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Changes

After the two teenagers kissed, it turned into romance. Elliot would greet her as soon as she walked in the door of Riverdale High. They would stick together all of main break, and he would escort her home. Saturday nights they would hang out at her house or his house, or sometimes go to the cinemas. They would stay out late, at least until 2pm, and then he would drive her home and she would sneak in through the front door and tiptoe back upstairs, after which usually resulted in she would be exhausted the next morning and sleep in. 

Victoria's parents sat her down one night, and told her she had to stop coming back home late. The limit was 11:30, and she would normally come back at 2pm in the morning. And also that she had to focus on her schoolwork, including homework. Her teachers had already called them twice saying she'd neglected her assignments. They felt a change had come over her, but for the good or for the better it was unclear. They stood talking about it long after she had gone to bed. 

But school was another matter. Another problem. Zoe was more unkind, more excluding, and more harsh. She made sure that much gossip got around about Victoria more than ever; she and her nasty friends spread the word that she'd spilled paints on Elliot, the most popular boy in school. 

They altered the story, so in the end what got around was that Victoria had spilled the paints on him on purpose. Which definitely wasn't true. It got around like a house on fire. Everyone was talking about it — for the next three weeks. And all Victoria got for the rest of the day was mean looks from all the girls. For no reason. 

Emmeline and Ashley were so mad at Zoe they stormed into the classroom straight after break, arms crossed, eyebrows raised and mouths set straight in determination. Ashley grabbed Zoe's arm and they cornered her against the wall and began to shout accusations in her face. Zoe pulled the innocent look and after they were finished yelling she ran out of the room and burst into tears. Her friends joined her 'pity party' but no one else except her friends believed Victoria, and soon Victoria and her friends found themselves sitting in after school in detention. 

But that was a year ago, and so lots of things had changed since then. For one, the gossip about Victoria had all died down and was completely wiped away. Elliot made sure of that. And as well, everyone wanted to be her friend. 

Now that she was Elliot's girlfriend, that made her the most popular girl in the whole school. She had groups of girls push their way through the lunch crowds to sit with her at her table. She also found stacks of letters in her locker, desperately asking to be her friend. She always took them in good grace. 

Zoe was mad though. She glared at Victoria all through breaks and lessons, and soon spread more lies about her enemy. Zoe was certainly destined to make her life as miserable as possible. 

Elliot came to pick up Victoria one afternoon. "We should go someplace and chill," he said. 

She nodded and held a hand up to her forehead to block the sun. "We could go to a cafe," she suggested. "Get a coffee and go to a field toowatch the sunset?" He agreed, opened the door for her, and she slid into the seat and they drove away. Victoria stared out the window. It was a hot summer day, one where the air was humid and dark clouds covered the sky. 

Elliot pulled the car up outside a busy street. They got out and he locked the car; they strolled down the path hand in hand. Stopping outside a small shop, Elliot motioned to it. Victoria took one look. 

The words The Lily-Petal Cafe  were printed out on the front in big, curly letters. Small chairs and tables were set up inside, and big lights hung from the ceiling. Rows of cookies, muffins, slices and various cakes were displayed proudly from behind glass. A few people were already inside, but it didn't look like they had many customers. 

She walked in and waited, leaning on the doorframe as he ordered two takeaway coffees. As he walked up, both hands wrapped around the coffee cups and hair sliding down over his eyes, she noticed how handsome he looked. 

Victoria grabbed her cup and they walked back to the car. 

Not much was said. When they stopped beside a field just outside of Toronto, she placed her coffee on the curb. Reaching down, she slipped off her shoes and threw them away into the world of nature. Then she grabbed her coffee back and took Elliot's hand. "Come on," she begged. "I'm dying to run in that long grass." 

He smiled and agreed with her. She dragged him forward but finally broke away and bolted, sprinting along, out towards the sunset. The road and Elliot's car slipped out of sight, but she didn't care. As the sun disappeared beyond the horizon and last of its golden rays shone onto Victoria's hair, Elliot leaned forward and kissed her. 

He ran a hand up her back and she locked her arms around his neck. When they finally pulled away, clouds were hanging overhead. Nevertheless, they both sat down and leaned against each other sipping coffee and listening to the sounds of birdsong. 

Then an icy drop of rain fell from the sky. And suddenly it was pouring and they'd dropped their empty cups, hands over their heads to shield themselves, and they were running back to the car, shrieking and laughing. When finally they made it back to the car, Victoria's bare feet were chilled through. Her clothes were soaking, and her long brown hair was dripping water. 

She dived in the front seat and he threw himself into the drivers seat. Elliot pushed the keys in the lock, hands on the wheel. He pressed on the accelerator.

A choking sound filled the air, and then a groan. "No petrol," Elliot said slowly. He swallowed, and looked at Victoria. She nodded, and then looked back at the road, the way they came. 

"Where even are we?" she asked. "I can't see any sign of... civilisation. We're outside of Toronto, aren't we?" 

He nodded. "Yeah. Are — are you ok?" 

Victoria was shivering uncontrollably. Her face was pale and she was shaking with cold. "I-I'm just..." her voice trailed off and she looked at him. "Cold. And wet." 

"I see that." Elliot looked behind him once, then he opened his door and rushed around to look in the boot. He found a bright yellow blanket buried under a suitcase, which he threw in the back seat and beckoned for Victoria to climb over the seats and into the back. 

"It looks we're going to have to spend the night out here," he commented. 

"What? Are you crazy?!" 

He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. "Don't have much choice. The rain is pouring down like hell, and we can't walk all that way back into the city. It's too far. We'll catch our deaths. Especially you." 

Victoria narrowed her eyes, and then the skeptical look disappeared from her face and she giggled. "I can't believe this. My parents are going to kill me." 

Elliot got in, locked the car, and sat down on the drivers seat. She laid her head down on the seat in the back and covered herself with the blanket as much as she could. Victoria's eyes soon closed and she was sleeping soundlessly. 

Elliot climbed on, crouched down on the floor, and felt her forehead. She was burning hot, and was still shivering even in her sleep. "Fever," he murmured, and then he sat down in the drivers seat and soon his eyelids fluttered closed as well.