Eliza

"Mom, what happened?" I question, as the red-filled floor of the kitchen embraces my eyes.

"I poured myself a glass of wine. And it just... Broke."

"Why are you drinking wine, mom? And where have you been all this time?" I ask, as I grab the broom at the side of the fridge.

"I was a little thirsty."

"So you decided to drink wine? You don't even drink wine."

"Well, today I decided to drink wine," she nonchalantly concedes, leading me to believe the sour tone parading from her mouth is down to her completely unnecessary and uncalled alcohol consumption.

"Okay, and now your next answer? Where have you been for the past few hours? Because I know you weren't at work."

"I decided to go visit a friend."

"What friend?"

"What's with the twenty-one questions? I think you're forgetting the roles in the family here."

"No, I remember perfectly well. But you're just going to drink yourself into a drunk state, and then you won't be able to go to work later."

"Okay, well then I won't drink," she sighs, plopping herself on the seat properly. "Where's the-uh, Theo?"

"Wow, you remember his name for once," I laugh. "He's upstairs."

"Cooper not here?"

"No, we uh... We broke up."

"What?" She exclaims louder than her former tone. I grab two cloths from one of the drawers and place them on the floor to cover the mahogany stain. "What happened?"

"He broke up with me."

"Why?"

"It doesn't matter."

"No. Eliza, why? Did he give you a reason?" She persists.

"Yeah, but it's not nice."

"Well, what-- What is it?"

"Why do you want to know so badly?"

"Because you guys looked happy just yesterday, so I'm trying to understand what could have suddenly changed his mind. Is there, um... Did he say there's someone else?"

"No, mom. There's nobody else. It's just... He got back together with me for a dare."

"A dare?"

"Yeah. He was so sure that he could get me back when he returned, and his friends wanted to see if he was right. And he was."

"What? Eliza, I don't-I don't think that's the reason."

"Why not?"

"Well, because I just think that it doesn't add up. He wouldn't do all of this for a dare."

"Well, you don't know him like I do, mom. He knows he's a catch, and he likes to use that to his advantage."

"Okay, yeah you're right. I don't know him like you do. It's okay, honey. You'll find somebody else," she proclaims, as she engulfs me in a hug.

"No, I'm fine mom. I realised that he's not who I want."

"Good. And soon enough, somebody will want you more than you could even imagine."

"I think I-" I begin, as I plan to tell her about Theo and I, but freeze as I contemplate the possibility of her throwing him out. "Never mind."

"Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Nope, just that I think you should have a nap before you start getting ready for work."

"I think that's a good idea, actually."

"Yeah, and I'll cook something for you to eat before you leave."

"Thanks, honey," she says as she plants a kiss on my forehead. I ponder to myself the strangeness in her suddenly taking a fascination to wine, but that thought is soon interrupted by the thought of the change that was developed not too long ago. I don't know what the future holds between Theo and I; a pessimist may even counter that it is destined for a greater doom than falling down a black abyss. That said, a pessimist probably also once said that reading a book does nothing but dims the brain to nothing but black follicles, incapable of forming coherent thoughts on just about anything.

**

The first part of the evening is spent cooking Mac and Cheese, which must have been so good that it manages to break the ice between Theo and my mother. Small talk is exchanged between the three of us at the dinner table, and I even notice her flash a tiny smile at him - despite my conception of it as rather artificial. I wonder where the sudden change of atmosphere derived from, but I prevent myself from thinking about it too much - maybe my mom just decided that Theo is worthy of being given a chance. Just like I did.

For the next part of the evening, my mom heads to work, and Theo and I subconsciously try to begin our new-found relations with each other as beings with mutuel feelings or desire for each other. We end up doing this by watching Frozen in my bedroom, another movie that he presents doubts about, but I can tell it has won him over from his account of Elsa as 'so cute.' We plan our date tomorrow in a park nearby, but after we agree on the food we will take from the house, I can see in his eyes that he would much rather take control of the date, and pay for the food we eat.

