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What in the world? All the Italian, the laughs, the casual intimacy between indicated without a doubt that at some point they'd at least been in a relationship. Though what she knew of him, Audrey knew that Elzo didn't really do relationships too well, so that left really one option, and not one that she was comfortable with. But then, what was Audrey Collins comfortable with lately? It was sad that on her eighteenth birthday, on a dream date, she was almost wishing that she could be running away as Linarite. At least that way, she could always solve her problems with a handy fist in someone's chest.

Audrey highly doubted killing the waitress in the middle of high-class restaurant was what Elzo had in mind for the rest of the night. Plus, it might blow her cover. Goddamn.

Guilt compounded when dinner was brought out and proven to be just as cheesy and lovely as the doves and everything else had been. "It's sweet." Her eyes were confused, pleased, unsure. All of this was a bit much for an eighteenth birthday and a bit of sex, wasn't it? Had he actually done something wrong that he had to make up for? Well, he was a bit affluent. Jada certainly did things like this daily. No, that didn't make sense. The bluenette's analytical mind was unable to simply enjoy, and puzzled out every angle as she picked through the food with obvious delight.

There was no denying it was fantastic food.

Sliding the daisy lemon off to the side, she smiled at it softly. "I wish there were a way to keep these, but I don't think lemon lasts like flowers or other things usually do. Now I guessed, you have to give me another hint." Hopefully it wasn't some weird raunchy threesome either.

Barbie wouldn't make it out alive.

Eyes widened just a bit as Audrey sipped at the coffee, nibbling on the chocolate and crossing her ankles with a relaxed posture. He couldn't know that she was unsettled, after all, the deal had been her idea hadn't it? Though the teen had never really thought that he'd hold her to it, it had been one of those things agreed to when he was pulling her hair. Could she really be held accountable for what she did during hair pulling?

She sure didn't think so!

Desperately, no matter how nice the place was, Audrey wished that they were out of there. Having to stare at the well-constructed Diana was driving her crazy with insecurity, especially in the way she was so at ease with Audrey's boyfriend! God, when had she turned into such a jealous moron? Oh, right, when she had a reason to lose him. That was a good reason right there, but it didn't all banish the irrational feeling. However, Audrey knew exactly what something like this must have cost Elzo, and his budget was not as flexible as he sometimes liked to pretend it was. She had to enjoy it, or she didn't love him.

Simple as that!

"You have an apartment full of daisies? I have to say, that would be a killer of a present. Unless you're filling up my house with them? That would be even better. Oh no no, don't tell me. You bought an island and are populating it with a unique-color daisy the shade of my hair. That has to be it!" It might possibly have been one of her most fervent dreams that she'd had as a child, that one day some prince would take her away to an island of blue daisies and they would rule there forever. Well, she sorta had the prince part down, but the island and daisies were a whole other elephantine problem.

Ugh. Why was that woman hovering?! The look was now borderline unfriendly, and marked. Stay away. Mine.

Really was that necessary?! It was perhaps thankful that Audrey wasn't a dramatic young woman, else she would have flounced out of that restaurant, or perhaps put a fist in that perfect Barbie b***h's face. No, there was not a single emotion on her face as she slid as gracefully as possible (not very) into the sleek seat of Elzo's sexy car. If nothing else, the car was worthwhile. It purred like a kitten, moved faster than lightning, and when the top was down you felt like you were flying through the night. It was her favorite thing to do, though nothing compared to the motorcycle. She got to cling when he brought the bike.

A grin lit her face at the Shufflepuck, there was absolutely no question as to what anyone might be getting there on Audrey's birthday. She was perhaps their most avid cinnamon roll customer, and if she wasn't in at least five times a week, they worried about her. Hell, Audrey even had their number on speed dial so that she knew exactly when they were fresh to teleport over and get a box! That was love, and that was dedication. Fingers toyed with the ribbon on the box, the grin pleased and evident. There was no Barbie here now, was there? Nope! Just her!

HAH!

Without even thinking, fingers lifted the phone to check the text message, so she might be able to tell him who had sent one while he was out. The smile froze in place, and with a light, insincere whoopsie sound, hit 'Read'. Several thoughts then hit her brain, none of them pleasant or kind. Who the hell was 'Sexy V'?! Why was she asking if Elzo was with her right now? What, was she interrupting some sexting time? It took every iota of self control to not check the rest of his text messages, simply dropping the thing with a sound of disgust, looking back at the perpetrator in question.

It wasn't any less damning to see that finely tailored a** of his sticking out as he bent over the counter, no doubt flirting and charming the clerk into something or another. Why in the hell would he flirt with a bunch of girls on her birthday? In front of her? Did he think she was so eager to have a damn boyfriend that she'd just glaze it all over?

