Suspension

Chapter 4

Elizabeth Rose was straight ahead of me with her arms over the staircase railing. I silently stood next to her and she looked up at me. I stared at my hands. She stared at the stairs. I peeked at her and saw her red-rimmed eyes.

"Hey, Elizabeth Rose," I started.

"You don't-a have to say anything." She said.

"Look-

"No," She said, cutting me off, "you don't want to apologize to me. Carolyn is-a making you. Please, just don't."

"How about you just listen? I have a lot to say to you." I said. I took a deep breath and waited for Elizabeth Rose to nod. "Three years ago, I really liked this guy and for some reason, he liked me back. His sister was so annoying though when we went out on dates. She always wanted to come with us and so we let her. She reminded me of my own sister Victoria who was the same age. Six months later, my sister died and I found comfort in my boyfriend's sister. It wasn't because she reminded me of my sister; it was because she was the only close female I had left in my life.

A few months after that, everyone was excited because we were getting a new girl in our year. Then she came- blonde hair, blue eyes, tall. She was even French for God's sake! As soon as she walked into our class, everyone was transfixed by her. All the guys thought she was beautiful and all of the girls were jealous of her beauty.

A few days later, my boyfriend broke up with me, saying he did not love me anymore. He told me he was sorry. I asked him who it was but he didn't answer and then I knew that it was the French girl who he was in love with. I was angry. I wanted revenge.

But instead I let my anger out in martial arts classes and running. I learnt self-defence and I couldn't help but picture you in my head every time I hit something or somebody. I...and if I have to say it, yes, I hated you. For two years, I have hated you. I have hated the way everyone looks at you.

I heard a lot from Carolyn about Alex. I even saw it for myself. How he would lay in his room staring at the ceiling. How he would find your face first in the school pictures. He is seriously in love with you, Elizabeth Rose and yet you couldn't care less about him. He's more like my brother now-a-days and so I care about him.

Please, just give him a chance and I'll forgive you and hopefully you can forgive me too."

Elizabeth Rose smiled and looked up at me with sympathy.

"Oh-a, Talia, I forgave you long ago." She patted me on the back and nodded. "Just so you know, my parents forbade me to date anyone and that is why I have not given Alex a chance. That is why I say no to everyone."

I frowned at her, waiting for more information.

"I do...well....I guess I kind of...." She trailed off. Was she forgetting her English?

"What?" I asked. She searched my eyes for help but they were blank.

"I do like Alex." She rushed with her words and I could barely hear her. But I figured it out and gave her a small smile. "And I can tell that there is another reason that you are-a forgiving, today."

She was right. I nodded slowly and smiled.

"I guess..." I said. She nudged me.

"Something to do with Reece, maybe..." She said lightly.

"Elizabeth Rose, stop talking-

"Talia," She said, I could see this was hard for her to say, "My friends call me Lizzie Rose." I grabbed her arm hard.