Got A Secret, Can You Keep It {Lizzie} ?

[LIZZIE SPENCER]

There was something about apartment complexes that Lizzie just really really liked. It could’ve been the idea of all sorts of different rooms, decorated to the owner’s preference. It might have been the splendor of having different neighbors from who knows where. It was mostly that people didn’t hide in their fancy business suits when they were around their apartments. Home was a safe place so they let down those walls. Lizzie loved people like this, people who went out to get the newspaper or the mail in their pajamas.

Apartment complexes would be so much more interesting if she could go in. Maybe she even could? Lizzie didn’t want to test it out. She figured you had to live there to get in. So, until she could befriend someone who lived at Jacobs or the Ice Palace, she’d have to simply assume what it was like on the inside. (She had managed a few minutes admiring the lobby at the Ice Palace before she’d been kicked out). It was a surprise she hadn’t made friends who lived at these places yet. She’d made friends with so many strangers.

She tended to randomly wander outside the apartment complexes when she had nowhere else to go. The Ice Palace was so high-end; they usually accused her of loitering or something. Jacobs probably wasn’t exactly safe but it was her next best bet. People at Jacobs were sure to be more interesting anyway. However, she’d never figure that out if she had her head in the clouds. So, it would probably be a good idea to pay attention. For example!

That woman there definitely looked like she could use some help. Without a second thought, Lizzie approached with a stubborn determination to help. She was not going to take no for an answer! “Hello,” she said as carefully as she could so as not to scare the blonde woman. Taking two bags from the pile in the woman’s arms and smiled at her. “Oh, I’m not going to steal these! By the way… if you were thinking that.” Looping the handles onto her wrists, Lizzie opened the apartment door.

“I think I actually know you…” Lizzie said, looking back at the woman. Her face was very familiar but Lizzie was sure they’d never met before. “I’m Lizzie.”

[LIZZIE SPENCER]

Lizzie nodded as if to say of course, no problem at all! Because, of course, how rude would she be if she had just walked right by? Well, she’d be as rude as most New Yorkers she met tended to be. … Thought that there was a bit rude to think, wasn’t it? An apology was due but it’d have to wait until she found someone she could say sorry to. “Ivy…” Lizzie repeated, recognizing the name from somewhere. It was natural for her to forget things like names when they tended to be more important things to remember.

Following after Ivy into the apartment complex, Lizzie let her excitement out by the sound of a girlish giggle. She was finally able to wander around one however she well pleased! Well, sort of. She would probably have to be a bit careful. “Oh, that’s fine.” Lizzie had never really liked elevators. You never knew when one could – as Ivy had mentioned – break. The last thing Lizzie wanted was to be on one when that happened. Most people she knew complained about stairs and that was when they didn’t even have shopping bags to carry.

“I can’t imagine how horrible it would have been if you’d have to carry all of these by yourself.” Lizzie commented as they went up and up and up and up the stairs. At some point, Lizzie lost track of what floor they were on. They’d certainly been climbing for awhile now. She’d have to count them on her way back down. Lizzie hadn’t realized they were done walking up the stairs until Ivy had stopped in front of a door. Oh! This was her apartment, then. Lizzie’s curiosity would surely kill her if she didn’t just get a tiny peek. She was so interested in how people decorated their rooms.

“I don’t mind helping bring these in,” Lizzie said, raising the bags she was carrying. “And then I’ll be out of your hair in no time, I promise.” The last thing Lizzie wanted was to be a burden.

[LIZZIE SPENCER]

Once Lizzie had offered to continue helping, she took a moment to look around. The hallway looked like any other hallway. Sure, the wallpaper was different as was the carpet and it wasn’t exactly as nice as the hallways at Baum but it wasn’t absolutely terrible. Lizzie figured it could be quite boring at some point – walking by the same old colors every day. Lizzie liked using her imagination in cases like that; it was so much better to have different colored walls and floors every day.

Looking back to Ivy, Lizzie bounced a bit excitedly as she opened the door. Wow, it was probably a bit silly how much she was looking forward to this. Oh, a kitten! Why, Lizzie loved kittens. Most of the time, anyway. Snowdrop could get so very frustrating at times. Following Ivy in, Lizzie looked around for the kitten but she could see none in sight. There was a small girl, though. Before Lizzie could think on it much, she had to get to the kitchen to set these bags down.

