"Attraction is a feeling so it can never be wrong."

❥

Liz's point of view

After half an hour you could only hear us laughing, joking around. Jeff and Alex discuss his position in our group because he's friends with Justin. Hannah is just super happy about everything right now which she totally deserves. Leah eventually begins kissing Jeff. "I think it's time for some of us to disappear for some time", he grins charmingly and stands up holding hands with his girlfriend and leaves the room.

He's only done that with me before.. I couldn't stop him from being with someone else for the rest of his life but I could try.. I'm a jealous idiot, I know.. No, I won't do anything about them. Maybe we aren't meant to be. Maybe Jeff is supposed to be with Leah and I'm supposed to be with Scott or someone else. We will see.

"The bottle's empty, can you bring us a new one?", Sheri bids me after some time and I roll my eyes. Is this just a trick to get me upstairs? I check and the bottle is really empty and in the basement isn't another one so I really have to go upstairs. It's not a trick. So I stand up and go to the main floor. They should be in his room anyways but I'm surprised to see the couple standing in the living room.

"Sorry, I just came to get us a new bottle", I say softly showing them the empty bottle so they could see that I didn't come for them. Leah snorts, "Don't you see it? That's exactly what I mean, Jeff! She knows exactly how to ruin the situation for us! Do you really think she didn't make up an excuse to follow us?" "Honestly, this is not an excuse. Sheri told me to get another bottle", I say sheepishly, "I go now."

"No, you stay here, Els", Jeff suddenly holds my arm with his one hand, "What did he do to you now? Except for the fact that she didn't let you bully her!" "Guys, I'd love to stay out of your fight. I thought we're over it? I don't care about the comments from the past anymore", I try to calm them down because this situation is making me feel uncomfortable.

"Suddenly?! No, you don't go away now, it's your fault! What are you talking about, Jeff? I didn't do anything to her", Leah snaps at both of us and I furl my eyebrows. First she wants me to leave then not? I don't understand anything anymore and somehow I'd prefer them going to Jeff's room doing god knows what than fighting here.

"You didn't? I saw what you texted her. I noticed a message from Ellie on your phone which wasn't friendly so I wanted to defend you but then I read your texts. How can you even think of telling us we can't be friends anymore?", Jeff confronts her and I open my eyes widely. He knows about all that?

"I'm doing this for us. Do you think I like it that you still look after her? If you didn't want a new girlfriend, then why did you raise my hopes?" "Guys, calm down. I didn't mean to hurt anybody. Can you please make up? It's bullshit", I mutter trying to get away but they still involve me into this, "You're dating now. That's all that counts."

"Yeah, you're still standing here waiting for your chance to get Jeff back! How can you just like such a whore, Jeff?!", Leah yells and I flinch instinctively. "It's enough, Leah! I'm sorry for hurting you but you can't insult her for my mistakes." "You're doing it again! You're defending her all over and over again! And just yesterday you've even groaned her name as if I couldn't her you!"

"Because I love her, damn!", Jeff shouts as loud and angry as I've never heard it from him. The room is filled with silence now. I could easily hear my own breath. Leah's cheeks are full of tears and she falls down to the floor. I feel bad for her, it is really my fault. However, Jeff just looks at her blankly.

"I.. I'm sorry, Leah. I didn't want to shout at you or say that. Fuck, I'm just not ready for this relationship", he mutters with a guilty look on his face and throws his head into his neck. "And you couldn't have told me that earlier? Damn, Jeff, I love you!" "I can't help it, we have to break up. Anything else wouldn't be fair", he suddenly mumbles and doesn't even seem to be sad about it. 

I wish I could leave but it feels like my feet are glued to the bottom. The situation is so tense. If I don't do or say anything, maybe they would just forget that I'm here. But Leah cries even louder. I remember how I felt when Jeff broke up with me for the first time and all of the sudden, I regret being so mean to her and want to apologize. I step closer to her and lay my hand on her arm. "Leah, hey, I'm so sorry. I didn't want to hurt you. Should I bring you home? Just tell-"

Before I even finish, she had slaps me so hard that I fall to the floor. I look up shocked about what just happened and don't even feel the burn on my cheek until she screams at me again. "You're such a bitch, I knew it!", she screams angrily and runs away to her car slamming the door before Jeff could even go in between us. Then I feel my cheek burning and lay my hand over my probably red skin. 

"Fuck, are you okay? Els, there's blood." I hear Jeff's voice and I see that he's trying to help me standing up but I'm still taken aback. "I'm alright, thanks, better than she is. I just want to wipe away the blood and go back to the others", I mumble. "Come, I'll help you."

Jeff walks me to the sink in the kitchen. He washes away the blood in my face. Unfortunately, he's too close to me. I can't help but stare at his beautiful face and forget about everything around me. I forget about their fight and about my cheek. I just remember the moments when it used to be like this and I notice his face coming closer to mine each second so he must have feel the same. I realize how much I had missed him when our lips collide. He still knows what to do. The kiss is gentle, tender but at the same time passionate and demanding. His hands rest on my butt, I have mine in his neck playing with his hair. Jeff lifts me up. I lay my legs around his waist, he presses me against the wall.

"Fuck, Els", Jeff murmurs in his deep voice, "I've missed you."

His lips stop what they are doing with mine just to spoil my neckline with his soft kisses. When I open my eyes just for a second I remember where I am and what happened. I see a picture of his family and I on the sideboard. It's been taken when we were together. But aren't together anymore. He's supposed to be around Leah and I am used to spend my weekends with Scott. Scotty.. Thinking about him, I immediately let go of Jeff to stand on my own feet again.

"What's wrong?" "I.. Jeff..damn.. This is so wrong. We're not supposed to do this. How could I do that.." "No, maybe this is exactly what is supposed to be", Jeff argues and I look at him blankly. I shake my head. "Ellie, you love me." "But we broke up and there was a reason for it. Everything would happen again." "I don't care, Ellie. With you, I would do it all over again", Jeff remains stubborn so I shake my head again.

"I'm sorry but this shouldn't have happened. I will talk to Leah and tell her that I'll stay away from you so you can stay with her." "Didn't you hear me? I love you, not her. And I'll fight for what we have." I stop discussing this as I know that we wouldn't find a solution today. We're drunk. It's been a mistake. I take the bottle of whiskey and go back to the others. Jeff follows me. 

"You were supposed to bring us a bottle not Jeff", Sheri arches her eyebrows playfully. "Got both", I joke and give her the whiskey. "Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend?", Clay asks Jeff awkwardly who is scratching his neck. "And what happened to your cheek?", Hannah wonders. And in that moment they realize what has happened. They see the red skin on my cheek, my smudgy lipstick, Jeff's hair and him being nervous, our tousled hair.