her parents. Where was she now?

 

Turning back around, she realized that she was still there, just masked by the new found love that erased all pain.

 

“What we did last night was wrong.” She started. Clearly, he hadn’t been expecting that.

 

“Why?” he asked. Hurt. Good. Him feeling hurt was a good sign. It meant that he actually cared.

 

“You’re married.” She said simply, as if she was merely commenting on his messy hair.

 

“Right now I am, but I should have told you; Mandy and I are over,” he comforted, “unless you mean…”

 

His trailing off left her worried, but he covered himself up quickly. He gently grabbed her arms and looked straight into her face. “But it doesn’t matter. No one ever has to know. I can change it back and once Mandy and I are divorced, we can be together in the public eye and everything will be perfect.”

 

“wiL, what are you talking about?” she questioned, everything sounding perplexing.

 

“Well, I’m not sure what you meant by wrong. So many things about this could be portrayed as wrong, at least to others. I mean, if people see me with you, there’s a lot that they can look at. For one, you’re seventeen. That’s kind of bad, even though it’s only 9 years. However, with the Mandy thing, we can wait till the divorce papers are final. And if you mean the other thing, there’s nothing to worry about. I can change it.”

 

Everything had made sense until the least bit, “What other thing?” she inquired. “Obviously, you being married to Mandy was a big one, but that’s not why I asked.”

 

“You don’t know?” wiL’s eyes widened with horror. He dropped his hands, letting her arms breathe again.

 

“No, I have no idea what else you were looking at.”

 

A heavy sigh came out of his mouth. “I’d rather not tell you then. I’m pretty sure you’re already thinking about…this and saying it’s a horrible idea. If I tell you, you might leave me instantly.”

 

“wiL you can’t say that and not expect me to flip out. What else is there to stop me?”

 

Pained, he grabbed her again and held her into his chest. Even in the morning, she recognized his familiar vanilla scent. Though not normal for a man, it matched him. It matched everything about him; sweet and wonderful. His voice cut through the air again, also resembling his fragrance.

 

“I love you with all my heart. I have never loved so strongly and so deeply. Nothing is going to stop me. I want to believe you feel the same way, but I don’t want anything to trouble you either.”

 

“Then tell me why else you are so worried.”

 

She felt him let out a laugh, “You don’t get distracted easily do you?”

 

“No, now tell me,” she persisted.

 

Looking like a dog with its tail between its legs, wiL walked over to the tangled bed and picked up a few pieces of paper from the ground. Every action was full of regret, but he still handed the papers to her.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

The struggling words showed her so much anguish that she knew this was bad. Preparing herself for the worst, she looked down and began to read.

 

*****

 

His breath held in his throat as he watched her eyes scan the paper. Curses ran through his head. wiL couldn’t figure out why hadn’t stopped her. Self loathing wasn’t even close to how he was feeling.

 

Patience was not one of his better qualities, and as he had prepared for her freak out, the anxiety of it was killing him. “I’m sorry.” He said again.

 

Elizabeth lowered the papers. “You knew I was your daughter and you didn’t tell me?”

 

wiL stuttered on his words. “Well, you just came onto me! What was I supposed to do? I don’t work well under pressure!”

 

Elizabeth’s head lowered to look back at the papers. “I’m also a billionaire to be. Did this make you ‘forget’ to stop me?” she said, using the air quotes. He didn’t even have the brain capacity to be annoyed with those.

 

“Lizzie,” he said, her name coming out like he was breathless which is probably because that was how she rendered him, “I love you. I loved you before I knew about this, and it hasn’t changed. I already told you we can forget about this. I can go back and tell them there’s been a mistake. Mandy and I are going to split up and then in a year or so you and I can come out and be a happy couple in the public eye and…whatever else happens after that.” He paused before saying anything about marriage. That would have been bad.

 

The paper beneath her head suddenly had a splotch of gray, indicating wetness. He instantly rushed to her and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s going to be ok.” He looked down at her, and sensing his eyes she looked back up at him. Those tears brought his world down.

 

“I cry too much,” she said, almost reading his thoughts. “I am not going to cry anymore. I hate that stupid girly side. Let’s forget about this and go play video games.” wiL felt himself laugh.

 

“Yeah sure, when Mandy’s gone.”

 

“Gah, she ruins all the fun!” she joked, before standing to grab her clothes and go to the bathroom to change. The act he found comical, but modest. When she came out, she’d already messed with her hair, pulled on a cute black band t-shirt, jeans, and an old ratty studded belt. It was only about five minutes later. This was the reason wiL loved her: she was comfortable in a simple t-shirt and jeans; no fancy stilettos or nails.

 

“Can we at least get her out of the bus? I miss the guys.” Elizabeth pointed out, a disappointed look on her face. Another thing: she wasn’t always wanting to be alone with wiL. That had always been a trait of Mandy’s, but he’d ignored it at first.

 

“Let me call Angel’s cell and see if we can go hang out.” wiL compromised. Satisfied, Elizabeth skipped over to the bed and sat down, pulling on her socks. Taking out his cell phone, it felt weird since he was calling someone who was less than two-hundred steps away.

 

“Hello?” Angel’s voice rang out. It was happy. However, the silence on the other end was odd. He’d think that now that Lizzie was back, everyone would be happy. Then it clicked.

 

“Have you told anyone?”

 

“No. No one knows anything. Nick is keeping quiet.”

 

“Good. I want to bring her over.” wiL told him.

 

“Perfect timing. Mandy left about twenty minutes ago. I need to talk to you about her…” Angel trailed off, “but later, since I’m sure these guys need to cheer up.”

 

wiL smiled. “We’re on our way.”