“Oh, that’s fine! Completely understandable,” Lizzie nodded. Carefully setting the bags down on the counter, Lizzie stepped back. Before she could reply, Ivy had left to go pay the babysitter. It was during her few minutes alone that Lizzie suddenly remembered. Ivy, of course! Lizzie had spoken to her through the online chat box. She’d mentioned her own kitten but Lizzie was beginning to realize that Ivy might have been talking about the little girl.

Again, before Lizzie could take a moment to look around, Ivy had returned. The child was clinging to Ivy’s leg, being the very definition of adorable. “She’s so cute,” Lizzie said without much thought, thinking the girl looked very much like Ivy. Was it being a burden if she stayed for lunch? Then again, Ivy had offered. “I’d love lunch if it’s no hassle.”

[LIZZIE SPENCER]

Barbeque chicken… It never hurt to try new things. Besides, she was always trying new things. Why not add new foods to the list? Lizzie was sure it would be delicious so she nodded. “That sounds good!” Maybe she’d even ask for the recipe later on so she could try cooking it herself. (Probably not a good idea. If one could hardly dress herself, why would she be able to work in a kitchen?) Lizzie glanced to all the groceries on the counter and laughed a bit. Ivy had bought plenty of food. Still, Lizzie was happy to try to try the barbeque chicken. No use in dirtying extra dishes for a different meal.

Lizzie had half a mind to help put the groceries away but she was easily distracted by the little girl. She couldn’t get over how adorable she was and just how much like Ivy she looked. Ivy had already taken to putting the groceries away while also leaving a few things out. It looked like it would be a very balanced meal by the time it was all done. Lizzie looked down when she realized the girl was speaking to her. Had she heard her name yet? Lizzie knelt down and smiled, “I like to think so, yes.” Lizzie could never be sure if she was friends with somebody until they flat out said it. She always assumed people to be her friend but she couldn’t assume she was the same to them.

At the girl’s gesture, Lizzie leaned in a bit closer, realizing she was about to whisper. And whisper she did. A compliment! On her hair no less. Oh, she was so sweet. Lizzie smiled, “thank you!” How darling was she? Lizzie absolutely adored kids. “And I like yours.” Lizzie said, carefully playing with a strand of hair before pulling her hand back. Like Rapunzel… From Tangled…? Had she seen that movie yet? It was probably a Disney movie… was she caught up on those? Nonetheless, she was sure she’d seen the commercials! “Hair that long?” Lizzie asked, when she suddenly remembered. “It seems like a lot of work.”

Lizzie couldn’t even imagine it! She could barely handle her hair as it was. “I’m Lizzie, by the way.” She held her hand out for the little girl to shake. “And what’s your name?”

[LIZZIE SPENCER]

It seemed then that Lizzie decided she officially wanted a little girl someday. If Ashleigh was this precious, how adorable would her own child be? Maybe Lizzie could be a babysitter. It was her best bet at any interaction with children. Her years of being a mother were a long way away and she didn’t have friends that had younger siblings (that she knew of, anyway) so she couldn’t play with them. It was just that children were so innocent and such a wonder for the world. Lizzie might as well have been a child herself.

Lizzie did notice that Ivy was getting lunch together. She was grabbing extra bowls and setting the table; Lizzie felt inclined to help in some way. She may have been the guest but that didn’t mean she couldn’t do anything. Then again, perhaps she was helping by keeping Ashleigh preoccupied. Lizzie settled down on her knees, relieving her ankles which had started to ache. “Ashleigh?” Lizzie repeated with a grin. “Why, that’s so pretty!” When the girl offered to spell it, Lizzie wondered how else it could go. She’d only ever seen it spelled ‘Ashley.’

Still, she looked proud about it so Lizzie nodded. “Oh yes, please do!” Lizzie wondered if there was anything else Ashleigh was proud of. Children her age probably knew their alphabet by then and they could probably count so high. How intelligent had Lizzie been when she was this young…? She had always been a bit slow, admittedly. Even now, her knowledge of math wasn’t where it should have been. It wasn’t the time to be thinking of the past, though. This was the present and she had no reason to worry about things that had already happened.

