The World Will Never Be The Same

ELIZA!!!

Lauren's POV
I've always thought that grocery stores were strange at night. And now I was in one, past midnight, for a date. What are the odds, right? We were currently picking out ice cream, and he was holding two containers of cookie dough while I reached to the top shelf to get one for Eliza.

"So, she's your roommate?"

"Yup. We're pretty close, and I'm sure she'd love some ice cream."

"What kind?"

I finally tipped the container into my arms. Whoever decided to make grocery shelves this high was an idiot. I'm pretty tall and I can barely reach them. I held up the pint proudly.
"French Vanilla, her favourite. Girl likes the classics."

He stared at the floor for a minute, as if he was remembering something, and not in a fond way. "She really does." His tone was kind of regretful. Where the hell did this come from?

"What's wrong?" I asked him.

"Oh, I'm ... I'm sorry. We used to date. And I,... I still remember everything about her."

"Really?"

"Yes, and it was a very painful breakup, but we both needed it. I wasn't in the right place for a relationship, and she was ready to just rush into things, and well, sometimes feelings just fade. I still enjoy her company, and we're great friends, but I'll always regret hurting her. I just... I just don't want to hurt her again." He looked up into my eyes. "Or you."

We stayed in silence, both unsure of what to say. As would forever happen in the future, he broke it.

"Man, that got deep." He shifted awkwardly on his feet. "Want to check out?"

"Yes, let's go."
**********
The car ride felt eternally long, but soon enough I had the keys in the door, and welcomed Alexander to my home of overpriced scented candles and show-tunes playing 24 hours a day.

Currently playing was Only Us, and I could hear Eliza singing along from the kitchen. I closed the door as softly as I could and signalled for Alex to stay quiet. He looked at me questioningly, but did so.

With an evil smirk, I snuck into the kitchen as quietly as I could- Alexander following suit as he caught on. Eliza was washing silverware in the sink and singing along, and from what it looked like was oblivious to us.

"Hey 'Liza!" I yelled as I hugged her from behind. She shrieked and smacked me with a wooden spoon, realizing it was me after it hit me right on the forehead, then I shrieked.
Meanwhile, Alexander laughed in the background like the total jerk-face he was. Soon enough, Eliza joined him- mocking John as he pretended to die dramatically.

"Ahh! She's killed me! NOOOOOOOO!!!!"

And so the night began, with laughter and jokes. Despite my nerves, I thought I was beginning to like this guy, a lot.