"To hide real feelings is confusing."

❥

Ellie ♥️

waiting for Scott to get changed

we'll come soon

Jatkins ♥️

sure thanks for letting me know

wait

you're waiting for Scott to get changed?

I'm just waiting for him outside

he said he needs to get ready

got waisted last night

what about you?

I didn't drink anything, I was driving

okay good

I want you to be safe

It's fine, J, see you soon ♥️

see you in a bit

i love you, Els

Liz turns her phone around and places it back onto the center console. As soon as she's seen his message, she's closed her eyes and a tear fell down her cheeks followed by some more. She hasn't heard him say these words in a long time, way too long. But since he's been put into rehab, he didn't stop showing her how much she meant to him. It's his way of being thankful and trying to get her back as soon as he gets out. 

All this time when he felt like dying, she was the one he was thinking about. One time when he was still in coma, he knew that she sat beside her. He felt her presence. And he remembered the time when Scott and him hung out and afterwards he met her and had dinner with his parents and Liz. He regrets breaking up with her the way he did. 

"Okay, I'm ready", Scott tells her when he hops back onto the passenger's seat, "Are you crying?" "No, no, I'm not", she shakes her head acting like it was alright but Scott knows her too well so he lifts her chin to look her in the eyes. "We'll get through this together. Just like we did before." "Jeff can't know about anything that has happened, especially not last night." "I know, Lennox, I'm not dumb", Scott huffs. There they are, back at Lennox and Reed like those months were meaningless.

"Hey, how are you?", Liz asks Jeff as soon as she sees him and hugs him. He's wearing the perfume that she gave him once for valentine's day. The better he's feeling, the more he's trying to get close to her again. "Way better now that you're here", he mumbles against her forehead looking at Scott who stands next to them, "And the man of the match, of course. Monty told me what a great job you did, man." 

Liz and Jeff loose their grip and Jeff gives Scott a hug as well. "I was just doing my part in the game", the smaller one of the two chuckles, "Soon you're back anyways." "I've still got this week here and then two weeks before the doctors tell me if I'm ready for playing or not. Three weeks, man." "You already got over and done with enough weeks here", Liz adds letting Jeff know how proud she is of him. 

"I've got great friends who support me, you know", he replies with a smile turning to Scott as he sits down, "By the way. What happened to the girl that you wanted to ask out? Are you dating now?" "You wanted to ask a girl out? Why didn't you tell me?", Liz adds already overthinking. If he wanted to ask someone out, why did he kiss her? And who can it be if Scott Reed falls for someone? He never wanted to settle down until he's sure about it. 

"Uh, Els, why would he? It's not you, right?", Jeff asks her confused and also worried about his friends' relationship. He is glad that they finally get along and are friends but it also surprised him as they seemed to hate each other before. He also heard about the rumors that have been spread about his friends. Scott Reed and Liz Lennox hanging out in school.. It confuses him. 

"God, no, man. I wouldn't even think about asking her out." "Excuse me, I'm a better person for relationships than you", Liz snaps at him not realizing that Scott is just acting this way to make Jeff believe that they're not hanging out behind his back like they do. "Don't be so full of yourself, Lennox. The world is not about you. And no, I haven't asked her out. Didn't feel right in the end." 

"Can you be less annoying for once, Reed? At least now? It doesn't surprise me that you wouldn't make a move on her. Good for her." "Okay, guys, please. What the hell happened? I thought you were friends?", Jeff shakes his head annoyed by the fact that the life he thought he would have when he's back is threatened by their discussion. Neither Scott nor Liz say anything about it. Are they friends? They're not according to what they do when they hang out. They're also no friends in times of fights. They're complicated. 

"Coming back to your question, Jeff. No, we're not dating. I haven't asked her out yet and I don't think I ever will. She's hard to handle", Scott says hoping that Liz would understand what he means, "And I didn't tell you because it's not your business, Lennox." Scott wants her to know that he's serious, he doesn't want to fight with her anymore. But he also can't tell her in front of Jeff. 

"Of course she seems hard to handle for you if you talk about a girl in that way. She deserves better." Well, Liz didn't get the message. She thinks he's talking about some random girl like she's an annoying side-chick. "Guys, please." Jeff looks at his friends sadly before they finally decide to change the topic.

"Hey, man. Can you do me a favor?", Jeff asks his friend before he leaves, when Liz is already going to her car. Jeff has noticed that she didn't feel well today so before he can be there for her, he needs help. "Anything." 

"Can you keep an eye on her? Els wasn't herself today, something happened. I don't know who I need to beat up but I can't right now so please be there for her. I know you can be friends if you two wouldn't be so stubborn." "Yeah, that's the problem", Scott sighs nodding, "Sure, I'll look after her. But you're back next week anyways." "Yeah, right."

"What's going on between you and Scotty again?", Justin asks following her look. Liz is about to say ‚nothing' but Sheri can't watch her being huffy anymore. "She's annoyed that she's got no one to go to the dance with but she also didn't accept Scott as her date." "Scott asked you out?", Bryce repeats surprised, "Weren't you like just friends the past weeks?" "It doesn't matter. I honestly don't want to talk about him, please. I'll go to the dance with you guys."