#midsomer

A boy was tugging one of her pigtails. "Ouch, stop it," the girl yelled. The boy laughed. It wasn't a friendly tone. "Stupid hairstyle." The girl was holding the pigtail as if that would stop the pain in her scalp. The boy reached for the other one, when Gavin slapped his hand. The boy seemed surprised. "Let's just go. I am hungry," Gavin explained. Sometimes he was ashamed of his friends. The poor girl hadn't done anything but try to eat her lunch. She didn't have any friends, even though most of the school had known each other since kindergarten.

Gavin and his friend went off. She was already familiar with that behaviour. The teachers didn't help her nor did any other students. She was already looking forward to finishing school.

Gavin on the other hand, had friends. Maybe not nice ones but that wasn't something he was caring about at that time. But Lizzy... she didn't deserve it. He could see that she was just trying to survive. And in his opinion, the pigtails looked cute. Even though she was already 16 years old. "What was that, Gavin?" Justin asked. "It's not nice to hurt people." "Says the one who fought this morning. You gave Billy a bloody nose," Justin laughed. "Whatever." He didn't focus on his lunch but on Lizzy, who had stuck her nose in a book. For the first time, he hated it that he wasn't reading much. That could've been a reason to talk to her.

Her parents owned a pizza restaurant. He had been there once or twice with his parents. It was cosy, the restaurant. She worked there after school and on the weekends. She had been very pleased to see him there. But he could understand it. After all his friends were bullying her. And now even hurting her physically. The whole lunch break, he was trying to find a reason to talk to her but he couldn't find one and before he was done, the break was over, leaving his food untouched.

The next lesson was mathematics and she was sitting right in front of him. He didn't know when all of this turned into a crush, but he was very confused. His daydreaming led to him not following the lesson. He only noticed they had a task when he saw everyone around him working. This was the only class he had without his friends. "Psst, Lizzy." She didn't answer. "Lizzy?" Still no answer. Without thinking about it, he reached for her pigtails and tugged them softly. "What the hell is that with your friend group and your obsession with my pigtails?" She screamed. "Lizzy, focus on the task," the teacher said. "He tugged my hair!" "Lizzy, please stop distracting your classmates," the teacher said more firmly this time. Lizzy grabbed her backpack and stormed out of the classroom. Gavin felt guilty but tried to focus again. He failed miserably. He also grabbed his bag and went out. "What do you think this is? Open house?" The teacher yelled behind him. He didn't pay attention and went out of the building, finding Lizzy on the stairs. He sat down beside her, not saying anything. "What do you want?" Lizzy asked annoyed, pulling her legs to her chest. His long legs were lying over the next three steps, while he lit up a cigarette. "I am sorry." She didn't answer. "Really." She laughed dryly. "Of course, you are. You always are but refuse to change something." Gavin took a drag on his cigarette, not looking at her. "See? Can't even look me in my eyes. Because of you and your stupid friends, I hate school." Now he turned his face towards her. There she was sitting in her skirt and a blouse that people might consider too big for her. But it suited her. Her backpack was lying next to her. It was a black one with colourful pins. All in all, she seemed pretty innocent. "Lizzy, I-" "Stop calling me Lizzy. Only my friends are allowed to do that. Already bad enough that the teachers also do that and no one wants to be friends with me, afraid of being a victim of your friend group as well." She grabbed her backpack and stormed off to her bike. "Oh, and stop smoking. It's bad for the environment."

At home, Lizzy had to help her parents in the restaurant once again. She really wished to just go to bed and pull the blanket over her head to call it a day, but she really didn't wanna fight. So, the next hours, she was running around, taking orders and serving plates, until...

Until she recognised some dark hair at the entrance. She bit her tongue when she took the order from the Troys. Gavin didn't look up, too ashamed of everything he had done.

Today he really didn't have any bad intentions when he tugged her hair, he really just needed help. But of course, he knew that it wasn't right what he did. "She is such a lovely girl," Mrs Troy said when Lizzy had left again. "Mom, I go to school with her!" Gavin whisper-shouted. "Believe me, one day we will find you two fooling around." "MUM!" Mr Troy was grinning. "What's her name?" He asked then. "Elizabeth." "What a wonderful name," Mrs Troy smiled. Gavin rolled his eyes and hid his face behind his hands. "Oh, our son his getting flustered." Mr Troy laughed.

