"Elizabeth," A voice whispered.
Lizzy's eyes fluttered, looking into the beautiful features of Riff. They were in the same bed, and their faces were near about.
Butterflies swarmed her stomach, his ocean eyes peering into her dark ones.
"Riff?" She breathed out. "I thought you said I wouldn't see you?"
"But I'm here, aren't I?" He mumbled before leaning in and kissing her.
Surprisingly, his lips were gentle, and she pressed herself into them. However something told her he was holding back.
Lizzy shifted her body so she was sitting on top of him and pecking his lips. Riff accepted her advance and held her back with one hand and other cupping her cheek.
As they parted to breath, Lizzy lifted her night gown from her body, being left solely in her undergarments.
Riff watched her, his delicate eyes memorizing every part of her body. Lizzy slowly leaned down again, this time kissing him with an intensity.
He reached down to lift off his own shirt and Lizzy helped him, liking the idea of taking it slow.
Once he was shirtless, he sat up and looked Lizzy closer to his body, making out on her bed, then down to her neck.
"Riff..." she moaned as quietly as she could manage, lifting her head to look at the ceiling as he kissed every bad thing about her life away.
Then it was all over.
Lizzy woke up instantly, her heart beating as she tried to rethink what just happened. Her eyes snapped to where Riff had been, yet there was no sign of him. And she was still wearing her night gown.
"No...no no." It had been a dream-the type of the dream that would taunt her, make her feel things she kept hidden away. Then why did she want that dream to be true so bad?
Lizzy mussed her hair around and laid back down on her pillow, thinking of his lips on her neck. Subconsciously, she brought a hand to where he had left his lips. Goosebumps traveled down her spine when her skin made contact with her throat.
Trying to push it all away, she looked out to the window. It was still dark out. Maybe she could go back to bed and continue her dream...
No you idiot! Lizzy left her bed and checked the clock on her accent table. It was around 4:30 am, so she peeled off all of her clothing and entered her shower, washing her hair and then curling it.
Although Lizzy had never liked to do her hair on the farm, this was the west side, and a girl could be as fancy as she wanted to be. She brushed her teeth and selected a causal red polka dotted dress.
Perhaps Riff would pay her a visit, and he would be able to see how admirable she looked. Biting her lip, she decided the wear makeup. Even lipstick, despite it being her least favorite.
The whole shenanigan took twenty minutes until she was finally satisfied and left to her kitchen/living room where she made cereal and popped open a glass Coca Cola bottle.
She seated herself at the dining room table near the window, where she looked out it the taller buildings and darkened streets of the morning.
No stars were visible because of all the light pollution, obliging her to miss the farm, where her grandmother would point out all the constellations. Taking a deep breath, Lizzy thought of how they were doing. She missed them terribly, but she couldn't go back.
She had already stayed with them two years more then she should have, and university was calling. The world was calling for her to come experience it. To make friends, to enjoy every moment, and to find love.
Her blood chilled and she thought of Riff. He was somewhere out there, keeping his distance to protect her.
And that was love. Lizzy stopped eating. She needed to find him, she needed to tell him that they belonged together, and she didn't care what the Sharks did to her.
Breathing fasting then normal, she ran out of her apartment, not even bothering to take her purse. However before she could make it down the stairs, strong arms brought her back.
"Ice," Lizzy panted from the sudden adrenaline. "I have to find Riff-"
"It ain't ice." The arms let her go and Lizzy spun around to see Tommy/Mouthpiece there.
Lizzy stared at him for a moment, remembering the last time they saw each other as kids. She had left the west side diathermy her mother in the cad, and all of those children watching.
"I need to see him." Lizzy repeated firmly. "Where is he?"
"Listen, he wants you here, okay?" Mouthpiece moved toward her, causing Lizzy to take a step back.
"No...you don't understand. I have to see him." Lizzy grabbed the railing of the stairs for support. Why all go a sudden did she feel so lovesick?
Mouthpiece saw the need and longing in her eyes. He cursed himself. "There's a dance tonight. Riff will be there. It's at the middle school gymnasium."
"Thank you." Lizzy saw the hesitation in his voice, but she would make sure when Riff saw her that he wouldn't know that it had been Mouthpiece who let her go.
"But...the Sharks will be there," Mouthpiece said. "You can't go the Riff or even talk to him till after the dance is up. Because if you do-"
"The Sharks will see." Lizzy looked to the floor, all of the desire slowly draining away. She lifted her chin, plastering confidence onto her face. "I will stay away from him."
Mouthpiece nodded. "Don't do it for me, or Riff. Do it for yourself."
He avoided all contact with her as he left the fourth floor and traveled down the stairs, leaving Lizzy standing still, wandering what to do.
A dance. She had never danced in front of people besides the few parties when she still lived in the west side and her mother's family.
Lizzy blew out a tight strip of air and entered back into her apartment that she had for green to unlock. She gathered her things and headed out, this time properly locking the door and taking her keys with her.
She departed her apartment complex and was careful to avoid that spots she was sure Jets would be lurking-like the alleys.
Deciding that it would be best if she took her walk as far away as possible, she strolled down several blocks until the pavement became cracked and the people's skin turned darker.
Many stared, but Lizzy wasn't fearful of them. She made her way to a Carter of fruit and a man selling the items for less then a dollar.
"Hello ma'am." He said cheerfully, and with a horrid realization, Lizzy found that he reminded her of Mr. Stacey.
"Hello." She swallowed, avoiding eye contact.
"Can I offer you any of these delicious fruits, I have apples, bananas, mangos, cherry's and even pineapples."
"That all sounds lovely, but just and apple for today," Lizzy activated one of her smiles and dug through her purse until she came up with one bill. "Keep the change."
He stared with thanks at the dollar before retrieving and apple for her. "God bless you."
Lizzy didn't know what to say to that, so she just smiled and smiled and continued her way around the streets.
A shop caught her eye-it was a candle business. Except it was scented, she had never heard anything of the sorts. So Lizzy brought herself across the street, limp clearly visible so she could enter.
However just as she was about to go in, a hand pulled her away. "No te lo pierdas, es una estafa!" A young woman held her back, she had beautiful, long hair and red lips.
"Sorry?" Lizzy asked.
The lady swallowed. "Scam." She then pointed to the sign above the the shop. "They spray it would perfume."
Lizzy glanced back and the second she did, a shopkeeper charged out with an angry expression.
"Escucha aquí María! No asustes a mis clientes!" She barked with fury giving a funny crinkle to her eyebrows and nose.
The young woman apparently named Maria sighed, taking Lizzy by the arm. "You have to excuse her."
"Oh it's alright, thank you for swooping in so I didn't waste any money..." Lizzy smiled again, and Maria returned the favor.
"What's your name?" Maria asked in a light tone.
"Elizabeth." Lizzy answered.
"That's a beautiful name..." Maria whispered. "Are you staying in this side of town for long?"
Lizzy took a moment to think. "I'm not sure, all I have on my schedule is that dance."
Maria jumped up excitedly. "Oh sí! I have been waiting to dance ever since I stepped foot in America. I cannot wait, and I need help getting ready, will you come to my place?"
Lizzy hesitated, but then stopped herself. Making friends was something she had wanted to do. Maybe this would be how.
"Of course."
Maria beamed and took Lizzy by the hand, diving straight into an alley. The two women laughed as they did so, acting like young girls all over again.
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Sorry this is a shorter chapter-but I have more coming soon. Thank you so much for reading and please excuse the typos <3