Don't Let Me Fall [Mack]

[Elizabeth Beauchamp]

It was the summer before Elizabeth's seventh year at Hogwarts, and she was feeling as down as she had since the car accident that killed her sisters. The past year started the same as it always had; Elizabeth living in relative anonymity and doing as well in school as she could. And, she was content. No one bothered her, and she didn't bother anyone. She lived like this until it was nearing the end of school. It was the anniversary of the car accident, and it just so happened that Mackenzie Stone was there to cheer her up. They talked for hours, and she actually opened up and let him in. This led to her actually talking to other people like Rayne and Phoenix. She thought that she was actually going to get out there more and be friends. She thought that she would be more extroverted.

However, Elizabeth didn't hear from Mack after they went out and played Quidditch with Phoenix. She thought that they were having a good time, but apparently he didn't. For someone that was in the same house and the same grade as her, Elizabeth did not see him or hear from him. At first, she was extremely upset. She thought that she did something wrong, and he just didn't want to be around her. So, she made no attempt to try and find out what was going on because she didn't want to hear anything hurtful come from his mouth. After a week of moping around, she started to get mad. And then she didn't want to have anything to do with him.

The final day of the term was spent packing up all of Elizabeth's belongings. She really didn't have a lot, so it didn't take too much time. The longest time that was spent was her trying to pack up her books. Well, one book in particular. Outlander. The book that she was reading when her and Mack talked for the first time. To her, it felt like she was packing up the fledgling relationship that she hoped to continue. But, obviously, with Mack's avoidance, nothing was ever going to come of that one night and day that they spent together. She needed to get over that. So, with a quick swipe of her eyes to get rid of the unwanted tears, she took a steadying breath and packed away her hope.

It was a month into her summer break when Elizabeth needed a break from her mother, Francine. As usual, her mother was being her over-bearing self and insulting her whenever she could. And, she was also trying to set her up with boys in her neighborhood. Apparently, a girl needed to be tied down with a guy to have some kind of self-worth. Finally, she just got fed up and decided to go stay with Jane in London for a couple of weeks.

In the afternoon, Jane had to work, so Elizabeth would spend that time exploring bookshops and cafes. Today, she found a really old copy of Pride and Prejudice, and she was reading it as she was walking down the street. She really did try to focus on the 19th century writing, but her thoughts kept wandering. No matter how hard she tried, Mack kept creeping up in her thoughts with his blonde hair and his pretty blue eyes. She just really wanted to know why he was avoiding her. What did she do? Did he finally realize that she was way too weird for him? On a snap decision, she pulled her cell phone out while she was waiting for the stoplight to turn green so she could walked and called the phone number that Mack gave her before he started acting weird. It rung four times, and the light turned green as his voice-mail picked up. She starting walking and talking at the same time. "Hey, Mack. It's Elizabeth. I don't know if you want to hear from me. But, I really want to talk to you. I just want to know why you're avoiding me. So, I guess, call-" Elizabeth's message was cut short as she heard a squealing of tires before she felt nothing.

[Mackenzie Stone]

Mack hadn't felt right since the day he and Dria broke up. He couldn't honestly say that he was depressed by it. He couldn't even say that he didn't want it to happen. The fact was that he had broken up with her, and she had known about Elizabeth. Sure, they never actually did anything. They hadn't kissed. They had hugged, cuddling, and held hands. Mack's connection with Elizabeth was deeper than anything he could ever hope to have with Dria.

Even though he was a free man, the fact still remained. He hurt Dria because of Elizabeth. He felt like... he needed to punish himself. He felt like he needed to stay away from Elizabeth in general. So he had. It took effort at the end of the year. He had made sure to never be where Elizabeth was. That might have involved skipping a few classes, but he didn't care. He was disgusted with himself. He couldn't believe what he had done.

Mack didn't go running to his sister the second he got back home like he normally did. He went to his room and curled up in a ball. He blasted his music all through his room on his muggle stereo. Always the same song over and over again. He had always been a Nickelback fan, but he loved one line out of the song that had been playing over and over. Trying not to love you, only makes me love you more.

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His sister had eventually come and found him. She hadn't asked questions or anything. She had simply cuddled into him on his bed. He held her tight, grateful that he still had her in his life. He knew he had Phoenix, but he also knew Phoenix would probably make him go talk to Elizabeth. He saw how they were together. How Mack looked at Elizabeth. There was something in Mack's head that told him he was being stupid.

