I've Always Loved You. Always Have, Always Will - Emison

Chapter 5: Christmas Eve Part II

Eliza and the girls met up at Madison's house for a Christmas Eve get together. Over the past few months Eliza has been friends with the girls, she can safely say they really have become people in her life she can count on. They all share their secrets openly, knowing each and everyone of them will keep it under lock and key, never breaking the girl code. But there is a certain secret that both Eliza and Madison share without the other one even knowing... yet.

"Keira, why do you always have to hog the food?" Grace asks in a somewhat abrupt tone.

"Well nobody else is eating it, so I just thought I might as well". Keira justified, stuffing her face with yet another mouthful of popcorn.

"Maybe if you put it in the middle then we could get a chance to eat some". Grace replied. Keira was about to answer back but got cut off by Harper looking up from reading her magazine.

"Tonight is meant to be fun, why are you two arguing over popcorn?". Harper stated in almost annoyed tone "It's not the end of the world, there are bigger problems to worry about other than popcorn. Why are you guys on edge? It's Christmas, you should be happy".

"Well I know I'm not on edge. Jordan stayed over last night and I came 8 times this morning in a row". Grace openly blurted out, making her friends turn away with a TMI expression upon their faces.

Eliza had to admit even though it was a bit too much information, she was happy for Grace that she was in a passionate relationship with her boyfriend. It not as if she's seen many of them recently with her father being single and Alison and Elliot's relationship being far from loving.

"It's official guys, Jordan's turned Grace into a nymphomaniac". Keira joked. "That's why you can eat whatever you want".
"Just because I have sex, it doesn't make me a nymphomaniac". Grace justified, trying to turn the spotlight back to Keira. "Anyway, when was the last time you got laid?".

"Just because I don't have sex doesn't..." Keira played, trying to mimic Grace's tone of voice causing the other girls to laugh at the impersonation.

"Seriously though, are you a virgin?". Grace questioned.

"I don't want to say". Keira murmured.

"Awh, come on don't go all shy on us now... Okay, how about we all say if we're virgins or not apart from me because we all know I'm not a virgin...". Madison rolled her eyes causing Eliza to chuckle at her gesture without any of the others noticing, making Madison's heart melt inside from their brief moment and by the fact that she caused Eliza's beautiful face to brighten up with a smile "...By blinking if you haven't had sex or winking if you have had sex. That way, you don't actually have to admit it or not as you're all scaredy cats". All the girls nodded reluctantly, knowing they all didn't have a choice. "Okay, Maddie we'll start with you".
"What, why do I have to go first?". Madison defended, feeling vulnerable from being the one to open up first. "What do you guys even define sex as, there are so many definitions..."
"Quit trying to stall and just do it". Grace demanded.

After hearing what Madison just said left Eliza wide eyed and curious. Never before has she heard a person in her life suggest anything other than heterosexual when it comes to sex and especially from a person her age. This made Eliza all the more curious to get to know Madison even more.

"Okay, okay". Madison said admitting defeat before blinking - signalling that she was still a virgin. For someone who doesn't have feelings for Madison, why did Eliza feel relieved when Madison admitted to not having sex. She tried to convince herself that it was for her own security, knowing that she wasn't the only virgin in the room, making her feel better about herself, but maybe it was additional feelings starting to creep up as well? As soon as the last thought entered Eliza's mind she pushed it away not wanting yet another tragic crush to crash and burn along with her hopes and dreams that go along with it.