[center][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190616/9d4f427f8d427edbc7abce3e14563dcd.png[/img][/center]
[center][sub][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUlX8ltm_JU]Hurts Like Hell[/url][/sub][/center]
[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ahyNQ1m.png[/img][/center]

[sub][right][@Aviaire][@Allycat][/right][/sub]

[color=b1aaee]"Hey, uh, don't worry. It's fine, I'm fine, just... keep it together. Cool? Right, I'll be on my way now. See you 'round."[/color]

Elizabeth nodded in acknowledgement, though she refused to look up from the ground as the Lily look-alike left the vicinity. She was too embarrassed and didn't exactly trust herself not to burst into tears the moment she met the woman's gaze. 

"[i]Keep it together?[/i]" She pondered on that sentence, wondering what that was supposed to mean. How was she supposed to keep it together? Was that supposed to be reassuring? To help her in some way? She had been trying so hard to keep herself in check, but... 

Feeling Elliot place his hand over hers caused her trail of thought to break. She looked up and gave him a small smile, trying her hardest not to look as sad as she actually felt; a futile effort. Gingerly she interwove her fingers with his, grateful for his offered support. [color=F08080]"I'll be right here Liz"[/color] As he squeezed her hand, Elizabeth leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. [color=SteelBlue]"Thank you."[/color] She whispered back in response, closing her tired eyes and focusing on the clean smell of Elliot's clothing. It was a small comfort in a time where she felt so chaotic. 

Hearing a hush come over the crowd aside from camera shutters, Elizabeth snapped her eyes back open. Those few moments of serene tranquility with her friend was instantly shattered as she was dragged back into her miserable reality. Heart pounding, Elizabeth sat up straight and locked her eyes on the sheriff as he approached the podium with the Turner family. Unconsciously she gripped Elliot's hand a bit harder when the sheriff began to address the audience, anxiously awaiting any sort of news. 

[color=cadetblue]"Within the next few days we will be sending out a few teams to conduct interviews with many of you. Please don't be alarmed if police show up at your door. We ask that you please cooperate with them."[/color]

The police had already spoken with her a day or two after Lily had disappeared, though she vividly remembered them not taking anything seriously. A bitterness toward the Emerald City police department had settled in her that day. Maybe they would actually ask important questions and stop cracking jokes this time around. Despite her hopefulness, to her this only meant that they had failed in their search for the past week. Had they even taken it seriously during the most important hours? If they had taken this as a real case, would Lily be here right now? 

As the Turner family took the stage, Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Her heart ached seeing them. They all had their own "quirks" but she knew they loved Lillian in their own way. Seeing how distraught Mrs. Turner looked hit her the most. Jacqueline typically looked so well put together, but today...

"[color=Crimson]Please, someone find my baby! Tell me where she is![/color]"

Elizabeth grimaced and her eyes welled with tears as she listened to the plea. That was undoubtedly the most emotion Elizabeth had ever heard in Mrs. Turner's voice. Taking in a deep breath, Elizabeth wiped her eyes with her free hand. "[i]Keep it together.[/i]" She reminded herself, echoing the Lily look-alike. 

Impatiently, Elizabeth waited through what the mayor had to say. It all seemed so irrelevant and it was making her more anxious. She just wanted answers! Something, ANYTHING. 

"[color=Moccasin]In her honor, we have decided to keep the fair going. All of the proceeds are still going to be going back to the town, specifically to help fund our school systems.[/color]"

This felt strange to Elizabeth. She eyed the mayor suspiciously, glancing at Elliot briefly to try to read his reaction. How could anyone enjoy a fair during a time like this? 

Finally, the sheriff was back at the podium and began to take questions. Eagerly she waited, glancing from journalist to journalist as they fired off questions. While the sheriff avoided the important questions, anxiety built higher within Elizabeth. How could they host this press conference and give the public absolutely no information? They hadn't found ANYTHING? How? She bit her lower lip, almost as if she was physically trying to stop herself from screaming out the questions running through her mind. 

"Is it true that an article of clothing was found within the forest not far from Opal lake?!"
[color=cadetblue]"This is an open investigation, I cannot confirm or deny any information that may or may not help a suspect in getting...."[/color]

Suddenly all Elizabeth could hear was a high pitched buzzing in her ears, her mind zoning in on what a journalist had just asked. An article of clothing had been found in the forest not far from Opal lake. An article of clothing... an article of clothing?? Everything being said on stage began to sound like white noise, drowned out by her own thoughts. The question repeated in her head over and over again. Opal Lake? Who had found it? What type of clothing? When was it found? Did they search the area? 

Her green eyes stared forward, seemingly at nothing. A cold chill began to spread throughout her body despite the weather outside. Something inside was telling her that this was not good news. 

"[color=Moccasin]My WHAT? MY HOUSE?![/color]"

Elizabeth was jolted back into reality by the mayors voice. She glanced around, looking to the sheriff and then back to the Turner family. What had she missed? As Lily's family, the sheriff, and the entirety of the police department left the stage, Elizabeth looked to Elliot in confusion. 

[color=yellow]"Fire! There's a fire at the mayor's house! Quick, lets go!"[/color] A nearby journalist yelled, excited about his new "scoop", and hurried into the news van with his camera crew. 

[color=SteelBlue]"A fire?"[/color] She frowned and looked around, watching all the news stations pour out of the community center. Even curious townspeople began to hightail it, wanting to see the disaster for themselves. This was all too much. How could there be a fire? Did they leave the stove on? Was this done on purpose? Thoughts bounced around her head again.

Nervously, she looked back to Elliot. [color=SteelBlue]"They... didn't tell us anything.. did they?[/color]" Her voice struggled to stay strong. [color=SteelBlue]"And the fire? What do you think happened?"[/color] Her heart couldn't take another tragedy. She wanted to rush to the scene, but she didn't think she could physically allow herself to see it. Her mental state couldn't handle it. Sighing, Elizabeth removed her hand from Elliot's so that she could place her face in her hands. She felt so defeated, fatigued and confused. Today was supposed to give her answers. Instead she felt more lost than before. 

Without Elliot's hand to hold, Elizabeth realized her own hands were shaking. "[color=SteelBlue]I just...[/color]" She sighed again, not even wanting to finish the sentence. She leaned back, taking her hands away from her face and looked to her friend once again. [color=SteelBlue]"Do you want to go eat?"[/color] She had been too nervous to eat anything this morning and she was at a loss of what to do, but knew she didn't want to be alone right now. [color=SteelBlue]"I saw Mario's Pizzeria was open..."[/color]