The Bad Breakup (Chapter 5)

It was a new Monday and lunchtime at school had started. The girls had to wait for Lizzie once again. They stared at the door to watch if Lizzie would enter sooner or later.

"Do you think Lizzie is coming?" asked Madeline.

"She's been pretty much ignoring us," said Andrea. "So who knows?"

"I hope that talk went well," wished Debra.

"Just remember that the idea was yours, Debbie and Maddie," Skye reminded.

Madeline stared at Skye.

Finally, Lizzie had entered the cafeteria with no tears in her eyes. The girls looked at her until she sat down where she usually sat at their table.

"Hi, Lizzie," Madeline greeted quietly.

"Hi, Maddie," Lizzie looked down. "Hi, girls."

The rest of the girls greeted her back.

"Are you okay?" asked Andrea.

"Yeah," Lizzie answered in a moping voice.

"Are you sure?" Skye asked.

"I mean things didn't work out. Our breakup has been finalized."

"I'm sorry, Liz'," said Madeline.

"It's okay. We had to fizzle one day or another."

"You two were so happy," said Debra.

"Well, the only way we can be happy now is to stay away from each other."

"Did you learn why he broke it off with you?" questioned Madeline.

"Yeah. I learned that I was too much for him."

"What does that mean?" asked Skye.

"He could not handle having a girlfriend who was prettier than him."

"Well, that's stupid," commented Andrea.

"Andrea!" Madeline called.

"I'm just saying. You deserve better than him."

"Thanks, Andrea. And thank you for being there for me, guys."

"We know you would have done the same for us," said Madeline.

"Not really."

Madeline frowned. "Oh."

"But it's nice to know you'd thought that."

"As long as you're thankful," said Debra. "Do you feel better?"

"Knowing that you guys care, I do now."

"Don't worry, Lizzie," said Andrea. "We're going to find you someone new."

"Someone who won't make you cry," Skye added while putting her arm around Lizzie.

"Thanks, girls," smiled Lizzie. "But I think I'm going to take a break from guys for a while. This heart is sealing up but the crack needs to go away."

"I like that metaphor," said Debra.

"Good. Can you explain it to me?"

Debra's smile grew blank.

"We're so happy that you're happy, Lizzie," commented Madeline.

"Me, too," Lizzie said. "I cried a lot, didn't I?"

"Oh, a lot," responded Skye.

"So much that you could've formed a river," said Andrea.

"Good thing you didn't cry too much," said Madeline, " or else, you would've died from dehydration."

"I could've died?" Lizzie panicked. "Why didn't you tell me that so I could have held my breath?"

"Yeah, Maddie, why didn't you tell her that?" Andrea asked.

Madeline stared confusingly at Andrea.

The Bad Breakup (Chapter 4)

The next day, after school, Lizzie dressed in her baggy clothing and drove home in her red car while sobbing non-stop. She opened the door with her key and once she set foot in the door, she spotted Hank sitting on the couch.

"Hi," he greeted almost shyly.

"What the frick are you doing here?" she asked with a shocked face.

"We let him in," said Lizzie's father, who entered the lobby with her mother.

"Why?"

"Because you've been very upset lately."

"And you said you would die if you don't see Hank," added Lizzie's mother. "And now you see him so you don't have to die."

"Your friends sent him over so it is very important that you two talk it out."

"But, dad, you don't like it when I have boyfriends," said Lizzie.

"Hey, it took me a lot of grapes to keep him here. I suggest you do this favor for me."

The parents walked out of the lobby and went upstairs. Lizzie wiped the inky tears from her cheeks and stared at Hank who was awkwardly staring at her back.

"Do you wanna sit?" he asked.

"It's my couch," Lizzie responded. "I decide whether I want to sit on it. But I'm going to anyway... because I want to."

She walked towards the couch and sat down a few inches from beside Hank. She sniffled to keep her nose from running.

"So... how are you?" he asked.

"Not good. Bad. Terrible. Worse than I ever have before."

Hank paused. "Well, it's nice to know you're doing well."

"Hank, why? Why did you leave me?

He sighed. "You're beautiful."

"Okay. So why did you leave me?"

"That's why."

"But you're beautiful, too."

"I know. I mean you don't know what it's like to have all these people to stop and stare at your girlfriend."

"That's true because I'm not lesbian."

"Lizzie, I can't have such a beautiful girlfriend. I especially don't deserve one."

"So you want an ugly girlfriend?"

"No but--"

"Why am I being punished for being pretty?"

"You're not."

"But I feel like I am."

"Lizzie, we can get back together if you can promise me one thing."

"Okay, what's the one thing?"

"If you start actually wearing those clothes that your parents make you wear."

"Like wear them, wear them?"

"Yes."

"You'll get back together with me if I start wearing ugly clothes?"

"Pretty much."

"Then I can't be with you."

"Why can't you do that for me?"

