Lucky watched her as she hurriedly zipped up her jacket. She looked as if she were getting off of work, not just starting the afternoon shift. He looked down at his watch. She was already late and she looked as if she didn't care, as she shuffled her feet aimlessly over the ground outside of Kelly's. She scanned her surroundings as if she'd never been there before.

It had taken them forever to get there. A walk that usually took no longer than 10 minutes had wound up taking nearly a half an hour. She continuously stalled time. Pointing out outfits she just HAD to have in store window displays or pressing him against the sides of buildings or trees to steal a kiss. Not that he minded. This enthusiastic attention was wonderful. Beyond wonderful, but he couldn't help but wonder where it was comeing from. She seemed almost desperate to spend time with him. Her pointing out of rare birds had been completely sinched the idea that she had lost her mind.

She watched as he looked down at his watch for the third time. No Lucky, she thought. I'm not letting you out of my sight yet...I don't know exactly what I'm doing here...or how I'm supposed to do it...but if stalling time will keep you alive than that's what I'm gonna do...If I have to strip naked right here outside of Kelly's to make you stay....that's what I'll do. She smiled suddenly at her own thought.

"What?" He asked, spying her grin.

"Nothing," she said, her face growing hot under his gaze. She suddenly grabbed him by the collar, narrowing the space between them to less than two inches. Her warm breath tickled the skin of his neck. "I'm just happy to be with you."

Lucky pulled back a bit, gingerly removing her hands from his collar, before she planted yet another one on him. His head tilted to the side as he smiled. "I'm happy to be with you too Elizabeth," he said almost laughing. "But come on...what's goin' on here?"

Elizabeth closed in on him once again, raising her eyebrow. "What do you mean Lucky?...I just wanna kiss my boyfriend. Is that a crime?"

Lucky shook his head and licked his lips. "Certainly not in my book...but Elizabeth come on...Tammy's gonna kill you...You shoulda been in there 15 minutes ago."

Elizabeth breathed in deeply and wove her fingers through his."I don't want you to go,"she said, almost whispering. Her voice coming out far more patheticly than she had intended. The concerned look on his face warned her that unless she wanted to answer about a million questions in two seconds she needed to change her tone. He was beginning to become very suspicious. She quickly plastered a huge smile on her face. "Lucky why don't you stay here with me today?...You can hang out...I'll wait on you hand and foot...and I'm sure Tammy will let you get away with not paying!!!"

Lucky bit his lip. What in the world is going on here? He thought. Is this all because of some dream she had?...It looks like I'm gonna have to drag it out of her.

His thumb caressed her cheek as he moved closer to her. "Elizabeth...you know I'd love to stay here with you today, but I promised LuLu I'd take her skating today."

Elizabeth nodded her head solemnly, her eyes darting to the ground.

Lucky ran a hand through his hair frustratedly as he watched her continuously brush strands of hair behind his ears. Don't push her, he thought. Let her tell you. "Hey!" He said trying desperately to get her to open up. "You brought that painting for my mom right?"

Elizabeth looked up. Once again only nodding as she reached into the large bag slung over her shoulder. She pulled out the picture, handing it to Lucky. Her actions seemingly in slow motion.

His mouth dropped open slightly as he looked at it for the first time. "Elizabeth this is beautiful," he sighed. His voice full of wonder. "She's gonna cry when she's this...I mean it looks JUST like that bouquet."

"Thanks," she whispered, watching him handle it ever so gently.

Lucky shook his head. "You know the people at the Art Academy are probably doing backflips over you right now...man, I can't wait to go to New York with you."

She tried not to. She willed herself not to. But at that moment her eyes brimmed with tears. 'New York....'

"What?" He asked, taking her face in his hands as he stared deeply into her eyes. "Elizabeth what is it?"

She laughed out loud, trying to make him believe that everything was fine. That nothing was wrong. She furiously wiped at her eyes. "Just a tad hormonal," she joked. Damn, he's not laughing, she thought.

"No...you know I think I'm just a little more nervous about the Art Academy accepting me than I thought I was...that's all... really Lucky," she added as his eyes continued to bore holes into her.

She smiled nervously at him. He was frustrated. He seemed almost mad. Of course he is, she thought to herself. You just had this big talk about honesty and here you are blatantly lieing to him and he knows it!....Ugh..I'm sorry Lucky, but I have to. I can't lose you again. I won't. Even if it causes you to be angry with me.

Lucky nodded his head then, looking down at his feet as he quickly shoved one hand into his pocket. The other hand gripping the painting tightly. "Ok then," he began. The tone of his voice flat. "I'm gonna go meet Nikolas..." His voice trailed off as he waited. Giving her a moment or two to tell him what was really on her mind. An explaination did not come.

"Ok," he said again. "I guess I'll see you tonight then...eight o'clock?"

She silently nodded and he leaned in quickly, pecking her lightly on the forehead. "I love you," he said pulling back. He gazed into her eyes. "Bye."