No. Not Audrey Collins! The silence was palpable as her fingers again played with the ribbon, the temperature in the car icy and having nothing to do with the ambient temperature outside.

He'd lied. Elzo Xanis had lied to her! Hadn't Audrey prided herself on the fact that she was a fairly intelligent young woman who had dedicated her high school years to getting through as fast as possible, in college a whole year sooner than normal teenagers? Maybe she hadn't demonstrated that enough with him, and it was something she would rectify in the future, if she didn't collapse into a raging heap of betrayed emotions before then.

Hoping to take out some of her confused frustration and anger out on the innocent box, Audrey tore at the paper, shredding it into tiny bits. It would also probably be hell to clean up, which pleased her a little bit as well. It was really the petty things in life, wasn't it?

The confusion only grew into a blank look aimed at Elzo as he drove through the night, an empty box on her lap. There was nothing in it, just a few rolls of pennies taped together to give the thing some weight. Deceptive weight. "What's this about?"

Alright, that did it. It was only out of her extreme respect and admiration for the fine piece of machinery that was his car that prevented Audrey from simply reaching for the gear shift and throwing into park. Frying a transmission that expensive would have been considered a crime, though it seemed like rather judicious punishment. No, she simply dropped the box into his lap and snapped out in her best General Linarite voice.

"Stop the car. Right now." No one had disobeyed that voice yet, and when the car slowed, Audrey threw the door open and stalked out like a panther. "My birthday present is in your pants?! Do you have any idea how that sounds? Not only is it the most conceited, egotistical, assured thing I've ever heard, it's possibly the most disrespectful. What, were you just gonna go for it and hope I didn't say no? Just because it's all you decided I was going to get for my eighteenth birthday? All the while you push pretty girl after pretty girl under my nose, like Nurse Waitress Barbie or whatever the hell her name is, showing me what you've had and are probably still having?" Oh, her rage was a fine thing and the light in her eyes would have made Ursula pride. When Audrey broke, she broke in a magnificent way.

Whole countries would drown under her fury!

"Oh and by the way, I'm sorry if I'm ruining whatever plans you might have made later tonight. Boy, it must be pretty funny to tell Sexy V all about the clumsy virgin you're hanging out with, gonna be a real chore to get all on that, huh?" Guilt, anger, confusion, hurt, and a welling sadness that was starting to grow in her chest choked Audrey into silence as she realized her face was wet. Oh no no, she was not going to cry over another boy! Hadn't she learned her lesson yet?

Boys were trouble. None were for her, they all wanted things she didn't have. Shoulders slumped and hands came up in the universal sign of a defeat-encouraged truce.

"You know what? Lets just forget this whole thing. I'll go home, return your things, and we can just call it a mistake. You can go back to Barbie, and V, and whomever else it is you're keeping for when you finally notched that bedpost. I'll just go back to my math and my games, because it's all I'm really good for." The defeat was probably the worst part. That no matter how hard so many people had tried, Audrey Collins had absolutely no faith in herself as someone anyone wanted around.

"I'll call a cab or something. Don't worry about me."

A normal girl would have slapped at him, the finality of the action speaking volumes. This girl, however, had a much more direct approach to her problems learned from countless fights and the tutelage of Drew Collins. When you wanted to make a real point, you used a ******** exclamation point. A slap was something that p***y girls did because they didn't know how to punch.

Audrey knew how to punch.

Though she pulled it somewhat, the blow still went straight to Elzo's center of air and she could feel and hear the whoosh as he doubled up. "Sorry. I'm sure it's for the best." The hitching breath belied that no, it probably wasn't best for her, but everything was so jumbled, mixed up, and made no sense anymore. Nothing had made any sense for weeks now, not since Ursula had gotten herself sealed up, Vicky coming back to town and giving her someone to lean on, Tanz coming back to find that Audrey was the one being leaned on for a change. Castor. Oh Castor.

No, Elzo Xanis would be much better off without her in his life, she was sure of it.

It was the singularly most dramatic moment of her life, when Audrey turned on her heel and quietly walked down the street into the alleyways of Destiny City. Yeah, it was probably dangerous to do so late at night...for everyone else. It didn't take more than a block before the girl was convinced she was alone, the general flashed in to place her a block from home. Quietly, the bluenette let herself into her house and without even acknowledging her parents, went upstairs and locked her door.

Hands reached under the bed to pull out a slightly stained penguin plush that was now almost a year old. "Happy birthday, huh?" Burying her face in the toy, Audrey finally let go and cried.

Happy birthday, Audrey.