Chapter 8

Lizzie's P.O.V."Thanks Jake, I'll see you tomorrow." I say as I pull away from him. He smiles at me comfortingly before giving me a nod.

"I'll see you tomorrow Lizzie." He waves as I walked in my apartment and went off leaving a smile to my face while I closed the door. Jake has been like a brother to me since we got closer because of Shannon. He kept their routines having a regular huddle before an important event or just a regular day with me. Actually, my team had been split into two. Half of the team is with me and the other half is with my sisters, sometimes we switch teams but Jake is the only constant on my side of the team.

I'm currently here in New York since I have two weeks off from work. I have some virtual interviews but I can always do that here and besides the twins' birthday is coming up so I might as well plan for that, maybe a dinner or a little get together, I don't know yet. I'm gonna have to ask Trent when he gets here in three days with mom.

I let out a tired sigh as I slumped down on the couch. I visited the twins at the headquarters today. They are currently having plans going on about the Spring Collection coming this October so they're pretty busy earlier. I got to have my share of ideas too because they kept asking about my opinion on the designs they've worked on so my day turned out to be very productive.

After that, we went for dinner and basically discussed about the collection and how the day went. I was into the conversation until out of the blue, Ashley asks about Shannon and the photo going around the tabloids with her and Scarlett in it, saying lies about something romantically going on with them and it just makes me sick. Its Shannon's nature to be chivalrous and protective to every one she's with, that's just how she is. So a hand in Scarlett's back and the gapless space between them doesn't mean something's going on, even though they're making it look like it, It's just her way of protecting her company from a possible danger or mainly from the paparazzi. And besides, Scarlett has a fucking husband for god's sake.

Anyway, I acted like I didn't care and that I'm moving on. Well, that's what they wanted me to do and surprisingly they believed that. I must sound very convincing earlier for them to be relieved that I said that. I didn't told them anything else after that and just divert it to another different subject. To tell the truth, I'm at a crossroads right now, about Shannon. After what Scarlett said to me, about Shannon not remembering her life two years ago where 'us' happened is like a sign that maybe I should let go of her and continue moving on from her. It still hurts thinking about it. That to her, we never really existed.

Seeing that picture with her and Scarlett outside the restaurant makes me wonder when was the last time I've seen her that healthy and that's all I really wanted for her. That also made me realize that maybe our relationship before was really the thing that's been destroying her. Its sad because its true.

I let out a heavy sigh as I pulled my phone out of my purse. I remembered, I need to send the twins a text that I'm home safely and for some reason it was mandatory for me to do this and I've been doing it for two years now. Its like my family had gone overprotective of me since the break up and that at least one of them knows where I'm at. It's really annoying but I really can't blame them, I really have no one 24/7 who can protect me from anything besides Jake and my security and they're not always around so I try to just live with it.

I opened my phone and saw a text message from Mary Kate and Ashley asking me where I was. Another from Trent sending me the details of their flight on Thursday morning and asking how my day was which is kinda sweet of him. I also have text messages from Marla, for my zoom interview with Kaley Cuoco tomorrow for Variety, and Scarlett still asking about you know who.

I replied to all messages except for Scarlett's. It's not that I don't want to, I just don't what to say to her. I'm still confuse at everything at the moment. I want to say that, maybe it is what it is and the universe just doesn't think that there is still a chance for us, friends nor lovers. But I can't seem to bring myself to say that to her knowing she now probably is friends with Shannon so I leave it be.

I closed my messages and check my other notifications. A voicemail from an unknown number. My brows furrowed upon seeing it. That's strange, I don't remember giving anyone my number these past few days and honestly I'm quite scared. My mind is thinking the worst, like the possibility of my phone number getting leaked out or something or worse, I might have a crazy stalker. I can feel my heart racing as my thumb hovers on the screen where the play button is having second thoughts if I should listen to it or not and before I could even decide, my thumb taps on the play button and I find myself listening to it.

'Hi' Everything stops. I can feel the rapid throbbing of my heart, loud enough for me to hear as I listen to the very familiar voice on the other line. Its her.

'Uh- its me, Shannon. I-' She pauses and waiting for her to continue is just making me so anxious.

'I'm sorry to um, call you. Scarlett gave me your number. I know, I should've sent you a text first but I'd figured to just leave you this. I don't know why but- Oh God, how do I say this.' She chuckles nervously and somehow that made my lips curve into a small smile. I haven't heard that in a while.

'I'd figure Scarlett might've told you what happened, the accident. Yea, so I really apologize for that and I'm sorry that I left. My mom told me about us earlier and she told me I broke up with you. I'm sorry, everything is still not clear to me up until now but still, I'm sorry.' The first tear fell, followed by another. She really couldn't remember us. My hands starts to shake as tears starts to blur my vision.

