𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙮 | 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙖 𝙖𝙪.

-- 𝙩𝙬𝙤.

   ELIZABETH

Sweat dripped down the very center of the back of her neck, a product of the relenting sun. Elizabeth was used to it, though, having grown up in constant heat waves. Feverish and suffocating southern summers were just a part of home. Being indoors with the fan on didn't do much.

Her dark hair was up in a messy ponytail as she scrubbed her neighbor's kitchen counter. The white tile ones were her least favorite to clean; the dirt was easy to see. Her customers with those could always tell if she missed a spot. Mrs. Price was kind, however. Despite her nightmarish little boys who no doubt dirtied the hell out of the kitchen, she didn't mind cleaning it for a quarter or two. God knew -- and Elizabeth knew -- she and her mother could use them.

"Elizabeth!"

The seventeen-year-old nearly slipped out of her skin and dropped the tired sponge in her hand. Or maybe thrown it in the direction of the door. When she turned she was both angered and relieved to see Cherry, her best (and only) friend. She'd gotten past the screen door undetected and stood by it with a sweet grin on her face.

"Cher, what? I'm busy, Mrs. Price wants me out of here before her husband gets home. And you scared the shit out of me," she chastised, turning away to face the off-white counter. No matter how hard Elizabeth scrubbed, that color was not going to get any whiter, much to her dismay.

She could hear Cherry walk a few steps to the kitchen table and pull a chair out to sit. She'd only gotten a quick glance, but she knew her friend was beautiful per usual. Her hair was a golden honey blonde. Her skin was porcelain, resembling one of a doll's. Her legs went for miles and she'd caught a glimpse of red lipstick. It was Cherry. Of course there was red lipstick. Her voice was smooth but apologetic when she finally said something. "I'm sorry, your mom just said you were over here."

Every chance she got, she was out somewhere cleaning. Work was hard to come by, to say the least, but there was never a time she wasn't looking. She and her mom had to stay afloat somehow. Her mother worked hard as a schoolteacher but it wasn't enough, not with her father gone. The weight fell onto her shoulders and she'd never had a choice but to carry it. Both of them put on a good face but it was clear as day that drowning was only seconds away if one of them were to stop.

"Well, what is it?"

Elizabeth couldn't see her but she just knew an excited smile curved her bright lips. "I met some guys in the square. They're British, Lizzie, visiting for the summer. I invited them to meet us at the circus later."

That's when Elizabeth paused in her cleaning. Her arm had been on fire for hours, washing every inch she could get to. She forgot what it was to stop. Hearing what Cherry had said, she had no choice to. She couldn't comprehend the unbelievable and scrub her arm off at the same time. "Cherry, you what? I thought tonight was just for you and me. I thought we were forgetting boys existed after Cole!"

A cold shiver ran up her spine at the fact she'd said his name. Cole was a boy in their class, a very athletic, very obnoxious, very narcissistic one. Elizabeth had made the mistake of falling for his giant ego. He was bold and fearless, she was quiet and kind. The last person she'd ever thought she would end up with was Cole Dempsey. Somehow she'd end up tangled in his messy web, under the impression he'd planted that his boisterous behavior was a front. It took time but it became clear the "I'm a sweet guy underneath" narrative was the real mask. Girl after girl he'd find, shove after shove he'd give her and insult after insult he'd spew; the toxicity got old. The anxiety got even older. She'd only gained the courage to leave once June came and she wasn't forced to see him every day in classes, in the halls. They still lived in the tiniest town in the entire United States but . . . baby steps. She'd only been out from under his thumb for a few weeks. Cherry knew that. Elizabeth hadn't the time nor opportunity to mourn the relationship, as abusive as it was. Cherry also knew that. The circus was supposed to be a chance for the two of them, particularly Elizabeth, to let go for a night. Going on what sounded like a double date was not at all what Elizabeth needed.