The next day, my mother still remains absent from the house, giving Theo and I an easier opportunity to slip away. He takes off the blazer and shirt belonging to Cooper, and I give him one of my oversized denim shirts to wear. "This is um... Well..." He starts, as he looks down at his outfit of the denim shirt, the black trousers, and the black Converse.

"It looks good on you," I laugh.

"It would look better on you."

We trail to the kitchen, where we pack an assortment of water; soda; sandwiches; fruits and a pack of cookies. The moment the door shuts behind us we both share an expectant look at one another, which we both know the meaning of. I smile briefly at him before settling on locking my arm into his.

Theo

We set our basket down on the clear space of grass we find, and sit down on each side of the basket. "So, I told my mom about Cooper," I hear Eliza say as I take a sip of the bottled water.

"Oh?"

"She said that she doesn't believe he would do something like that, which got me thinking. Maybe he wanted to break up with me, but he didn't have a reason, so he came up with that elaborate excuse."

My eyes burn into hers, before I look down at the grass. I thought that once Cooper broke up with her, that would somewhat be the last I hear of him. Well, from Eliza at least.

"Sorry. He's the last person you want to talk about, I know."

"You can talk about him if you want."

"No, I-" but her voice is cut off as our eyes both fixate on a tennis ball that has landed right next to us, accompanied by the image of a young boy standing next to us, peering at us.

"Hi. I was asked to give this to you," the boy speaks, as he brings his arms out from behind his back, and presents to us a medium sized photo frame.

We both share looks of bewilderment towards each other. "A photo frame... Who told you to give that to us?" I ask.

"It doesn't matter. Just know that you'll need it one day."

"What?" Eliza questions, as the boy places the frame on the floor, picks up the ball, and then runs away.

"What?" She repeats.

"What the hell?" I think out loud.

"Why would somebody be giving us a picture frame? And saying we would need it later?"

"Maybe it's one of your friends. Like Olivia, Letting us, or you know that she can see that we're... Together now, and she's secretly taking pictures of us..." I speak, although my entire tone is laced with doubt. That can't be it.

"Because that wouldn't be creepy at all. But... Maybe," Eliza says, sounding unsure. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Well, we are supposed to get to know each other."

"You might not want to answer it."

"I'll try my best to."

"Yesterday. You said your stepdad..."

"I can't," I immediately intercept, the image of him sending cold messages to my scars more than the weather has ever done.

"I didn't even finish-"

"If it's about him, I can't. And I won't."

"Okay, fine, I just wanted to-"

"Can we just drop it please?" I snap at her, instantly regretting it but simultaneously feeling my veins burning.

"Okay, sorry."

"I'm sorry. I'll talk about him one day. I just don't want to now."

"Sure," she agrees, but I can see the curiosity swirling through her eyes, and my fist clenches at the realisation that I probably will have to talk about him one day.

The rest of the picnic consists of us getting to know each other, making it clear to me that we were simply ultimate strangers before this. I find out that her favorite colour is purple; her favorite dish is Mac and Cheese; and she has a very intense obsession with Subway cookies. I find that at first, I'm more reluctant to open up about myself - but then when I realise that this is Eliza, somebody who actually cares about me, and who wants me to focus on that as opposed to all the other negative thoughts that have made a home in my brain - it makes it all the more easier to.

When we get back to the house and discover that Rosanne is still not home from work, we place the picnic basket back in the exact same cabinet we found it, so that no suspicions arise. The moment the cabinet door shuts, the front door opens, and Rosanne's figure comes striding through the house. She enters the kitchen where we descend into a raging war of words with our eyes, but I can tell her bogus smile warms Eliza.

"How was work, mom?"

"Long," she responds, as she slumps onto a seat in front of me, just as the doorbell rings through my ears. "Oh, can one of you get that? I'm too tired."

"I'll get it," Eliza says, as she begins walking to the door. Knowing that she's out of hearing's reach, Rosanne instantly turns around to me, her black long hair brushing my hands. I half expect her to embrace me with a wave of insults, despite her awareness of the terrible consequences if she does. Instead, I end up partly surprised as she eyes me up and down, and then graces me with her next words. "Nice outfit."

"Thanks."

"Cooper?" She questions, just as my eyes flash up to land on Cooper himself, sauntering into the kitchen like he owns the place.

