Lizzie went outside and found Erica hovering around the end of the driveway.
"Hi, Erica! Are you looking for something?" Lizzie asked with some apprehension. The last few versions of Eric hadn't turned out very well.
This Erica, however, was dressed in a red tank top, well-fitted but somewhat loose jeans, sweat socks, and Dr. Martens shoes. Over that she wore a men's dress shirt, unbuttoned, and a black baseball hat. Her hair was shaggy and a bit less than collar length.
"Oh, I was supposed to meet my friend down at the corner, but I guess she got delayed. She's twenty minutes late now. I was just walking up and down the block a little," Erica explained.
"Have you tried calling her?" Lizzie asked.
"Yeah, but all I get is voicemail," Erica said.
"Is it anyone I know?" asked Lizzie, who by then was on her second or third once-over. Erica was tall and a bit stocky for a girl, but she certainly wasn't overweight. It was all bone and muscle. That wasn't exactly what Lizzie had asked for but somehow it was.. good...
"No, I'm sure you wouldn't know her," Erica replied. "It's someone I just met. She talked me into going to the mall and then maybe having dinner someplace. I dunno why I agreed. I have enough clothes."
"Well, uh, we could still go," Lizzie remarked offhandedly. Inside, though, her heart was pounding and her mind was racing.
"That is if you've, uh, given up on this... new friend of yours..." Lizzie continued after Erica didn't answer.
"Oh, no, that's OK, I have," Erica finally replied. "I mean, OK, I've given up on her. It's just... what brought this on?"
"This?" Lizzie replied ambiguously.
"Yeah, you know, this. You seem particularly, ah, interested in me today."
"I was just noticing what nice... shoulders... you have. Do you mind?" asked Lizzie, reaching forward.
"Uh, look, maybe later," Erica stalled. "With the shoulders, I mean. We could still go to the mall. I can't believe Stella stood me up like this."
"Stella? Did you say Stella?" Lizzie asked with a jolt.
"Yeah, tall skinny chick. Lots of tattoos. Sassy attitude. Rides a dirt bike. You know her?" Erica asked in surprise.
