CHEATER || Hemmings

2: Eliza

Lipstick Covered Magnet - The Front Bottoms

"Honestly Liz, why do you stay with him?" My best friend, Calum asks, setting down his espresso. We were at a small cafe, as we do almost every morning.

I worked at picking off my blue nail polish. Not looking him in the eyes I say, "I don't know. He makes me happy."

Calum scoffed, "He's a cheater, Liz."

"He would never do that." I snapped, desperately trying to get every bit of color off of my pinky. Its a nervous habit.

"Hey," He soothed, "You should leave him, cause it really makes me sick. He's seeing someone else right behind your back," I glared at him, its the same speech everyday, he held up his hands in surrender, "Just saying."

"Just saying." I mimicked in a high voice, the same voice Luke thinks I have, "What a load of bullshit."

"Come on Liz, you know he cheats on you. Break the fuck up with him." Calum calmly stated, drinking his expresso.

"Cal, he makes me happy. That's all that should matter." I said still picking off my nails, one by one. I just got them done and I'm ruining them.

"Lizzie baby, we know thats not true." Calum pulls my hand into his. The Boston sun beat down on us, no doubt making my hair frizzy, yet Calum's hands were as cold as ice.

I know Calum. I know him as well as the back of my hand. I know he thinks he's in love with me. I know that I'm not pretty enough for him. I know Luke is only with me because I claim to be rich, but I'm the one that makes all the money.

I know I'm smart.

I know Luke thinks I'm just a dumb blonde with a pretty face.

He doesn't know I don't work at the local Starbucks. He doesn't know I run my own business.

Calum knows. And Calum knows I'm not happy. But I also know Calum. I know I would just fuck Calum up because thats what I do. I know that I won't change anything because it does not matter. I know I really don't matter.

"Liz, why do you stay with him?" Calum rubs the pad of his thumb over my knuckles.

A fair question. A completely fair question that I ask myself all the time. My shoulders go upward, "I guess he's hot?"

"Liz." His hand came off of mine. I was left cold in the Boston summer heat. And just like the rest of my life I am unhappy.

Tears well in my eyes, but my father always said crying will affect an image negatively. So I stood up straighter and took off my glasses, carefully putting them in their case, "Cal, I'm so unhappy, but I don't know how to fix it, so I don't. I have to go meet Luke."

As my seat was pushed back, Calum Hood grabbed my arm, "Ellie, I'm just looking out for you. I lov,"

"Thank you, Calum." I pulled a bill out and threw it on the table. As I walked out I put on my prescription sunglasses, Luke couldn't know I wear glasses. He can't know about me.

I just have to be his arm candy.

Thats the life I live, I don't want to fix it.

I'm not even close to happy. I'm not content. I'm just not uncomfortable. So I'll stay where I am and I won't change anything.

I'll date a cheater if it means that I won't have to change.

--

(AN I honestly love Eliza even though shes so fake to Luke mostly because shes based on a girl at my school whos brilliant and acts so dumb around her boyfriend so she can be cool.

I just love this character, but expect her to be completed different from Luke's perspective.

Just know shes unhappy and trying to figure out her life and Luke doesn't really care about her.

Also shes fucking smart as hell.

faith)