Chapter 5

Liz tiptoed down the stairs hoping that if she was really quiet, she wouldn't have to face her parents just yet. She already managed to get away with staying in bed until 11am without anyone bothering her. Now she wondered if she was pressing her luck attempting to get some breakfast without her parents seeing her in the process. On her way to the kitchen, Elizabeth noticed that a huge package was sitting next to the table by the phone. She walked over to it to take a peek and froze when she read the return address, "NY ART ACADEMY." She'd completely forgotten that it was going to be coming! Even though her parents only came back the night before, it had seemed like much longer. So much had happened in such a short time. In a matter of hours, Elizabeth's life had been turned upside down and now, the dream of going to NY with Lucky seemed like a million miles away. She wondered if it would happen now. Did she even WANT to know if she got in? ............Yes, of course she did. she worked so hard for this. She wouldn't give her dream up just yet. Elizabeth reached for the scissors and began to open the package.

Once the package was opened she reached inside searching for the envelope she knew she'd find there. She pulled the large manila folder out, her hand shaking as she ran her finger under the seal. It was amazing to her how nervous she suddenly was. She realized for the first time exactly how much she wanted this. How much she wanted to go to art school. How much she wanted to start a life with Lucky in New York City. She thought about waiting for him. Waiting till he came over to read the letter she now held in her hands, but quickly changed her mind. She knew he'd want her to read it. He wouldn't want her to torture herself by waiting for him.

Elizabeth breathed in quickly when she heard her father come out of the kitchen. 'Damn,' she thought as she heard his voice billow towards her. "Good morning Lizzie," he said quickly taking a seat behind her on the couch.

She turned towards him then, as he picked up his coffee cup. Sipping away as if it were just an ordinary morning. Acting like he owned the place. 'Stop that Elizabeth,' She silently chided herself. 'No need to start the morning off on a hostile note. You're worrying for no reason right? Isn't that what Lucky said last night...yep...it sure is...so let's just start the morning right...'

"Good morning," she returned sitting next to him, the letter still in her hand. "This is my letter from the Art Academy" she said, looking down at it in her hands.

"Oh," he said simply, as he continued to sip at the hot liquid in his hands.

Liz looked down at the paper and unfolded it, rolling her eyes. 'Try to contain your enthusiasm Dad,' she thought.

She sighed out loud a few moments later, when she finally looked up. A huge smile gracing her face. "I got in," she said aloud, letting her own words sink in. She turned to her father. "Daddy, I got in!"

She stared at him for a moment, waiting for him to smile back. Waiting for him to tell her she'd done good. It seemed she was always waiting for that. A second later, he managed a small grin. "That's nice sweetheart...It's good that you got in....that way at least you know that you'll be a shoe-in for the Art Program at the community college in Colorado."

"Community college?" Liz asked blankly, not believing her ears. She stood up, slowly moving away from the couch. "Dad...I'm not going to community college in Colorado! I'm going to The New York Art Academy in New York!"

Jeff placed his mug on the coffee table and stood up, looking his daughter in the eyes. "Elizabeth...."

"Dad...no....you don't understand," Elizabeth began, trying to calm down. Raising her voice with her dad certainly wouldn't win her any points. "I've got this all planned out already. Lucky and I are going to move to New York in the fall and we already - "

"Your grandmother already informed your mother and I of your plans to move to New York City, Elizabeth...and that is...that is unacceptable."

Elizabeth looked at him in shock. She knew that her Dad wanted her back in Colorado, but for a split second there, she thought maybe he would be happy for her and that he would definitely want her to jump at this opportunity. She didn't know how to respond. How could she make him see what Lucky was to her? How could he possibly understand everything Lucky did for her? Or how in love they REALLY were? Elizabeth felt herself begin to crumble again but she stopped herself...if there was ANY chance of her staying, she had to show him how much she'd grown up. How she could take care of herself.

"Dad," she began calmly. "You know I was never happy in Colorado. I never had a lot of friends," she paused recalling some of the bad memories, making her more emotional then she already was. "Until I came to Port Charles, I never really felt like I had a home. I came here and yeah, it was tough for a while...but Dad, I have a life here. I have actual friends. I have a job, and shocker of all shockers: I'm doing REALLY well in school," she said as she let out a faint laugh.

She planned her next words carefully, knowing full well that they weren't going to be what her Dad wanted to hear, but that he needed to hear them anyway. She took a deep breathe and continued.

"Dad, I have plans too," she said, her voice filling with excitement. I've been working for months on my submissions to the art school," she continued, her face dropping for a moment when she realized that he hadn't even asked to see them. She'd have to let that go for now. "I know you don't want to hear this Dad, but I also have Lucky." Elizabeth immediately felt the tension between them escalate with just the mention of Lucky's name but she continued anyway.