"Because those clothes make me who I am. Of course they come off as 'trashy' but I'm not trashy. I like to look nice and feel pretty. Those clothes are what you are not."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that I can't be with someone who is so insecure."

"I'm not insecure."

"But that's how you're sounding. You got to like me for me and accept my choices. And I make very good choices... I think. Who cares what other people think?"

"I-- I--"

"Clearly you. I would never change you. I love you too much. But I guess I have to get over it."

"You don't have to--"

"But now I want to. Maybe one day, you'll be happy with someone who's the opposite of me because that's what you want." She wiped away the forming tears from the bottom of her eyes. "I think it's time for you to leave."

"Somehow, after talking to you, it gave me a realization."

"That you like ugly girls. I get it. I have nothing against them. Ugly people need love, too. I just wish I could have stayed with you longer."

"And you still be if--"

"Stop! Stop talking! Just leave, please."

"Lizzie, I'm sorry."

"It's too late to apologize!" she sang off-key.

Hank grew a saddened look on his face. He sighed before getting up from the couch and leaving the house, closing the door softly behind him.

"It's too late," Lizzie continued to sing quietly.

The Bad Breakup (Chapter 3)

The next day, Lizzie still felt beaten up over her recent breakup with her boyfriend, Hank. Witnessing her breakdowns, Madeline and Debra took Lizzie to the park after school for some fresh air. They sat on the bench and watched the passer-bys and the green fields.

"Isn't this relaxing, Lizzie?" asked Debra. "The sun is out, the air is warm and everybody is happy."

Lizzie began to sniffle as her crying became softer and quieter.

"See, it's working," Debra told Madeline.

Suddenly, Lizzie's sobbing became louder than before. Her cries almost turned into shrieks. She buried her face in her wrists which were drowned by the sleeves of her lavender cardigan.

"See, it's not working," Madeline responded.

"Lizzie, you got to calm down and enjoy the fresh air," Debra said to Lizzie.

"Hank loved taking me to the park," Lizzie shuddered, lifting her head up. "We would have picnics, play frisbee and watch the sunset. Now we can't do that because he's gone!" She continued to bawl in her wrists.

"What did you see in him?" questioned Madeline.

"Obviously, he was a gentleman," said Debra.

"Well, gentlemen don't break up with girls unexpectedly."

Debra pulled out a tissue from her fringe tote bag. "Lizzie, honey, blow your nose. The mucus is getting in your mouth."

Lizzie took the tissue from Debra's hand and blew her nose once into it for a few seconds. She continued to weep as she balled up the tissue and stuck it on Debra's chest.

Debra gaped her mouth and plucked the tissue off of her shirt after letting out a tiny groan.

"Why are you so upset?" Madeline closed her eyes tightly. "Debra, can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Yes, you may," Debra hopped out of the seat while gawking at the snot stain on her T-shirt.

Madeline stood up. "Lizzie, we will be right back, okay?"

"Whatever," Lizzie replied. "Just let me die!" She laid down on the bench.

"Whatever is good for you, Liz'."

Debra and Madeline walked five yards from across the bench before stopping.

"We need to do something about Lizzie," said Madeline.

"No kidding," Debra responded. "I really like this shirt."

"You can always buy another... Ramones skirt. Look, I don't know what to do about Liz'. I'm running out of options."

"We can't stop helping her."

"I know. I wish Andrea and Skye were here to help us."

"They had to study."

"That's translation for 'We're not handling Lizzie's crazy crying right now'. But I don't blame them."

"Me, neither. Who cries that long?"

"I don't want her to dehydrate."

"I feel you."

"So what should we do?"

"Since Lizzie misses Hank, maybe we should put them in the same place."

"How you mean?"

"We need to get them to talk since they haven't talked in days. In order for Lizzie to get over him, they need closure."

"Exactly! We'll find him and talk him into speaking to Lizzie."

"Do you think we'll convince him?"

"Of course we can. We're social experts."

"That's right we are."

The two girls high-fived before walking back to the bench. They sat next to Lizzie, who was sitting up straight and sobbing into her hands, in their exact seats. They stared at the sniveling then wailing girl between them.

"Stop crying!" Madeline snapped.

The Bad Breakup (Chapter 2)

After school, to cure Lizzie's heartache, the girls decided to take her to the mall. They took her to her favorite food place within the mall which was "I Scream", an ice cream shop. Madeline bought her a cup of strawberry ice cream with sprinkles and whipped cream. The girls sat down together at a nearby empty table to eat their ice cream; Lizzie was still sobbing, not minding the cold treat in front of her.

"Hey, Lizzie, don't you want to indulge in your ice cream?" asked Madeline. "It's your favorite: strawberry with candy sprinkles and low-fat Cool Whip."

"Nothing's cooler than Cool Whip," Andrea added, trying to make her laugh.

