Fake Dating The Enemy

29

Elizabeth

It's the night before the wedding, and Ashley wanted all of us to go out for drinks and karaoke. I reluctantly agreed for the sake of being there to celebrate with them the night before their big day. All I could think about all night, however, was Thomas.

I grabbed what was probably my 20th shot from the bar, downing it before stumbling over to the booth where Ashley and Luke were sitting. They exchange glances before Ashley places a hand on my arm. I look at her and notice she's got that look that tells me she's about to hit me with some tough love.

"Elizabeth, you know we both care about you, right?" She asks, and I look at her and then Luke before looking back at her and nodding. "You know we want the best for you and for you to be happy, right?" I nod again, and she sighs. "You need to move on. You need to forget about Thomas and find yourself a man who isn't scared of commitment. You need to stand up for yourself and tell him to kiss your ass."

"It's not that easy." I slur, the mixture of alcohol in my stomach threatening to come up. "I love him. I don't think I could ever not love him."

"Elizabeth, I'm worried about you." Luke says, his eyes glassy as if he wants to cry. "I've never seen you like this."

"So, what?"

"Elizabeth, you need to find a way to get past this. You do realize you will be seeing him tomorrow, right? You need to come to terms with what happened and move on." Luke says, and I shake my head.

"I can't. What can't you two understand? I'm fucking hurting. I'm trying to distract myself from the throbbing pain in my chest so I can pretend to be happy. Do you know how hard that is? And yes, I'll be seeing him tomorrow. Don't you think I realize that? Maybe that's why I'm acting like this. I'm trying to find a way to be okay around him. He fucking broke me, and I'm not one of those people that can just pick the pieces back up. It takes time." Ashley opens her mouth to speak, but I interrupt her. "We're here for karaoke. I'm singing." I get up, stumbling away from the table. I almost fall when I try to abruptly stop myself after making eye contact with the devil himself.

"Hey, Elizabeth." Thomas says, taking a step closer to me.

"No." I say, putting a hand out to tell him not to come near me. "You- you aren't supposed to be here yet." I slur, rubbing my eyes to try to make him disappear.

"I know." He says, trying to step closer. "I came back a day early so we could talk."

"Talk?" I question, my voice stern. I force out a laugh. "You want to talk? Really?" He gives me a confused look and I shake my head. "Why don't you just go back home to Sophia." I turn to walk away, but he reaches out to grab my hand.

"I don't want to be with her. I want to be with you." He says, turning me towards him.

"Just shut up Thomas. God, can't you see? You don't want to be with me. You just want to use me so you can make her jealous and win her over and over and over again."

"That's not true." He says, stepping closer. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I was stupid. I was scared. Neither of those statements are good excuses for what I've done, but I love you, Elizabeth."

"Don't say that. You clearly don't mean it."

"I do." He says, trying to tuck some hair behind my ear, but I shove his arm away. "Lizzy-"

"Stop!" I shout, gaining the attention from practically everyone in the building. "You aren't sorry, and you definitely don't love me, Thomas." I take a step back and shake my head at him. "Now, if you'll excuse me I want to sing a song."

Thomas

I watch as she stumbles to the microphone, and I decide to take a seat next to Luke and Ashley. Luke pats me on the shoulder, and I look at him.

"I know you're trying to do the right thing, and I appreciate that, but she's still hurt. We all need to give her space." He says, and I nod before turning my attention back to Elizabeth as the music starts.

"Oh, shit." Ashley says, and Luke shares a similar look of concern. "She's singing Taylor Swift." I recognize the song she's about to sing. It was one the songs we listened to on the way down here together.

White Horse.

Say you're sorry, that face of an angel comes out just when you need it to.

As she sings the beginning lyrics, I notice she's staring right into my eyes. I know she's singing this to try to get me to understand how she's feeling. More or less how I've made her feel.

As I paced back and forth all this time 'cause I honestly believed in you.

She did believe in me and I fucked it up. I fucked everything up.

Stupid girl, I should've known.

I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairytale.

No, it isn't a fairytale, but that doesn't mean we aren't right for each other. My heart is breaking more and more as we hold eye contact as she sings the song.

I was a dreamer before you went and let me down.

I did let her down, and I'll never forgive myself for that. I won't ever let myself forget how I made her feel. I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to her.

Maybe I was naive, got lost in your eyes. Never really had a chance.

No, she wasn't naive. I was just too fucking stupid to realize how perfect she was for me. I got scared. We could still have a chance at a life together if I can find a way for her to forgive me.

I had so many dreams about you and me. Happy endings.

So did I. All I ever thought about was a future together, and I ruined it. I can't go back, but I can fix it. I will fix it.

And there you are on your knees. Begging for forgiveness, begging for me. Just like I always wanted, but I'm so sorry 'cause I'm not your princess. This ain't our fairytale. I'm gonna find someone someday who might actually treat me well.

I will beg for forgiveness until I get it, and I won't let anyone else have her. Maybe she deserves better, but that doesn't mean I can't be better. I will become better ... for her.

Now it's too late to catch me now.

The way her voice cracks as she sings that last line makes my heart break. She takes one last look at me before running out of the building. I stand, chasing after her.