The Breakthrough (HIATUS)

Ch 17

---ARI'S POV---

   Ever since Lizzie was taken away, I couldn't think right. I got no sleep last night, once again. I didn't even eat much. I didn't touch the leftovers because it reminds me of Lizzie, so I let my family eat it all. What kind of cold hearted person ratted her out? It's sunday evening and I'm just browsing through tv channels until Robby comes downstairs.

"Hey Ari-bear. How're you holding up?" he asks softly.

"How do you think?" I say, glaring at him. Robby sighs.

"Look Ari, I know this is hard for you, and I know you love her and miss her, but-" I cut Robby off.

"WHAT DID SHE EVER DO TO ANYONE? SHE DIDN'T DESERVE THAT SHIT LAST NIGHT! WE WERE HAVING A GREAT TIME UNTIL THE COPS SHOWED UP! SHE DOESN'T DESERVE ALL OF THE SHIT SHE GETS ROBBY! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT ITS LIKE!" I scream.

   Robby pulls me into a tight bear hug and I just sob into his arms. Mom and dad come down quickly and just look at me apologetically. We all hug for a while and let go.

"Why...?" I say angry.

"Baby, please try to understand. You KNOW we would never do anything to hurt Lizzie and We'd give ANYTHING to have her back, but we couldn't keep the secret any longer. They found her. They knew she was living here and we were the cops' last resort. We had to. We're doing everything we can to bring her back. Trust me, sweetie." My dad cooed.

"Well good luck with that. Now she's GONE! What if shes getting abused by her bullshit parents!? What if she's at harvard already?" I say between tears.

"Erm...about that. She flew into harvard earlier this afternoon." Robby says, rubbing the back of his head.

   My eyes grew wide. They just flew her out!? She didn't even get to say goodbye to ANY of us! I back away, shaking my head and dart towards my room, slamming the door. I cry into my pillow for what seemed like hours. I can't believe my other half was gone. Taken away just like that. She has every right to follow her dreams of becoming a musician. Why couldn't her close minded parents understand that? I suddenly hear a beep from my computer. I sit at my desk and turn it on to see a video chat request from Ryan. I open it.

"Hey babe." he says, smiling weakly.

"Hey. You're still at Marty's?" I ask.

"Yeah. I stayed over last night. He seemed kinda down about the talk with Lizzie. He was even worse after I told him the cops came for her." He explained, hurt.

"Oh..." I spat. I didn't even wanna think about last night's fiascos.

"Yeah, but Ari? Theres something I've been meaning to ask you. You don't have to say yes right away...or at all really...but-" Ryan was cut off.

"Hey Ari! Sup girl?" Marty says, squeezing in next to an annoyed Ryan.

"Haha, hey...not much. You guys obviously heard about Liz." I say.

"Yeah...I feel terrible. I didn't even come downstairs to say or do anything." Marty says, guilty.

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault." I say, sighing.

"Yeah...we ALL know who did this shit now..." Ryan says in disgust.

   I gave them both questioning looks. Was I THAT out of the loop? Marty sensed my confusion and quickly spoke up.

"Oh! Ashley skyped with us earlier and told us about who fucked up Lizzie's future and found out about her running away. That person also fucked up his chances of going to New York for music school." Marty says, shaking his head.