Lizard Girl

Chapter 16

The two girls had to part ways considering that Emma still had school, and Lizzie needed to get home, but they left each other with a new hope.
Emma was relieved that Lizzie forgave her and Lizzie was happy she had someone again. 

When she got home, Lizzie went to the kitchen. It smelt like honey bread, waffles, and spaghetti. She walked to the counter and cleared off a space for her bags.
"Hey sweet pea. How was shopping."
Lizzie smiled. "It was alright. I got a new candle and a hoodie."
He smiled over his shoulder. "That's good. I got news from the hospital. They said he should be able to come home in a week or two."
Lizzie perked up at this. "Really? He's going to be ok?" He nodded and continued stirring the noodles.
"How does waffles and spaghetti sound for dinner?"
She laughed. "It sounds alright." He served them both up some noodles and a waffle and they sat down in front of the tv. T
hey weren't usually allowed to eat in the living room, but her dad allowed it this time. They watched movies the rest of the night. They watched everything and anything, from horror movies to rom-coms. Lizzie ate little as usual as she mainly focused on the movie. When it was close to one in the morning her dad went to bed and Lizzie went to her room.
She sat in the dark for awhile before turning the lights on. She went to her phone and pulled up the app store.
She barely had time to stop herself before she was downloading TikTok. Before she could talk herself out of it she signed up and made an account. She texted Katy asking what Emma's TikTok account was and after she followed both Katy and Emma.
She breathed a sigh of relief and put her phone down. She decided that lack of sleep was making her do crazy things and went right to bed. She sat lying awake for awhile before finally drifting off into a fitful slumber.

Emma was lying on her side trying not to put pressure on her back when a notification from TikTok came through.
She picked up her phone and opened the app. She gasped and laughed under her breath at what she saw. A 'LizardGirl1' on TikTok just followed her.
She smiled to herself and pulled up her channel.
She followed Lizzie back and put her phone down. The momentary distraction got the pain in her back to subside momentarily. As soon as she put her phone down and laid back her back screamed at her to stop. She sat up and turned on the lights. She took her shirt off to look at her back in the mirror. She cringed at the sight before her.
As punishment for running out of class, even if it was just art, her parents put her through fifteen lashes on the back and one black eye. Her back was red and swollen. It was dark with blood where the whip had broken skin and she did her best to bandage it, and her face was no better. She got out her anti-pain medication and took the recommended dosage. She tried to walk it off while she waited for the pills to kick in but that made it even worse. She picked up her phone and started to text Lizzie. 

Lizzie

Emma : Hey u up???

Ye why? : Lizzie
u ok?! : Lizzie

Emma : not really...
Emma : can u call

I guess : Lizzie
do u need help?? : Lizzie

Emma : no!
Emma : just need to get my mind off things

alright : Lizzie

Emma : thx

np : Lizzie

She pushed the facetime button and waited for Lizzie to pick up.
When she finally did she gasped at the black eye.
"Oh my gosh! Are you ok!?"
Emma shook her head and smiled. "No but I need you to distract me while I wait for the painkillers to kick in."
Lizzie nodded and sat up in her bed. "Do you want to talk about it? If not I can talk about something else...."
Emma sensed the hesitance but curiosity in her voice and sighed. "You know how I came after you during school time?" Lizzie nodded. "Well, it was during a class. My parents don't like it when I get bad grades so...."
Lizzie's hand flew to her mouth. "Emma, I am so so so sorry. You shouldn't have gone after me. You should have forgotten I even exist. I'm not worth that."
There were tears brimming in her eyes and Emma moved to comfort her. "No. That was the best thing I have ever done. I would do it a million times over if it means I can see you again." This served to make Lizzie feel worse instead of better. "Thank you, but I'm really not worth it...." She wiped her tears and regained her composure. "I'm sorry I'm supposed to be comforting you not the other way around." She sniffed and laughed awkwardly.
"Lizzie Taylor, you are the kindest, cutest, most forgiving person I've ever met. I love you and I always will. Don't you ever say you are not worth it ever again. If you do I will deny it every time." 
   Lizzie smiled slightly. "If you can't sleep, do you want to come over?"
Emma lit up at the idea. "I'll be right over." Lizzie blushed slightly at the thought of Emma in her house but tried to focus.
"I'll text you my address and-- wait, can you drive?" Emma nodded and hung up.
She smiled to herself. I'm spending the night with my almost girlfriend!

Alright we're almost there!!!! Thank  you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Please have a good day/night/midday and have a grrrreeeaaaaatttttt tomorrow!