Room 239/240

[notcalledlizzie]

Elizabeth is lying, curled up on her bed with a stuffed bear.

A small, neatly wrapped box is sitting on the bedside table.

She's trying to read; the same book she's been reading ever since she was in the library after Speech class.

Her mind keeps flashing back to the trip she made to Mali and the Ivory Coast. She can hardly believe how young and naive she had been. How back then she thought that she could help change the world.

She seems to reread the same paragraph over and over again

"A tumble? Oh, yes - out of the swing," said Katy, as it all came slowly back to her. "Did the rope break, Aunt Izzie? I can't remember about it."

She always reached for books from her childhood whenever she felt down.

Comments

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

*knocks*

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*looks up from the book*

Come in!

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

*enters and plops down at Liz' feet* You going to Rory's party later?

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

That's the plan *nods her head towards the small box*

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Oh right. *leans back against the board* I talked to Lisa and she didn't mind if I pull out of the assignment.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*smiles tightly* I guess that means you'll be writing a paper as well then, exposing your inner self to the teacher so she doesn't "push you past your boundaries" in the future.

*hints of sarcasm are obvious*

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

*groans and rolls his eyes* I'm thinking of just dropping the class. I'm busy enough as it is.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

You too? Join the club

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Only if there's a secret handshake. *wan smile*

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*small smile* Well, we might be able to manage that. I don't know.

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

*knocks*

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*calls* Hullo?

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you could. *frowns*

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Liz? It's Sam. I just wanted to see how you were doing.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Come on in.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Hey, what's up?

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

*looks thoughtful* Okay, imagine that I did something really stupid today.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*tilts her head and looks at him* What sort of stupid?

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam opened the door and walked through. "I saw Janet and Parker already, but I wanted to see how you were doing. That...couldn't have been easy."

She's already ranted all over the library and it's not her assignment. Now is the time to let Liz get it out. She takes a seat on the end of the bed and tries to make herself look huggable.

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

'Did you fall on your head or something' stupid? *grimaces*

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth crawls across the bed to curl up next to Sam.

"I hate it," she whispers. "They kept trying to tell me that slavery wasn't always bad. They kept trying to tell me that there were always choices. And all I can think about is that for $30, you can go to Mali and buy a child-slave."

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

*grimaces as well* Okay then...

[carter-i-am.livejournal.com]

Sam put an arm around Liz and pulled her close, laying her cheek on top of her friend's head and speaking quietly.

"They were wrong, Liz. There are absolute evils in the world, and you've seen them. Some people are born without choices, and you've met them. They were wrong. What she did, what she tried to make you do...it was wrong."

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

Alright, and you know that someone is going to hit the roof if you tell them but they're going to find out anyway so you really should tell them, but you can't bring yourself to do it because they already hit the roof once today and it seems like too much... *breaths* I'm screwed.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth turns her face into Sam's body, a few hot tears threatening to spill.

"I've tried so hard to fight these things... to get rid of them. And she treats is like a game. Did you see the list of "Rules" she had for the master and slave?"