Fake Dating The Enemy

28

Elizabeth

The drive back to Florida felt like eternity. It felt as if I was going five miles an hour even though I was going over the speed limit half of the time. By the time I arrive back to Luke's, all of the lights were off except for one. The living room is lit up, and Luke is sitting at the window that looks out at the driveway. He waited up for me? Of course he did. Overprotective big brother mode activated. He notices me pull up, and he instantly stands up to head to the door. The front door swings open when I'm halfway to it. Luke stands there, a mixture of emotions crossing his face. It's as if he couldn't decide whether to be mad at me or sympathetic. 

"El." His voice is soft, but there's a light layer of anger lying beneath his tone. I instantly burst into tears, and he rushes to me to engulf me in a hug. I sob on his chest, and he rubs soft circles on my back. "Shh, it's alright. He's not worth it."

"How could I be so stupid?" He shakes his head, holding me tighter. "I'm so sorry, Luke. I'm sorry for everything. I never should've gotten involved with him." A heavy sigh escapes him as he steps back to look me in the eye. HIs eyes are glassy, but there's anger swirling in them, too.

"No, you shouldn't have, but you can't change the past. All you can do is find a way to move on." I nod, and he gives me a small smile. "Come on, let's go inside." 

*

I haven't left my room in three days. Luke and Ashley have alternated bringing me food, but I haven't had an appetite. How could I even think about eating when I feel so lost? I am broken, and I don't know how to fix it. How can I fix something that was broken by the only person who can fix me? He can't fix me. He doesn't want me. He doesn't love me. He can never be more than who he is. One and done Tom.

I can't believe I was stupid enough to drive all the way back home to see him. I really thought it would be as simple as showing up at his door, and everything would go back to normal. God, I'm such an idiot. A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts.

"Elizabeth, you need to eat." Ashley says, bringing in a plate of food. She sits it on the nightstand next to the barely touched plate from last night. "Why aren't you eating?"

"I'm not hungry." I say, my stomach betraying me and letting out a loud growl. 

"Your stomach says otherwise." 

"I don't need food. I bet Sophia eats three pieces of lettuce a day. Maybe I'll do that, and I can become as skinny and pretty as her."

"Elizabeth!" Ashley scolds, her hands on her hips. "Don't you talk like that. You are skinny, and you are beautiful. I can't believe you would ever feel differently."

"I can't help it." I say, tears streaming down my face. Ashley scoots my legs so she can sit on the bed next to me. She places a hand on my arm, rubbing gently. 

"You don't deserve this. You deserve happiness, and I promise you will find it."

"I was happy. I was happier than I've ever been."

"I know." She says, sighing lightly. "Give it time. Life has a way of surprising you." She stands, taking the old plate of food. "Please, eat." She leaves, shutting the door behind her. I glance at the plate of chicken alfredo, and my stomach growls. I sit up, taking the plate into my lap and eating a few forkfuls. Before I know it, the plate is empty, and my stomach is full and happy.

Thomas

I've spent the last three days regretting everything I've ever done and regretting how I've lived my life. I had the best thing in the world, and I broke it. I broke her, and I don't think I can fix it. Even if I could, I don't think she'd want me to. I wouldn't blame her. 

All I've been able to do is sit here with the image of her glassy eyes staring back at me. My heart breaks more and more every time the image pops up in my head. God damnit, Thomas. You're so fucking stupid. I mean, seriously. You had Elizabeth, the girl of your dreams, in love with you, and you broke her heart. You don't deserve to ever be happy again. My phone starts to ring, and I grab it, eagerly, in hopes it's Elizabeth.

"Luke?" I question, cautiously. 

"How fucking stupid can you be?"

"Listen I-"

"No." His voice is full of anger. "You listen, asshole. How could you go back to Sophia? I thought you were past that."

"I don't know."

"You don't know? Seriously? That's the best you got?" I don't know how to answer him. My brain is going a million miles a minute. 

"You're the one who said we needed to go back to how things used to be. I didn't know she was going to drive all the way here to see me."

"That's not the point." He says, and I run a hand through my hair. "Listen, I am going to be civil wit you for my sister's sake, but after this wedding, I'm done. If you can't find a way for her to be okay around you, I want nothing to do with you."

"Luke-"

"I'll see you at the wedding. You better be there." He hangs up, and my heart is in my throat. 

I fucked up. I fucked up so bad. Not only did I lose the best thing to ever happen to me because I decided to be an idiot, but I'm going to lose my best friend. It's times like these that I wish I had a time machine. I would go back and make sure none of this ever happened.