crazier things.

three

"So, Liza?" Ang started.

"Mhm" Eliza responded clearly distracted by something, or someone, in her vision.

"See anyone you like?" the blonde finished.

"He's walking over" the raven haired girl hummed looking at the tall brunette man that hadn't taken his eyes off of hers since they connected.

"The red head?"

"No, the brunette."

"Hi ladies" the brunette man said with a charming smile that Eliza swore could light up the city, "are we interrupting something?"

"You? You could interrupt us anytime" the raven haired girl flirted.

"Well do you have a name? Or should I continue to call you the most beautiful women I've ever seen?" the man questioned as the girl smiled with both of their friends rolling their eyes.

"Well, as much as I like that one, Im Eliza, and this is Ang. Now do you have a name? Or is it the charming man from the bar?" Eliza responded giving the same flirting energy she was greeted with.

"I'm Nick, and this is Josh."

"Well hello Josh," Ang began wanting to leave Nick and Eliza to their back and forth, "would you like to go get a drink?"

"You read my mind" the red haired boy responded. And with that the pair left, leaving Nick and Eliza to themselves.

After an hour of talking and three more drinks, the two had become comfortable with each other, Nick drawing small circles on her arm, while Eliza played with the bracket on his. "Do you want to step outside?" Nick asked the girl.

"I'd love to, its rather warm in here." Eliza replied, grabbing her purse, and finishing the last of her vodka soda as nick finished his whiskey.

As the two stepped outside, Nick grabbed a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, grabbing one for himself and offering one to the girl, much to his surprise, she accepted. "I didnt think you were the smoking type." He questioned lighting their cigarettes.

"Well, we all have a vice, some its love, some alcohol, some drugs, and some, much like us, cigarettes."

"When you're right you're right."

"Ya know, come to think of it, I can't think of a time I've ever been wrong." She smiled as they both laughed. "Nick?"

"Mhm" he responded taking a drag of his cigarette and exhaling as she did the same.

"Do you believe in love?" she asked, it's not that she wanted him to love her, she didn't believe in it herself, but she found it was a good conversation starter.

"Not really, I mean I've always fallen out of it, so I never know if it's love, or lust, but I suppose that's a problem even the greatest scholars couldn't answer" he answered her question honestly, to his surprise, normally he would lie and say something along the lines of, 'of course how could I not.'

"Well," the girl started "maybe you've just never had something real"

"I suppose that's a possibility, why do you ask? Do you, believe in love?"

"No, for a very similar reason" she started as she finished her cigarette, "I've never experienced it, partly because I won't let myself" she finished.

"Why's that?" he pressed, out of curiosity, but also because he wanted to understand the girl in front of him.

"Well, why would I put myself through something that would hurt me in the end? Would you purposely crash your car?" she asked

"No, but maybe you've never had something real" he responded using the girl's previous words "something worth savoring, something to nurture, something to care for, and something to watch bloom." he responded getting closer to her face with each word, but never breaking eye contact until he saw her eyes flicker down to his lips and back to his eyes as he did the same. They were sharing the same air as she inspected each feature on his face, counting each freckle, each smile and worry line, the way his nose fit his face perfectly, and how his eyes were closing as hers did the same. They continued to lean in until their lips were millimeters apart but before they had the chance to connect.