 

“Yeah,” Elizabeth giggled when he hung up the phone, “when you get dressed.”

 

Only then did wiL notice he was still in his boxers.

 

** ah yes kiddies, I posted another chapter. I love writing the end, in the same way I hate writing the end. The end was in my mind long before anything else. I knew what I wanted to lead up to it. Now the question is how do I end it? Many conclusions already swirl in my mind. Nonetheless, I want to end it so you can all see it. But then again, I don't want to stop.

I have a question.

There is a story that is running through my mind. It won't be the next story i post, I'll tell you that much. However, it is there. Ever haunting me with it's brilliance. That's the problem: it started as a fanfiction, but it has more potential.

Would you still read it?

Ending now. Going to daydream about Gaspard Ulliel....*

~don't you worry; there's still time~

Relief is the Sincerest Form of Seduction

 

“wiL get up!” Nick yelled for third time that morning. wiL rolled over so he was facing away from the room entrance. He knew it wouldn’t do him any good since Nick was banging on the door, not to mention the light shining through the hotel window, but he didn’t care. The metaphorical side of him turning away from Nick was turning his back on reality. It was a reality he didn’t want to face.

 

Unfortunately, it was becoming a brick wall that he was constantly facing. He’d try to turn from it, but he’d find that he couldn’t move. It was like he could not escape his problems even when he tried.

 

His marriage was over before it had really begun. He remembered when he used love Mandy. Maybe it was more appropriate to say when he used to love who Mandy was. He blamed the success of the band. It had given her publicity as his girlfriend, also providing exposure to modeling agencies, which made them see how ungodly beautiful she was so they called her. Money rolled in on both the band’s side and the modeling side. Somewhere in between then and a year ago, Mandy discovered the extra indulgences of removing her clothes for money. This was something she’d always (always, always) say to wiL was basically prostitution without the sex thing, but just as morally repugnant. And suddenly she was sleeping with two different photographers to get higher in the business. For that, he blamed the spoils. They’d tampered with her mind, making her want more. He could remember the large receipts that had come with her many bags that she’d ever carried into the bus. Heck, even the large number of the receipts she’d brought in the bags the night before.

 

With more speed than anyone could ever think humanly possible, he shot out of bed and stood still. He pulled on his clothes with amazing pace, not tripping over his jeans. The door was still being pounded on, and as he reached out and open the door, Nick almost wailed him in the head.

 

“Dude you live! You look like the undead, but you—“

 

Nick didn’t get a chance to patronize him anymore. wiL had run outside. He had to make sure that Mandy was still living on the bus. If she’d been moved out, his entire theory would have been forever a speculation. The denim pants slipped past his waist, and he was sure he looked absolutely ridiculous while he pulled them up and didn’t stop running. But the bus was in sight and his determination was unending.

 

The metallic bang of the door didn’t falter wiL for a second, nor did Mandy’s voice. She was obviously still mad at him, and of course he didn’t blame her, but she should have seen this coming.

 

What if Elizabeth had never come into the picture? There was an answer, and it was evident. It would have taken longer for wiL to see the reason his mind had begun wandering. He’d thought it was just him being stupid, but the reality was that Mandy wasn’t the same woman. Therefore, he had subconsciously begun to look elsewhere. He himself didn’t know he was doing it. But he it happened.

 

Luckily for him, he didn’t have to really look, because it walked into his home.

 

wiL had created a mental chart during his three days of non prescribed bed rest. It had the main bubble labeled “Issues”. One branch was called Mandy, and the other Elizabeth. Elizabeth had one solitary line linking to Mandy. The key role she played was tagged “arrival”. It led off to more legs including “she cheats the first time”, “she’s caught again”, and “she stops the cheating and becomes good Mandy”. Then Elizabeth’s bubble intrudes for a slight moment; “she appears crabbier”, “she gets annoying”, and finally “wiL sees she’s not really Mandy”.

 

Elizabeth’s leg was all by itself. It was just marked “Elizabeth” and that seemed to be all wiL needed to say. Her presence was enough.

 

All this ran through his mind as he went to the back and right to Mandy’s closet. He heard her literally scream at him to get out of her things.

 

“Not this time; I want to see all that you’ve bought,” he lied and flung the closet doors open.

 

What once had been a measly little collection of three shirts and two pairs of jeans was now a far more than overstuffed closet of millions of shirts, rows of jeans, and piles of shoes. He was so tempted to yell at her about spending all of their money on sh—stuff but he controlled himself and began looking. There were millions of receipts but to his luck he found exactly what he looking for.

 

“What the hell are you doing?” Mandy asked furiously.

 

He turned with a smile. “Nothing love.”

 

Without missing a beat, he took off running; past her and out of the bus and so quickly to the hotel. He could make out the clack of heals as she finally got out of the bus, but it only gave him an adrenaline rush.

 

Missing Nick by a mere inch, he ran back into his room. Nick called out to him but once again he ignored it. Relief filled him as he slammed him door and catapulted towards his bed.

 

But he missed.

 

Fallen, but not discouraged, he lay where he was and took a look at the papers. It came as a surprise when he discovered they weren’t giant orders, but he had already established that they were important.

 

The government seal proved that they were more than just important. He scanned over it and read the “Elizabeth” part. Unlike he’d read three days ago, it was not followed with Taylor, but with Jay Gregory. He assumed Jay was her middle name. wiL hastily skimmed on and froze where he lay when he came across the word “adoption”.

 

He went on, hoping it was all a fluke and that these were “oh you don’t want her to be your daughter? Oh all right” papers. More words popped out, like “step father” and “adopting mother”.

 

Both were equally disturbing. Next to “step father” was wiL’s name, a Mandy’s was next to the other one.

