Elizabeth's POV

It was Friday.

The week fell into its normal routine.

Beckett picked me up for university. His strange affectionate behavior subsided. If it didn't then I would be stuck having an awkward conversation with him about it.

I'd prefer it if Beckett, was honest and straightforward when it came to his feelings. I'm not good at picking up mixed signals, so I ignore them altogether.

I didn't want to bring up his sudden acts of affection, I was worried he would shoot down my concerns as if they were nothing. Then it would look like I was misinterpreting our friendship.

Beckett still refused to attend professor Villin's class. So I would attend with Adrienne, who was good company to keep. She would often talk about home and her grandmother.

The last lecture for the day dragged on and I found myself slipping from a state of consciousness to a state of unconsciousness.

Daydreaming.

I hadn't heard from Luca since Saturday.

Don't get me wrong I was glad to be rid of the Englishman for a few days, but I've grown fond of our little back and forth banters.

Students around me started putting away their books and I woke up from my dazed state and followed suit. "Are you okay?" Beckett asked from beside me.

"Yeah," I said, standing and stretching. My bones cracked, and damn did it feel good.

Beckett chuckled. "Come on," he said, and then I felt my phone buzz in my jean's pocket.

I followed after Beckett as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. I swiped my finger across the screen, unlocking it.

It was from Satan.

Luca had put his number in my phone on Saturday. The message read: Where are you, princess?

He was so rude. Instead of saying hi, or asking how I was doing, he wanted to know where I was.

Firstly hello and secondly nunya! I responded and pocketed my phone. My phone buzzed again and I rolled my eyes.

What the devil is a Nunya! A sarcastic smile formed on my face as I thought about his facial expression. I could practically hear his voice in my head.

None of your business! If he wanted to talk to me he should have been nicer about it, but as usual, he chose to be a jackass.

"What's so funny?" Beckett asked, and peeped his head into my phone. "Who is Jekyll, Hyde?"

"Luca," I said, with a humorous smirk on my face, and then I heard Beckett sigh beside me.

Do you have to be a pain in the ass about everything princess? How funny he thought I was the pain in the butt. Has he ever looked in the mirror. If he did he'd see the definition of a pain in the ass smirking back at him.

Not everything... only when it comes to you, Hyde.

"Can I drive you to work?" Beckett asked from beside me and I shook my head.

"It's fine. I'll take the bus."

"Just this one time Liz. We barely hang out anymore," he said and I thought about it. Beckett was my friend after all and I did enjoy his company. I just didn't want to feel like I was taking advantage of his good nature by letting him drive me to work.

"Fine just this once," I said, giving in and he grinned.

"Victory," he cheered.

My phone buzzed again and I looked at the text in confusion. Because of you, I am now in a predicament. You are going to pay princess.

He was always looking for an argument. Sometimes I'd think he enjoyed getting on my nerves with his nonsense. Stifling a yawn. I sent him the shocked emoji followed by the rolling eyes emoji, before locking my phone and putting it back into my pocket.

Empty threats.

That's all it was.

I still needed to ask Blake, if I could take a few weeks off from work. So that I could accompany the demon to England.

From the time I started working at the restaurant, I hadn't asked Blake for time off. Then again I haven't been working at the restaurant for very long. So I was skeptical about asking him.

I could only hope that the grinches heart grew three sizes. I put my bag in the back seat of Beckett's car and got in the front passenger's seat. I pulled down the visor and looked into the small mirror as I put my hair into a ponytail.

"You know," Beckett said, getting into the car. "I have never been to the restaurant you work in before."

"The food is good, the manager is a butthole and the customers are sometimes nice," I said, giving him a short description of the environment I work in.

"So what are you doing for winter break?" He asked and I realized that I didn't tell Beckett, that I was going to England for Stephanie's wedding.

"I'm going to England," I said and he raised an eyebrow at me. "It's Luca's sister's wedding."

His eyes widened and he let out a ragged breath, composing himself. "So how's playing pretend with him going?" He asked, clearing his throat and taking his eyes off me. He focused on the road as he spoke.

"He's a pain in the butthole," I said and he half-smiled. "But he is also really thoughtful," I added lost in thought. Luca wasn't that bad once you got past his snarky remarks.

He was caring, but he refused to show that side of himself. "Sounds like you two have gotten close."

"We can't go ten minutes without arguing," I laughed. "We can barely stand each other."

"Interesting."

"Anyway what are you doing for winter break?"

"Well since you won't be here. I guess I'll just go home."

I nodded. I would have loved to go home for winter break. "Just promise me one thing?" Beckett said and I eyed him suspiciously.