"He's my life Dad. He's been my everything. He did things for me that no one else could have ever done and he helped me in ways no one else ever could. You can't just assume that it's one of those teen romances because it's not! We were friends for so long before anything ever happened...........he...he's my best friend. And I can't leave him. We have a life together that we planned and I have to be with him. Please Daddy. You have to understand....I'm asking you to understand," the last words coming in a whisper as the tears started falling down Elizabeth's cheeks.

They sat there staring at each other for what seemed like an eternity, Jeff trying to put his thoughts together. Elizabeth trying to be patient awaiting his answer. Finally he spoke, "Elizabeth, I have listened to you. I really have. And I believe that you have a life here. I know you do...maybe too much of one or your grandmother never would have called us."

"Dad...all I did was miss curfew a few times...is that a crime? I said I was sorry....I mean, if all of this is because I missed curfew...I PROMISE you it will never happen again! Ever!"

Susan slowly came down the stairs, hearing her daughter and her husbands voices all the way from the guest room upstairs.

"Elizabeth, this is not about curfew. This is about you needing structure in your life. You needing a stable home....And, I know your mother and I have been gone a lot... but honey now is our time to be a family."

"He's right honey," Elizabeth heard her mom say as she walked into the living room, standing beside Jeff. "It's time we were all together as a family....we miss you Lizzie," Susan finished, giving a small smile to her daughter.

Elizabeth sighed loudly. "Well, why can't we stay in Port Charles and be a family?"

"Elizabeth our home is in Colorado," Jeff said bluntly.

"No Dad. YOU'RE home is in Colorado. MY home is in Port Charles."

Jeff's eyebrows rose in anger. "I think you outta change your tone young lady....this is NOT up for discussion anymore. You can graduate from highschool here in Port Charles, but that's it! Then we're going home!"

Every nerve in Liz's body went berserk then, her attempt at calm failing miserably. "No!...Dad, why can't you understand!? You have no idea what you're doing to me! My life is here! I have been through so much here! Lucky has GOTTEN me through some of the worst times of my life...and Dad, he's the reason I am who I am today! I am not leaving here! I won't!"

Susan took a deep breath, knowing her husband was about to explode and at the moment there wasn't anything she could do about it. This fire would have to be put out later.

Jeff shook his head, glancing quickly towards the floor but looking up once again. "I'd really like to know what this boy did for you that makes him so damn important! So important that you'd chose him over your family....What? What is it Elizabeth? What is it about Lucky that would make you turn your back on us? Hmm?"

Elizabeth simply shook her head, her lip trembling uncontrollably. 'He wouldn't understand anyway,' she thought as she folded her arms in front of her.

" I....I....can't do this," she said, her words barely audible. "I just........I...I have to go".

~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

~ Knock Knock ~

Jeff and Susan looked towards the door from the couch where they'd been sitting for the past 20 minutes since Elizabeth stormed out. Jeff looked at his watch. The past 23 minutes. God, he hurt her again. He didn't want to do that. But he KNEW what she needed. She would understand someday when she was older......

~~ Knock Knock ~~

They were going to let it go. Neither felt like dealing with anyone tonight but Jeff suddenly thought that maybe there was a slight chance that it was Elizabeth. Why she would knock, he had no idea, but he couldn't ignore it on the off chance that it was her. He slowly got up and walked towards the door, hoping it was his daughter. His hopefulness immediately vanished when he saw the person standing in front of him.

"Mr. Webber. I was hoping you and I could talk."

Chapter 6

Jeff breathed deeply as he opened the door wider, allowing the boy entrance into his home. "What exactly were you hoping we could talk about Lucky?" He asked, obvious irritation lacing his voice.

Lucky licked his lips nervously, wondering how he would ever get through to this man. He seemed dead set against him. Dead set against Elizabeth being able to stay in Port Charles. 'Don't do this,' Lucky thought to himself. 'Don't let him intimidate you. Just talk to him. Man to man....but, just...be respectful.'

He looked around as Jeff stood near the couch, never making any move to sit down or to invite him to have a seat either. Obviously they were going to be standing. Jeff cleared his throat as he waited for the boy to speak.

"Elizabeth isn't here, is she?" Lucky asked, glancing quickly towards the stairs.

"No," Jeff said. "She left a few minutes ago...did you have something you wanted me to tell her?" He added, hoping to get rid of Lucky sooner rather than later. The last thing he needed was some kid trying to talk "sense" into him.

"Uh, no," Lucky said quickly. "I just wanted us to be able to talk," his voice trailed off briefly as he collected his thoughts. "Sir, I don't mean any disrespect, but I was wondering if you knew how well your daughter is doing here in Port Charles? I mean...she's doing great in school and she recently applied to the New York Art Academy...I'm pretty sure she's going to get in. I mean I'm certain she's - "

"She got in," Jeff said quietly, glancing at his shoes.

Lucky's eyes widened, not sure of what he'd heard. "Excuse me? Wh - "

"This morning....she received her acceptance letter."