 

So it was official then? Mandy had done it. She’d gotten the papers despite what she’d promised. It didn’t make sense. Mandy obviously was very angry with Elizabeth and did incorporate a certain amount of blame for losing wiL. He checked the date and scowled. They were filed that night of Elizabeth’s nightmare. It was also the date that Mandy had said she wouldn’t adopt her.

 

Heat flew through him and he fought to control it. Rising to sit on his bed, he reluctantly examined further.

 

The word “inheritance:” cleared everything up.

 

The extensive number next to the little colon was astounding. It made his eyes grow enormous.

 

$1,000,000,000, on in English one billion dollars. On the money, no pun intended. A person could spend $3,000 a day till they died and still have cash left. And Elizabeth was going to inherit it.

 

How she was going to inherit it was through several names. The first name listed had written that this money must be passed down six generations and the funds added to. This money had been in her family for six generations. Or at least, some of it. The rest was added later.

 

But Elizabeth was the sixth generation. It was her money the day she turned 18. Unless her parents decided she wasn’t ready, and would take it under their own account.

 

Her parent was so obviously Mandy. But it had an s. wiL could make sure Elizabeth got that money. He could make sure Mandy never received a penny. However, if Mandy could legally adopt without his consent, she could easily receive that money without his input as well.

 

At least now it made sense. Mandy was always going to adopt her. No matter what wiL had thought, it was already decided. It was a scheme for money.

 

Tears were falling from his eyes. At first, he didn’t know why. Then he remembered how Mandy used to be. She was so real. She hated money, strippers, and anything generally unmoral.

 

Now she had been corrupted by money and fame, and it was all over. And in the end, wiL got the brunt of everything.

 

He was married to a gold digger and the real love of his life was gone because of it. That’s putting aside the stepfather part. There was always that too. His friends were suffering along with him because they still had to deal with Mandy in that parked bus. It just wasn’t fair.

 

Now Mandy could have access to that money in less than two months. Unless wiL did something, but there was nothing for him to do anyways.

 

Doom and despair surrounded him, and that alone pissed him off. He tried to always be positive (nowadays) and be optimistic about life. How could he be then?

 

He felt like a zombie: mindless and empty, no purpose but to make others just as miserable. Except this had to be worse than being a zombie because a zombie didn’t have any feelings. A zombie didn’t know any different than what was going on then. The only thing on its mind (if it had one) is to eat people and make them zombies too. This was an instance where wiL knew he was a zombie. He knew about what else the world offered. He didn’t have the luxury of ignorance.

 

Hours passed, becoming early morning. Jake and Jade had knocked on the door to tell him they were going out for a bit. The two of them were now wiL’s favorite, as they didn’t bother him. It was wonderful. Still, he sat there.

 

The door shook again, this time the pounding lighter. Almost like a knock. He knew it was Angel, who didn’t believe in noise—or so wiL was convinced— unless absolutely necessary. wiL groaned.

 

“Not really a good time,”

 

“Yeah I can tell, you stupid zombie, let me in!”

 

Her voice sent waves of happiness through his ears. He shot up and went to the door. This had happened so many times before, him hearing her voice. Except looking through the peephole, he could see her. It took him a moment to catch his breath. She was there. She was really there. Who had she gone to for help? What was she thinking? When had she gotten back? Where had she gone? Why did she really leave? How did she get back?

 

He covered all the typical question words in his head before opening the door. It stopped a crack and he cursed. He’d forgotten to unlatch the chain.

 

“Uh thanks, but really I’m not that skinny,” she laughed lightly, making it sound like the sweetest waterfall. Hesitating no longer, he slammed it shut and unhooked the door before opening it wide. She smiled a new crooked smile he’d never seen before, but he liked it just the same.

 

He took the opportunity to stare at Elizabeth’s face. Her lips were untouched, but without any help at all they were still perfectly pink and desirable. Her eyes were dabbed with a little eyeliner, only to bring out her eyes. Her cheeks were red, and it complemented her features as an innocent child. Her hair was shorter now, only to just above her shoulders. Her shirt was grey and saved enough room at the top of it for a small string necklace. Elizabeth’s pants were loose fitting light flares and her shoes were tattered. To any man, she was ever so average. To him, she was real and modest and the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

 

wiL went to say something, more to himself. He had to tell her about the papers, but her finger was gentle on his lips.

 

“Shh, please don’t speak,” she said, before stepping inside and closing the door behind her. Before it had even completely shut, her lips were on his. Passionate and fierce, he had no idea what to do. It had never happened before. Everything told him to stop what was happening. Every thing, that is, except his heart. It beat faster than it ever had.

 

And he kissed her back.

 

Sick dude…sick.

 

He smiled through their kiss and ignored his conscious as she very stealthily pushed him and he toppled onto the bed. He could have sworn they were still by the door. Fear spattered his mind, but he didn’t say anything yet. She got on the bed, putting her legs on either side of his body as he propped himself up on his elbows. She ran her hands down his torso, making him give an involuntary shudder that she seemed to like because she smiled wider.

 

“What are you doing?” he asked. Her new crooked smile donned her extravagant face again.

 

“Something that I really should have done a long time ago,” she answered.

 

“And that would be?”

 

She leaned down very gently and put her lips to his ear, making it so her words were warm against his face:

 

“I’m letting you in.”

 

Her meaning was clear and it sent a wave of pleasure down from his ear to his torso that, for some odd reason, pulsated between his legs. He kissed her lips and flipped her on her back.

 

“I love you,” she whispered.

 

And he knew she meant it. And he knew he meant it. For the first time, he really and truly meant it.

 

“I love you too, and I always will.”