"Tell me what it is first. I'm not keen on making blind promises," I smirked and he raised an eyebrow at me as a sly suggestive smirk formed on his face.

"Let's just hang out the day before you go to England," he said and I shrugged.

"That sounds okay I guess..." I trailed and he smiled.

*****************
The noise of people chatting and laughing in the dining room, mixed with the sound of the dishes being moved in the kitchen. The kitchen was a madhouse and Blake had told me to assist Ardeth with making the drinks.

I grabbed a bottle of peppermint schnapps from the counter as I chatted lightly with Ardeth. "So I told him he can take his minimum wage and ...." she trailed, taking the bottle of schnapps from me and pulling the cap off. "Take a walk," she grunted.

She was furious that Blake refused to put in her request for a salary raise. She poured a few shots of the peppermint schnapps into a transparent mug before adding a cup of hot chocolate and a dollop of whipped cream to it.

"What do you think he is going to say to me when I ask for a few weeks off?"

"Hah," she laughed. "At least you have the guts to ask. Maybe he'll admire that and spare you the berating," she shrugged.

What could I do if he said no. Nothing. I would just have to tell Luca I couldn't go to England and had to work. Losing this job was not an option. It paid well and the tips were amazing.

The sound of loud footsteps hitting the porcelain tiles caused everyone to go silent. Blake walked into the kitchen with his nose up in the air as well as wearing his favorite scowl. He glowered at all of us and stopped in the middle of the room with his arms folded.

"Ah," he examined us, with narrow eyes. "It looks like I've stumbled into a chat room instead of a kitchen!" He shouted. "Hurry up and get the orders out there. We busy tonight," he yelled and on that note, everyone started rushing around.

He turned on his heel to go out of the kitchen and Ardeth gestured with her head for me to go after him.

"Blake," I called after him just as he reached the door. "Could I have a word with you," I asked and he folded his arms again.

"A little less talking and more working. Table fifty-four up in the lounge just arrived and since you have time to talk. You have time to work."

I sighed. "Yes sir." He looked at me with a little less harshness in his eyes as he took in my tired state.

He let out a breath of his own as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll tell you what Liz. If the night goes well, maybe we can have that talk," he said, with a firm nod of his head before he can turn to walk away.

Following orders, I walked out of the kitchen and through the busy restaurant. All the waiters in the restaurant looked stressed. Blake stood at the entrance with a fake smile on his face as he watched everyone work. He smiled through his teeth but his eyes were filled with anger.

I walked over to the elevator. So that I could take it up to the lounge. I hit the button on the panel and waited. There was no point in getting Blake to listen to me while the restaurant was busy.

A few seconds later, the lift doors parted and Seth rushed out with a cart. "Hey Liz," he greeted.

Seth didn't hold it against me that I tried to palm Luca off on him that night.

"How's it going Seth," I greeted back. We didn't have much time to talk considering Blake's policy about talking while working. So it was a passing greeting like all the waiters do.

I stepped into the elevator and the doors closed. The elevator began going up and I stifled a yawn. I was tired. I was on my feet from the time I entered the restaurant. The doors parted again and I stood up tall, regaining my posture.

I walked out of the elevator and over to table fifty-four that had an L shaped couch around it and a mini table in the center. A party of men and women were occupying the couch.

They were dressed in fancy clothes as they sipped on complimentary champagne and smoked cigars.
The cigar smoke was getting to me, but I dared not cough.

"I completely agree with you, Mr. Felton.
Profits are at an all-time high so why not," I heard the men talking and the name Felton rang a bell.

Whenever customers were deep in conversation with each other. I chose not to disturb them. So I stood around and waited for them to notice my presence. "Father," someone said walking up from behind me. "I just got off the phone with Mr. Kutsier and he agreed to meet tomorrow evening," it was a man's voice and there was something vaguely familiar about his voice.

I whipped my head around so fast that I almost gave myself whiplash. The man's eyes met mine and he froze. "Lizzy..." he said in astonishment.

His eyes were wide as they raked over my body. He took a step forward with an outstretched hand, causing me to take a step back. He had a broad smile on his face while my face probably looked like I'd seen a ghost. "I thought I'd never see you again." The men and woman at the table looked between us, with curious eyes.

I shook my head in disbelief and made a beeline for the elevator. "Liz wait," I heard him call out and I pressed the elevator button's frantically until the doors finally parted. I went through them and pressed the button for the doors to close. The doors finally closed and I put both hands on my head as I tried to process.

I was hyperventilating.

Was he really here. Was it him. No.