Days passed much the same. Music blasting in his room. His sister cuddling with him on the bed. His sister taking care of him. She would bring him food. They would sit down on his bed and talk for hours. Never about what Mack was upset about. It was always something random. Like a book she was reading, or someone she met while Mack was off at school. It just made Mack love her even more. Occasionally his thoughts would take him to something along the lines of he wanted Elizabeth to meet Sam, yet it just made him feel even worse.

Almost a month later, and Mack still couldn't get Elizabeth out of his head. She was everywhere he looked. He had even gone and bought a copy of the Outlander. He wanted to read it. He couldn't actually get through the words on the page though. It was around afternoon when his cell phone rang. He wondered who could be calling him on it. He rarely used it. Only during the summer since it didn't work at Hogwarts. His few muggle friends still had it, but most of them stopped calling. When he got it, he didn't recognize the number. He didn't bother answering it, instead he threw it on his bed and went down to help his mother with dinner since it was his turn. His parents hadn't been too happy that he came home and hid in his room, so he was trying to make it up to them.

When he got back up to his room, he saw his phone flashing, alerting him of a message. He dialed his voicemail quickly and listened. It was amazing, at first. Listening to her voice on the voicemail made him smile. He missed her voice. Missed her randomness. Missed that amazing smile and laugh.

The smile faded, however, when her voice got cut off. All Mack heard was squealing of tires. Where the fuck was she! His breathing started to become rapid and he started freaking out. There was no fucking way she got hurt. Was there? No... She couldn't.

But what if she had? What if it was too late?

The thought kept going through Mack's head and he couldn't stop it. Before he knew it, Mack was grabbing his wand off the counter and running out of his room. He went through the living room, where his sister and parents were and out the door. Quickly thinking of the one place all injured witches or wizards go, he apparated to St. Mungo's.

As soon as he was inside, he went up to the desk. "Is an Elizabeth Beauchamp here?" When the girl behind the desk had confirmed his worse nightmare, Mack followed her instruction on where he room was. Finally coming to the right number. The door was open, but he knocked on it carefully. "Elizabeth?"
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[Elizabeth Beauchamp]

Elizabeth woke up in a sterile, plain white room. There was seriously no color anywhere. She thought for a second that she was in heaven before the pounding in her head alerted her that she was probably still alive. She grabbed her head and turned on her side as nausea came over her. A kidney dish was thoughtfully placed by her, so she used that to empty her stomach. When she was done, she laid back on the bed and took account of all her injuries. It seemed like she had a headache, her mouth was incredibly dry, her right arm seemed to be broken in multiple places, and so was her right leg. She tried moving again to see her range of mobility, but she blacked out from the incredible amount of pain she was in.

The sun was shining brightly on Elizabeth's face as she enjoyed the calming motion of being in a van. She lifted her head and looked around. Her father was driving with Jane in the front, Mary and her were in the middle, and Lydia and Catherine were in the back. "Come on, Lizzy. Join in. I know you love this song," her father called from the front. Take me by my hand and tell me you would take me anywhere. You would take me anywhere. The car suddenly lurched and Elizabeth felt like she was flying, or spinning around like in a dance. She looked backwards to see if her little sisters were having as much fun as she was when she saw red. Red everywhere. Red matting their hair and staining their clothes. They looked like broken, bloody dolls with their lifeless eyes still staring at her. Elizabeth woke up with tears streaming down her face and unable to catch her breath or calm down her racing heart. She was alone in her. All alone. No one cared about her. She clutched at her heart as it became harder and harder for her to breathe. She heard her name being called out and she figured that it was a medi-nurse or a healer. "Yeah! I'm fine!" she gasped as loudly as she could.

[Mackenzie Stone]

When Mack heard her yell back she was fine, he didn't really know what to do. He figured she thought it was probably some kind of doctor instead of Mackenzie. She probably thought there was no way in hell Mack would come visit her in the hospital, but she was wrong. He was there, and he was never leaving her side again.

He walked in farther, ignoring the fact that she wasn't expecting him. When he saw her face, he saw tears streaming down her cheeks. It was probably one of the worst sights Mack had ever seen. He had seen her crying before. The first day he met he talked to her she had been crying. It had been the anniversary of her family car crash in which her sisters died.

