Fake Dating The Enemy

10

Elizabeth

Another week has gone by, and absolutely no contact from Thomas. I've been trying to think of what to say to him, but it's hard. I can look past the horrible things he said about me when we were younger. What I can't look past is the feeling that he could easily do it again. My phone rings, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Hey, Ashley." I say, answering the phone.

"Hey, girl. Are you still coming tonight?" Ashley and Luke are hosting a bonfire on the beach tonight. I've been trying to think of ways to get out of going ever since they told me about it.

"Oh, I- I think I'm going to stay home."

"Elizabeth... we haven't seen you in ages. Please, just come." There's a brief pause before she continues. "I think it would be good for you. You could get out of the house, and have a few drinks. It'll be a good time." I know there's nothing I can say to get her off my back.

"Alright, fine." I say with a sigh. "I guess it would be nice to get out of the house."

"Yay! Alright, I'll see you tonight." We say our goodbyes, and I hang up, throwing my phone on the bed and rubbing my hands over my face.

I spend the next hour debating on reaching out to Thomas. Typing up a text, deleting it, typing one up, and deleting it. Why is this so hard? Why have I let him affect me so much? I lock my phone, sliding it in my pocket before putting my shoes on and going for a walk.

Walks usually help clear my head, but the more I walk the more I can't stop thinking about Thomas. Would he be there tonight? At the bonfire? Knowing my luck, he will be, and I'll probably be forced to talk to him. It would be good, though. Seeing him would give me a chance to really figure out where to go from here. I don't know what it is, but I still have a bad feeling about it. With my mixed feelings, I head back home to start getting ready for tonight.

*

Thomas

I step out of the shower, drying my hair with my towel when my phone goes off. I pick it up to see Luke's name across the screen. We've been trying to be civil since he came to talk to me last week, but I still have my guard up.

"Hey." I say, answering the phone.

"Hey, Thomas. Are you still coming tonight? It'd be great to see you." I've been dreading this bonfire ever since they told me about it.

"I don't know, man. I think I might stay home."

"Come on, Thomas. It'll be fun. It'll be like old times." Luke and I used to have bonfires on the beach a lot growing up. It was always a good time.

"Alright, I'll be there."

"Sweet. See you then." I hang up the phone, running a hand through my wet hair.

If anything, Elizabeth might be there tonight. Perhaps we can finally talk things through. I've been doing my best at giving her space, but it's hard. I never knew how hard it could be to give your fake girlfriend space.

I shake the thoughts of her away, and head to my bedroom to find something to wear tonight. I find a pair of my swim trunks, sliding them on before finding a plain black t-shirt to wear. I sit down on the edge of the bed, scrolling on my phone when a text pops up.

Elizabeth: Hi...

My heart skips a beat. Is she finally ready to talk?

Me: Hey. You doing alright?

I send it, not wanting to be too eager. Moments later, she replies.

Elizabeth: Actually, no. I've been trying so hard to wrap my head around everything, but all it does is drive me crazy.

Me: I get it. Feel free to say no, but would you want to meet up for coffee? I really think it would do us both good to start fresh. We can lay everything out on the table and get back to being normal.

There's no reply. Damnit, Thomas. Why do you do these things? I spend the next twenty minutes regretting every life decision I've ever made. That was, until my phone dings.

Elizabeth: Alright. Meet me there. You know the one.

A smile forms across my lips as I throw on some shoes before heading out the door. I head to the local coffee shop in town, seeing Elizabeth sitting outside at one of the tables. She locks eyes with me as I cross the street, and I fight back a smile.

"Mind if I sit?" I ask, and she shakes her head. I sit down across from her, and I can feel the nerves start to creep in.

"Thomas, I have been trying to think of what to say to you for weeks now. No matter how hard I try, I can't stop thinking about you, and it hurts." I can see the tears welling up in her eyes. I slowly reach out to hold her hand. Thankfully, she doesn't pull back.

"Elizabeth, there are no words I could say that could ever possibly make things better. All I can do, is tell you how sorry I am, how fucking stupid I was, and hope that you can forgive me." She stares down at my hand holding hers.

"Thomas, is all of this really worth it?" She looks me in the eyes, tears threatening to boil over. "I'm serious. Is all of this really worth it just to get back at Luke? Maybe he's right. Maybe we won't ever stop being childish."

"I don't give a shit about Luke, anymore. I miss you, Elizabeth. Friend, fake girlfriend, whatever you wanna be. I miss you." She slides her hand away from mine.

"Are you going to the bonfire tonight?" She asks and I nod. "Well, I guess I'll see you there." With that, she gets up to leave.

"So, that's it? Is this over?" I say, walking after her.

"I don't know, Thomas."

"It's either over or it's not. There's no in between." I'm tired of this back and forth. I just want her to make a decision.

"I meant what I said last week. See who you want to see. Be with someone you can actually see yourself being with." I shake my head. "Thomas-"

"No, Elizabeth. I'm not doing this back and forth with you." I say, standing my ground. "Do you want to continue with the plan or not?"

"No." She says, leaving me standing on the sidewalk, my heart slightly breaking.