Lizzie sniffled and whimpered. "Hank used to buy me this type of ice cream when we would go on our ice cream dates. I can't look at this!" She tightly shut her mascara-smudged eyes.

"You called your dates 'ice cream dates'?" asked Skye.

"I miss Hank."

"Why?" questioned Madeline. "You can't miss someone who is going to drop you out like that. Hank's a bad person and they don't deserve to be missed."

Lizzie cried harder.

"I think I saw snot drip in her ice cream," Andrea commented.

"Oh, come on, Lizzie," pleaded Madeline. "Cheer up."

"You want some cheery cherries to go on your sundae?" asked Debra.

"Sunday!" Lizzie weeped. "That was Hank's favorite day."

"Come on," said Andrea. "He has a favorite day?"

"Lizzie, what can we do to make you feel better?" Madeline asked.

"I-I don't know," Lizzie replied in a trembling voice. "The only way I can feel better is if I get back together with Hank. But that's not going to happen because he doesn't love me anymore!"

"You-- You put on a little too much mascara today," said Andrea.

"Oh, I feel so bad," Debra admitted.

"Why would Hank break up with her?" asked Madeline, rubbing Lizzie's back. "This doesn't make any sense."

"He used to seem so nice," said Skye. "How can he do the jerkiest move in the book?"

"Maybe he loved her so much, he set her free," Debra insisted.

"You don't tell someone that they're not good enough for you because you love them," said Madeline.

"Maybe it's different now in our generation," said Andrea.

"Then we have to beat up every boy in our generation because I ain't having that."

"Lizzie will get over Hank," said Skye. "He couldn't have been that special."

"If she's crying, then he probably was that special. Especially to her. I mean look at her."

Lizzie dropped her head down into her cup of ice cream.

"Aw, she's getting mascara in her ice cream," said Andrea.

"I don't got time for this," Madeline looked at her silver watch. "I'm on break."

The Bad Breakup (Chapter 1)

In a bright and shining afternoon, the girls attended lunch in the school cafeteria. They instantly felt something was missing then realized it was Lizzie. The girls turned their heads, looking for Lizzie.

"Do you guys know where Lizzie is?" asked Madeline.

"Have no idea," responded Skye. "She should have been here two minutes ago."

"Maybe she had to finish something for class," said Debra.

"Or maybe she's having a quick make-out sesh with Hanky-Tank," Andrea said singsongy.

"Hanky-Tank?"

"You know, like Honky Tonk except his name is Hank."

"It probably has something to do with Hank," said Madeline. "They're very close."

"Maybe closer than ever," added Skye.

"But he hasn't been sitting here that often."

"Hank has friends," said Andrea. "He has to sit them. Like we don't sit with our boyfriends."

"That's because we have no boyfriends."

"Now when you say it like that, you make it sound sad."

Immediately, Lizzie entered the cafeteria running. She quickly sat down in her usual spot at her friends' table and buried her head in her arms on the table, making loud, yowling sounds.

"Speaking of sad..." Skye started.

"Liz', what's wrong?" asked Madeline, putting her hand on her back.

Lizzie lifted her head up, showing inky tears running down her face. "Hank broke up with me," she responded, almost stuttering.

"What?" Debra's eyes widened.

"Why did he break up with you?" Madeline questioned.

"He said... I wasn't good enough for him," Lizzie mewled.

"He didn't say that," said Skye.

"Well, that's what he said!"

"Is that it?" asked Madeline. "Did he say something else?"

Lizzie wiped her nose. "He said... that he... just doesn't feel it anymore." She dropped her head on the table.

"Feel what?" Andrea asked curiously.

"You know what," said Madeline. "It means he doesn't love her anymore."

Lizzie quickly sat up. "Don't say that!"

"I'm-- I'm sorry."

"So he just automatically stopped loving you?" asked Skye.

"Yep," Lizzie sniffled. "He just automatically -- touch it, play it, turn it -- stopped loving me! Why?!"

"I have no idea," said Andrea, almost in a form of a question.

Lizzie laid her face back on the table and continued to cry.

"Aw, Lizzie," Debra's face saddened.

Madeline rubbed Lizzie's back. "I don't understand this. Lizzie's a great girl."

"He doesn't appear to think so," said Andrea.

"Andrea."

"Lizzie, everything will be alright," said Skye. "It's not like the world is ending."

"Yes, it is!" Lizzie yelled with her head still down. "My world is tumbling down!"

"Well, your world. But this world--"

"Skye, you're not helping," Madeline interrupted her.

"I don't think either of us is helping," said Debra.

"Lizzie, do you want me to buy you lunch? It is lunch time."

"No," Lizzie sniffled. "I don't want to eat. I just want to starve to death!"

"Well, technically, you can't starve to death in a day. People in certain countries fast and you got a bit of curves so it will take you a while to starve--"

"Madeline, you're not helping," Skye interrupted her that time.