Elizabeth felt safe in Race's arms. Although being very strong, he was gentle and kind around her. She loved it. She never knew what love was supposed to be like. Her parents both died, she had no siblings, and the one relationship she had was abusive, heated, and almost deadly. As the two reached the kitchen, Race gently put Elizabeth in the wooden chair and sat beside her. The food in the plate looked good, it was pasta with a slice of bread with butter on the side. "Are you going to eat?" Race asked "Uh.. Yeah." Elizabeth replied as she picked up her fork and began to eat the food. The dinner was silent. None of them spoke during the whole meal.

    After a few minutes, both of them finished eating. Elizabeth noticed that Race was staring out the window, "Hey, are you okay?" Elizabeth asked as she reached for his hand that rested on the table. He didn't respond at first, "Race?" She asked again with his hand in both of her hands. "Huh?" Race said as he turned to look at her, "Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just thinking."

    "Thinking about what?"

    "Nothing." Race said. Elizabeth knew that he was anxious or nervous about something after all, she was good at reading people.

     "Race, can I go out tonight?" She asked. Her best friend Rowan was in town and she wanted to visit her. Rowan was a blonde book lover who was bigger, kind, and very smart. The two met in school and became instant friends. Once they became thirteen, Rowan left for Pennsylvania after her father found work there. On occasion, Rowan would buy a train ticket to visit her home city of Manhattan.

    "Elizabeth, you just woke up from a sleeping for a week due to your boyfriend almost killing you, what do you think I'll say?" Race asked with a stern expression wiped over his face.

    "No." Elizabeth whispered, "But, I have to meet someone tonight. If it helps, you can come with me." Race's face still stern and hard, "Fine, I'll come with you." He said.

         Race stood up, still holding Elizabeth's hand. She followed. The two walked back into the guest room. Race let go of Elizabeth's hand and walked over to the wardrobe. He opened the two doors and pulled out a blue dress, matching hat, and black boots. "I thought that you may need these." Race said smiling as he walked towards Elizabeth. He put his hands around her hips and puller her closer to him. She rested her hands on his chest and looked into his eyes. "I love you." He said. "I love you too." She replied as he leaned down to place a kiss on the top of her head. He then stepped out of the room to let her change.

    Elizabeth let out a sigh as the door closed. She did love him, she wanted him, but she felt that her ability to trust another person was diminished greatly. Shaking the feeling off, she walked over to the beautiful new outfit that Race had bought her. The material looked fancy and she wondered what this total outfit cost. Hastily, she took off her old, bloody dress and got changed into her brand new one. Excitement filled her as she finished brushing her hair and grooming herself for a night on the town. Rowan was coming, and she was happy.