The kitchen smelled deliciously of the barbeque chicken and Lizzie could feel her stomach growling (yes, feel. It wasn’t quite hungry enough to growl out loud just yet). “It smells wonderful, Ivy,” Lizzie commented, feeling she really ought to praise the chef. She couldn’t wait until it was all set out, though. It would probably be the best lunch she’d had in awhile.

[LIZZIE SPENCER]

Lizzie had expected Ashleigh to be spelled Ashley, as she had always seen it spelled. Who knew, right? Grinning and nodding along as Ashleigh spelled out her name, Lizzie applauded for the little girl. “That was amazing! And your name is spelled so very prettily.” It made Lizzie think; were there any unique ways to spell Elizabeth? It seemed like such a simple name sometimes, though she supposed creative nicknames always made up for a boring name. Not that Elizabeth was a boring name! In fact, Lizzie really did love her name. She went by Lizzie because it was easier and, well, she sort of always had, anyway.

Lizzie smiled and lowered her voice as well, “I’m sure you will be. I’ve only just met you and you seem very bright.” Lizzie wasn’t quite sure how long she and Ashleigh had been talking… long enough for Ivy to prepare lunch, at the very least. In however long they had been, Lizzie could already tell that the girl was definitely ahead of the norm for her age. Ashleigh really was quite precious. “Coloring?” Lizzie repeated curiously. Why, she hadn’t colored in ages! “Yes, that sounds lovely.” Lizzie wondered if she’d color inside or outside the lines, with or without the right colors. That was the whole point, though, wasn’t it? To color however you liked.

She ended up coloring in the lines with the wrong colors. Trees that were blue and clouds that were pink. She thought it looked nice. Lizzie was well aware of how delicious the entire apartment smelled. Her stomach was growling properly now and she was beginning to feel embarrassed over how loudly it was being. Ivy’s timing could not have been better. Lizzie stood and stretched and then offered her hand to Ashleigh to help her up, should the girl need any assistance. Lizzie then made her way back to the kitchen and promptly gasped out loud upon seeing the food on the table. “Ivy, wow! It all looks positively scrumptious!” (Was scrumptious a word people still used?)

[LIZZIE SPENCER]

Lizzie waited near the table, smiling as Ashleigh showed the picture to her mother. Lizzie had watched as Ashleigh had colored it, commenting along the way that it was very lovely. Lizzie sat down once the picture had been hung, admiring from the table. “A picture being put up on the refrigerator is one of the best places for it to be!” Lizzie said, nodding as if she were an expert on the topic. Her family hadn’t exactly been one to stick grades or drawings on the fridge, but Lizzie knew how proud one ought to be if it were to happen. She’d been to houses of friends who would brag about their most recent report card making it to the refrigerator.

Lizzie made a promise to at least try everything. It would be downright rude otherwise, especially since Ivy had worked so hard on making the meal. She started with smaller portions, just to be safe. She was quite sure the food would be delicious, it was just a matter of trying new things. Lizzie was all for it but it was better to be safe than sorry. Lizzie would certainly save room for dessert. Being in high school, Lizzie didn’t really have the chance for proper meals anymore. She rarely had dessert after dinner and lunch was usually a granola bar. She hoped it would get better in college (if she ended up going, that was).

Lizzie laughed a little, watching the interaction between mother and daughter. Lizzie made a note to remind herself (so, technically, two reminders) to call her own mother later to see how she was. It felt as if they hadn’t spoken in ages. School kept her busy and living at the dorms limited time to see her parents. Lizzie nodded, wishing she hadn’t taken a bite as soon as Ivy had asked her how everything was. She never spoke with her mouth full and the few times this had happened at school, her friends had given her strange looks. (“We’re in high school, who cares?” they’d said). “Delicious,” she finally answered. The salad was fresh and the chicken well-seasoned, perfectly cooked.

“I haven’t had a meal this yummy in awhile.” Lizzie thought it was kind of to be expected. Wasn’t the diet of most students’ ramen and cereal? Both were easy to make when there was so much studying to be done, there wasn’t time for making an entire meal. Lizzie hadn’t really had that yet, though she was expecting it once finals rolled around. She was certainly expecting it from college, should she decide to go. “Thanks so much for everything.”