'I know its too much to ask. Since this is like meeting you for the first time. Well, I know you exist even before I found out about all of this, I just didn't know that we have some kind of history which is pretty hard to believe considering how shy I can become when it comes to asking a girl out and you're just that perfect and I-. Hmm, I'm rambling again. I'm sorry.' She chuckles softly and I find myself letting out a soft giggle through my tears. God, I miss her. Who the fuck am I kidding. I still love this woman so much.

'Anyway, I really want to remember who I really was two years ago. I-I want to remember my life in LA and I guess that includes you and me and somehow I know that only you can help me with that. I'm sorry I know its really too much to ask and I know you're probably too busy. But, if you can allow me to squeeze into your free time, I would really like to see you, maybe a dinner or just a little picnic. I know a place near my house and its pretty quiet and private so you're safe there. Yea, I really hope you'd hear this and let me know what you think or don't, If you don't want to its fine. but just let me know. Take care always. Bye Elizabeth.' I hear the beep telling me that was the end and for some reason I was craving for some more. So I repeat the voice mail for the second time, just hearing her talk to me and hear her soft chuckles and the way she still calls me by my full name. I miss that so much. I miss her.

Tears fall from my eyes as I clutch my phone in my hands, my mind currently at war between the idea of replying to her and letting her in or just ignoring her and move on which I am suppose to be doing. Right?

Questions and the what ifs starts conquering my mind and it's making my head hurt. If I cave in and let her in again, will it be worth it? Is this where we start over again. Will it work for the better this time or it'll be just us going around in circles again. I can't let that happen again. What if she remembers the bad stuff and history just repeats itself again. But what if I just ignore the voice mail and just move on. Will I regret it? knowing I'm still in love with her. Will I miss the possible chance of us continuing our greatest love story? Either way, there will be sacrifices and risks that will be made. I don't know, I'm so confused. Fuck, Damn it Shannon. You're really making this so hard for me. I need a fucking drink.——————————Shannon's P.O.V."So have you talked to Lizzie?" I look up to Scarlett who is sitting on the couch with her phone in her hands while Rose and I play with her toys as of the moment.

"No" I sighed returning my gaze on Rose who is now pouring some pretend tea on a small teacup. "I sent her a voice mail the other night and got nothing in reply just yet, maybe she's busy." I shrugged as I take my teacup and hand it over to Rose making her smile widely. Rose and I had grown closer these past few days since I come here more often now. Well, at first, Scarlett just invites me over for updates about my memory but then as days passed Scarlett is being force to invite me over because Rose wants to have company and that she specifically wants me. I was right all along, I am childproof and a likeable one as well.

"Just give it time. You're right, maybe she is busy." I look up to her and she just offered me a smile before turning her attention to her phone again. I continue to play tea with Rose which she enjoys way too much and finds it funny how I change my accent whenever I'm talking to her. She laughs and joins in. So that will send us both giggling to each other.

"Oh right Scar?" I suddenly say remembering the thing I was suppose to tell her yesterday but didn't get to because I got busy with work. She looks up to me and raised her brows.

"I went to Dallas the other day and had that talk with my parents." Her jaw dropped and eyes grew wide highlighting her green colored orbs. I let out a small smile as she places her phone on the coffee table and leans over turning her full attention on me, eager to know what had happened with my parents and the new information I got from them.

"Why didn't you tell me you went there? Could you not even send me a single text?" I laugh at her huge effort on not dropping the F Bomb right now at this moment considering there is a pair of small innocent ears around. She then gives me a look that pushes another button in me to just stop laughing and just spill the tea.

"I'm sorry I was mad at that moment and decided on the spot to just go there. I was suppose to tell you yesterday but clearly I forgot so I'm telling it to you now."

"So what happened?"

"So-" I started but I was distracted with Rose's skirt that has rid up to her thighs. "Rose, can you come here for a sec, I'll just fix your skirt sweetheart." She looks at her skirt before walking towards me allowing me fix it before letting her go and turn my attention to Scarlett again who has a huge smile on her face just staring at me.

"What?" I asked a bit confuse on the look she is giving me.

"Nothing, that's cute." She says. I glanced at Rose who is now busy on the puzzle I gave her earlier and abandoned our little tea party already. Kids are easily distracted nowadays aren't they? "Now, can you tell me what happened?"

"Yea, so I went there and forced it out of them to just tell me because I am losing my mind over here trying to figure out everything else, other than the things you've already told me. And they did tell me all the things they know including the events before the crash happened." I watch as she listens in full ears on what I'm saying. Brows knit together in focus, her eyes darted attentively to mine and a hand over her mouth. It brings me comfort in someway because that only means, she just really cares.