Shortly after that, they were talking once again about work and other stuff, leaving Gavin time to observe Lizzy. When Lizzy served the food, she put Gavin's plate firmer on the table than the others. But only he noticed it.

When they were paying, they gave Elizabeth a tip which she nearly refused if Mrs and Mr Troy hadn't looked at her with so much love in their eyes. When they were leaving Gavin wanted to say something like good night but stopped himself when he saw the hate in Elizabeth's eyes. "Lizzy, hurry up!" Her father yelled from the kitchen which made her shrink. And suddenly, for the first time, Gavin saw exhaustion in her eyes. "See ya tomorrow," he whispered, before rushing outside. He didn't know if she had heard him.

She did hear him. And for the first time, she didn't see him as the asshole from school but a boy who sat quietly with his parents at dinner. He didn't have any siblings and his parents seemed lovely but quite busy. Only then did she understand that he might stick with his friends only because he was scared to be alone again. That didn't make his behaviour okay but she understood.

When Gavin's friends tried to harass Elizabeth once again, he stopped them before she got hurt again. "Ohh, our Gavin fancies the loner," Justin laughed. "I do not." "Then why are you protecting her?" He shrugged his shoulders. "Elizabeth is okay. Just leave her alone." "Oh, Elizabeth? Something changed about you, Gavin. I don't know if I should like it or not," he said and went away with the others. "Idiots," Elizabeth murmured. "Yes, they are." "Oh, stop this crap, Gavin. You aren't any better." Then she turned back to her homework. "Right... I am not."

After that day, the Troys appeared more often at the restaurant, much to Elizabeth's displeasure. "Can't I just go upstairs? I have homework to do," she begged her mother once more. She really didn't feel the urge to serve them. "No, Lizzy, we need you here. You can do your homework later." "But mum-" "No buts. Now go." While she was standing at the bar, she heard someone behind her. "Yes?" She turned around. "Gavin." An eyeroll. "Hey, ehm... I have a math question." "Your problem, I'd say." "Please, I have huge problems with it and you are smart." "Oh, so I should help my bully now? Do you really think that's how the world works, Gavin?" She cleaned a glass more aggressively than it was really necessary. "No. Not really." "That's damn right." With that, she turned away again and Gavin went back to his table like a beaten-up dog.

The next math lesson came faster than Gavin would've liked it and for the first time Lizzy noticed how the teacher used every chance to expose Gavin for his poor knowledge. "Psst," she then whispered in a second the teacher didn't pay attention. Gavin looked up. "Sit next to me." He thought he had misheard and she also didn't know why she did that. After all, it was still her bully. But she repeated her invitation. Gavin immediately grabbed his stuff and sat down in the row in front of him. For the rest of the lesson, she helped him.

"Thank you, you are a true lifesaver." "I know." "How can you be that good at it?" "Do you really think I wanna work in that restaurant for the rest of my life? Definitely not. That's why I learn this hard." "Any chance you can do some tutoring for me?" "Only if you make sure that none of your friends ever bullies me again. And you have to get me a sandwich for every lesson." He laughed. "Done." "Great. I can come over at 4 p.m." He nodded. "That would be great."

When she came over, they were alone. But that didn't bother her. She saw the truth in Gavin's eyes. She knew he wouldn't hurt her in any way. Halfway through the session and two sandwiches later, the bell rang. "Probably the mailman," Gavin said and went to open the door. Then she heard Justin and the other boys. "How about a soccer match?" He asked. "Now is a really bad time. I am learning." "Huh, really? Because I could swear that is Lizzy's bike in front of your house." "Yeah, she is tutoring me." She heard Justin's disgusting laugh. "God, she really wrapped you around her little finger, didn't she?" "Justin, what do you want?" Gavin sighed. "Nothing, just a chat." Right after that she heard mixed voices yelling at each other and footsteps coming nearer. When Justin and his friends entered the kitchen, she jumped up from the chair and pressed herself into the next corner. "Man, just leave," Gavin said annoyed and tried to pull back another boy at his shoulder to enter the kitchen himself but right after he had passed him, he was pushed and nearly fell straight to the floor. "Lizzy... didn't we make clear where your place is? Its is definitely not with Gavin." "Don't call her that!" Gavin yelled. "Oh, trying to protect your girlfriend now, Gavin? You are really trying to steal him from us, don't you, bitch?" "He isn't anyone's property." "Right..." When he made another step towards her, Gavin pushed him back. Justin laughed dryly. "You really changed, didn't you?" "Oh, I just understood that you are an asshole. That's it." And that was when the first punch was thrown. Elizabeth screamed in shock when she had to watch the boys fighting. Of course, Gavin had already been in some fights but it wasn't like he was a pro.