 

And he meant it. And she knew he meant it. And they showed it.

 

*****

5 minutes earlier

 

Angel sighed heavily and he secretly let his tears fall again. His thoughts of the three day deadline had turned out wrong. Sure, Mandy was history, but Elizabeth was still absent. That mattered more than anything. She was his best friend, and got him more than the other guys did, but only because he was super sensitive. He remembered when she’d very seriously asked him if he was gay. It was a question he’d heard before, but it was always funny.

 

It was October 31^st (as it was around 12:45 in the morning) and she wasn’t back. It killed him. Nick hadn’t stopped her, and he should have.

 

wiL was still up in his room, as he had been for three days, while Angel and the rest suffered Mandy’s screams as she fumed over the separation. It was something that was going to happen, as they all knew. Still, it came at an inconvenient time and it was hurting all of them. It was hard to calm Jake as he would blame wiL for everything.

 

Angel’s job was the guardian. wiL was just confused and it wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It was just how things were going.

 

In his mind, that’s how it was.

 

The bus door creaked. Panicking, Angel threw himself in her bed and covered up. Anyone who walked in didn’t actually have to see the tears. They’d see the redness of his eyes. He wasn’t ready to let anyone know just how much he was missing Elizabeth.

 

“Angel? Are you in here?”

 

Nick said this as two separate questions. Angel remained frozen, hoping that the blankets of Elizabeth’s bed would make Nick merely glance over his secret fortress. The footsteps from the next room were just loud enough for him to hear, and as they neared Angel held his breath. The rising and falling of the blanket would be a tad suspicious.

 

Much to his surprise, there was no hesitation in Nick’s foot falls. That is to say that he was going directly to the back room where Angel was veiled. Before any action could be taken, the comforter was pulled away. Instinctively, Angel dug his face into the pillow.

 

“Angel…” Nick said with a touch of sympathy. He sat down next to his solemn friend.

 

“Go away please,” Angel requested, slightly muffled by the sheets.

 

“Angel, you don’t need to hide it from me,” Nick revealed to him, “I know why you’re in here.”

 

Very slowly and with a defeated scowl, Angel sat up to look at the floor. Nick’s head tilted in compassion.

 

“It’s ok Angel,” Nick said, saying his friend’s name for the fourth time in a single minute.

 

“No it’s not, ok?” Angel yelled, losing all patience and barriers. “Elizabeth is my best friend! She means the world to me! She’s like my little sister and she’s gone! wiL has made her miserable and made her grow up more than any young girl should have to! It’s not fair! It’s not fair, it’s not fair. It’s. Not. Fair!” Angel ranted, punctuating his words.

 

“Angel…” Nick repeated, but stopped when Angel stood up with a low growl. This was a monstrous confused upset person who’d held back his true feelings for too long.

 

“No Nick, don’t try to reason with me. I’m tired of this!”

 

“We all are, but I have a feeling…”

 

“A feeling what? She’ll come back soon?” Angel interrupted, “Well that would be just great. Why don’t you rely on that feeling? In the meantime, I’m going to find her!”

 

“Angel!” Nick tried to say again, but the exasperated man was already putting on his jacket.

 

“She better be ok when I find her or…”

 

But he didn’t need to keep talking, because when he’d turned around, she was standing there. Her eyes were welling up and his entire body softened.

 

“I was hoping to see Angel, but I’m not sure this psychopath is him.” Elizabeth joked. Every feature, from his face to his soul, relaxed as he reached forward to pull her into a tight embrace. Tears streamed from his eyes.

 

“Don’t you ever leave me again, my Elizabeth, never!” He felt her arms wrap around his torso.

 

“I won’t, but only if you answer this question so I can go deal with something. Once I deal with it we have time to talk, but I have to find this out now.”

 

“Anything!” Angel flushed, so glad to see her alive. She looked so much better now, hair cut added to a new light in her eyes.

 

“Is she gone?”

 

Angel nodded, knowing exactly where this was going. He secretly liked where it was going.

 

“Would she have left had I never come into the picture?”

 

Angel squeezed her into a hug one last time, before answering, “Yes. Maybe not as soon, but yes. It was going to happen.”

 

It was Elizabeth’s turn to nod. “That’s all I needed.” She pecked his lips very gently. “Thank you.”

 

“I love you Elizabeth,”

 

“I love you more Angie,” she teased, but he knew she meant it. And he meant it. And they both knew the other meant it.

 

With a broad smile, she turned. He looked out the window as she ran straight for the hotel.

 

**Though I've been dying to post more, I won't lie and say I'm not a tad disappointed in the response to the previous chapter. I miss my comments of thorough response, if you catch my drift ;) Let me know exactly what you think...

after all...you've been waiting for that**

~go off to sleep in the sunshine; I don't wanna see the day when it's dying~

Another Word for Challenge is Life

 

            Her hair whipped from the wind outside. wiL almost made a move to help her, but seeing the heavy bags on her arms, his heart hardened. Of course, she would have gone shopping. It was so noticeable that her joyful mood had increased upon Elizabeth’s departure. To celebrate, she’d spoiled herself even more than usual. wiL’s eyes travelled to the receipts in the bags. The price was outrageous, but worse still there were papers inside her purse. They had a date on them. Most likely, she’d put in an order for something. It seemed to be from the Elizabeth (and what he assumed was) Taylor collection. She didn’t really care about any of this.

 

            “Is Elizabeth back yet?” The concern in her eyes was undeniable. She was genuinely worried. It threw him off.

 

            “No, she’s not,” Nick answered. The five men lowered their heads out of habit. Mandy nodded hers.

 

“Don’t you fret; she will come back when she wants to come back.” It was a too dismissive comment for wiL. He instantly grabbed her elbow.