"Apparently, I was depressed. Severely depressed." I say remembering how my mom said it to me. "Mom said it was because of the break up, which I initiated by the way according to her. Maybe that's why she won't talk to me. I don't know. But anyway, she said I was having these black outs and one day, I left the house without permission and went to my dad's which is a bit far away from us. When I got there, dad said I asked if i could borrow his car to go to the shops because I can't take my mom's because its broken but the truth is its working just fine and mom has no clue I went out. I really can't remember what had happened after that. I still have no clue how did it happen and why did I decide to have a suicide on my dad's car. It just doesn't make sense."

"Oh my God, what the-" She almost said it, the F word. Well, I really can't blame her. That is some fucked up shit right there. I really want to know what actually happened during the crash but I guess I will never know that unless it comes back to me in a dream or in a flashback.

"Its just strange to me Shan that how come you haven't figure this out much sooner. Well, clearly your parents knew about it and you're a photographer so surely, you have pictures of Lizzie or maybe the two of you. That's what you do."

"About the pictures of us, mom said I burned them all when I was having one of the blackouts." Her eyes grew again and somehow in the back of my mind, I think she's a bit freaked out and maybe having second thoughts on me and Rosie getting closer to each other.

"I'm sorry Scar, are you freaked out on all of this?" I whispered and she sits back to her seat her face softens a bit when she looked at my face.

"Yea a little bit but are you? right now?"

"No, no. I'm alright, I'm just confused that's all but I'm not in that place anymore." I sigh. I don't even know how that feels so its really hard for me to cope up with all of this.

"Shannon?" My head snaps to Rose who is still too busy on her puzzle to look at me and tell me what it is.

"Yea?" She lets out a sigh before standing up abandoning her puzzle again and walk over to me. My brows knit in confusion when she stood up right in front of me and held my cheeks in her tiny hands.

"I'm bored" She says and that made me smile so I took her in my arms earning a squeal from her and starts tickling her. The child's laughter fills my ears in a soft and gentle way and it brings me comfort seeing this kid happy.

"Stop Shannon! Mommy help!" She screams laughing and asking for mercy. Scarlett joins in pulling her daughter from my grip but I was having non of it. I was having way too much fun hearing her laugh. I stopped eventually when she was already breathless and just let Scarlett pull her into her arms, a smile on my face just watching the both of them.

"Are you still bored?" Rose turns to me giggling as she catches her breath. I winked at her and she laughs "Do you want to get some ice cream?" Rose's eyes lit up like blue pearls on full show. It made my heart skip a beat.

"Shannon" Scarlett warns and before I could even say anything Rose turns to her mother flashing her those puppy eyes and we all know that no one can resist a kid with puppy eyes.

"Mommy can I go out with Shannon for ice cream?" She pouts and I watch this little conversation like a kid watching her favorite show. Scarlett tries her best to keep a straight face but Rose is trying much harder to convince her mother. Scarlett then turns to me and gives me a look.

"Are you going to drive?" She asks and that made me figure out why is she so hesitant on letting her daughter go. After what she just heard, I really can't blame her for it. So I say,

"Yea, would you like to come. You can drive if you want"I say and she smiles.

"Yes! Mommy come with us. Chase is so pretty." I giggle at the mention of my car's name. Well, she really is indeed perfect. Scarlett hesitates but eventually gave up and nods her head earning a high pitched squeal from Rose which made our ears hurt a bit.

"A little more practice and she'll surpass Mariah Carey's whistle tones." I chuckled and Scarlett joins in standing up from the carpet.

"Please don't wear that outside" She giggles looking at the hairband that Rose made me wear earlier when we're still playing tea.

"Why, what's the matter with it? It looks good on me doesn't it my princess?" Scarlett shakes her head as Rose giggles nodding her head.

"See?"

"Whatever, I'm just going to change her up. Clean this will you?"

"Yes ma'am." Rose giggles again which makes me smile really. Her laughter is just music in my ears. God, I love that kid so much. I start cleaning up the living room putting Rose's toys on the corner of the room neatly while she changes her clothes upstairs with Scarlett.

After a few minutes of doing that, I sat on couch and shoot Colin a quick message that the three of us will have some ice cream because apparently, the world thinks I'm trying to home wreck their relationship because of the fucking lies the paparazzi has been spreading about us. Fortunately, Colin clearly understood the system and said he doesn't really think that I can do that to them which is a great relief to be honest. So for reassurance, I text Colin every time we go out in public which I think is just fair on him.

"Alright let's go." I look up and saw them all dressed up ready to go out. Rose runs up to me so I stood up slipping my phone in my pocket and lift her up in my arms, another round of giggles filling my ears making me smile. I walk to Scarlett and hands her my keys which she gladly took from me. Scarlett puts her mask on and helps me with mine before putting on Rose's as well. Really need to be safe out there, we could never really tell so its better to be sure.———————"Oh my God, Its like I have two toddlers with me right now except the other one is a grown woman. Can you two clean up your faces please." Scarlett sighs focusing her attention on the road trying not to be distracted with me and Rose on the passenger seat eating our cold treats. I quirked an eyebrow on what she's talking about before looking at Rose's face beside me. Half of her face is covered with strawberry and chocolate ice cream all mixed up together while her hands are looking very sticky  holding her cone, Oh shit, I should've got her the cup.