"Liz?" Mack called again once he was in full view of her. "I-I'm sorry. What happened... oh god. Are you okay?" Mack didn't even care that he hadn't seen her or talked to her in forever. He ran to her bed side and grabbed her hand in his. "I'm here... okay. I'm here."

[Elizabeth Beauchamp]

Tears were clouding Elizabeth's eyes, but she could swear that it was Mack that walked into her hospital room. That can't be possible. He was ignoring me. He wouldn't want to be here right now. But, he was there. And he was coming closer to her. Her remembering the other accident and the fact that he was here made her cry even harder. She thought that he didn't like her. He didn't want her. And, yet, here he was. Did he really care that much? And, where was her family? She was just so confused.

She knew that she probably looked atrocious right now, but she really didn't care. When he grabbed her grabbed her hand, she couldn't help it, she basically pulled him on the bed with her so she could grab fistfuls of his shirt and cry on his shoulder. Sobs racked her body, and she couldn't seem to stop them. She tried to get out, "I'm fine," but it was all chopped up and separated with broken sobs in between.

[Mackenzie Stone]

Mack was surprised but happy when Elizabeth pulled him onto the bed with her. He let her sob onto his shoulder without much thought. He was just happy to have her close again. He held onto her tight and put a hand on her head that was on his shoulder. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have ignored you like that. I missed you every second of every minute of every week of the entire month." It was one hundred percent true and Mack told her.

"Everything is going to be okay... I'm here now. I'm here and I'm never going to leave you again." Mack told her in a whisper, still holding her close. He wasn't entirely sure that the healers would like this, but he didn't actually give any fucks at the moment. He had Elizabeth in his arms and he was never, ever, going to let her go again. "What happened, Liz... all I know is I heard tires on the voicemail..."

[Elizabeth Beauchamp]

For Elizabeth, it was so very comforting to be in Mack's arms. But, it still couldn't stop her tears. It was probably due to a combination the circumstances of the accident, the potions that the healers gave her, and Mack. The only thing that she could do grab onto Mack tightly and cry. It hurt her to cry because of the broken ribs, but even that could stop them from falling.

"I-I don't k-know w-what h-h-happened," Elizabeth managed to get out in response to Mack's question. "I wa-was cr-crossing the r-road, a-and tal-talking to you. Th-then I w-wound up-p-p he-here." It was full of stuttering, but she managed to tell him what she remember in between her gut-wrenching sobs. She remember reading a book and talking and walking. In hindsight, she realized that probably wasn't the smartest idea.

[Mackenzie Stone]

Mack tried to make out what she said through the stuttering. He understood, after she had finally finished what she was saying. She had been talking on the phone and she must not have seen the car coming down the road and toward her. "I'm glad it was me you were leaving a message for... otherwise I wouldn't have known..." Mack told her honestly. "Thanks for not giving up on me even when I gave up on you." It was the truth, as painful as it was.

When she was crying like this, it made Mackenzie want to cry. He didn't like seeing her in pain. He hated it actually. "I'm sorry... I ignored you. I was just... mad at myself. I guess. If that's what you want to call it." Mack tried to explain, but it probably didn't sound like much to her. He was mad at himself for hurting Dria, so his way of punishing himself was by staying away from her. Apparently it punished her as well.

[Elizabeth Beauchamp]

Deep sobs still racked Elizabeth's body, but she could feel herself slowly starting to calm down. That was probably due to the fact that she was in Mackenzie's arms. Everything still hurt, but it was kind of a numb pain. She didn't know if it was her headache or what, but Mack really didn't make any sense to her when he was trying to explain his actions. He was mad at himself? So, he didn't talk to her for almost two months because he was mad at himself?

Elizabeth shifted onto her good side so she was able to look at Mack in the eyes. She looked straight into his pretty blue eyes and raised her hand up to his cheek. She just stared at him, with tears still coming out, for a little bit before she gave a sad, little laugh and said, "That is probably the stupidest thing that I have ever heard."

[Mackenzie Stone]

Mack smiled softly when he felt Elizabeth's hand on his cheek and saw her looking in his eyes. He brought his hand up and laced his fingers through hers, and for some reason. He told himself he was never going to let her go again. "It was insanely stupid. But I'm here now, and I'm not doing it again." Mack told her before his eyes flickered down to her lips.

