Forbidden love...(on hold)

Part Seventeen...

“You weren’t kidding about the house,” he commented, “do you really want to live here?”

“Ya I like it here,” I told him, “it’s home or at least as close to it as possible for me. It’s the only place I lived for more than two years but you knew that.”

“I’m sorry for that but hey we never left the area,” he smiled as he walked to me and wrapped me in his big brotherly bear hugs. “everything will change, nothing could suck like this for too long with you.”

“I know,” I smiled up at him before got distracted by a laughing baby, “ok now let me hold my niece.” I reached up my arms to Nancy as she offered me little Carly and we walked into the house to get settled.

When I got to school the next day I sat on the opposite side of class in first period, as far from Nate as possible, I couldn’t even look at him. When I got to second period Brandon seemed to know there was something wrong, but thankfully he didn’t bring it up until the end of class when my stress level had gone down.

“Hey Lizzy are you ok?” he pushed himself away from the computer softly and swiveled his chair so he could look at me.

I sighed deeply before answering, “Not really,” I thought about what to say for a second while he watched patiently, “Something happened yesterday and it just wasn’t what I had expected…. and well I am not taking it well.”

“You look calm to me.” Rachel said leaning around her boyfriend, “but that’s just my opinion.”

I didn’t respond to her so Brandon spoke up.

“Well what happened?” Brandon asked.

“I… um…it’s nothing, it doesn‘t really matter” I replied stuttering, I avoided their eyes by staring at the carpet. When I did look up it was obvious they didn’t believe me by the look on their faces.

“You know you could tell me, right?” Brandon asked the way that Nick would. It made me want to explode with all my pain but I managed to conceal my internal dilemma.

“Thanks I’m glad I can rely on you,” I told him packing my things, “it’s nice to have a friend like you right now.” 

I wondered what he had gotten out of the conversation so I read his head.

‘I wish he would ask her himself I’m not a message carrier I can’t just up and say to her ‘Hey Lizzy, Nate want’s to know it you still love him?’ that is a bad idea. That is a really bad idea. Well at least I can do some of it for him it’s not that hard just to be there for her like he asked,’

I couldn’t help but smile to myself. Brandon stressing out at this was kinda funny no wonder Rachel loved him so much he was compassionate deep down. Speak of the girl I just couldn’t resist a little peak in her head too.

‘My baby is such a good friend I love that about him I just wish I knew the other half of what Nate wanted him to do.’

I knew that Nate would want an answer soon so I could tell him with no problem the truth.

“Brandon you know what,” I began, “tell Nate not to ask so much of my friends and the answer is yes I still love him.” he looked confused for a second then grinned.

“Can do,” he replied hugging me, “thank you for not making me ask Lizzy, it is way easier that way.” his grin represented his sarcasm.

“I live to serve,” I joked as I bowed to him.

“Wanna hang during lunch?” he asked as we came down from our laughing.

“Sure why not?” I asked grasping at my breaths. We grabbed our shit and waited for the bell to ring when it did we shot out of the class room like cannon fire. After getting rid of our books we headed for the parking lot.

“So where to guys?” I asked turning to look at them as we got near my car.

“Um,” they replied in unison as I bumped into someone. I shot my head up ready to apologize for not paying attention when I saw who it was and gasped. I looked to Brandon and Rachel to find them gone from sight they were lucky they could run because this was a problem I couldn’t run from.

“Elizabeth?” Nate asked. He stayed quiet for a second before speaking again. “I know you hate me right now but you are…”

“…safer. I know they explained it, I know,” I sad taking a small step back.

“Please talk to me I know you are hurt and I don’t know what to do.” he said as he stepped with me.

“I killed my mom, that killed my dad, my family was torn,” I began under my breath growing louder, “My best friend was taken, my friendship torn, I get a creepy stalker, my brother leaves, my head goes haywire, my family’s afraid of me, and my boyfriend kicked me out yesterday.” by the last words I was yelling. I turned back to him as I took a few short breaths to lower my voice. “What is there to do?”

“Look. I won’t tell you what to do or how to feel but I will tell you that I love you and I don‘t care what happens, this will not change for me.” his voice was strong when he spoke.

“I can’t be mad at you you’re protecting our family. I‘ll be ok.” I took a few breaths and stepped forward so I could reach his lips with mine. We enjoyed that moment for only a moment before we separated and he just held me close to him. Footsteps crept up on us behind me. 

“I don’t regret it Lizzy, letting my brother and sister connect with you was no choice without you they wouldn’t of lasted.” Shane informed me standing less than three feet from me, “I never hated you.”

“I know,” I smiled to myself, I pulled away from Nate over to Shane to hug him “I love you Shane.”

“love you too, little sister.” he kissed the top of my head just like an older brother and we walked back to the school.

Everything seemed to calm it’s self down through the next three months Nate and I decided to do regular high school couple things we went on dates to movies and concerts like the All American Rejects and Green Day. we spent nights at old dinners and we double dated with all of our friends. 

We even traded off kids the girls had slumber parties at my house while the boys had guys nights. We watched movies and played board games I lost most often, it was disappointing sometimes.