wrapped around your finger, inhaler dublin love triangle

𝟎𝟏𝟐

- Beth's Apartment, Eli's POV
¹²:⁵⁰ ᵖᵐ, ʷᵉᵈⁿᵉˢᵈᵃʸ

SLAM 

The door closes. Anna really just walked out on our valentines date. I stand there totally confused about what just happened. My head is in my hands as I make my way onto the couch. 

This wasn't supposed to be the way it happened. As I sit there totally dazed I hear a door open. 

"Hey! What happened? Where's Anna?" Beth walks out of her room confused. She's clearly dressed up for a date of her own. "I-...I don't know...she just...left." I turn my head to look at the dark-haired girl. Her black bangs contrasting with her pale complexion. 

"What do you mean..." She says in a gentle tone. The concerned girl now sits beside me. "Well, I answered the door and this guy was asking for her. And then he hands her a phone, I don't know who was on the other end, but whoever it was must've been ten times more important than me!" Tears now starting to form in the corner of my eyes. 

"Oh Eli!" Beth wraps her arms around me, her head on my shoulder. Normally I would've thought this was weird, but I could really use some comfort right about now. "I'm so sorry everything didn't go as planned." 

"I just don't know what to do now! I worked all morning on making that fettuccine alfredo for her! And I bought mint chocolate chip ice cream for her! I just don't know what I'm doing wrong!" I rant to her best friend. "It's like whenever I think we're on the right track and then she just pushes me away!" 

"Hey! You didn't do anything wrong. Anna is just scared." 

"Scared?" 

"Yes. She's scared to make the wrong decision. She's scared that she's gonna hurt one of you. She's scared because in this past month or two, she has grown to care about both of you." Beth reassures me, tears now streaming down my face. It's crazy how she doesn't even have to say it but I know she's also talking about Rob. Anna isn't here with me because she's somewhere with Rob. 

And I think that's what hurts the most. That she's currently spending valentines day with one of my best friends. 

"Is it crazy to say I love her?" I look at Beth, my vision a bit blurry from my tears. "Not at all, Anna tends to have that effect on people. You can't not love her." I chuckle a bit. 

"I just don't know if I should give up. She clearly chose Rob! Who am I kidding it's always been Rob!" I get up, now feeling mad at myself for thinking it could be any different. I go into the kitchen, grab the carton of ice cream, and a big spoon. 

"What are you doing? I thought you don't like mint chocolate chip?" I sit right back down next to Beth. "I don't," I say getting a big scoop of ice cream and stuffing it in my mouth. God this tastes awful but I need something to take my mind off of her. I grab the TV remote that looks like it's never been used, flicking through the channels to find a god-awful rom-com to take away my sorrows.  

"Don't you have a date to go to?" I say turning to Beth. "Yes. I do actually. But you seem in need of some support." 

"You know, you're a great friend to Anna. Go on your date, I'll probably be gone by the time you come back anyways." Beth gets off the couch and grabs her purse. "You sure?" I nod. 

"Oh and by the way." Beth says standing in the doorway "Eli...If you truly love Anna, you'll fight for her love." Beth closes the door, leaving me with my thoughts, this horrible ice cream, and a Ryan Reynolds rom-com.  

- Still Beth's Apartment
¹:³⁰ ᵖᵐ, ʷᵉᵈⁿᵉˢᵈᵃʸ 

It's been almost an hour since Beth left for her date. Anna still wasn't back from wherever she went and I had finished the tub of mint chocolate chip. Feeling totally awful I decide to get off their couch and just go home. 

It feels like I've been dumped. Even though Anna and I weren't officially dating, it still hurts. I grab my fettuccine, I'm sure Josh or Ryan would appreciate it considering they watched me make it. 

On the walk home I just couldn't stop thinking about what Beth said before she left, "If you truly love Anna, you'll fight for her love." Is that not what I've been doing? Everything I do is to impress her. 

God maybe I don't have women figured out at all! As soon as I get home I notice Ryan on the couch reading a book. "Hey bud, how'd valentines day go?" He looks up from his book. Ryan knows that I went to ask Anna, he's the only one who knew my plan besides Beth. 

"Here, take it. Wouldn't want it to go to waste..." I say handing him the container of pasta. Ryan gives me a sad smile as he takes it and puts it down on the coffee table. "Aww, I'm sorry mate." 

"It's whatever, I just feel sick and tired of trying to impress her and her not even caring." Ryan puts his book down, "Mate that's your problem. You're too busy thinking about impressing her. How about telling her how you actually feel about her." I look at Ryan amused. Since when did he know so much about this kind of stuff? 

"I'm exhausted, I think I'm gonna take a nap." I head upstairs, into my room. I try to sleep but I can't stop thinking about what both Beth and Ryan said. You know, if Beth wasn't getting married, I'd say she'd be perfect for Ryan. 

- Outside of Anna's Office, 
⁴:³⁰ ᵖᵐ, ᵗʰᵘʳˢᵈᵃʸ

The heavy rain pours down. I'm pacing outside of Anna's office building, not really knowing what I'm doing. I've had the whole day to think about yesterday and I've decided that I need to figure out where I stand with Anna. 

I need to know if I should stay or walk away now before I get hurt anymore.  The jacket I'm wearing not helping the heavy rain from soaking me in water. 

"Eli?..." I look up and see Anna looking back at me. She's wearing her work attire and is holding an umbrella to protect herself from the rain. She looks shocked to see me. "Eli...What are you doing here?" She walks closer to me. 

"I needed to talk to you. To figure out what I'm doing next." I step closer to her, the rain pouring down. 

"what do you mean..." 

"Anna...I love you. I know it's crazy but it's true. And- And I just get so sick of fighting for you and you not even blinking an eye! I feel like whatever we have is going in circles AND-...I just need to know if you feel the same way I do." She stands there stunned as I pour my heart out to her. Salty tears now starting to mix in with the rain. 

"Eli...I care about you, A LOT! I just don't want anyone to get hurt. And I'm sorry that you feel like we're going in circles, this is more than a one-sided thing. I just haven't made my decision yet..." Tears now streaming down her face too. She holds her umbrella so that we're both protected from the downpour. The space between us now limited. 

"Anna...I won't stop fighting for your love...you could smash my heart into a million pieces and I wouldn't care, I'd keep fighting."