Fake Dating The Enemy

24

Thomas

I've listened to Elizabeth's voicemail more times than I could keep track of. I wish I could put into words why I left. I got in my head, and let the idea of not being good enough get in the way of being with the most amazing girl in the world. What the fuck is wrong with me? I'm the biggest idiot, and I don't think I could ever forgive myself for being a coward and leaving. 

I do love her. God, do I love her. I thought leaving would be better for both of us. I know it doesn't make sense, but at the end of the day, I'm not what she deserves. She deserves someone who can make her happy. She deserves someone who can protect her. She deserves the world, and I can't give her that. I can't give her any of it.

My phone rings, and I expect it to be Elizabeth, but when I glance at my phone, a different name crosses the screen. Luke. I contemplate answering it. He's going to cuss me out, and I don't want to deal with that right now even if I deserve it. What if he doesn't want to, though? What if something happened to Elizabeth? What if she did something stupid because I left? In a panic, I answer the phone.

"Luke?" I question, hesitantly.

"Wow," His voice is full of disbelief. "So you are capable of answering the phone? You can answer when I call, but not my sister?" Fuck. He's pissed, and I can't blame him. He has every right.

"Luke, listen-" I try to speak, but he cuts me off.

"No." His voice is stern, angry. "You listen, asshole. Why did you leave?"

"I- I don't know."

"You don't know?" He scoffs, and I can visualize him rolling his eyes at me. "Seriously, Thomas? That's the best you got?"

"She told me she loved me, Luke."

"Yeah, I know, and apparently you said it back. So, I ask again, why did you leave?"

"I got scared, dude." I say, honestly. I wasn't just scared, though. I was terrified at the idea of her loving me. She's pure and good, and I'm... not.

"Scared? Come on, Thomas. Can't you be serious for once? You promised me you wouldn't hurt her. Do you even realize how bad you hurt her? She hasn't left her room since you left. You broke her heart, Thomas. You promised me you wouldn't, and you did anyway. You fucked up. You broke the one promise I thought you could actually keep because I honestly thought you cared about my sister." 

"I do care about her, Luke. I left because I care, okay?" He scoffs at my response.

"Leaving doesn't fucking show you care, dumb ass. Leaving makes you a fucking coward who is scared of commitment." He's right. I am scared of commitment. I've never had anyone love me before. Ever. Especially not in the way Elizabeth does. I've always been... one and done Tom. I can't believe what I'm about to say.

"You know, maybe you're right. Maybe I am scared of commitment. You've always said I couldn't be anything other than one and done Tom. Maybe that's all this was." Silence. I hold my breath waiting for him to respond.

"Are you fucking joking?" His voice is full of rage. "You're joking, right? Please tell me that was a joke before I drive up there and beat your fucking ass."

"You tell me since it's all I've ever been." Shut up, Thomas. Shut up before you get yourself killed.

"Thomas, I'm giving you one chance to take that back because if you're telling me all my sister was to you was a chance to get a quick fuck, you're fucking dead."

"Guess I'm a dead man walking." I hang up the phone, tossing it across the room. What the actual fuck is wrong with me?

Elizabeth

"I'm going to fucking kill him." I hear Luke say, storming down the stairs. He looks at me, his facial expression showing he didn't expect me to be sitting at the table. 

"Luke? What happened?" Ashley asks, sitting next to me. 

"I- I talked to Thomas." He says, hesitantly. He looks at me, his expression softening.

"What did he say?" I ask, my heart in my throat.

"I'm sorry, Elizabeth. He told me you were just another one of his one and done's."

"What?" I ask, my voice practically nonexistent. 

"One and done Tom strikes again." He says, and my heart turns ice cold.

"Oh." I say, all emotions going out the window. I stand, heading towards the back door. Luke reaches out, grabbing my arm gently.

"I will kill him if you want me to." I shake my head. 

"No, I should've known that's all he wanted." I take a deep breath. "I'm going to take a walk on the beach." 

"Do you want me to come with you?" Ashley asks, and I shake my head.

"I think it's best if I go alone." She nods, and I head out the back door toward the beach. 

I walk to the water, letting it wash over my feet. I look out, watching the waves crash together. Memories come flooding back of the moments spent on the beach back home. Moments that were spent with Thomas. There's nowhere I can go that won't remind me of him. He's everywhere and nowhere all at once. It's not fair.

I feel a singular tear cascade down my cheek, and I wipe it away. I refuse to cry over him. I refuse to shed another tear over that disgusting piece of shit. From this point on, Thomas Hudson is dead to me. 

He is, once again, my enemy.