Chapter 5

Elizabeth was just sitting in the living room, still talking to Stefan, who she was getting quite comfortable to talk to, when suddenly the front door to the house opened and....

....William walked in.

His jet black hair was a bit tousled by the wind but he looked disturbed and anxious. Until he saw her. Again, anger clouded his handsome features, making Elizabeth feel scared.

' What. The. Hell. Are. You. Still. Doing. Here?' he snarled, each word distinct and angry.

A rush of fear ran through Elizabeth but she couldn't help but feel a bit defensive. ' Heather took me in,' she replied, smug.

' Heather took you in,' Will repeated the words, his tone free of any emotion. His face could have been carved of stone for all she knew because he barely moved a muscle.

' She was being kind,' she continued and couldn't help adding,' unlike some people.' Stefan's eyebrows raised at that and William's face actually softened. He then turned on to Stefan.

' What are you doing here?' he asked rudely.

Stefan kept his tone light and casual. ' I'm her babysitter.'

That seemed to have made William mad again. ' No, you're not.'

' Yes, I am.'

' No. You're dead.' Elizabeth raised her head to look at William but he ignored her, glaring stonily at Stefan.

' What are you talking about, William?' A snicker escaped Stefan's lips. ' I know school can make you go mental and all but-'

William cut across him swiftly with a voice as cold as ice. ' I meant you're dead unless you go back to that house of yours in 30 seconds.' Something glinted metallic in Stefan's gray eyes for a while and the smile was wiped from his face but he obeyed William and walked to the door rigidly, as if trying to control himself.

Elizabeth was outraged. How dare he turn her friend out just like that? ' Why did you do that?'

He didn't turn around as he answered her. ' Because this is my house and you're just a guest here.'

That shut her up because even Elizabeth could see the logic in that. He turned around and tossed something to her. The object landed on the chaise next to her and Elizabeth picked it up. It was the necklace. The one he gave her after he proposed to her. Clutching it, Elizabeth stared at him for a long time, feeling sad, her heart crushed. William was different. He wasn't the man she fell hopelessly in love with.

And it was a fact she was forced to accept. But she didn't want to give up without even showing a bit of effort. Slowly, she approached him and stood there until he looked up - or rather, down - at her. The ice in his pale blue glare seemed to have melted a little.

' Where did you get this?' she asked him. He stared at her for a long time and then looked back down, busying himself with whatever it is in that bag of his.

' Heather found it,' he answered brusquely.

' You don't remember then?'

' Remember what?'

' You gave this to me, Will!' she exclaimed, frustrated. ' How can you not remember? How can you not remember me? How can you not remember us?' When he made a move to walk away, Elizabeth grabbed his bare arm and he stopped in his tracks. He turned around to face her slowly. Then, he looked down at his arm, a trace of pain in his features and shook her hand off impatiently.

' I don't remember us because there is no us anymore,' he answered coldly. Strike one. ' I don't remember you because you are not who you used to be.' Strike two. Each word was like a slap to her face. Then, with a voice that was so void and cold, it hurt her more than before, he said slowly,' And don't call me Will because Heather's the only one who calls me that.'

Then, he walked off into his room and slammed the door shut. Tears started filling Elizabeth's eyes as his last words echoed in her head. A teardrop ran down her cheek and once it was out, there was no stopping the others.

' I always knew William was annoying but I never pegged him for being heartless,' someone said behind her. Stefan.

Elizabeth turned her head away and tried to wipe her tears. ' No, he's not. I was just....I should have known he would find someone else. Why would he wait for me for so long? I guess I was just so...naive and stupid thinking that he would still feel the same way for me. And-' She knew she was ranting aimlessly but she couldn't help it. It was better to keep herself talking than to keep quiet and let William's words sink slowly into her mind again.

Stefan slowly walked towards her and set himself in front of her. Elizabeth trailed off slowly as he kept on staring at her with those hypnotic grey eyes of his. ' He is heartless,' he said.

Elizabeth wiped away a tear on her cheek. ' No, he's not!' she insisted weakly.

' Elizabeth!' Stefan suddenly said sharply.

' What?'

' Repeat after me. William is a heartless man who doesn't know how to appreciate a beautiful girl like you.'

Elizabeth just stared at him. Then, he smiled, a breathtaking smile. ' Just kidding,' he said, grinning. ' I don't expect you to say that ,really.' Then, looking at her, he wiped a tear off her face slowly.

' Why don't you react like the others when I touch them?' she asked him. ' Heather practically dropped my hand when I first met her and Will looked as if just that touch hurt.'

He shrugged. ' Maybe I'm just immune to you.' Then, he added under his breath,' and I'm glad for that.'

Elizabeth looked at him, confused.

He smiled and strode towards the front door again. ' I'll see you tomorrow,' he called behind his shoulder.

And Elizabeth actually found herself impatient and excited for tomorrow.




Days went by and Elizabeth had devised a plan to avoid William. Heather had given her a room in the house and every morning, Elizabeth always woke up early, showered herself and went over to Stefan's, always hoping that she'd never run into William. They always avoided each other during dinner, which was always an awkward silence.

Then, one day, as if William had finally worked out her plan, he was waiting for her in front of her bedroom. He raised his head when she got out and took a small step forward.

Panic coursed through Elizabeth and she quickly turned around, preparing to stay in her bedroom until further notice.

' Wait!' he called after her and stuck a foot in the space between the door and the doorway. She envisioned slamming the door in his face just like he did to her.

' What do you want?' she asked him coldly.

A hint of a smile appeared on his face and Elizabeth felt annoyed.

' I just wanted to say sorry,' he said slowly, as if memorising the words.

' That's all?' she asked him, crossing her arms on her chest.

' Not actually.'

' Come on, Will. Oh, I mean, William,' she urged him. ' I don't really have all day.'

He scoffed. ' What do you even do at Stefan's anyway?'

She glared at him. ' Why is that any of your business?'

He seemed to stop himself on time and slowly exhaled. ' I'm sorry. I just thought that we...sort of...started off on the wrong foot but maybe...we could...be friends?'

Elizabeth looked at him. ' Well,' she replied, as if considering her words slowly. ' We could also be a rare breed of an exotic specimen of African dancing tigers. But, we're not.' Being mean back to him felt nice. ' At least, I'm not.' Then, she slammed the door in his stunned face.

Then, there was a knock on her door. Annoyed, Elizabeth opened it roughly. ' What?'

William apparently wasn't giving up. ' Look, I said I'm sorry-'

' And I said I'm not hearing any of it.' Then, crossing her arms on her chest, she looked at him up and down. ' Why are you so hell-bent of being friends anyway?'

William was quiet for a while, looking down at the carpet. As Elizabeth was about to slam the door again, he held it open with just one hand. ' Because I remember you,' he whispered, not looking up.

And then, he looked up and his blue eyes were full of pain. ' And because I still love you,' he finished.

Finally releasing the door, he strode away into his own room and shut his own door softly behind him.