“Hey, Raf!” Lizzie caught his arm in the hallway, putting on a big smile. “Excited for the game today?”
Rafael tried to smile back but it was too pitying. “Actually, Hope and I have our anti-game day planned.” 
Lizzie’s face fell. “You already have it planned?” Her eyes darted around the hallway, looking for Hope. She didn’t see her in the assembly, but she must’ve just been there if they had plans already. “We just found out."
Rafael shrugged. “Hope asked me last night.”
“Oh, that’s great.” Lizzie could feel her words getting shaky as she realized what that meant. “No, that’s just perfect.” Lizzie nodded along with thoughts she wasn’t voicing. “That works out, because now you can keep Hope Mikaelson far, far away from me.” 
“I mean, we can still hang out later? After the game?” Rafael tried, eyes getting wider as Lizzie spiraled. 
“Yes.” Lizzie smiled and looked Rafael up and down shamelessly. “Yes, we can. I’ll already be sweaty.” 
Rafael’s eyebrows rose, but Lizzie had already left, muttering to herself under the breath, “Stupid Hope Mikaelson … ruining life for the rest of us.”
“Lizzie?”
Lizzie turned, sealing her lips shut regretfully. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Did you want to … talk about something?” Alaric asked carefully. 
“Yeah.” Lizzie stood up straight, gathering all her anger. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about the game today.” Although, it was really more like: I can’t believe you told Hope and not me.
“It was supposed to be a surprise for you.” Alaric smiled nervously. “The - the sports and all.”
Lizzie’s face was tense. “Well as of this moment, I hate surprises!” 
“I’m sorry. I just - I thought you’d be happy, because you said you wanted sports -”
“Don’t you get it?” Lizzie asked, dangerously close to tears. Her voice cracked and her eyes were starting to burn. She felt like another moment and everyone in the hallway would be staring at her. “It’s not about sports!” 
“Then will you please tell me what it’s about?” 
“Seriously, Dad?” Lizzie whined. Her cheeks and her nose were starting to burn now too, tears in her eyes making the room blur. “Just - just forget it, okay?” She spun away before any tears could escape, muttering under her breath again when he couldn’t hear. “Just forget it like you forget your own daughter.”
Alaric shoved his hands in his pockets, trying to figure out what went wrong. He knew this didn’t make up for the honor council, but he didn’t think it would upset her more. But then he thought if his girls wanted space, then of course Lizzie would be upset that he planned an entire day where he would be standing on the sidelines, watching their every move. Maybe “something cool like sports” was actually code for “something cool without parents.” Alaric sighed. He knew kids grew up and away from their parents, but he hadn’t expected it so suddenly.