He brought his eyes up fast, half hoping she hadn't seen that, half hoping she had. Mack had realized one thing while he was being a dick and ignoring her. He really liked this girl. He felt like he had almost lost her today. Maybe because he had almost lost her. He didn't want that to ever happen again. He wasn't going to let it because she wasn't going to leave his sight anytime soon.

[Elizabeth Beauchamp]

Elizabeth did see Mack's eyes flicker down to her lips, and she was glad that she wasn't the only wanted that wanted a kiss. No matter how much she wanted to punish him for being a jackass, she knew that just wasn't her. The moment that he stepped into the room, she felt so much better than she had in the previous two months. She didn't want to let that feeling go.

Elizabeth gave a little chuckle. "Well, I'm glad that you're not going to do that again. Because, really, that just absolutely sucked eggs. But, it wasn't all your fault. I also made no effort to contact you after I saw that you were avoiding me." She looked straight into her eyes. "So, it is on me a little bit. All I can say: don't ever do that again." She put a hand on each side of his face and brought their lips together in a really sweet, but short, kiss.

[Mackenzie Stone]

Mack could have slapped himself. She was thinking it was on her? "No... Liz. It's not on you at all. It's all on me. I was just plain stupid." Mack barely got out before he felt her lips on his. It was short and sweet, but it made Mack's face break out in a huge smile. "Be my girlfriend? Then I could never hurt you again." Mack told her with a small, shy smile. It didn't matter how much of a player Mack was, he was still nervous around a girl he liked.

"Are you getting out of this place soon? We could go grab something to eat in London or something." Mack offered her with a wide smile, showing no motivation to move at the moment. It was perfect, with Elizabeth in his arms. It was what he was dreaming of for the past month.

[Elizabeth Beauchamp]

Elizabeth looked at Mack sweetly. "Of course I'll be your girlfriend. But, just so we're clear," she said seriously, "relationships have their ups and downs. We are going to fight; we are going to make up. During those fights, we probably will do or say things that will hurt each other. I'm saying right now, don't feel bad if I do end up getting hurt. I'm a strong girl. One nasty word won't send me into a depression. So, I don't want you to go into a depression if you say one bad word that hurts me. Okay?" She gave him a longer kiss this time.

"Well, that car did a bit of damage, and I think that the healers want me to stay for a few more days as my bones continue to heal. But when I get out, I would love to be on your arm around London. Maybe, you would even want to meet my sister, Jane," Elizabeth asked as she was playing with Mack's fingers.

[Mackenzie Stone]

Mackenzie listed to what Elizabeth was saying, but he knew it wouldn't make him feel better if he hurt her in the end. It was still going to be his fault if she did end up getting hurt. Hell... she had already gotten hurt and they hadn't even been dating yet. "Okay..." Mack mumbled before she kissed him again. The one lasting a bit longer that the one before. It made Mack break from it smiling.

"I'd love to meet your sister. But you have to meet mine too. She'll be thrilled I'm not sad anymore. I think she got tired of me laying in bed all day. She was in there too, of course. But I know she's wanted to get out and do stuff." Mack laughed at his own stupidity. "Doesn't matter now. I have you." Mack told her before kissing her forehead gently. "I should call Phoenix. I'm sure he'd be up for a double date. I'm pretty sure him and Rayne haven't broken apart all summer. I've gotten a few letters." Mack chuckled.

[Elizabeth Beauchamp]

Elizabeth frowned a little when Mack said that he laid in bed all day. He had this life about him, and she didn't think that anyone could change that. Apparently, she was wrong. "I didn't know that you were so torn up over this. You shouldn't have been brooding all day long. You should have been out being the awesome Mack that everyone knows and loves. Someone plain and weird like me shouldn't have that much of an influence over you life." She shook her head a little trying to get past that.

Elizabeth's eyes closed when Mack kissed her forehead. Unconsciously, she also leaned into the touch. "I would be honored to meet your little sister. She sounds like such a sweetheart, and it's obvious that you love her a lot. I'm sure that I will love her as much as you do. Just a forewarning: Jane is probably the nicest person that you will ever meet. It's like she was made from angels, and puppies, and glitter. It's kind of hard to believe sometimes that she isn't acting, but that's just how she is. She generally likes everyone and cares about everyone and everything." She snuggled into his side as far as her hurt ribs would allow her. "We should definitely go out with Phoenix and Rayne. I haven't talked to them since school got out, and I would love to catch up. I was kind of in Lizzie World for awhile."