The Girl he Wants

45- Butt Naked.

RECAP: Ruth and Elizabeth meet again. Hanes and Asher talk while in jail; they're ready to get out. Elizabeth agrees to get cleaned up since she can't do anything to help Jay. Asher and Hanes are offered a way out of jail.

***ELIZABETH'S P.O.V***

    Elizabeth pays the cab driver with the money Sam handed to her. The man behind the wheel sends her the weirdest look that Elizabeth doesn't understand until she glances down at herself and is reminded that she does look quite like a hobo.

"Thanks." She mumbles, sliding out of the cab's not-so-comfortable leather seat. Once she steps on the sidewalk, Ruth laces her arm within hers.

   The two enter the hotel, Ruth guiding the way mostly. Once they are in the elevator and begin moving up to their floor, Elizabeth takes in the silence and immediately wards it away. "You think Hanes and Asher will be released soon?"

"Sure." Ruth says as Elizabeth shifts her weight. "I doubt they'll be there long."

"Are they okay?" Elizabeth asks, not meeting Ruth's hovering gaze.

"Yeah..." Ruth draws her eyebrows together, tilting her head. Elizabeth can see this through the corner of her eye, sending her nerves to knot up. "They're fine Elizabeth."

Elizabeth nods, turning her head away. She doesn't want Ruth to see that she is fighting hot tears. She doesn't even know why she feels as if she might cry, but the tears are there, awaiting her mind's permission for release.

"Elizabeth." Ruth's tone changes drastically. "Hey... Are you about to cry?"

The elevator doors glide open and Elizabeth quickly steps out. Attempting to keep her distance while she blinks the waterworks away, she says in a shaky voice, "No."

Elizabeth pats her back pockets for the key when she arrives at the door but she realizes her pants are empty. "Tell me you have a key."

"I do." Ruth says from behind Elizabeth. "But you're going to have to tell me what's wrong first."

"What's wrong?!" Elizabeth turns, knowing her tears are on the verge of rolling over the rims of her blue eyes. "Everything is wrong. Jay got stabbed and I was the reason! He will have to wake up alone and then get questioned by strangers!" Elizabeth throws her hands up, angry and sad at the same time. "I just said I love you to Asher and the next thing happening is he is getting arrested with my brother!"

Ruth just stares as she continues. This time when she speaks, her tears break free of her mental barrier and fall down her cold cheeks. "I, along with all of the rest of us, will probably get expelled, get kicked out of Honors classes, and-"

"Okay, okay, okay." Ruth surges forward, rubbing Elizabeth's shoulders comfortingly. Yet, it doesn't help. The tears keep streaming like a river. "Let's go inside the hotel room."

"And to add onto that-" Elizabeth sobs, "What am I supposed to tell my mom? I'm gonna need therapy and Jay is going to have to join me."

Elizabeth is about to hyperventilate or something because there is no oxygen circulating in her system. The building is tilting and she becomes off balance, knowing she will fall if she doesn't grip the wall.