 

“We need to talk.”

 

He never got to see any shocked look because he turned and dragged her to the back room. The bags made annoying sounds as she tried to protest.

 

He finally stopped in Elizabeth’s room and turned. Mandy seemed rather angry, but it was the least of his worries.

 

“What’s going on?” he asked bluntly. “You know it just seems like I’ve had to just TALK with everyone and I never get straight answers. I want the truth from you. I want to know if you were really pregnant. I want to know what you’ve got against Elizabeth. Hell I want to know if you even care that she’s gone. If I don’t get the goddamn facts, I will lose my mind and maybe I’ll run off too. So now, here, tell me what’s going on.”

 

The eyes of the nude model faded and became the eyes of one very hurt woman. “You think I don’t care about Elizabeth?”

 

“No I don’t.”

 

Mandy lowered her head and wiL saw tears falling. “You’re the love of my life and you don’t know me at all.”

 

“Well you haven’t exactly been yourself these past few months.” He said again, starting to feel slightly guilty.

 

“That’s because you haven’t been yourself either,” she pointed out. She dropped her bags to the floor. “I mean, you were such a jerk to her to start off with and then one night I discovered you two having a little midnight rendezvous behind my back. You were just talking like old friends and I got angry. Then one night you two were thumping and bumping on top of the bus. I tried not to think the worst, but then the next day you were all…well a lot more friendly than usual. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and I seduced you so that she’d know exactly where I stood.”

 

“You thought we had sex?” wiL asked in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?” He paused for a moment and then recalled something else. “On top of the bus?”

 

“Well I asked Angel about it, in an off hand way, and he just laughed and said ‘oh no, Lizzie would never do that’ and I trusted him, so I laid off. Then I got pregnant.”

 

“You were really pregnant?” wiL confirmed. She nodded.

 

“Of course I was. I can’t believe you doubted that. I thought over it and I started to panic because I knew I would lose my girly figure and I’d need a new job. Worse yet, I thought you might…find someone else because you weren’t ready for a kid.”

 

“I might have, but not because you were going to lose your figure. I got mad because you were a total bitch and you weren’t telling me why.”

 

She nodded again. “That’s where I was totally in the wrong. I saw Elizabeth seemed to be the only thing holding the bus together. And then I saw that you were looking at her funny. I tried not to assume the worst for the second time.”

 

“You thought this time we’d had sex or something?”

 

Mandy lowered her head, “No…I remembered that look. I’d seen it back when we first got engaged two years ago. I assumed…you’d fallen in love with her.”

 

wiL couldn’t defend himself. His words got caught in his throat.

 

“So I decided to tell you. Elizabeth knew before you did.”

 

“I know she did,” he admitted. “But I want a direct answer for these questions, not a long drawn out explanation.”

 

“All right, but I expect the same.”

 

“All right,” he paused and asked his first question, “why didn’t you tell me that you lost the baby?”

 

“Because I thought that you wouldn’t have married me. I felt like that was the only thing holding us together.”

 

“Which is true, you should know.” He said. “You got so bitchy I just lost my mind.”

 

“Elizabeth told me that. So I didn’t mention the missing child when I called you.”

 

wiL stopped and considered his next words carefully, “You knew that I felt so much obligation, so you played me.”

 

She lowered her head. “I knew at that point, we had so much trouble in our relationship that the baby was the only thing holding us together. Then during one of the shoots I fell to the floor and when I woke up I was in a hospital and I’d lost the baby.”

 

wiL looked at her and before he accused her of anything else, he knew he better find out how she took losing her own child. “I’m so sorry about that though,”

 

“Don’t be. Even though it was a child and what not, it wasn’t far enough along. It was just a fetus so it didn’t bother me too much. I was more worried about losing you.”

 

“So you know it don’t you?”

 

Mandy stepped closer to him and took his hands. “I know you don’t feel the same love you used to. I know that you aren’t in love with me anymore.”

 

wiL took her hands back. “That’s because the woman I fell in love with is gone. She’s become this diva that I can’t handle.”

 

Mandy giggled. “I’ve always been a diva.”

 

“No, you haven’t. You were very down to earth when I first met you. And now it’s like…you come home with new clothes everyday. I mean, you’ve lost so many of your values.”

 

“Name one!” she shot back.

 

“You were a normal model when I first met you. You said “I will never be a nude model; all those girls are sluts’.”

 

“Are you saying I’m a slut?”

 

“Don’t twist my words around! WHY do you women do that?” he sat down on Elizabeth’s bed. Her comforter fell down, revealing Jack and Sally on top of the familiar curved hill.

 

“You don’t seem upset that she’s gone.”

 

“I’m not wiL,” his head shot up but she sat down and put her hand on his leg. “I know wherever she is, she’s safe. Lizzie is a strong girl. But I know that while I was out you found a certain amount of…comfort in her.”

 

His eyes went back to Sally. Jack had been where he had: he was too busy focusing on Christmas to notice that Sally could be his true passion. wiL had been too active trying to make sure that Mandy was happy to observe how amazing Elizabeth was.

 

“Yeah…” he admitted.

 

“I also know that you’ve kissed her.”

 

“Yeah…”

 

“I also know that you want to leave me for her.”

 

This time he was silent.

 

“wiL, I already know it. She’s all you think about. And I was pissed off. So I tricked you. But I cheated on you twice. I couldn’t too mad. As a matter of fact, I couldn’t get mad at all. I love you. I want you forever. I know Elizabeth blinds you, but I can be who you want me to be again!”

