Fake Dating The Enemy

6

Thomas

It's been a week since the lunch fiasco, and I haven't seen or heard from Elizabeth since. Things seemed fine when I took her home, but I could tell how hurt she was by her brother's outburst.

Me: Hey

I've never texted her before, but I didn't want to just show up at her house. I needed to at least know if she was alive. My phone dings. I smile as her name come across my screen

Elizabeth: Hi.

Me: Are you doing alright? Haven't heard from you.

Elizabeth: Yep, fine.

I choose not to respond. I can tell she needs space, and I want to respect it. It's not like we're actually together. I'm not going to just show up to her house unannounced and check on her.

Yeah, that's exactly what I'm going to do.

I grab my keys, and slip on my shoes before heading out the door. I don't even know if she's home, but I guess I'll find out. As I start my car, I pause for a moment. Am I going to look crazy doing this? I let my head fall in my hands. What has gotten into me? Has it really been that long since I've had any kind of contact with a girl? Because that's the only reason I can come up with as to why I'm suddenly so concerned over Elizabeth. My phone dings, ripping me from my thoughts.

Elizabeth: This might be random, but are you home? Or could you come over? I just really need someone to talk to. I get it if you don't want to.

Me: On my way.

I send the text, and I'm off to her house. It's a short ten minute drive, but when I round the corner onto her road my heart starts to race. God, why do I feel so nervous? Get it together, man.

I turn off the car, sitting for just a moment before I head up to her door. I ring the doorbell, and the door eventually opens to reveal a side of Elizabeth I've never seen. Her hair was a mess, her eyes were puffy, and she was in sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"What happened?" I ask, my heart sinking into my stomach. She lets me in, shutting the door behind me. She says nothing as we walk over to the couch, sitting down. "Lizzy?" I ask, the nickname coming out of nowhere.

"Don't call me that." She says, looking at me with sad eyes. "It makes this feel real, and I can't let it feel real."

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, forget it. I've just been stuck in my head ever since lunch. I'm trying to find a way to control my emotions and my feelings, but I can't. Maybe Luke is right."

"Right about what?"

"That something about this isn't natural. I mean, we've hated each other practically the whole time we've known each other. Of course it's going to seem insane that, all of a sudden, we're together."

"Things change. People change." I say, trying to make sense of what she's saying. "Elizabeth, if you want to end this that's fine."

"That's the thing, I don't want to because then Luke wins." She runs her hands through her hair. "I'm going insane, Thomas. I've been racking my brain ever since lunch trying to figure out how we're going to convince him without inevitably- never mind."

"Inevitably what? Just say it, Elizabeth." She takes a deep breath and sighs.

"Without inevitably falling for each other and then things end bad."

"There's no way of proving it'll happen."

"Oh, come on. Ever since we kissed things have been different." She says, and I try to think of something. "I'm sorry. Maybe, I'm just reading too much into this. I've never had a fake boyfriend let alone a real one. I don't know what I'm doing."

"You've never had a boyfriend?"

"Go ahead, rub it in." The old Thomas would. This new me feels kind of sorry for her.

"Wait... so when we kissed?" She nods.

"That was my first kiss. 25 and never been kissed. Again, rub it in. Laugh at me. Poke fun. I'm used to it."

"I... If I had known, I wouldn't have." She looks at me, her eyes glassy. "That shouldn't have been the way you experienced it for the first time." I say, sincerely.

"Well, it never would've happened any other way. So, thanks."

"Elizabeth, I'm willing to give you a real experience of a boyfriend if you let me. It would be a win-win for everyone. We'd be able to truly convince Luke, you'd get the chance to experience what it's really like to have a boyfriend, and then you'll be able to move on after the wedding." She shakes her head.

"I don't think it's that simple." She says. "Odds are I'll fall for you and get my heart broken."

"Or that doesn't happen, and we can go back to hating each other. I can be awfully rude."

"Yeah, you can." She laughs a genuine laugh. "You're right. I don't think I could ever fall for you." Oh. Well, shit. That hurt in an unexpected way.

"All it takes is remembering how easy it is for me to get under your skin. That should be enough to fight off any possible feelings."

"Yeah, that should be easy enough." She smirks and lets out a laugh. "Thanks for cheering me up."

"So, shall I start calling you Lizzy now?" She rolls her eyes and smiles.

"Sure, but only if I get to call you Tommy."

"God, no." I say, and she cracks up.

"Oh, come on Tommy. Lighten up."

"Please, stop." She cracks another smile.

"Fine. Thomas sounds better anyway." I nod and she shakes her head. "So, fake boyfriend, what's the next step in this plan."

"Well, we could go on a few dates. It would be good to really get to know each other. That way, when people start asking us questions, we know how to answer."

"Yeah, that makes sense. How about tomorrow? Give me a chance to compose myself, and we can do something."

"Tomorrow sounds great."

I don't stay long, and I'm soon heading home. As I pull up to my house, I shut off the car, and my phone dings.

Elizabeth: Thank you again for cheering me up. Sorry if I sounded like a total nutball.

Me: Eh, I'm used to dealing with that when it comes to you.

Elizabeth: Oh, ha ha.

I chuckle as I head inside. Was I crazy for suggesting this revised plan? Maybe, but there's just something about being the person for all of her firsts. God, I hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass.