"How am I supposed to think about anything else?
How am I to go on keeping this to myself?
I am done pretending I want anyone else"
or
Eliza's boyfriend broke up with her a week before their junior year and their two year anniversary. And her best f...
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Eliza walked to coat check. Her heels were now in her hands and she had went to grab her slippers from her locker. She always kept a pair of slippers at school— especially after some practices and all she wants to do is walk on clouds.
"Do you have change for a fifty?" Eliza questioned as she slid her jacket on. She was supposed to break it, but she was too busy after school to buy anything for change.
"Need to borrow a buck?" Ricky asked walking up. He handed a dollar to the person running the coat check.
"Thanks," Eliza smiled.
"I was thinking of heading out, do you need a ride? You know, save gas and carpool?" Ricky said. Eliza nodded. As they walked out of the school, Ricky's hand landed on the base of her back. A small spark they didn't expect.
🏀
Luke Nelson
Luke: I went back to our table and you left? Where are you?
"You okay?" Ricky asked as he turned away from the school. The both of them sat in Ricky's car. Eliza's phone was in her hand and she did not have a happy face with the screen lit on her.
"Luke asked me to the dance, and of course, I said yes. Why wouldn't I say yes? But as soon as we take a break from each other like we always do at these things, I see him flirting with Andrea— she's the co captain of the cheerleading squad. I thought he wanted to get back together— and I thought she was my friend. You don't go after a friend's ex, at least not until you know your friend is over them and you definitely don't know it at an event where they're there together. That's low," Eliza ranted.
"He's missing out on a great girl," Ricky commented as he turned on their street. "If you were my date, I wouldn't leave your side at all."
"What?" Eliza looked at Ricky.
"I mean," Ricky stopped, and slowed down the car parking in front of Eliza's house. "You're an amazing person and if Luke Nelson can't see it, then he's not the one for you."
Eliza's heart fluttered. Why?
"I'm sorry if I said something wrong—" Ricky rambled. "I just— I'm sorry."
Eliza reached out for Ricky's hand and he stopped apologizing. "Don't apologize, I'll tell you if there's something you need to apologize for. I appreciate the kind words, but— our plan can't change. You want Nini back, and I have a feeling you'll get her back." Eliza didn't want that to be true. And here she was, complaining about girl code and feminism, and right now she couldn't care less, but she knew better.
"What about you?" Ricky asked.
"I'll be fine," Eliza answered. "Besides, I think it's my time to be single and loving myself more."
"I don't believe that you don't love yourself. You just— you're so confident and you know what you want, it's kind of scary," Ricky added. "You deserve someone that makes you cry from laughter, not for doing things that hurt you."
Eliza looked at Ricky. His brown eyes were warmer than Luke's. If anybody could be claimed as a golden retriever in human form, it was Ricky. Her eyes glanced at his lips and back to his eyes— no, she couldn't.
But Ricky leaned in.
🏀
Eliza stared at her ceiling, she couldn't sleep. When she stepped out of Ricky's car, she texted Luke and blocked his number. She didn't want to bothered by him.
She remembered Ricky's lips on hers— they molded perfectly. And it made her heart beat out of her chest. But he was Nini's ex.
Sitting up, she grabbed a notebook and began to write.
Why it's okay I kissed Ricky. 1. He's single. 2. I'm single. 3. I've liked him way before Nini even noticed him in that way. 4. I shouldn't have because he's my best friend's ex, and he's trying to get her back. 5. HE kissed me. 6. We're good friends and this won't make our friendship weird.
"Out of everybody, why does it have to be Ricky Bowen?" Eliza mumbled tossing the notebook to the side.
🏀
"I think one day you two will end up together," Nicole told Eliza as she braided her hair. "They say boys who pick on you like you, but that's not true. It's the boy who stands up for you."
Nicole was sixteen when Eliza was ten and crying because another boy pushed her down and threw a dodgeball at her face. Ricky had helped her up and aimed a dodgeball at the other boy's face. It took three tries, but the other boy ended up with a bloody nose and Ricky didn't get in trouble because it was dodgeball. That happened weeks ago.
"Do you think he likes me?" Eliza asked her older sister. Nicole nodded.
"Anyone who doesn't like my little sister is a dummy," Nicole stated. "When you're my age, you're going to have lots of boys in line for you. But I'm sure Ricky's going to be the first one. Are you ready for your birthday party?"
🏀
lukenelson57
Luke: Did I do something wrong? And can I fix it? Whatever I did? Eliza: You can leave the show. If you leave the show it'll help. But other than that, you should know that flirting with someone at a public event, it can be seen by everyone. Luke: I wasn't flirting with anybody. And I actually enjoy performing. Eliza: Yeah, I don't care. You only auditioned so I couldn't forget you, you didn't give me a chance to. Leave the show, and it'll fix everything. And I'll only see you at games and in class.
eliza.parkss has blocked lukenelson57
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