"Cooper," Rosanne says, in a monotonous voice. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to get my stuff," he huffs, and I can literally smell his anger.

"What stuff?" Rosanne continues.

"The stuff... He gave Theo," Eliza replies quietly.

"So is there a reason you're still standing here, Theo? Give me back everything that belongs to me that your dirty self has tainted."

"If my dirty self has tainted it, then why do you still want it?" I pipe, finding great humour in pushing his buttons.

"Because I don't want you to have it."

"But why are you all of a sudden asking for it back, Cooper? You said it was fine before," Eliza enquires, a look of pure curiosity on her face.

"Yeah, and now it's not fine. He's a jerk. And I want it back."

I internally decide to advance upstairs to get him what he's asking for, but the moment my body begins to move, Eliza's question sends the three other members of the room into a freeze frame.

"Did something happen between you two? That I don't know about?"

My blood steams at this point. I don't plan to say anything about Cooper and Rosanne, because they abode by my demands. But, the comprehension rushes through me that Cooper could so very easily tell Eliza that I've been blackmailing him about sleeping with Rosanne. That would put me in as much trouble as Cooper, and at the end of the day, Eliza would be left with nobody. I can't let that happen, I think to myself.

"No. But if he wants his clothes back, then I'll just give it to him."

"No, but it doesn't make sense," Eliza continues to whine. "He's going to be left with nothing."

"Then buy him some new ones," Cooper speaks, and I can feel the subliminal message he is trying to give, about me and Eliza.

"Eliza, just let the boy get his clothes back," Rosanne suddenly voices, after being quiet for a while. I can tell that she, too, is worried about what may come out after this little bonding session we're all sharing.

"But, you're not listening to me. He's not going to have anything to wear."

Then, in a moment of sheer confusion, Rosanne does something that I never thought she would do. That I know is coursing an immense amount of pain through her to do. She hurriedly brings out her wallet from her purse, reaches in for a handful of notes, and I watch as her arms fall into my direction, with the money almost touching me.

"Go and buy yourself some new clothes."

Reluctance burdens me at first, but with the money already being almost wedged into my hand, I eventually close it into my palm.

Cooper bursts into a fit of laughter, but I can her the rage behind it. "You're kidding me right? You're going to give this piece of garbage some money? As if that's not what he wants? Don't you guys get it? He's using you."

"Well, that shouldn't be your problem, should it?" Eliza intervenes. "Nothing to do with any of us should be your problem, seeing as you broke up with me."

I notice as he struggles to find words to reply to her words, and take that opportunity to proceed to the stairs. But, fear and anxiety crosses over me as I ponder what conversations may ensue when I am out of the room. This causes me to walk slowly up the stairs, ensuring that no sound can be heard, but no sound is also heard from the kitchen. When I get to the room, I aggressively pick up Cooper's sweaters and bottoms from the bedside cabinet table, and just about step onto the first stair when I hear the much predicted flushed voice of Cooper's.

"Why is he even still living here?"

"Cooper, just stop, okay?" I hear Rosanne say, probably because she's the only one who knows why I'm still here.

I rush down the stairs to catch the rest of the conversation up front, but it ends by the time I get there. I push the clothes into Cooper's chest and watch him struggle to catch it.

"What about what I'm wearing?" I ask him.

"You can keep those. It's probably sticky, anyway."

"You do know that I wore all of those things though, right?" I point at the clothes in his hands.

"I don't want clothes directly from your body, ass." He begins walking, but then turns around in an instant. "It's funny," he begins. "You guys will see what he's really like soon enough. And when you do, don't come crying to me," he says, whilst looking at Eliza. I could say the same for you, Cooper, I think successfully to myself.

"Just leave, Cooper," Eliza retorts, as Cooper makes his way to the door. The sound of the door closing allows me to breathe a sigh of anticipated relief. It lasts up to two minutes, before the rehearsed doorbell echoes through the air again.

"I'll get it again," Eliza speaks. "Cooper, if this is you again, then I really don't know what you-" I hear her say as she nears closer to the door, but her abrupt silence reveals loudly that it is not him. The door closes, and she turns around with a pocket sized box in her hand, which allows both mine and Rosanne's faces to crinkle in confusion.

