Untitled *Work In Progess*

Elizabeth hummed along with the music as she put the food away into the cabinets. Once she was done with that, she took the plastic bags and tucked them away into a drawer to be saved for further use. "What the hell is she playing?" Joey complained as he came into the kitchen. Elizabeth laughed. "You sound like a dad," she teased, shaking a finger at him. "Hey, I'm not complaining that it's loud. I'm complaining because I can't understand it," he replied, going straight to the refrigerator and pulling out a beer. "I think it's Spanish," Elizabeth told him, "But I'm not sure." "Can't she listen to something in English?" Joey demanded, shaking his head and popping the top on his beer. "Some of it is in English if you pay attention," Elizabeth answered, smiling. Joey didn't reply. Instead he sat down and took a long drink from the can. "I should go and blare some real music, not that foreign crap" he muttered and Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "What do you want for dinner?" she asked, "I bought some chicken but we still have those pork loins." "Chicken sounds great, Joey replied. "Alright. Chicken it is," she said, getting out a pan. "Baked chicken?" he groaned, "Why not fried?" "It's healthier than fried," she retorted, "That's why." "Now who sounds like a parent?" he asked, laughing. Then he dropped his voice, "Later on, I'll show you who's daddy." Before Elizabeth could reply, Autumn walked in, singing along with her music. She immediately stopped when she saw them. "I didn't realize that you were home," she said, already turning to go back, "Let me turn this off." "Don't worry about it," Elizabeth said at the same time Joey said, "Thank god." Autumn laughed and disappered for a minute. The music abrruptly stopped and the she reappered. "Why didn't one of you come and tell me to turn it down?" she asked, going and grabbing a bottle of water. "I liked it so I didn't care," Elizabeth replied, taking a seat beside Joey, "It was in Spanish, right?" "Si," Autumn replied, causing Joey to groan. "In this house, we speak English and only English," he told her. Autumn rolled her eyes and turned to Elizabeth, "Would you like to know what it was saying?" "Sure," Elizabeth replied, nodding. "The woman is telling how she's waiting for her lover, the one she had yet to meet. She keeps asking who he is and the man who wants to be her lover is answering her by saying that's it's him, he's her lover." "Sounds romantic," Joey said and Elizabeth shoved him because of his tone. "Stop being a jerk for once," she told him. Joey grinned, "What do I get if I'm a good boy?" "I won't kill you in your sleep," Elizabeth answered, causing Autumn to laugh. "I just came in to get some water," she said, shaking the bottle lightly. "Painting?" Joey asked and she nodded. "Dinner will be ready in a little while," Elizabeth added as Autumn started out. "I'm going out," she called over her shoulder. The minute she was out of sight, Joey leaned over and kissed Elizabeth. "She's going out," he said joyfully. Elizabeth laughed and shoved him away she stood up. "I need to cook," she said. "I'm going to go and make some calls," Joey said, getting up himself. Half an hour passed with the house in almost total silence. Occasionally drifts of Joey's phone conversations reached the kitchen but other than the sounds of Elizabeth moving stuff around, there was nothing. Just as Elizabeth was sitting the food out on the table, Autumn came in. "How do I look?" she asked, causing Elizabeth to look up at her. "It never fails to amaze me how different you and Joey look, dispite knowing that you're not blood related," she said and Autumn laughed. "I didn't ask how I looked compared to Joey." Elizabeth laughed, "Sorry." "Well?" Autumn pressed, gesturing down at her clothes. "You look great," Elizabeth replied, looking at Autumn's faded jeans, black boots, and black shirt with an outline of a violin on it in white, "Hot date?" "I wish," Autumn muttered, hooking one of her thumbs into a belt loop. Elizabeth was surprised but didn't comment on it. She found it hard to believe that Autumn would have any problem getting a guy. "I'm going to be going," Autumn said, turning. "See you," Elizabeth called after her. A moment later, she heard Autumn's car pulling out.

"I reconigize that look in your eye," Joey said, shaking his head. "What?" Elizabeth asked, all innocence. "Come on, Beth. Autumn makes one comment and now you're all fired up about having a party and insisting that I invite my single friends," he replied, "I'm not dumb." Elizabeth sighed and thought, he really knows me too well. She sat down beside him on the couch and leaned her head against his shoulder, "Yes, I'll admit to playing matchmaker. But I just want her to be happy." Joey laughed, causing Elizabeth to look up at him. "What's so funny?" "I was seriously worried about the two of you getting along. Guess I freaked for nothing," he answered, putting an arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer. "You didn't think we'd get along?" Elizabeth asked, "Why not?" "Does the term polar opposites mean anything to you?" he asked in turn. Elizabeth frowned and he went on, "Autumn is all artsy and scatter-brained while you're all business and organized. I wasn't sure of the two of you could find any common ground." "Well I guess you did freak for nothing because unless she habors a secret hatred for me, we get along beautifully," Elizabeth told him, pleased at having proven him wrong withouth even realizing. "Anyway, when's that dinner at your mother's?" Joey asked, turning his head back toward the tv. "Wednesday at seven," she replied, noticing that what had caught his attention was the local weatherwoman, Annie Maples. She was giving a news report, something about a hotel burning down but no one was harmed. "Is your uncle Hank going to be there?" Joey asked once Annie was done and the screen cut to a commerical. "Probably," Elizabeth answered, standing up, "I'm going to go take my shower." "Give me a minute and I'll join you," Joey said, grinning and winking at her. Elizabeth laughed and headed off down the hall.

