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        “There they are,” Anna said to JC after she spotted Justin and Elizabeth on the sand. It had taken them about half an hour to find them, but now that they had, JC had the idea that they wanted to be alone by the looks on their faces.

        “Wait,” JC said pulling Anna back who was ready to just walk up to them. “They look like they're in a heavy conversation, maybe they want to be alone.”

        “Do you think they've already....you know kissed?” Anna asked curiously.

        “I doubt it,” JC said. “Justin isn't quite ready for that.”

        “But it's Elizabeth. She's like the sweetest person in the world.”

        “I'm sure they're just talking. Come on let's go.” He reached for her arm. Before JC could grab her, Anna was already on her way to Justin and Elizabeth.

        “Hey guys,” she said sitting next to Elizabeth.

        Elizabeth looked at Anna. “What are you doing here?” She looked behind beside Justin and spotted JC sitting next to him.

        “Well we noticed that you guys weren't inside so we went to find you,” Anna explained.

        “You came up for air?” Justin joked.

        “And how come your both in such a good mood? When you guys got to my house you looked unhappy.” Anna eyed them both with speculation in her eyes.

        “I just felt better after talking to someone that actually can understand how I feel,” Justin said.

        “I heard you telling him about you and Thomas,” Anna said looking back at Elizabeth.

        “Oh yeah? Were you spying?” Elizabeth raised her eyebrow at Anna.

        “It was JC's fault!”

        “Was not!” JC said, talking for the first time since they’d found them.

        When Elizabeth and Anna got into a small discussion, JC looked over at Justin and quietly asked, “what are you guys doing here, and alone?”

        Justin hit JC on the leg and whispered back, “she wanted to get some air so I offered to go with her. Plus we didn't think you guys were coming out anytime soon.”

        “We weren't going to,” JC muttered.

        “Aw did JC's plans get ruined?” Justin said. “Too bad, ain’t it?”

        “Shut up,” JC said glaring at him. “And what about your plans? They got ruined too.”

        “Plans? Me and Elizabeth were just talking.”

        “Sure you were.” JC rolled his eyes. “I’ve heard that one before.”

        “I'm serious,” he said in a serious tone. Justin then turned to Anna. “So why don't you and JC just go back and do your thing?”

        “Because this was supposed to be the four of us tonight. Besides who knows what would happen if we left you two alone any longer,” Anna said.

        “We weren't doing anything, we were just talking,” Elizabeth pointed out.

        “Did you two rehearse that?” JC asked.

        “Oh JC stop bugging them,” Anna said, then looked at Elizabeth. “So what happened? What did you talk about?”

        “Anna, it’s none of our business,” JC said.

        “How about we just go back and play cards or something,” Justin suggested.

        “Good idea,” Elizabeth agreed.

        Justin got up from the sand and wiped himself off, then helped Elizabeth stand up.

        “Thanks,” she said sweetly.

        “Aw!” they heard Anna say behind them.

        “Let's just go,” Elizabeth said.

         They all walked back to Anna's house in silence. Anna and JC couldn't believe how well their plan was working out. It was only a matter of time, they thought, till they fell in love. Elizabeth and Justin on the other hand, stole a few glances at each other on the way back.

----The Next Day----

        Elizabeth slept in until almost noon. She hadn't slept so well since her mothers death. When she walked to the living room, she saw JC was already there, watching tv with Anna.

        “Morning.” Elizabeth made a small gesture with her hand then sat down on the other couch across the room.

        “How was your first night? Did you sleep okay?” Anna asked.

        “Actually yes. I haven't slept a wink the last few months. Must be the new scenery.”

        “Must be love,” Anna said quietly.

        “What?”

        “Lizzy don't give me that. You know very well what I'm talking about. You and Justin got along so well last night. It was so easy to tell he has a crush on you,” Anna said smiling at the thought of Justin and Elizabeth together. “And I think you like him too.”

        “He's alright,” she said casually.

        JC got up from his spot on the couch. “Anna, can I talk to you in the kitchen for a second?”

        “Sure.” Anna followed JC into the kitchen. “What did you bring me in here? Is everything okay?”

        “Something happened when me and Justin got home.”

        “What happened?”

        “Well Justin got a call from Meg. I think he's gonna take her back again. He's meeting her at a club tonight.”

        “He can’t do that,” Anna said. Not that she was surprised to hear that. Ever since Justin and Meg had gone out that first time, she had him wrapped around her finger.

        “He is. Anna just forget the plan. Justin just can't forget Meg.”

        “But we can make him see that Elizabeth.…”

        “No,” JC interrupted. “No more plan to get him and Elizabeth together.” He left the kitchen leaving Anna sighing to herself.

        “No way. Those two are perfect for each other. They just don’t know it yet,” Anna muttered.

----Later That Day----

        Justin just call her. You have to get tonight arranged anyways.


        He picked up the phone and dialed Anna's number. He just hoped Anna didn't answer the phone.

        “Hello?”

        Justin smiled when he heard Elizabeth's voice. “It's Justin.”

        “Oh, hi. What’s up?”

        “I was just calling to ask if it's okay if you could meet me at the club at 8 tonight,” he said.

        “Yeah, sure. Where is this club?”

        “Oh sorry I forgot you don't know the area.” He gave her the address of the club and said he would meet her in the entrance so he could pay for both of them to get in.

        “I can pay for myself.”

        “No please let me,” he insisted. “You're doing me a huge favour.”

        I still can’t stop thinking about Meg. Why can’t I just get over her?

        “Well I guess I'll let you then. But don't get the idea I like when guys pay, because I don't,” Elizabeth said.

        “I won’t. I’ll see you tonight then?”

        “Yeah. Well I really got to get back to my crossword puzzle.”

        “Yeah, and thanks again for doing this,” he said. He was really glad that he would have someone there when he saw Meg again. He wondered if she looked any different.

        “It’s no problem. I have to admit that last night wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Thank you for listening to me.”

        “Thank you for listening to me. You made me feel better about everything. Well I'll see you tonight.” Justin hung up the phone, then stared at the picture of Meg on the side of his bed.

        “Tonight I hope I'll get you back.” He rolled over and smiled to himself as he turned on his tv and found a basketball game to watch as he anticipated tonights events.

Chapter Four
Index of "The Hard Times"
World Of Our Own Fiction




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