"Oh no, look at your face." I say finishing mine as well before getting the wet wipes on my front compartment. She looks up to me and laughs which made me confuse.

"Look at your face." She giggles and so I did looking at my reflection on my side mirror and fucking hell, I really need to learn how to eat my ice cream without it having all over my mouth. I laugh turning to Rose who also laughs with me at how funny I look like. So I take a wet wipe and start to clean up my face before taking Rose's cone and let Scarlett hold it for me on her free hand which I smirk at the look she just gave me and before she could even say anything, I say,

"I'm cleaning her up, you said so." She rolls her eyes as I start wiping Rose's sticky hands and also clean up her face.

"There all better." I take the cone from Scarlett and gave it to Rose in exchange of a promise that she would eat it as neat as possible, which I still doubt it'll happen. Well, she's a kid, they're suppose to be messy.

"So what're you doing tomorrow?" Scarlett suddenly asks and that made me think what am I going to do tomorrow? I don't have work, my next photoshoot at the studio is not until next week and that would be for Hawkeye so I really got nothing.

"I don't know, I don't have work until next week so maybe I'll just go around in town and film or wait. I just remembered something."

"What?" I pulled my phone out of my pocket and went immediately to my photos to see the one mom sent me the other day.

"I have one picture of Elizabeth and I and this one my mom took. I don't where this is but I dream of this place quite a lot. She says its near my house where I lived in two years ago." Perfect, a red light. As soon as the car stopped, I hand my phone to Scarlett, maybe she knows where that is. I watch as her brows furrowed a small smile playing on her lips.

"I don't know this place but its beautiful." She smiles and hands me back my phone. "You know you two were like the perfect couple, it really didn't cross my mind that you will split up. She was really happy with you." I sigh and gave her a small smile. I wonder how that felt like, it sucks because I don't remember but with my parent's stories and Scarlett's stories saying all the same thing of how beautiful our relationship was makes me wonder what turned the switch from us being so perfect and in love to splitting up in the end. I don't think it was the depression alone, I have a feeling that there is still something else.

Suddenly my phone buzzes in my hand making me look at it. My heart starts racing at the sight of her name flashes on my screen. I really had to blink a few times just to make sure its real. And it really is.Its a message from her and with a shaky hand, I opened it.

Hi, I heard about what happened and I'm sorry about that. After taking in so much considerations and knowing what you're going through is hard, I decided to help you just for old time sake. But I'm in New York right now and I won't be in LA for two weeks. So I guess I will see you in two weeks. -E

Two weeks, that's a bit too long doesn't it maybe if I should just fly to New York later tonight maybe she would consider it. I can't wait for two weeks my mind would eat me out alive if I would have to wait that long.

"Shannon, you okay? What is it?" I snap out of my daze looking up to Scarlett who has a worried look on her face. I ignored her and type in a message back hoping she's still on her phone.

Hi Elizabeth! What if I just fly there to New York to meet up with you, if that's okay with you. But if its not then its okay. I guess I'll see you in two weeks. Thank you so much for giving me a chance, I really appreciate it a lot. You're amazing!

"Shan? What is it?" I hear Scarlett says and I was about to say something again when my phone buzzes making me smile.

Are you sure? Don't you have work or something?

I text back.

Nope, not until next week. Its cool if you don't feel like it. I really don't want to be a bother, I understand you're pretty busy as well so its cool

I hit send and not even a minute has passed she replies.

No, I don't have work too for the next two weeks.

I replied instantly with my heart beating out of my chest. A spark of hope lit up inside of me.

So, is it okay if I go there to see you?

This time it took a while for her to reply giving me a chance to look at Scarlett and saw her annoyed face already.

"Its Elizabeth, she texted back already." I say and her eyes grew wide before glancing at me and I can't help but smile at the look on her face.

"Oh my God, that's great, what did she say? God it took her almost two days to reply to you. That must've took a lot of thinking." I chuckled at Scarlett's excitement and I was about to say something when my phone buzzes again.

"Hold up." I say and checked on the message.

Alright then. Just tell me when are you flying here.

I smile at the text and shot a quick reply before looking up to Scarlett again my smile just grew wider.

"I think I might have an idea on what I'm going to do tomorrow." Scarlett rolls her eyes in annoyance of me changing the subject which is quite entertaining. I don't know why but I really like winding people up in some way.

"I didn't ask what will you do tomorrow, I asked what did Lizzie told you just now." She scowls making me laugh.

"I'm going to see her Scarlett maybe tomorrow. I'll book a flight for New York tonight"