“To make a long story short, I got fired,” she stated. “I’m leaving.”
“What?” Howie exclaimed. “Why?”
“My editor wanted me to make up bad stuff about you and I wouldn’t do it, so he fired me,” she explained.
“How can he do that?” AJ exploded. “You’re a wonderful reporter, but because you have morals, you’re fired?”
“I guess so,” she said sadly. “I’ll find a new job, hopefully. Take care, guys.”
After receiving bear hugs from each of them, she tapped on Kevin’s door. She had to say goodbye to him. “Hey, Liz, what’s up?” he asked.
She quickly explained the situation. “So yeah, I won’t be working with you anymore.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, hugging her tightly. “I’m gonna miss you, you know.”
“I’ll miss you guys, too.” She pulled away. “I have to go. I can’t miss my flight.”
“Goodbye, Liz.”
“Bye, Kevin.”
There was one person left to say goodbye to, and it sure as hell wasn’t Nick. If he couldn’t believe what she had told him, he wasn’t worth her time. She knocked on Brian’s door and forced a smile when he opened it. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“Not really, but I guess I’ll survive. I have to talk to you for a minute.”
“Come on in.” He led her into the living room, but she froze when she saw Nick. Brian’s voice snapped her out of her trance. “What’s up?”
She looked back at him and tried to forget that Nick was sitting there. “I got fired,” she said simply. “My editor wanted me to make up some scandals about you guys, and I wouldn’t do it, so he fired me.”
“That’s awful!” Brian exclaimed. “So you’re leaving, then?”
“I guess so. I had a great time on tour with you guys,” she said.
He wrapped her in a friendly embrace. “I hope to hear from you.”
“Bye, Brian.” As she pulled away, she shot a dirty glance at Nick. Then she walked out.
“What was that all about?” Brian asked his friend. “Why didn’t you say goodbye to her?”
“That whole story is crap. She was going to lie about us, but then I found her notes and she lied and said she had changed her mind about doing it. We got into a huge fight about it last night.”
“Come on, Nick. You and I both know Liz wouldn’t do something like that. She’s got a good heart.”
“If you insist,” Nick muttered.
Later that day, Liz stepped into her house. It was empty. Joel had already gotten all his stuff out. There was a note for Liz saying that he had gone to his parents’ house, and to call when she got in. She would call later. She didn’t feel like talking to anyone at that moment.
After a long bath, she crawled into bed. In less than twenty-four hours, she had lost almost everything. She no longer had a boyfriend or a job, and unless she found someplace to work soon, she’d no longer have any money. This had to be a nightmare, but of course, it wasn’t. In a few moments, she was greeted by a comforting, dreamless sleep.