McFly July Day 21: Lunar Geography
remember how I said Lizzy was the one who stopped Clara from getting on the train? well...
She'd been fooled. There was no way around it- she'd been duped and walked right into it, without a second thought.
When my mother told me I was a fool for leaving New Jersey, I'm don't think this is quite what she meant, Clara thought grimly, hoisting her satchel on her shoulder. She had no interest in tracking down the means to transport her trunk, so she was taking only what she could carry. This meant leaving most of her supplies for the next teacher, whoever that might be. The sooner I get out of Hill Valley, the better.
Fortunately, there was a train leaving shortly, so she only had a little while to wait. No need to kick up a fuss- she would leave quietly and uneventfully, with a simple letter left in the schoolhouse explaining that she'd been called home. Determined, she settled onto a bench at the train station to wait.
"Miss Clayton!"
You've only proven your parents right, Clara. You were too young and naive to go off on your own. Letting yourself get swept away by a pair of brown eyes and a shared interest in lunar geography...just like a child.
"Miss Clayton!"
She rose to her feet and began to pace in agitation. A man who didn't even have the decency to break your heart sincerely. Honestly, a time machine...was any of what he told me the truth? What about Elizabeth? Was he lying about her mother? How many women has he pulled this with? How could I-
"Miss- Clayton!"
A hand latched onto her wrist. Clara spun around and stepped back in surprise. This was, frankly, the last person she expected to see.
"E-Elizabeth! What-" Instinctively, a scowl formed on her face. She could think of several reasons the girl might be there, and she had the patience for none of them. "Did Emmett send you?" she asked icily.
Raising one finger, the teenager gasped for air. "Just- just give me a second-"
How far did she run? Clara frowned. She'd seen Elizabeth in action- she was quite athletic for a girl, which meant she'd either run quite a ways or gone at top speed.
Finally, Elizabeth regained her composure and straightened up. "My dad didn't send me. He doesn't know I'm here."
"So then have you just come to gloat?" She was being unfair and she knew it, but anything that had to do with- and this was his daughter-
"No, I haven't come to gloat," she huffed. "Who do you think I am? This- this was a mistake; I have better things to do than-" Turning on her heel, the girl began to walk away before visibly restraining herself. "Look. You and I don't get along. That's." She swallowed, hard. "Mostly my fault. I'm- it's not-"
Clara could have kicked herself. "I understand, Elizabeth. I'm sure it isn't easy seeing your father with another woman, but rest assured-"
"No, no, no, that's-" she huffed. "That's not what I meant. I don't like you-" well, that's promising- "but I really, really care about my dad. He is the most important person in my life, which is why I'm doing this." Taking a deep breath, she looked Clara dead in the eye. "My dad loves you."
Automatically, Clara scoffed. "Your father left me and made up some rigamarole about a time machine to try to- to-" What had been the point of that?? "To conceal it."
Elizabeth's eyes flashed angrily and Clara winced- that was probably too much information to dump on a 13-year-old who so clearly adored her father, whether the man deserved it or not.
"Really?" She snapped. "Because the way I see it, he explained that he had to leave and that he couldn't take you with him- which is true, by the way, we were supposed to leave when the train arrived- and when you asked why, he tried to explain and you-" Inhaling sharply, the girl closed her eyes and paused for a moment. "Whatever happened, Miss Clayton, I know that my dad is still in love with you."
"How?" Clara demanded, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice. She wouldn't have come if she didn't have a very good reason.
"Because I have never seen my dad this upset in my entire life." It looked like it hurt her to admit it. "He's- he's heartbroken, Miss Clayton, and it's because of you. I genuinely don't think he's going to get over this, which is why I'm here."
The world shuddered to a halt and then began spinning far too quickly. "I- but-" she gaped. "But what was- why did he lie to me? If he truly loves me, why-?"
Elizabeth stared at her with a steadiness that made her seem much older than she was. "That's not something I can answer for you. Just- think about what I said and what you know about him. What do you think the answer is?" Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she waited for a few seconds before admitting, "I have to go. Just...think about what I said, alright?"
"I will," Clara promised faintly. "Elizabeth?"
"Yes?" she asked impatiently, turning back around.
"Thank you. I appreciate this more than you know."
The girl sighed. "I'm not doing it for you. I just want- I want my dad to be happy, and you..." She swallowed and seemed to shrink into herself. "You make him happier than anyone else. So."
"That's not true," Clara half-laughed. It wasn't funny, not really, but it was so ridiculous and at the same time made a terrible amount of sense. "Elizabeth, he spent half the time we were together talking about you and how important you were to him." It was Clara's turn to make deliberate eye contact. "Regardless of what happens between your father and I, it won't change how much he cares about you or how much you matter to him."
Elizabeth's mouth dropped open slightly. "Oh. Y-yeah, that's-" As she glanced around nervously, her eyes landed on the station clock and widened dramatically. "Great Scott! I'm- they- I have to go!"
With that, she turned on her heel and tore off towards the town, leaving Clara with a lot to think about.