 

He turned his head to look at Mandy’s face. Her lips were pink and glossy, making them look plush and desirable. Her eyes were surrounded with colorful circles of makeup. Three stick-on gems donned her blush tinted cheeks. Her hair was suddenly streaked with new blonde highlights. Her shirt was a halter top that exposed much of her chest and set little spots of light everywhere and moved as she did. Mandy’s pants were extremely tight and her shoes were bright pink stilettos. To any man, she was a thing of beauty. To him, she was fake and plastic and the ugliest thing he’d ever seen.

 

“I don’t know if you can.” He said, looking away. “As a matter of fact, I almost know that you can’t.”

 

She sat up straighter. “You’re going to make me change for you?” she asked, having a sudden mood swing.

 

“No, I’m asking you to be who you used to be,” he confirmed.

 

“I’ve grown up now. I’ve seen the world. This is who I like being.”

 

“Who are you?” His challenge was backed up by him looking straight into her eyes. He was attempting to use the ‘piercing dagger’ attack that so many people had used on him. Apparently, he was doing a fair job at it.

 

“I am Mandy Murders. I am an artist. I am married to wiL Francis, who I love very much, but he doesn’t love me.”

 

He shook his head and stood up. Despite feeling her hand reach out, he started to walk away. As he got to the curtain, he turned to her.

 

“Mandy Murders loves wiL Francis, but William Roy loves Mandy Vaughn. Mandy Murders believes she’s an artist, but Mandy Vaughn would be able to see that in today’s world ‘artist’ can sometimes be translated to ‘stripper who gets paid more’. And for the record, Mandy Vaughn is so far dead.”

 

“How do you know?” she yelled at him.

 

He looked her in the eyes and said very calmly the perfect words:

 

“Because Mandy Vaughn would not have been so unscathed by the loss of our child. Mandy Vaughn would be out looking for her niece, no matter what was going on. Mandy Vaughn never calls me wiL. She calls me Francine.”

 

She screamed and lurched at him, clawing at his face with her three foot nails. His body reacted but his mind cried. So much of their past had just been brought up and Mandy just scratched at him. Finally he pushed her back a bit.

 

“Fine then! Who are you? Are you William or wiL?” she asked, her eyes flaming.

 

“I’m William! I always have been”

 

“Well I hate William!”

 

He grabbed the ring off his finger and set it on her dresser. “I expect you to be gone by tomorrow afternoon. We’ll get the divorce papers this weekend. You can travel with the roadies until then.”

 

And he walked out on his marriage.

 

Tears streamed down his face as Nick’s hand caressed his back. wiL had no idea why he was crying.

 

“Why didn’t I do this a long time ago? No one would ever have been hurt.”

 

Nick trailed his hand to wiL’s head. “Maybe Lizzie was meant to take off your blinders.”

 

“Blinders?” he asked. Nick nodded.

 

“Yeah. About a year ago, Mandy just changed and she started being really stupid. We’ve been waiting for this to happen. We just wish you had more control over your emotions so that you didn’t have to get divorced.”

 

Jade came into the door way. “Angel needs you Nick.”

 

“But so does wiL,”

 

Nick nodded and Jade sat down in his place. “We’re getting this all settled right now. The hotel room is ready so you can head upstairs.”

 

wiL nodded and started to trudge up. He heard a big crash and a scream, but he didn’t even bother turning around. He heard someone say Elizabeth, but after dealing with that for three days and turning around to find out he was hearing things, he just walked away.

 

The room was so lavish but he didn’t have time to notice it. It was warm, and the bed looked fluffy. A queen sized bed and closed eyes seemed perfect...

 

**I'm heading out for the weekend. Doesn't really affect anything since I post in moderation. I have to tell you, the time in between each post is glory. It gives me enough time to reread and go back and fix things. News guys: my church friends now have this website in hand. Well...because I showed them. Meaning they could read this. And if they are, don't judge too harshly. It's art to me; not everyone is going to get it.

I hope you liked it. Leave me DESCRIPTIVE AND EXACT comments with your thoughts. This chapter got a lot done and I have had it in my head forever. It felt amazing to finally write it down, so let me know what you think!

 

~rebirthing now. I wanna live for love, wanna live for you and me~

XOXO

That’s What’s Wrong

 

wiL sat back with his hands in his pockets as Mandy handed over the money to the venue’s owner. He hadn’t asked what had happened. Upon entry, he saw the hole in the wall and said the price to repair it. It was way too obvious that this was not the first time. It kind of comforted him to know that he was not the only person to have punched a hole into a wall. Of course, other bands might have been doing it because they were high and stupid. wiL felt lucky that it wasn’t too much money, or Mandy might have actually killed him.

 

Yet for some reason she seemed incredibly content. She was happy even though he had to get her from the warm bus to come and pay this guy. The rain didn’t even dampen her spirits. She simply trotted over and whipped out some cash and paid.

 

He had a bad feeling he’d have to pay in a different form when they got back to the bus.

 

She made no angry glare as she turned away from the owner. In fact, she wrapped her hand around wiL’s and walked so that she would occasionally bump into his side. Her giggling was still that appalling shrieking, but he just tuned it out and waited to walk onto the bus. Elizabeth would most likely be in the back with Angel, possibly accompanied by Nick. The Jake’s would be playing video games, acting clueless. But they weren’t really clueless. Angel tells Nick everything. Nick tells Jade everything. Jade tells Jake everything. Jake tells everyone everything, but mostly confides in wiL. Therefore, they all knew what happened already. But you wouldn’t know it unless you knew that everybody knows.

 

Just to clear things up.

 

There was something wrong and he could feel it before he even walked in. The Jake’s were looking very alert, and the TV wasn’t even on. Nick sat in the corner, but that’s not what caught wiL’s eye. It was Angel. He was hovering over Nick in a threatening stance that did not match him.

