"Enjoy life, be nice to everyone and have fun."

❥

The party goes on and eventually, Jeff and Liz end up talking. "So.. how was it for you yesterday?", Jeff asks her shyly hoping that she had a good time, even without him. "It was great", the girl replies slightly too quickly so she acts like she just overreacted, "I mean.. alright for a normal evening." "So you didn't go onto a date?", Jeff wonders knowing how many of his team mates would love to be around her. "No, I was home alone." 

"I'm sorry", Jeff tells her, "But at least you weren't macking on Scott." "Why tho? Is Scotty off limits?", she chuckles and pretends to think it's funny while she's becoming more cautious about what she's saying. "Of course he is. He's my best friend. It's hard enough that you mack on Justin. You're literally best friends and the boy's got feelings for you." 

"Have been. Haven't you seen around Jess lately? Justin and I are just friends, obviously." "Don't you have feelings for someone?", Jeff goes on and Liz rolls her eyes mentally. Why is he so curious now? "Can we like.. not talk about feelings? And why is Scott off limits then? I'd rather see you with Sheri than Leah." "That's good to know." "Hey! I didn't say that you can be with her, just that I trust her more than Leah." "What's your issue with her?" 

"She said some things about us that I couldn't deal with." "Can you go on without me asking twice?" "Boy", she groans knowing that he'll be protective if she tells him but she also started it, "When we started dating, she said some stuff like I didn't deserve you. Stuff that girls say when they're jealous. And once, she claimed that you were cheating on me." "What? I never did, I never would! I loved.. love-" 

"I know, J, I know. That's why I never told you. I didn't believe her. It just.. still hurt that people were talking." Did he confess that he loved her once and not anymore or was it just the wrong tense by accident?, the girl wonders. But as she wouldn't get an answer today, she suppresses this thought until it might be interesting again. "I'm sorry that she said those things.. but why would she do that? I never really talked to her before, especially not during middle school." 

"You don't know that? She always talks about it." "About what?" "I don't know what happened exactly but I think she liked you since the beginning of middle school and someone said that you walked her home after her best friend dumped her or so and she kind of fell for you, I don't know it exactly." "That's why she's talking to me a lot?" 

"Yeah and Sheri said something about how her best friend dumped her to be close to Monty and I but I just remember how Monty macked on her and that's it. Stupid best friend if she leaves her for a boy but it's neither mine nor Monty's fault." "That's pretty fucked up.. I have to talk to her. Thanks for telling me and.. don't mack on Scott", Jeff jokes before he leaves her standing there. 

She doesn't know how to feel about it. Of course, she understands his urgency to talk to Leah about the real reasons why she is so keen on talking to him, but she also admitted to him how she feels about her and why. And being called the one who doesn't deserve him, who cheats on him and many other hurtful words, isn't easy as well. 

But Liz tries to make the best out of this evening and goes over to where some of her friends are. Justin is playing beer pong against Luke so she's cheering for Justin. In the end, Luke wins and some of the boys congratulate him. Justin points to Jessica and Liz who stand next to each other and tells them that he's going to bring some drinks for them. The girls notice that they're so close just now and looks at each other shyly, then laugh. 

"I know we don't know each other a lot and have only spoken at cheer training but good luck with Justin. He's great", Liz says to Jessica warmly but then realizes what she just said, "I mean as a friend. Justin and I are only best friends." "I know", Jessica smiles back at her, "He told me about summer break and how you've spent it and he also said that it's over. And I mean.. this school talks about you and Jeff a lot so I don't think you would be with Justin then." 

"Jeff and I are over, but Justin and I as well. No need to worry about it. We're good, right?" "Sure", Jess nods and turns to Justin as he's coming back with drinks and lays his arm around Jess' shoulder, "We need to pair Liz off with someone and go on a double date." Justin chuckles knowing that they don't have to do that anymore but he keeps his mouth shut as promised. 

When deciding between his best friend and a girl, she would always choose friends, especially when it's got nothing to do with their relationship. Of course, Justin could tell Jessica about Liz and Scott but it's not her business and him and Liz trust each other. "Yeah, we should definitely do that. I'll think about someone", Justin agrees with his new girlfriend and smiles at Liz signalizing her that he's just saying that to keep his mouth shut about her secret. 

"If it's that easy, I would have asked you to play amor before", Liz jokes and realizes that the two probably want to spend time alone with each other so after a few minutes, she also lets them have some time together and sits by the pool letting her feet hang in the water.

"You seem lonely tonight", Scott states sitting down next to her. He glances at her hand resting on the ground. Oh how he would love to take hers into his in that moment. "Scott, it's too obvious when we're sitting here together." "No, it's not. Jeff already left, everyone else is busy with themselves and it would only be weird if we ignore each other in public. We shouldn't change anything about the way we treat each other here", he explains. 

"I mean we haven't talked to each other a lot before. Only what had to be said", Liz reminds him of the past but Scott shakes his head. "I was speaking up more often but you often chose to ignore me or act annoyed in front of me", Scott clarifies. "I mean, you can be quite annoying", Liz stresses thinking of the evening when he threw popcorn at her, "But it is worth it."