Strawberries And Crows (Canceled, For Now)

Part 18- Thank you.

" No, I did it myself! " 

" Huh. " Francesca says, leaning on the doorframe, " You two sure are close. "

I bite my tongue, winking and making a 'shush' motion with my finger . 

" Oh!? " Francesca smiles then laughs. 

" Huh? What's happening? " Elizabeth says, opening her eyes, which were shut when I dabbed at her cuts. 

" Nothing, " I say, " Anyway, this is my cousin, Francesca. " 

She smiles, entering the room to stand in front of Elizabeth. " I didn't know you even remembered my name! " She laughs. 

" Well I do. " I shrug. "All done, Elizabeth. " I take my hands away from her head, trying not to make it obvious when my fingers linger on the back of her head. 

She opens her eyes slowly then looks up at me. Her eyes meet mine and she just watches me. I break the eye contact and busy my eyes by looking around the room, but I can feel Elizabeth still staring at me. 

" Elizabeth, what's this about you doing that-" she waves in Elizabeth's direction "- To yourself? " she pauses. " Why would you feel the need to do that? "

" I didn't do it on purpose, but I did it to myself. It wasn't anyone else- unless you want to blame the table. " She chuckles slightly. " I just fell while trying to escape the room. " she shruggs.

" And no one stoped to help you? " Francesca hisses.

Elizabeth shakes her head.

" It's okay. " she smiles up at me, and I'm speechless at the sight of her  Her messy hair, big brown eyes, her big smile, no matter what she just went through.

" It was really cool what you did out there. " she says, breaking eye contact. It's almost like its just Elizabeth and I in the room, and when I find myself looking up, we are the only people in the room. Francesca left us.

" I think I need to have a chat with David. " I say, " He wasn't supposed to freeze up like that. " I sigh, " It was probably a mistake, he got anxious... " but I realise I know it's not. He was smiling like this was his plan all along. I growl under my breath.

" Kalese? Are you listening to me? " Elizabeth says, and I sit down next to her on the bed. I nod my head. " I was just saying how happy I was you did that for me, standing up against your father. " she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. " I almost wanted to run up to you and k- " She pauses, gulping. " Uh- kill your... Brother? " she meets my eyes, and I just laugh.

" Why didn't you? I ask. Kill my brother I mean? " I say with a  wink. She blushes.

" Kalese, there's something I need to discuss with you, but not here... Not now. "

" Oh, okay. " I smile. " Just tell me when and where, and I'll be there. "

" Thank you. " She says.

" Well. " I'm suddenly awkward, " I'm going to go have a chat with David. " I hiss his name.

" Don't kill him! " she says jokingly with a wave as I exit the room.

David's stood in his guest room, on the balcony. His back is to me.

" David. " I hiss.

He turns. " Ah, I knew you'd come see me. "

I scowl. " Shut up, you're a liar. It was never your plan to object, was it? You wanted to gain my trust. "

" But here's the thing, Kalese. It's not my fault you're a naive little girl, I mean... Why else would you trust me so easily? "

" You gave me plenty of reasons to trust you, but this changes everything. "

" I knew why you're acting like this. " he grins, " Because you're in love with my sister and-"

I slap him across the face, hard.
" And what? " I growl.

" And it's wrong. " his grin falls, but he doesn't falter. " I thought I'd have a civil conversation with you, but it's clear that's not what's in order. "

While I'm looking up at him angrily, he grabs my wrists. I have no way of attacking him, because my current dress is too tight. " Let go of me! " I yell, but he turns me around and manouvers me into his bathroom, where he drops me on the floor.

" Tomorrow, I'll come find you, act like you simply got locked in here on your own a cord."

" Wait! " I bang on the door. "...But I have to meet with Elizabeth at midnight tonight. " I whisper.

I stand and look in his mirror.

Ambition flames in my eyes. Don't get between a girl and her true love.

I slam open his drawers, pulling out scissors.