 

“Hey the gang’s all here!” Mandy said.

 

“Are you losing your memory?” Angel snapped, turning momentarily to her.

 

wiL’s eyes looked up to Angel’s. The rage and fury could only be brought on by one thing.

 

“Where’s Elizabeth?” he felt himself ask.

 

Silence followed. It was one of the worst silences wiL could imagine, because it wasn’t silent to him. All he could hear was the sound of needles digging into his heart as he watched Angel’s body quiver. Nick’s head lowered, which caused a deafening screech like someone was moving a metal bar that hadn’t been oiled in year. The light breathing sounded like a hurricane. He felt himself heave.

 

“Where is she?” he asked again in a firmer tone.

 

“She’s gone,” Angel said, perceptibly more furious than anyone would have thought possible, “she left! Why? Oh I’m sure a few of us know, but that’s beside the point. Worse than that is the fact that our little Nicholas saw her leave and he didn’t stop her!”

 

The body of the beast suddenly began to push at wiL’s edges. It wanted to escape so badly. It longed to curse and yell and scream, but it just fought and killed him on the inside. He unintentionally growled at it, making Mandy turn her head towards him.

 

“No, you don’t understand!” Nick tried to defend, “She had to leave. She has some thinking to do. I know it.”

 

“So you let her run off?” Angel said, once again turning to roar at Nick.

 

“I had to!”

 

Before Angel said anything more wiL interjected, “What exactly do you mean gone?”

 

“She ran off. We don’t know where she’s going. We just know she took off on foot.” Jake explained. He was so utterly hushed, it was chilling.

 

Walls tumbled, as did wiL’s emotions. He could feel his knees giving way. She was gone. No one knew if she would really come back. His eyes were watering and his face was becoming mangled in agony. Nick saw his distress and stood up.

 

“Let’s take this elsewhere,” he proposed, and no one argued. Nick and wiL walked to the back. Well, Nick walked into the back. Jake dragged wiL by his arms, since his body had somehow frozen and wasn’t able to move by his own power. Of course, his mind wasn’t even taking in that he was being forced to move. It seemed to just shut down.

 

The curtain was not enough for Nick. He trailed all the way to the back and then through the door leading the trio outside.

 

“Sorry I dragged you out here, but privacy is exactly what you need right now.” Nick apologized, though really for no reason.

 

“William?” Jake waved his hand in front of wiL’s face, but drew it back when a single tear landed on it.

 

“You’re…crying.” Jake said, astounded.

 

“The love of his life just ran away; do you expect him to do a little dance for you?” Nick said sarcastically.

 

“No, but I didn’t even know he could produce tears. Plus, wiL doesn’t dance. I have to pay him to do the Invader Zim dance!”

 

“wiL?” Nick asked this time.

 

“Why did you let her go?”

 

The words were through gritted teeth. It was bad enough they saw that he was crying, but it would be a major kill if he broke down.

 

“Whatever went down in that dressing room made her need time to be alone and think,” Nick explained. It was obvious why they needed privacy now, “Seeing you or Mandy would not allow her any peace of mind. She had to go, and no one was going to stop her if they tried. I could see it in her eyes that she would have been so tortured to have to see you again.”

 

His knees felt like they’d just been hit by some giant log. It made them bend and crumple so that he fell to the floor. Nick and Jake were at his side in an instant.

 

“Oh God I’ve fucked up so bad,” wiL cried. One of their hands gently rubbed his back.

 

“It’ll be ok,” Jake said. The scuffling of feet was overheard as a teenage guy walked by. His hair was somewhat emo, as was his clothes, but his glasses were very preppy; almost Paris Hilton in style.

 

“What are you looking at?” Nick shot out. It wasn’t too rude, but it was kind of a personal moment.

 

“Dude, Francis, you ok?” the guy asked. He stopped where he stood. He was a fan, and normally they would have shooed him off, but wiL put his hand on Nick’s leg.

 

“Have you ever been in love?” he asked.

 

The guy nodded, like he understood exactly what wiL was asking, “Once. I know what it looks like. That’s why I was confused tonight at the show.”

 

“Really? Why?” wiL asked, his eyes gleaming because he knew something Nick and Jake didn’t. He knew how this boy was going to answer.

 

“Maybe it’s none of my business, but you married the wrong chick.” the fan admitted, “That girl you brought on stage-- I didn’t catch her name, but I could tell by what you said afterwards-- that’s the one you love.”

 

A small smile went across wiL’s face, “That’s what’s wrong.”

 

The guy nodded knowingly. “I hope this works out for you.” He smiled, before turning around. Nick was about to say something when the guy shouted out again.

 

“By the way,” he yelled, “I saw on the screen; her eyes tell me that you’ve got a good chance with her.”

 

The guys now smiled. “Thanks man,” Nick said. The guy waved one last time before turning around and walking away.

 

wiL leaned back, wiping his tears. “I think that kid is a gift from God.”

 

Nick laughed and ran his hand along wiL’s forehead. “Me too.”

 

“Maybe this is not my place, but Mandy is really acting suspicious,” Jake interjected, “she was smiling. She was all too surprised when I told her.”

 

wiL looked up very quickly, “When did you tell her?”

 

“Before you came in, which is also right before Angel found out…”

 

He trailed off, because wiL had once again gone in his trance state. “She was smiling,” he recalled, “she was giggling and laughing and being flirty.”

 

“Man, even she isn’t completely blind,” Nick pointed out, “she has to see that you and Elizabeth are something more.”

 

“Then why did she ask to marry me?” he inquired, his eyes filling again, “Why didn’t she tell me?”

 

“Because it’s not time yet.”