She tried to pull Gavin off Justin but ended up getting a punch from one of Justin's friends. "Are you kidding me?" She yelled. "Let them fight. Gavin deserves this," he grinned meanly. "You guys are the last. Your behaviour is really disgusting." The boy laughed. When Gavin saw that this guy was punching her, he let Justin go and started fighting with the other one instead. "Take" Punch. "Your" Punch. "Disgusting" Punch. "Hands" Punch. "Off" Punch. "Of" Punch. "Her." Another punch. A crack. A scream. Then Gavin stopped. Lizzy held her breath. "You just fucking broke my nose!" "Be happy that it was only that. And now get out! All of you!"

After he slammed the door shut, he went back to Elizabeth. "Let me see that," he whispered and took her face in his hands. "That might turn into a huge bruise." "I already feel that," she muttered. "I'll get you some ice." "You also need ice. Your nose is bleeding." He looked down at his shirt which already had some red stains. "Hmm, happens." When he gave her some ice, she suddenly hugged him. He didn't say anything and just wrapped his arms around her, trying not to get his blood on her hair.

Now they were 18 and dating. After that afternoon back at the house of the Troys, a lot had changed. Gavin avoided his former friends and hung out with Lizzy instead.

They were lying on her bed, watching a movie, while Gavin leaned over. "You look cute." "I always look cute." He laughed. "Yes, you do." He leaned over her, kissing her lips. It wasn't new but they still loved it, loved each other. His hand was slowly opening her blouse, when suddenly the door was opened. Gavin nearly fell from the bed. "How often did I tell you to leave the door open?" Her father yelled. "And it seems like I was right about that." Lizzy rolled her eyes. "We are 18, dad!" "Yeah, so what? The door stays open. And you, pal, you stay out of her bed." Gavin nodded. "Of course, sir." But still, that didn't stop him from stealing some kisses over the next hours.

"Liz?" He whispered when she was half asleep. "Yeah?" "Do you wanna marry me?" From one second to the next, she was bright awake. "What?" She thought she had misheard. "Do you wanna marry me?" "Like in some years? Or like right now?" "Now. Why wait any more time?" "Ehm..." Her mind was racing. He held up a paper ring he had made while she was dozing for the last hour. "Well... I don't have money for a real one right now. But I'd replace it as soon as I can." "Aww, how sweet," she smiled and took the ring into her hands. For some more seconds, she looked at it, while thinking.

Then she looked up, right into Gavin's waiting, loving eyes. "Okay, why not?" She couldn't say no to him even if she had wanted to. She put the ring on her finger and right after that, Gavin pulled her into his arms, laughing.

"My parents will kill you." "Then I'll die with a smile on my face." "God, you are cheesy." "Only for you, Lizzy."

"You are going to WHAT?" Her mum yelled. "Marry," Elizabeth repeated. "No." It was her dad. He was standing at the window, his back facing them. "You two won't marry. You are barely an adult. I won't let you ruin your life with someone like him." "Someone like him?" "He is up to no good." "You are wrong." "Oh, and does he have any plans for after school?" "He wants to become a car mechanic." "A car mechanic? Do you really think he could provide a good life for you with that job?" "Well, I do not plan to become a housewife. So, who cares?" "No marriage. End of discussion!"

"They forbid you two to marry?" Cully yelled. Gavin laughed. "Yes, they did." "And what did you do then?" "We did what they feared the most. We ran away. Eloped in a church in London and came home happily married." Cully's mouth fell open. "Oh my God." "And then they just had to live with that. I changed my career choice and became a police officer. Then I moved away with Lizzy to Midsomer." "Wow, that's... impressive." They didn't say a word for multiple minutes.

"And you really were such an asshole in school?" "And I am very sorry about that." "Very sorry about what?" Barnaby asked when he entered the kitchen. "Nothing," Cully answered. "Did you know Gavin is married?" "You are WHAT Troy? Since when?" "Since I was 18." "And you never mentioned her? Not once? Tell me about her!" Gavin just looked down at his ring and smiled.