Opposite Sides of the Bridge

Chapter 38: Change

Disclaimer: I own Elizabeth, all the rest of the characters unless otherwise noted do not belong to me.

~It was the night things changed

Can you see it now?~

(Taylor Swift)

Springtime on the Upper East Side. Where the winter chill is supposed to be so last season but when mittens and scarves are still all the rage the best thing you can do is just button up and hope for warmer days.

Elizabeth walked with Vanessa and Dan to Nate's house. They were about to spend the day with the guys watching College ball.

"Thank you, Vanessa for joining us today. With Dan stealing my boyfriend I need all the girl power I can get."

"It just gives us more time to discuss our Post Graduation trip we've been planning to Europe."

"Since forever" she said. "Just us girls and the world"

They got to Nate's spotting him talking to someone.

"Hey guys. Hey this is my cousin Tripp" Nate said and the other guy turned. "This is Elizabeth, my girlfriend. Her brother, Dan and our friend Vanessa"

"Nice to meet you all" Tripp said "I'm trying to convince Nate here to make an appearance at the family hoodoo this weekend. Lunch today. Cocktail party tomorrow"

Elizabeth grabbed Nate's hand noticing he really didn't want to discuss anything related to his family. Especially the Van der Bilts.

"Maureen will be there. We're engaged now"

"I didn't know that. That's fantastic"

"Yeah, well you missed a lot" Tripp said "Why don't you drop by? Grandfather would love to see you"

"You know I appreciate it, Tripp I do. There's just a lot of stuff going on"

"Okay, I can take a hint. Call me, if you change your mind all right"

"I will" Nate said shaking his cousin's hand. "Congratulations"

"Thanks Man" Tripp said then turned to everyone else. "Nice to meet you all"

"Bye" Elizabeth and Vanessa said

"You're gonna skip out on your family reunion? I appreciate the commitment to the game"

"Dan" Elizabeth said.

"Listen, I'm not gonna go pretend to bond with the people who shut me and my mom out when my dad got busted. Let's go inside. The games starting"

They got inside. Dan and Vanessa stayed in the living room and Elizabeth followed Nate into the kitchen.

"You think I'm making a mistake not going?" he asked.

"I think that, that is up to you. What you want to do. I will be at your side either way. I'll catch you if you fall. Because I love you" she said putting her arms around his neck and kissing him. "But this is up to you, not me"

"I think, a day with my girl, and my friends watching basketball is just what I need"

"Then that is the plan" she smiled and grabbed the bowl of chips he had poured off the counter.

They walked into the living room and Dan and Vanessa looked at them awkwardly.

"What were you guys talking about?" Nate asked.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to your family reunion?" Vanessa asked.

"We know they weren't cool to you and your mom, but, I mean it seems like your cousin is trying to make up for it" Dan said.