 

Angel’s voice startled all of them. They looked at the doorway where a much more angel-like Angel stood.

 

“What?” they all said simultaneously, too concerned about Angel to notice how creepy their synchronized question.

 

“I give it three days,” Angel elaborated, “in three days she’ll be back and Mandy will have been truthful for the first time in a long time.”

 

*****

 

Two days passed them by. Two grueling days filled with such sobriety it was uncanny. All those that had once been hyper residents were now ghosts that seemed to haunt the rooms. There was little talk. Two sentences were uttered “I’ll be back tomorrow” and “I’m going out”. The first was Mandy, who seemed extra busy lately. The second was said by wiL, who would leave early and return late with a slight hint of Jack Daniels. Mandy would always be there in the morning, no one having heard her come back.

 

Like mentioned, the bus was full of ghouls, just going along silently. The TV would be on and sometimes all five would be scattered around the room to watch. Watch is a word to be used lightly, since no one knew what was on. The fact was that no one was brave enough to admit why they were so upset.

 

It was a conflict of morals. Not one person could deny that there was something magical between Elizabeth and wiL. Even further, they couldn’t lie and say that Mandy wasn’t a pain. As of late, she’d been even worse. Her suspicious behavior was driving Angel into madness. Yet they weren’t bold enough to face the truth; Mandy and wiL were married, and anything or anyone else in wiL’s life was now seconded.

 

Meanwhile, wiL felt completely guilty. His only real family he’d ever had was suffering because of a stupid decision he’d made. Now it was like God was punishing everyone. He would sometimes think that in some ways, he was actually just hurting the others to damage wiL because that wounded him more than anything; seeing the ones he loved in pain.

 

Naturally, his mind would then wander off to her. Though he needed someone to hold (and imagine as her), he was so glad Mandy was gone. The only time he’d really think was while he lay on her bed. Not Mandy’s bed but on Elizabeth’s. Mandy would never notice that wiL was there or she would assume that he just wanted to sleep near her. She was wrong. wiL never slept first of all. He would toss and turn, true sleep never finding him.

 

Elizabeth haunted his dreams. She wasn’t always the main character, but she’d always be there. Sometimes she’d be a damsel in distress that wiL had to save after going through what seemed like water (donned in the Princess Leia slave bikini for some reason). Other instances she’d be running next to him while he snuck out of his old house. But she’d always be there.

 

Day three struck and wiL’s anticipation for this massive change to happen was incomparable to any feeling. According to Angel today was the day. Very patiently, they sat on the couch. None of them said exactly why they were all sitting there together, smashed into each other on the little sofa. Even when someone sat on the remote and Hannah Montana came on, not one moved to change it. The nauseating show ensued. Not an eye was batted as the repulsive thing continued, being so apparent that none of the performers could really act.  Through it all, they sat there.

 

Smiles were on the verge of crossing their faces, probably at the stupidity of the show, but the gloom that had coated them was still strong. Hours ticked by and as the wretched theme song blurted out for a fifth time, Nick finally broke the three day long silence.

 

“You know, we don’t blame you for all this.”

 

His voice was rough from lack of use, and as much of a whisper as it was it seemed loud. All heads turned to him at the end of the couch, and there was no need to ask who it was directed at.

 

“Maybe you don’t blame me, but I blame me,” wiL said. He looked to the floor, the carpet in obvious need of a vacuum.

 

“You don’t need to,” Angel backed up, “we all love Elizabeth very much. So even if you hadn’t played a part in this, we’d still be upset.”

 

“Yes, but she wouldn’t have left if it wasn’t for me,” he pointed out, standing up finally to shut off the TV.

 

Nick rose too and shrugged, “But that doesn’t matter. She’s gone now and whatever the reason that’s why we’re sad.”

 

“We all know that you two had something,” Jake said, joining his friends by standing. “A blind monkey that was facing the wall with a blind fold over his face could have seen your eyes.”

 

Jade stood slowly as well, “It just all came at a really bad time. It didn’t help that Mandy got all preggo. And when you got all mad and got married and all that. But still. Something’s just holding you back.”

 

wiL just rolled his eyes. “I didn’t want to drag you all into this.”

 

“Well, you didn’t. Elizabeth did.” Angel said. Nick was about to argue but he raised his hand, “Ah, ah, ah. I don’t mean that as an insult. Lizzie is an amazing person and we all care about her. I knew who she really wanted and to be honest,” Angel wrung his hands, “I wanted it for her. I wanted Mandy to disappear forever and for you to see Lizzie. But by the time that happened, it was way too late. That’s why I don’t trust Mandy.”

 

“Why not?” wiL asked, really wanting a hint as to why Angel was wary.

 

“It’s rather convenient timing on her part…getting pregnant.”

 

Nick scoffed. “What? Getting pregnant can’t be planned exactly. You need two people.”

 

“While that is true, don’t you think it’s odd that she gets pregnant right after we released Lizzie’s song? After you get happy? You don’t think it’s odd that when you start to get open about how close you and Lizzie are, Mandy suddenly announces her pregnancy?”

 

wiL couldn’t feel any words, and no one else could either. The thought filled silence lasted very shortly, for at that moment the door of the bus opened.

 

Two problems and one would be solved right then. Feeling light headed, he stepped forward to face the first challenge.

 

 

**Wow I did NOT realize two weeks had gone by. I apologize for the lack of update. Hopefully I still have readers...I am going to write more soon, when I'm now covered in Homework...you'd think English would be easy!! I have to go now but I hope you give me the GOOD comments (what you were thinking, feeling, constructive critism..) and spread the story!**

 

~and when you're feeling empty keep me in your memory~

XOXO