An amazing actress

Elizabeth wiped her tears and took a seat in the opposite direction from Jason and was joined by Nick. She expressed her regret of how things had gone and brushed her actions off as foolishness by a girl in love. She had now come to her senses and had realized that they weren't meant to be, so she hoped that they could at least remain friends. She had missed their company and had missed having someone to talk to. Now that she had fallen from her pedestal, people had started treating her differently. The people she thought were her friends, had only been interested in her potential title and what that could bring them. The moment she had lost the chance to that position, they had left her. She claimed that these days without them had really opened her eyes and had made her realize what was actually important.

Elizabeth had always been an amazing actress with an amazing poker face and was able to hide her intentions well. She had perfected her damsel in distress act and knew how to play the victim. Her years of framing others now worked in her advantage. Though Jason was staring with a sharpness as if it could see right into her soul, she managed to keep her act going. She mixed real emotions with fake words and intentions. Creating such an emotional mess that even the sharpest minds would have trouble distinguishing the truth from her lies. Even the tears caused by her heart breaking once more by Jason's words, added to the credibility of her story. Combined with a strategic avoidance of eye contact, she managed to sell her story well. Though Jason wasn't fully convinced, he couldn't put his finger on that what was bothering him. Since there wasn't much that Elizabeth could do in this situation and as he had promised his friend to give her a chance, he allowed her to stay. If anything, this week would give him a chance to study her behavior and see if he could find a crack in her mask.

Elizabeth was overjoyed as she heard Jason say the redeeming words she had been waiting for. She was in the middle of her celebration, when Jenny and the others returned from grocery shopping. Jenny walked in first as she wasn't holding any groceries, so she was tasked with opening the door for the others. As she opened the door, she saw to her relief that Jason wasn't sitting anywhere with Elizabeth alone. He had kept her feelings in mind and had stayed in the living room with Nick present. Seeing Elizabeth's expression as she walked in, Jenny could already fill in what answer Jason had given her. She would be staying for the week. She put on a forced smile, while listening to Nick's happy words. "Let me reintroduce my date for this week, you all know her and most of you love her, miss Elizabeth!" He said with a big smile on his face and his arms in a large 'L' shape to present the girl standing next to him once more. Elizabeth turned to him with a sharp look and an elbow to the side as she said "Who is your date? I only came with you to see my friends, hmph". Despite Elizabeth's words from before, most of the people present were indeed her friends and had only kept their distance from her because of what she had done and who she had done it to. Now that Jason had apparently forgiven her for what had happened, they were happy to hang out with her once more. George even went to lift her up in a hug as he had missed her the most.

Her words had caused Nick to put on a fake sad expression and draw falling tears on his face with his fingers. The others present couldn't help but laugh at their interaction. "Well at least I know you will be sleeping in my room tonight, so i'll have plenty of chances to try and make you change your mind. We both know you are more honest when we are in private." Nick replied as he lifted his eyebrows up and down and a cheeky smile on his face. Elizabeth got his innuendo and flushed red as she shot him an angry look, before turning her face back to the group of friends in front of her. Sophia and Julia came forward and both gave her a simple short hug as they welcomed her back and Harry gave her a wink and said "Good to have you back, don't waste the chance you have been given" "Thanks Harry. I won't." Elizabeth replied with a gentle smile.

As Jenny watched the group of people welcoming Elizabeth, she watched from a short distance for a while before taking the groceries to the kitchen. She was in the middle of unpacking when she was joined by Jason. Jason had watched her from the moment she had walked in and had seen she wasn't too happy that Elizabeth would be staying. Though she seemed unhappy, she had taken the news well. It would only be for a week and it was for a good cause, the happiness of his friend Nick, so it was something they would have to face. And if this week went well, Elizabeth would be around more frequent, so it would be good to get used to the situation as soon as possible.

"Hey" Jason said as he approached her.

Jenny didn't look up and continued washing the vegetables she was holding as she replied "Hey..". "How are you feeling about all of this?"

Jenny shrugged her shoulders as she wasn't really sure of her own feelings. "Can't say that I am happy about her staying here, but everyone deserves a second chance I guess. I said that I would let her back if she found someone else, so maybe that person will be Nick. Who knows. What I can tell you is that when I saw his date was Elizabeth, I was happy we didn't go through with the plan of boys in one room and girls in one room. An entire week in the same room as that woman with no way to escape, would be a nightmare instead of a vacation!" Jason laughed at her words and was relieved to see she was able to make jokes about the situation. Now that he had seen that she was fine considering the circumstances, he could use this time alone in the kitchen for some snuggling instead!