"What's that?" Rosanne asks.

"It's a mask," Eliza replies, as she pulls out a lace eye mask from the box.

"A mask? Who gave that to you?"

"Nobody. It was on... The floor," she says slowly, bringing me to full alert mode. I notice her eyes creating movements in reference to myself, but the words I am supposed to dictate from them have difficulties resonating through me.

"It's probably just a stupid joke from Olivia," she quickly finishes. "Erm... Mom, I think I should take Theo shopping with the money you gave him. Help him to find some clothes."

"Well, you do know your fashion," Rosanne yet again says, surprising me. But, then I remember that she is trying to make my life the easiest it could possibly be after the threat of her secret being exposed by me corrupting her.

"Okay, well... Get some rest," Eliza advises as she picks up her purse from beside the fridge.

"I'll try."

I watch as Eliza takes the lead to the door, and I eye Rosanne intently. "Thanks for this," I speak genuinely. She doesn't respond, and I take that as my cue to leave. I close the door behind me, and as we become out of sight from the house, Eliza stops.

"First... We get a photo frame by a random boy in the park. Then, we get a black mask just left on the doorstep. Don't you think it's a little weird?"

"What would the mask be needed for though?" I ask.

"I don't know. But, maybe what you said before is right. Maybe it's Olivia. She likes to think she's funny in many different unfunny ways."

"I think you should ask her."

She nods, and in an instant, brings out her phone from her bag. She taps a few buttons on the screen, before putting the phone to her ear.

"Hey, Liv... Just a quick question: did you by any chance happen to get a little bored, and purchase some items to creep me out? She is silent as Olivia gives her response. "Theo and I were at the park earlier... Well, it's a long story, but that's correct... Yeah, no Cooper's a jerk.

I roll my eyes at the sound of his name.

"In the park, a little boy came up to us giving us a picture frame. Then, when we got home, there was a knock on the door, but when I went to answer it, there was nobody there. Just a little box with a mask inside of it. I thought it was you to try and tell us that you know we're together, and the mask is supposed to be some symbol for us hiding our relationship or something... Liv, are you sure? Because this is definitely the kind of stunt you would pull... Well, if it's not you, then who is it? Cooper," she whispers suddenly, making my eyes light up, and consider the possibility that it really is him. He knows that I like Eliza, he's angry that he had to break up with Eliza, maybe he's trying to freak us out by letting us know he's watching us. "No, it must be him. He came over earlier, and as soon as he left, we got the knock on the door... Yeah, I'll ask him, and I'll call you later to talk... Bye, Liv," Eliza finishes before removing the phone from her ear.

"So, Cooper then?" I ask.

"It has to be him. But I don't understand why he's still concerning himself with me when it was never even real with him."

"Yeah..." I agree, though my definition of him being fake with the relationship is on a completely different wavelength to hers. "Are you going to ask him now?"

"No, I'll do it when we get home. Let's just go shopping now.

"Thanks for... Offering to take me."

"Well, it's a way for me to learn more about you. I can find out what your style is, and if I need to change it."

"If you need to change it? Cocky much?" I tease.

"Maybe just a little bit," she replies and we both laugh. We're going to start with Soho, and then work our way down the street."

"Right."

"Do you like the Subway?"

"Not particularly."

"Well, today you will learn to. That's what we're taking."

"Great."

"Don't act like you're not excited to be spending the day with me."

"I could think of some other things I'd much rather do."

"Yeah, like what?"

"Like..." I begin, as I pretend to think, but really I know that she is right. "Like..."

"Like... Nothing?"

"Let's just go to the Subway before we have our first argument."

"I think we've already had that, don't you? And our second, and our third. And maybe our fourth."

"We can rule those out. Put it down to the frustration of not being together... But as a couple, we've had none," I contend.

"Oh, I like that," she says. We both share looks of repressed happiness to each other, and I wonder to myself how different things would be right now if she didn't take me in. Or if I completely refused her offer. Or if Rosanne kicked me out the first time around.