Backfire

As the peaceful and pleasant days continued, their vacation together was coming to an end. Nick had been staying strong during this time and had not stepped out of line even once. He could see the finish line, he could feel his days of holding back end and could almost smell sweet victory. Where the week started with Elizabeth and the others being convinced that Nick would have the toughest time, the end would show that they might have been betting on the wrong horse. In all of Elizabeth's tactics to test Nick, she started to notice that with each day that passed, her happiness over Nick not cracking was fading. Where others might think this was because she didn't want to lose or looked up against having to give Nick an actual chance, she knew that it was something else. Her advances started with the intention of giving Nick a tough time, but now even when she was really trying to get close to him, he would still push her away. Thinking it was a trick or a trap. Unexpectedly these rejections did more than just scratch her pride.

Spending so many days with such loving and doting couples, made her imagine herself in those kind of situations. More and more often the person in her imagination became Nick. Slowly she started feeling the need to turn imagination to reality. She too longed for some affection and closeness and finding a person who could give her that. Little by little she wasn't so against having that person be Nick. Now that she had made a decision, she had bullied Nick into being wary of her and her intentions. She tried to pretend fall on top of him, like she had seen in so many dramas, to entice him into giving her a kiss. But he had caught her before they even hit the floor and asked her if she was okay. She tried falling asleep against his shoulder on the lounge sofa outside, but he grabbed a throw pillow and placed her head gently on that. Even in bed when he was asleep, he seemed guarded against her. She tried to roll over to his side of the bed, as if she was moving in her sleep, but he shot up and got out of bed.

The next morning she had found him sleeping on the sofa downstairs. As she looked at the man who was clearly sleeping uncomfortably, but would rather sleep there for a night than lose the challenge she had imposed on him, her heart started to ache. It seemed like her own plan had backfired on her. The reason she had issued this challenge was to prevent herself from getting hurt, while testing his intentions and his determination. Despite the test almost being completed, it felt like they had both lost during the process. Elizabeth grabbed both sides of the sheets she had wrapped around herself, as she had made up her mind. If she was the one to start this challenge, then she would be the one to end it. It was time for her to end their suffering, so that they could enjoy their last day in this beautiful place, without playing mind games or using their possible relationship as a wager or reward of a bet.

She walked over to the back of the sofa and gently climbed over it. One leg was over, on to go. Without waking him, she had placed her body on the sofa and was standing on the space between his body and the back of the sofa. She lowered herself and before he had a chance to respond, Elizabeth had laid down on sofa as well. Her head placed on his chest and her arms wrapped around it. Nick was first thinking it was a dream, as he did not think she would actually follow him or even notice him leaving. Not until he wrapped his arms around her and felt her respond, did he become wide awake. He tried to get up and push her away as he was saying "Lizzy, what are you doing here. This is unfair. I was asleep, so this doesn't count as me losing." Elizabeth wouldn't budge and continued to keep her eyes closed as she tried to get some more sleep. With a sleepy voice she muttered "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry, you didn't lose, I did."

Nick couldn't believe what was happening. It felt like a dream, but he knew he was awake. He kept pinching himself, because this being his imagination, was the only reason he could think of for what had just happened. Seeing her laying peacefully in his arms, he could feel his heart tightening. Afraid that any little move could wake her, afraid that any little thing could scare her away and make the illusion break. He couldn't understand how Elizabeth's behavior could change so drastically overnight. Hearing her words and seeing her unwillingness to let go, he gave in to her and tried to fall asleep as well. But no matter what he did, he could not fall back asleep. Not when he was so afraid that if he closed his eyes, in the morning this would all have disappeared. He needed to figure out what happened, he needed to talk to her, he needed some confirmation and assurance before he could trust what was happening. Elizabeth had been way too tired to notice his struggles and had been fast asleep. She wasn't one to rise early in the mornings and her lack of sleep last night had taken its toll on her. Sleep took over Nick's willpower as well and soon both of them were counting sheep in each other's arms, under a sheet in the living room, not noticing the others waking up and coming out..