Lucky smiled broadly, so proud he could almost burst. "I knew it!" He said, shaking his head. "Ugh...this is great Mr. Webber...She's so talented. She's going to do so well at that school. You're really making the right decision - "

"Lucky the only decision I've made is that Elizabeth will be going home with her mother and I as soon as graduation is over."

Lucky stood silent a moment. He definitely couldn't be saying what he thought he was saying. "But...wait...you just said that she got accepted - "

"I said she got accepted...I didn't say she was going."

Lucky stood there stunned to silence. Did Jeff just say what he thought he said? Yes, he did. Lucky could feel the anger boiling in him.

He had tried to understand the fact that Mr. Webber wanted Elizabeth back with her family. He had a lot of guilt about being away so long, so Lucky could understand why he wanted them together, but this?.....Deliberately not letting Elizabeth go to New York? How could they? It was just plain cruel.

"Mr. Webber," Lucky began calmly, and picking his words carefully. "I came here in hopes that I could maybe get you to understand how much better Elizabeth would be staying here in Port Charles. This is her home and she has so much going on here. But now....now I have to beg you to let her have this opportunity. She wants to be an artist sir...I mean, she IS an artist. She's amazing. But she has to go there. She has to be able to learn new things and...God, you should see her face when she's painting you know? She's so...Sir, she has to show them what she's made of. Please sir.....nobody deserves this opportunity more than she does"

Jeff looked over to Lucky. He took a step closer to him, looking in his eyes, making Lucky stare back. He wanted his undivided attention.

"First of all Mr. Spencer, I do not need you telling me what my daughter does and does not need. I'm very proud of the fact that she got into this school but she'll do JUST as well in Colorado. It will take some time, but she'll adjust. We'll all have to adjust. But I'll tell you this. The one thing I know for CERTAIN is that Mrs. Webber and I will be leaving for Colorado in a matter of weeks and Elizabeth WILL be coming with us." Jeff spoke calmly and confidently, wanting to make sure that Lucky knew EXACTLY how serious he was.

He did.

Lucky wanted to scream. Go off about how unfair this was. How he had no right to do this. But he realized that Jeff wasn't going to listen to him. He was never going to give him a chance. He couldn't fight him. Jeff had made up his mind some time ago and he was sticking to his decision. However, what he didn't know was that Lucky had made up his mind some time ago as well. He had decided that the rest of his life would include Elizabeth. That was nonnegotiable.

Lucky thought that he was going to lose it any minute. He had to get out of there before he did. He turned towards the door, but stopped in his tracks as his hand grasped the doorknob. Suddenly the anger was taken over by another emotion: fear. The fear that this man really did have the power to keep Elizabeth from pursuing her dream, the fear that he could take her away from him, and the fear that in a couple of weeks he could ruin his entire life. He looked back towards Mr. Webber one last time.

"You forgot one thing Mr. Webber," Lucky spoke, anger mixing with the fear in his voice. "Elizabeth won't go with you."

"No son...you forgot one thing," Jeff responded, his seriousness sending shivers down Lucky's spine. "She doesn't have a choice."

Lucky licked his lips and bit down hard upon the bottom one, desperate to keep from saying another word. He needed to find Elizabeth. Lucky turned and walked out the door. For the first time, unsure of what his future held.

********

Lucky walked into his apartment fifteen minutes later, out of breath in his haste to get to her. "Elizabeth?!" he yelled to an obviously empty room. Why wasn't she there? He thought for sure that she would be there waiting for him. Waiting to discuss how completely unreasonable her father had been. Waiting to discuss their options. Yet, she wasn't there. Suddenly, Lucky realized where she had gone. Somewhere quiet. Somewhere she could go to think about everything and how nice life had been when things were simpler.

**********

Liz sniffed back her tears as she sat down upon the crate, thinking of all the things her father had said to her. How could this possibly be happening to her? How, when everything had been so completely perfect only a week ago. God how she wished they could go back there. How she wished they could travel back in time and stay together in New York City forever. 'How can they do this to me!' Liz thought to herself, standing up suddenly, beginning to pace the long boxcar. 'Do they hate me?!...Ugh of course they don't hate you...nobody hates their own kids...but...God...why are they doing this to me?!...I don't understand it!..All I want to do is go to Art School...all I want is to be with Lucky...'

As if fate had answered her call, she heard his voice billowing up from the ground. She turned around, not sure if maybe she had imagined it. She smiled weakly as he pulled himself into the boxcar.

"I thought you might be here," he said as he walked towards her, noticing the paths that her tears had worn on her cheeks.

He reached out to her, and she took his hand. Neither of them saying a word as they looked into each other's eyes. They didn't have to. They both knew that the world that they had created for themselves was beginning to crash in around them. His silence continued as she fell into his arms. No words were needed. He pressed his lips to the top of her head and tightened his arms around her, determined to never let her go.