Miss Hawkridge

six

"Calm down, Liv," Alaric said, as they followed Liv out.

"Calm down?" Liv turned to face him. "Calm down? How can you tell me that when you know how much I hate her?" She burst. "For God's sake, she hates me! She hates me, and she blames me for her daughter."

"Did she tell you that? That she blames you for..Omaira?" Alaric asked her gently.

"No, but- ...she doesn't have put it so much in words, does she? From the very moment Omaira was born, she was catered to like a princess. Like as if she deserved everything. So much so, sometimes, especially when Mom and Dad separated, I felt like I was- like I didn't exist. Am I not her daughter too?" Tears streamed down Liv's face. "Ric, do I not deserve to be loved too?"

Alaric embraced Liv, who burst into his arms.

§

"Did you just finish all the packs of Scooby Doo gummy snacks?" Alaric demanded.

"I'm going to solve mysteries so freaking well," Liv grinned. Alaric shook his head. The four regrouped in Alaric's bedroom.

"Guys, we need to put together everything we found out at the set," Anna reminded them. "Liv, you first."

"I met Regina Sunday. She's the first runner-up, and she really didn't have good things to say about Amelia. Also, apparently, Amelia slept with the her boyfriend. Except he wasn't even her boyfriend, because she didn't love him, and she even know what the guy did." Liv shook her head.

"Did you meet this guy?" Anna inquired. Liv shook her head. "It's okay. I'm going to get the entire list of people, the staff, the contestants, and the judges, with their pictures and information from my mom. We can ask Regina to point the guy out."

"Regina's going to be there at the GenRo party right? We can ask her there, can't we?" Liv

"If we can," Anna reminded her. "What about you, Ric? Any luck?"

"I interviewed the judges, Richard Grear, and Roxanna. Neither of them said much except either negative things or bullshit," Alaric informed them.

Elijah began, "I got to meet the superintendent. Her name was Lucy something. She said I had a nice face a really nice ass-"

"Narcissistic much," Liv rolled her eyes. Elijah threw her a dirty look.

"Before she went on about some ancient legend of this town."

"An ancient legend? And you believed her?" Liv laughed.

"At least I don't believe I'm Sherlock Holmes," Elijah retorted.

"There's a difference. I'm emulating someone who's extremely intelligent, while you are running around believing crazy people just 'cause they complimented you, and they were blind, 'cause you've got nothing to compliment about."

"Emulating someone intelligent only means you're not. And you can say you don't find me attractive, but deep down, you know you can't resist me, that you're crazy about me," Elijah smirked.

"Stay way from me, you creep," Liv shuddered.

"Guys, can we focus?" Anna caught everyone's attention. "What did the superintendent tell you, Eli?"

"She told me about this legend which runs through the whole town. No woman who ever appeases the eye much more, can be allowed to walk amongst hawks... at least that's what she said," Elijah shrugged.

"That's just plain ridiculous. 'Whoever appeases the eye much more'? Much more than what? Makes no sense," Liv shook her head.

"Are you sure neither you nor the lady was high?" Anna questioned.