20Misty Spotts: As I've said before, Liz is 17 and Pat is 21 so they're sort of in high school, well one of them is anyway. I hope you keep reading.
Mystic Kiwi: I'm really glad you like it so far. Please keep reading and reviewing. PS You'll finally find out who's been hiting poor Liz.
Tara Cools: I know they're kinda unrealistic and no it's not a true story although my name is Liz lol. Please keep reading :)
Hail 2 Me: Like I said to Tara, I know they're not really realistic, but this is also an OLD story (one I should probably work on *hides head in shame* lol)
MeLLoDraMatic: Hey, glad you like it, please keep reading.
SouRpLuMMeRS: What's up? I know Pat's kinda rude lol, but he's a guy, what can you expect? (j/k :) Don't worry, you'll find out who Bill is soon!
and finally
Dreamer: Thank you lol. Please don't hold off updating your story to wait for more of this lol. I only have so much finished. Anywhos please keep reviewing.
Now, on with the fic!
~Liz :)
Catalina
By the time the trio reached the Arcade, it was well after 11:00am. Dan skipped ahead, while Pat took his best friend's hand, and led her into the cafŽ. They took the booth against the window and sat down. A waiter quickly brought them both a glass of water and a menu. The young man reappeared after a moment to take their order. Liz just ordered a Diet Coke, while Pat ordered a Sprite, and the hamburger special with fries. They gave up their menus, and Pat looked at the girl across from him expectantly.
"Now will you please tell me what happened" Pat asked his girlfriend, in a quiet voice. Liz looked down at the table and then at her hands, anywhere to avoid looking at her boyfriend.
"What I'm about to tell you, will seem really disgusting, and it is," she added almost as an afterthought, "but, it's all true. Please, whatever you do, don't interrupt until I'm done, and please, please don't judge me based on them." Pat nodded solemnly and sat back to listen.
"I'll start with this morning. I got up a little late, and they had already started when I walked by. So, all I did was call her a slut under my breath, but somehow Bill must have heard me, so he yelled at me, and then he started punching me, all over, anywhere he could hit. He told me she wasn't a slut, and she was my mom now, so I should respect her, all the while, he was hitting me over and over, and I kept telling myself that it was all a dream, and it wasn't really happening, even though it was." Liz finished her story, with tears in her eyes, and looked up at Pat, who looked like he was seeing red. How could anyone do that to his girlfriend? Pat waited until she was finished before he asked,
"Why did you call her a slut?" Liz looked down again before she started her story.
"A few years ago, George was dating a girl named Julie," Pat wrinkled face in disgust, if Liz was talking about the woman he thought she was talking about, her step mom. "They went out for a while, until one day, before one of their dates, George brought her over to the house, and she saw Carlos. She decided she liked Carlos more, so the two of them started dating, Carlos insists that he didn't know she and George were dating. Anyway, when George finally realized what was going on, he and Carlos, both dumped her immediately, but she wouldn't go away. Instead, she would hang around the house, looking for Bill's sympathy. That's not all she got," Liz said, her nose scrunched up, in anger and disgust. "So, after dating a week, one week, Pat, that's it, Julie and Bill got married. Now, the four of them screw each other all the time. Pat, it's so disgusting. That's one of the reasons I love going to your house, I can get away from my sick, horrible family. They're even more awful, around my birthday, because that's when Mom left. But Pat, I know she didn't leave, because she would have taken me with her. It wasn't her fault, they must have kicked her out, and made up that story. Otherwise she would have taken me with her, I'm sure of it, she would have taken me." Liz was unable to control her emotions then, and she started bawling. Pat moved over to the the other side of the booth, and he held her in his arms. She cried, and cried, all the while, her other half held her tightly.
The waiter chose this time, to bring the two kids their food, and Pat started to dig in when Liz was finished. He offered her some of his french fries, and she took them with a tired,
"Thank you."
"I know that was hard for you to tell me, but I'm so glad you did. Don't worry, Liz, we'll figure something out, together." Pat held her hand across the table.
"The beatings aren't what worry me the most, it's the constant fear of...," Liz stopped as if she realized she had almost said too much. Pat looked at her,
"Of...?" Pat asked, prompting her.
"Ever since Julie moved in with us, George and Carlos, and actually all of them, want to get rid of me. So, every now and then, George and Carlos threaten to, to send off to the Afghanistan sex slave trade," Liz sounded totally defeated as she continued, "the only reason I'm still here, is because I pay them off. But, it's a constant threat that terrifies me."
Liz started to get hysterical again, "Usually, they forget that I live there, and they just ignore me, but after this morning, I know George and Carlos are going to try something. The last time," Liz said, not mentioning when that was, "they got me halfway to the dock, before I realized they were kidnapping me, and I jumped out of the truck before they could catch me. But IÕm still worried. Oh, Pat, what am I going to do?" Liz looked up to Pat for an answer.
"Come stay with us! I know Mom would be happy to have you over, and you could sleep in Kathleen's room, we do have extra sleeping bags. Mom and Dad will understand, I know, if you just tell them..." Pat was cut off by his girlfriend screaming,
"No! We can't tell them, they'll never want to associate with me. I can't tell any one. I mean, I'm surprised I told you. No, promise me you won't tell them!" the beautiful blonde made him promise.
"But, what if something happens to you? Then what would I do? Wouldn't we just be better off telling them?" Liz shook her head adamantly.
"No, we can't tell them. Now, promise me." Liz said.