Elisabeth

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Elisabeth climbed in the limousine and sat down next to Will. She was wearing a nude colored dress which reached halfway her tighs. Golden necklaces held up the dress. She was trembling, and it wasn't because she was wearing high heels.

'Are you okay?' Will asked, taking her cold hand in his warm one. He squeezed gently.

'I'm fine. Don't worry.' She answered, taking a deep breath. 'No. I'm not.  I feel like fainting. I don't want the whole world to know I'm back. I don't want people to hate me or pity me. I don't want to speak in front of an enormous crowd. And my heart can jump out of my chest any second, so be prepared.' Why not tell him the truth? It was not like it was going to do him any harm. 

'It's going to be alright. Don't be nervous. If you don't know the answer to a question, I'll answer it for you, okay? If you don't want to answer a question, I'll tell them. Just give me a sign.' Will pulled Elisa to his chest, enveloping her in a hug, whispering calming things in her hair. Elisa closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment. Will would save her. He would. He promised.

They sat like that for the rest of the ride, only letting each other go when they entered the street where they should be. A charming but stiff man opened the door of their car and Elisa stepped out. Pictures were snapped and she was momentarily blinded by a wave of flashes. Will grabbed her hand after getting out of the car and led her inside. Elisa tried to stay elegant and ignored the cameras, smiling friendly.

~*~

After telling their story in front of the public; questions could be asked. They had left out that she had been pushed, as well as the Beau-part. No one wanted a family scandal with Christine, and no one wanted the press to research Beau too much either. It was gone; history. 

'So how come you survived, even though you were only six years old?' A young woman with red hair asked. 

'The book I was reading before I fell of was Robinson Crusoë. It survived the storm with me and provided a perfect foundation to rebuild my life over there.' Elisa answered honestly. It was not as difficult as she had thought it to be.

'And what exactly did you eat?' A man asked, wearing a blue suit that was two sizes too big.

'Fish, which were the same as we have here. But also fruit and vegetables that don't exist anyhwere but there.' Will said, holding Elisa's hand the whole time under the table.

'How would you describe your relationship?' A tall man with a moustache asked.

Elisa hesitated, and looked at Will. What to say? She had no idea. Will was obviously overwhelmed, not expecting this question. They should have known this question was going to be asked. 

'We are just friends. Good friends.' Will said. He convinced the audience immediately, and almost convinced Elisa. 

Were they really just friends? What about all the kisses, all the hugs, all the reassuring words? She had thought they were more than just friends. But of course they weren't. He needed a pretty, intelligent and sophisticated fiancée. One he could present to the world with proud. He didn't need a mess.

He didn't need her.

His grasp on her hand tightened, but she let go. She let his hand fall, just like he had let her fall.

'And in all those years, William Mitchell was the only one that ever came to the island?' A young woman asked. Her black hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail. The thick, black frame of her large glasses accentuated her brown eyes. Elisa couldn't help but notice that this woman was what Will was looking for. Solphisticated, presentable and certainly not ugly.