"Hey Beth," Eric said, coming in. Behind him was a strange woman. "Beth, this is Julie," he added, gesturing to the woman. "Nice to meet you, Julie," Elizabeth said, shaking hands with the woman. "Everyone else is in the living room," she told them, allowing them in. Julie went on but Eric hung back for a moment, " Joey told me that this party is basically to set his cousin up with someone so I invited my little brother, Ethan. Is that okay?" Elizabeth nodded, "That's fine." She knew Ethan and knew that he was a good guy so she had no problem with him coming over as well. They went on into the living room to join the rest of the group. Joey stood, talking to Ryan and Gary while Kyle and Sarah sat on the couch, discussing something with Gary's wife, Angela. Autumn was leaning against the wall, Blake at her side, talking while she stood, looking impossibly bored. Elizabeth was tempted to rescue her and started to but Eric beat her to it. "Hello, Autumn, right? I'm Eric and this is Julie," he said and Autumn grinned and shook their hands. Elizabeth walked over to where Joey was, "Why didn't you tell me that only Blake was still single?" "Ryan here is still single," Joey protested, gesturing to Ryan. Elizabeth looked to Ryan and after a brief pause, they all laughed. "Well lucky for her, Eric's brother is also coming," Elizabeth went on, poking Joey in his ribs. "Ethan? Dorky, goody-two shoes Ethan?" he asked, making a face. "You're not the one that might be dating him," Ryan reminded him and they all laughed again. "I know my cousin and I know that the goody nerds aren't her type," Joey went on after a moment. Elizabeth turned and looked over her shoulder to where Autumn was still talking with Eric and Julie. Blake had apparently given up and was now talking with Kyle, Sarah, and Angela. Autumn caught her eye and smiled before replying to something Eric said. When Elizabeth turned back to the conversation at hand, she discovered that they had apparently moved on. "I think that the Colts are going to kick ass with Peyton on their team now," Gary was saying. Joey shook his head, "Way wrong. Peyton's good but I don't think he can carry the whole team." Ryan rolled his eyes and stepped closer to Elizabeth. "How are you?" he asked in his quiet voice. "I'm living. How 'bout you?" she replied, grinning. "I met someone," he answered, smiling. "Really? Do tell," Elizabeth said, pleased. Ryan glanced at Joey and Gary then took Elizabeth's arm and led her away. "You know Gary's brother, Alex?" he asked, looking back at Gary. Elizabeth immediately demanded, "You aren't kidding, are you?" Ryan smiled but didn't response. "Is he even out? I don't recall Gary ever mentioning it," Elizabeth said, frowning. "I don't know. I assume not. I was at the bar over in Stilles and he came over to hit on me. I wish you could have seen the look on his face when he realized who I was," Ryan said, laughing. "Well," Elizabeth said, grinning. "Don't tell anyone else because I don't know if Alex is out," Ryan quickly added. "Don't worry," Elizabeth assured him, "I know how to keep my mouth shut."

"You're wasting your time," Autumn said, leaning over the back of the couch. Elizabeth looked over at her while turning down the volume on the tv, "Wasting my time?" Autumn rolled her eyes and came around. She sat down with her feet up in the seat with her. "That party last night? I know it wasn't a run of the mill party," she replied, slidding around so she faced Elizabeth. "You were trying to set me up, weren't you?" she asked, sounding amused. Elizabeth started to deny it but decided against lying. "Yea, I was," she admitted and Autumn laughed. "I knew it!" she cried, "Especially when you practically made me sit beside that Ethan guy for the movie." Elizabeth shrugged, "I guess I was making it a little obvious." "A little?" Autumn asked, grinning. "Maybe I wasn't hiding it at all," Elizabeth said, laughing as well. "Well, it was pointless," Autumn told her. "Why? DIdn't you find Ethan attractive?" Elizabeth asked, surprised. Autumn looked directly into Elizabeth's eyes for a moment. Then she said softly, "No, I didn't." Suddenly Elizabeth felt uncomfortable. She stood up without thinking. As she started to step away, Autumn grabbed her wrist. "Relax, I didn't mean to startle you," she said, "Or make you uncomfortable or whatever." "You didn't," Elizabeth said automatically. Autumn gave her a look that clearly let Elizabeth know that her lying skills weren't in peak condition. "Finish your movie. I'm going to go paint," she said, standing. She stepped around Elizabeth and headed out of the living room. Elizabeth sat back down. She was still sitting there when the movie ended. But she wasn't entirely sure what had happened in it.