Another number

Again Nick had surprised Elizabeth with his questions. She broke free from his hold and got up. As she walked away from him she said "No! I refuse. My heart belongs to Jason and the heart wants what it wants" Nick didn't give up. Much like his other friends, he could be quite relentless when he wanted to be. He stood up and held her shoulders once more. "If you know that, then you should know that it is hopeless between you and Jason. Isn't giving me a chance better than the heartbreak you are facing now?" Elizabeth turned her eyes away from him as she tried to calm the thumping of her heart. "No. Giving you a chance is going from the lions den into the lions mouth. If I accept your advances and actually fall for you, I am destined to have my heart broken. Who would believe the words of a playboy like you?" "I know I am a playboy or at least, I have been. But I have always been honest. I have always been clear on where we stood with those girls and they chose to throw themselves in my arms regardless of that."

Elizabeth turned with fierce eyes and said "Exactly! you are so used to girls throwing themselves at you, that now that you have found someone you can't reach, you want her all the more. Once the challenge is gone, so will you be." Her eyes turned downcast for a moment before she continued "I refuse to be another number carved into your bedpost." Somehow Nick thought that a cheeky response might salvage the situation so he replied "How about I make you the last number?" with a grin on his face and his eyebrows moving up and down like the player that he was. "Che, as if I would believe that. Why don't you look in the mirror as you say those words and see if you would believe yourself." He grabbed her in a hug from behind and tried again "Come on Lizzy. Haven't I done enough to prove to you that I am serious? I put my neck on the line for you, risked having Jason mad at me, all so I could help you. Isn't that enough to earn me at least a chance?" Seeing that Elizabeth was still hesitant, he continued as he turned her around to face her. With serious eyes and a serious tone, he said "I really like you. What must I do to convince you that I am not playing games and that I am serious about you?"

Elizabeth knew her unhealthy obsession with Jason had to stop, otherwise she would lose him forever. What she had told Nick a few nights ago was the truth. Her week away from school and Jason's behavior after that really sobered her up. She had mostly given up on him, but she couldn't get over him that fast. She had imagined herself to be the only logical option by his side for so long, that she needed some time to accept that someone else had taken it. It was these lingering feelings that made her dislike Jenny, that made her still want to try and made her so angry at their displays of affection. Maybe finding someone new to focus on would allow her to get over Jason faster and it wasn't as if she didn't like Nick at all. She might have been a bit drunk, but she still knew what she was doing when they kissed. It wasn't any of that which held her back. She was simply scared. Scared of the second boy she ever liked leaving her as well. Scared of his playboy ways. She didn't want to be just a plaything for him. She wanted what the others seemed to have. Someone who treasured them and put them first. Treated them like a little princess.

He was in love right now. Maybe with her, maybe with the idea of her, or maybe with her unavailability. How long would he actually stay in love? Would he be able to handle her temper tantrums? Would he stay with her once he saw how black her heart could be? Would he have the patience to wait for the defensive wall around her heart to slowly fall? Would he be able to see past the thorns in her words and understand their actual meaning? It was these questions that made her reject him and keep him at a safe distance from her, because with each touch, each kiss, she felt her guard around him lowering. The night spent in his arms, was the most peaceful night she had had in a long time. Since the appearance of Jenny, her nights had been disturbed. Haunted by images of her and Jason. Occupied with plans to get rid of her. Interrupted in the middle of the night by her waking up in cold sweat as she relived the fear from her heartbreaking moment in the hallway, when she was kicked out of their group. That night she wasn't plagued by any of that and had slept for ten hours straight. She had felt secure and warm, something she was unable to achieve with multiple blankets, quilts and heated blankets. If she gave into that warmth, how would she cope the moment he pulled it away from underneath her body when he found someone else to chase.

Seeing that Nick wasn't giving up and would probably continue to pester her all week, she finally snapped. If he wanted a chance, she would make him work for it. "Fine! I'll give you a chance..IF during this entire week you don't text another girl, don't talk to another girl and show me how much you care for me without touching me. If you manage to do all of this, I will accept that you are serious. If not, you have to promise to leave me alone from now on. Deal?" Without even blinking Nick grabbed his soaked phone, grabbed the sim-card and broke it in half in front of her, before he did the same to the phone itself. Erasing all the possible phone numbers of girls he had collected and any means of contacting them, before he stared right back at her with confident eyes and said "Deal."