-Chapter Three: Glimpses and a Bit of Banter-

By: Lilly Rae

Rating: Could be K+ but T to be careful maybe later.

Disclaimer: I don't own National Treasure. If I did, do you think I'd be sitting here writing fanfictions for it? Right. I own Elizabeth, not the name, the original character I made. I don't own the places in here or basically anything beyond what I actually came up with. Don't sue. You won't win. I said right here that I don't own it. Get over it people.

# of Words: 1,319

Author's Note: I'm sorry I kept you guys waiting for such a long time. I've had so much going on. I've just been in a play and the end of the school year. It's just so hectic. But at least I'm finally back on here.

RandomObsessivePsychoFangirl : Well, for Abigail and Ben, I didn't really know because it never says. And for Riley I wanted him to be young enough to fit with him actually and for it to not be creepy that he likes someone who's 17-18.

JainaZekk621: Just thanks a million!

freyasakura: Yes, it is set after the Book Of Secrets. It's going to tie into it (if I can). I'm glad that you like the story. Thanks for the spelling. I'm SO not a good speller. But I'm improving.

Allie357: Thank you a million. I aim for cuteness sometimes!

Dice: thanks for the spelling. Thanks for reading!

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As I sat, now glumly, in the leather armchair in the corner of the living room, my posture positively proclaimed possession. He had taken my chair. It was a beige armchair. New-ish. And my favorite chair. There were only three people that I didn't have a serious problem with them sitting in that chair. My mom, dad, and brother. And so, as I lounged languidly in the leather armchair, Riley was happily chatting with my mother. In. My. Chair.

Of course, I had no idea what they were talking about. I was internally seething. That took some concentration, people! And I had been totally zoned out for like five minutes.

"Elizabeth Griscom Smith! Take those headphones out of your ears and listen!" I jerked myself back into focus on the present. My mother was giving me a disapproving look.

"I don't 'have' my headphones in," I said and my mother's look deepened.

"Well, if you don't then there is no excuse for me having to call your name six times. What could you have possibly been thinking so hard about?"

I blushed. I couldn't exactly tell her right in front of them. How immature would that make me seem? "You know me, mom. Just off in my own world, coming up with a new story, or poem, or something like that," I said vaguely.

"Well, I was asking you to play something for our guests, but if you're too busy being off in your head..." I rolled my eyes, getting up and heading over to the piano and sitting down.

"What do you want me to play?" I asked, not bothering to get out any sheet music yet. Most songs I could play just by memory.

"What about... Pachabel's Canon in D? You know that one well, don't you?" Well was an understatement and she knew it. I had been playing that song by heart since I was thirteen. It was my second favorite song to play, seconded only by 'My Heart Will Go On'. So, I took a breath and started.

-Normal Point Of View-

Ben smiled as his cousin (actually 2nd) started to play. For most people, it was a beautiful sight to see. You could tell that she loved it. I was like she was part of the music, breathing in with it.

"When you said she played, you meant she played. How long has she been playing?" Riley asked, turning to Claire.

"Going on ten and a half years, now."

"She's...wow." And when Ben looked over at him, he knew that Riley wasn't talking just about her playing.

They all continued to watch as she played, completely consumed with the song that she played. Finally, with a big finish, she ended. Ben, Abigail, And Clair clapped respectably as Riley sat in shock.

'She knows her computers, she plays music, And she READ MY BOOK. Could she be any more perfect for me?' he thought to himself, finally clapping.

Lizzie blushed, getting up. As much as she liked playing for people, she hated it when her mother would put her on the spot like that to play. Of course, none of that mattered once her fingers touched the keys.

"Thanks," she said, getting up and walking over to the stairs and plopping down. With Riley in 'Her' chair next to the stairs, that was about as close as she could get to sitting on it herself.

"That was great. God, you're good at music, you know computers, And Ben says that you write, too. Is there anything you can't do?" Riley asked.

-Lizzie's Point Of View-

Again, I blushed, looking down at my shoes. "I-I'm not that different from most of my friends or other people," I said, embarrassed. I was never very good with compliments. I had never really known how to react to them. It wasn't like I didn't know that my friends and I were different. I thought of it as just different. I just thought of it as the reason I didn't have loads of friends. Not that I minded. Heck, most of the time I didn't even talk to a lot of people. I preferred to read or write.

Ben, Abigail, and my mom started talking again, but I could still feel Riley's gaze on my. Uncomfortable, I got up, heading up the stairs to my room.

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"Hello there,

The angel from my nightmare

The shadow in the background of the morgue

The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the valley

We can live like Jack and Sally if we want.

Where you can always find me.

And We'll have Halloween on Christmas,

And in the night we'll wish this never ends.

We'll wish this never ends," I sang along as I typed, double clickedm and such. I had been researching a theory that I had about Manifest Destiny. I had heard a few urban legends that were connected to this urge that the American people felt to spread their culture. I knew that it was a long shot from being true, but it was always interesting to look up stuff like that.

"Don't waste your times one,

You're already the voice inside my head.

Don't waste your time on me,

You're already-"

"-the voice inside my head. Blink-182, I miss you."

I spun around in my swivel chair, gripping the side of the desk to stop myself. Riley stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame.

"When did you get in here?" I asked.

"I heard you singing and your door was cracked open. Ben and them went out on the deck. I was kind of hoping to get the main tour," he said with a smirky smile. "I'm sure that it's is pretty impressive...for a teenager just out of high school."

I glared. Rude much? For seriously! "I'm not really sure that I have the time. I happen to be working on an independent research project of my own," I said with a huff, turning back to the computer screen. It was my most basic model. Just a regular computer. The real impressive stuff was hidden. Protected by keypad codes and homemade scanners.

"Whatcha' lookin' at there?" he asked, striding over to stand behind me. I watched as his eyes scanned the screen. "'Forty-niners rumored to have built hidden tunnels and chambers to guard treasures more precious than their gold-' what is this?"

"Urban legend. No solid proof. Independent research project. I've been working on it since your book came out," I said looking back at the screen and book marking the page before exiting the internet tab. "It's basically just something to keep me amused." I swiveled around rapidly to face him and he jumped back away from me. "You know, you've already had the 'main tour' basically. There's nothing much else to show."

"So where is this 'amazingly impressive system' at?"

"I'm sorry but I'm afraid that that portion of the tour is not open to public viewing at this time," I said in a tour guide-y tone. If he was going to be condescending and rude then that was what he was going to get. I changed my tone to normal. "Maybe if you were polite about it..."

He gave me a look that said 'You've-got-to-be-kidding-me' and I crossed my arms giving him a single nod. He rolled his eyes.

"I would really enjoy seeing your system(s) if you wouldn't mind showing me."

I smiled. "Well done. Now was that so hard." He glowered. "Now then, watch and prepare to be amazed." I stood, grabbed a pair of latex gloves from my dress and put them on at I walked over to my bookcase.

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