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“If I only knew, Georgie. If I only fucking knew. You think you know what's going on, you think–you think a piece of your life is finally squared away… It's not perfect, but it's damn near it. You think you know someone…”
“You're not making any sense. Are you in Boston?”
“No.” The last thing he wanted was Charles at his door, and if Georgie knew he was here, it’s exactly what would happen. He began to pour himself another drink, and held the bottle up to examine how much was left.
“You need to tell me what's going on,” Georgiana said.
“What's going on is that people aren't always who they claim to be. That's what's going on. She–she is not who she appears to be. Or maybe she is now, but she wasn't always.”
Georgiana sighed, clearly exasperated. “Who? Elizabeth? Are you concerned about her getting hurt? Is that why you left?”
He laughed. “You think I left because she got hit in the head by a fucking ball? If only it were that simple.”
“Makeit simple. Explain it to me.”
“She’s not–she’s not who I thought she was. She’s not whoyouthink she is.” The images came crashing in again, making his head feel as though it was about to cleave open. “Whatever you think of her, whoever you think she is… It's all wrong, and I had to leave. I had to go.”
“Whathappened? Tell me!”
“I can't, Georgie. I can't. I'll–I'll call you tomorrow, all right? I have to go.”
* * *
Elizabeth stared at the clock.It was almost two in the morning, and other than the occasional beep of a monitor or the low voices of the nurses, it was quiet.
She’d never felt more alone, ever, than she did right now.
Jane had called back, but only to say that Charles couldn't reach Will. Georgiana hadn’t called back at all, which led Elizabeth to believe she hadn’t reached him either.
The throbbing in her head was unbearable, and the nausea hadn’t ebbed. Her nurse was clearly concerned, and pushed her to take some pain medication.
“It won't do you any good to try and fight it on your own. Those tears won't help either, that's for sure.”
Elizabeth sniffled. “I know.”
The nurse handed her two pills. “Take these, but try not to drink too much water. No allergies, right?”
“No allergies.” Elizabeth swallowed the pills with a sip of water and lay back on her pillow again. “Thank you.”
“You're welcome. Use your call button if you need me.”
Within minutes, Elizabeth’s thoughts became blurry and dreamlike. Everything was jumbled; memories from her first introductions to Will were juxtaposed with more recent recollections, and she soon drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Will woketo an incessant banging and the ringing of a bell.
If I ignore it, it will go away.
But it didn’t, and he opened one eye, then the other, and looked around from his position on...the couch. That's where he was, sprawled on the couch in the living room. In Boston. The pounding and the ringing continued, and added to it was the sound of his cell phone, which appeared to be buried deep in the cushions beneath him.
He sat up and immediately, a thunderous pounding echoed through his head. He groaned and screwed his eyes shut.
Fuck.
Suddenly, everything that happened the day before came violently crashing into his head. He saw Elizabeth dropping to the ground, and his breath caught. The ambulance, the hospital, the trip to her house, the pictures... Everything came back, clawing its way into his brain.
His cell stopped ringing for a moment, then started again. He dug for it and pulled it from underneath him and looked at the caller ID.Charles. Knowing how relentless his best friend could be, he answered.