Just when I thought I was in the clear the elevator dinged and the doors parted again. "Liz," he said, smiling at me. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell him that he had some damn nerve walking up to me as if we were old friends.

"Get away from me!" I said through gritted teeth.

"Liz please just hear me out. After all these years," he said, running a hand through his hair.

Images of the day I lost everything came flowing back.

Jessica's backstabbing smile.

Everyone's taunts and I told you so throughout the day.

It all came back...

"Leave me alone. There is nothing for us to talk about. Just go away!" Tears began to streak down my cheeks and I hit the elevator button hard, the doors closed and I walked back until my back hit the cold hard elevator wall. I rested my back against the cold wall as all the memories came flooding back.

The good ones and the bad ones.

You thought you could change him.

You are naive.

You can never change a bad boy.

They are all the same.

The words of my classmates came back to haunt me once again.

I thought the worst was over. I was relieved to go home that day, but little did I know that the worst was yet to come. What I went through in school was nothing compared to what I had to face when I went home.

Images of my father's lifeless body in my mother's arm's started flashing before my eyes. My mother's screams for someone to help, echoing loudly in my ears. I started grinding my teeth as my head began to throb. My tears started falling relentlessly. As every crucial detail of the past started playing over in my head again.

The thoughts that kept me up at night. The thoughts that made me cry myself to sleep.

All the bad memories came back. How everything went downhill since my father's passing.

My mother's alcohol abuse.

The time she almost tried to kill herself from the depression and if my aunt Aubrey hadn't stopped her she would of went through with it.

How I had no one and felt lonely. No friends to confide in and no one to trust but myself.

It was all becoming too much.

I started to feel claustrophobic. My heart was beating incredibly fast. I unbuttoned the top button of my shirt as I felt beads of sweat form on my forehead.

I just wanted my mothers screaming to stop.

I just wanted all the heartache and pain to go away.

I screwed my eyes shut. I tried to remind myself that everything was getting better now. But the memories just wouldn't go away. They were still fresh. Demanding to be remembered.

"Stop!" I gritted out, unable to take any more of the voices in my head and then I heard the elevator ding.

I opened my eyes and looked around. I took a step out of the elevator and it felt like my ears were clogged. It felt like I went temporarily deaf. I couldn't hear anything as I looked around the restaurant.

I needed to get away. The tears fell uncontrollably and I headed straight for the front door. "My shift is over," I said hoarsely as I walked past Blake.

He didn't say anything or maybe he was shocked that I had the nerve to storm out.

"Liz wait please," I heard Tyler's voice from behind me and I ignored him and began running.

The restaurant doors parted and I ran out. I stopped at the door and looked in both directions. I didn't know where I was going to go, but I just needed to leave.

So I began walking.

I should have known I'd run into him again.

I wish the world was big enough for the two of us to never meet again.

I didn't want to talk to him. I was once helplessly in love with him and he betrayed me.

"Elizabeth," I heard Luca's voice and I stopped. I tried to wipe away my fallen tears so that he couldn't see my tear-stained cheeks.

"I'm not in the mood Luca," I said, not turning around to face him and moving to walk away, but he stopped me and whirled me around to face him instead.

"Tell me what happened," he demanded.

I grabbed his hand abruptly, removing it from my arm. "Leave me alone!" I demanded.

He put his hand on my face, cupping my cheek as his green eyes looked into mine as if searching for the answers in my eyes.

I closed my eyes relishing the warmth and comfort from his hand against my cold skin.

I couldn't stand anyone seeing me at my weakest.

"Tell me what happened please," he said, softly and I shook my head and took a few steps back, letting his hand fall off my face.

"Just go away," I said, and it came out as a mere whisper. His eyes darkened, as he realized what I mumbled.

"You want me to go?" He repeated, deadly. His eyes were dark and a vein formed on his forehead.

"Yes!" I said, more confidently.

I turned to walk away from him but he grabbed me from around my waist and threw me over his shoulder.

I shrieked from the sudden action and began shouting at him."What do you think you are doing?" I yelled. "What part of leave me alone don't you understand?" I cried.

He loaded me into his car and I growled at him, like a rabid animal. He put my seatbelt around me and I huffed. He pushed the hair out of my face tucking it behind my ear.

His eyes met mine. This time they were angry and I gulped visibly as his face was just a hair's breadth away from mine.

"We are going for a drive," he said, pulling away from me.

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A/N

If I saw my ex in the restaurant I was working in. I'd make sure to add some diarrhea pills to his food. :p

Jk.👀

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. The next one will be out soon.

Vote, comment, and Recommend.

P.A 💜