"Some situations can't be changed. You can only accept them and move on."

❥

"Okay, what's wrong? Stop picking at your food and start talking", Bryce looks at his friend while they are having dinner. "Don't want to." "Scotty? Jeff? Both of them? Justin? Sheri? Who is it?" "Can you drop it?" "Nope", he shrugs his shoulders filling his plate with more fries, "You're my best friend, Els. I'm not going to ignore the look on your face."

"Hannah told me by accident that Jeff is throwing a party for Leah. I've been talking to him and found out that she's really his new girlfriend. He didn't want me to know. I mean, I wouldn't care about it that much if it wasn't for Leah and if he hadn't lied to me. Last week, he's promised me that they're not dating and yesterday he's telling me I'm not invited to the party because he doesn't want Leah to think that he still likes me."

"Relationships are really annoying, do you know that? That's why Monty and I don't have one", Bryce chuckles lightly, "Seriously, Els. I understand that Jeff's hurt you today but you like Scott anyways so focus on him." "I don't like Scott", Liz still denies shaking her head. "I sense a love triangle coming up but whatever you say, Els", Bryce grins at her, "Just don't be such a grouch and go to Scott later."

Indeed, she's texted Scott asking him to come over and of course, he came. They sit on the bed in her room just talking to each other. She rests her head on his chest and Scott strokes her head. "Jeff's dating Leah now", Scott tells her after they've been silent for some minutes. It's not been a nervous silence, they enjoyed it. But Scott had to finally inform her. He found out as soon as Jeff had asked her out and felt like he should be honest with Liz. 

If she'd be sad about because she's still got feelings for Jeff, Scott would deal with it. He just wanted to be honest with her. Whatever is going on between them shouldn't begin with a lie. "I know", she sighs, "How do you know?" "He told me", Scott admits, "Did he talk to you?" "Well, I found out through Sheri but I asked him if it's true. He wouldn't have told me, right?" "He didn't say anything about it but I don't think so", Scott guesses, "I'm sorry." Liz chuckles. 

"Why would you be sorry? It's not your fault." "I know but I also don't like seeing you hurt." "Actually, you can be pretty cute, Reed", Liz says turning around to look at him as he pulls her closer to him, "I'm not hurt, just disappointed. He promised me he wouldn't be dating her so I wish he was honest with me. And I'm kind of annoyed that it has to be her out of all people but I'm not jealous." 

"She's said some pretty bad things about you during the past years", Scott agrees with her and she looks at him surprised. "You know about that?" "Of course, she's been trying to tell me a lot of stuff so I could have an impact on Jeff. Do I look like a messenger?", Scott explains jokingly. "A cute messenger", Liz jokes back giving him a quick kiss just to be interrupted by her phone.

unknown

hey,

I saw you and Jeff talking today

Is everything alright?

Liz

uh who is this?

Leah, I'm in your Math course

"Can you believe it? She's texting me now", Liz complains and Scott takes a look over her shoulder. "Make her feel like Jeff's supposed to tell her, not you. I mean, that's a fact anyways", Scott advices her so she texts Leah back.

oh yeah.. why don't you ask Jeff?

He's my boyfriend now, okay?

I understand you were in love and so on

but I don't want you you to talk to him anymore

tell that Jeff, I'm not listening to any order

especially not from you

just stay out of our relationship!

well nothing better than that

"I didn't even do anything", Liz furls her eyebrows looking at her phone and then groans at a new message from Jeff, "What is it with these two?" "Seems like it's enough to make her feel insecure. If you want to call him or anything, I could also leave", Scott offers her trying to be respectful but she immediately shakes her head. "That's a clear no. I'll just reply to him quickly and then I'm all here for you."

Jatkins ♥️ 

can we talk?

Ellie ♥️ 

no

why not?

because

come on, I know I was dumb

I want to apologize

you did, thanks, apology accepted

you can't just say it's okay

Els, we need to talk about it like we always do

well, times change, always is not now

we don't, we're friends

what else is left to say?

a lot actually

I'm fine and you got Leah

can we just agree that it's over?

yeah okay, sure

Liz feels slightly overwhlemed by treating Jeff this way but she also felt like she had no other chance. She doesn't want to have to talk to him about earlier as she doesn't want to be reminded of Leah. This whole situation is getting on her nerves and she knows she can't change it. So the only way to deal with it, is to accept it. She would have to see the two of them in school together anyways. 

Liz hasn't forgotten about the boy next to her so she stops thinking about the new couple and focuses on Scott who's playing with her earring. "You always wear them", Scott notices bluntly and Liz is surprised to hear that out of his mouth. Does he look at her that often and in detail to notice that? "Will gave them to me before middle school. They belonged to my mom." 

"Sorry, I didn't mean to remind you of her", Scott quickly mumbles imagining how it must hurt to not know one's own parents. He barely knows his dad as he left when the boy was five years old. His dad used to appear to one or two birthday parties but that's it. About once a year, Scott receives a call from him but he's decided to ignore it. Seeing his dad once a year isn't worth the disappointment every time he leaves again. 

"It's okay. I think I've learned to get used to it and talk about it without being too emotional. And if I'm being honest, I've got other great people in my life. My uncle, my grandpa, Bryce and his mom who is there for me, Monty, Justin, Zach, Sheri and her family", Liz lists all of the people she would die for, "I've still got Jeff as a friend. And you're a part of my life, too." 

"Am I?", Scott asks her surprised as she mentioned his name among all of the people she knew for many years. "Of course you are", Liz chuckles nervously as she's never thought she would feel so safe around Scott Reed and admit this to him in her own way. Scott doesn't need to answer, he doesn't even know what to say. He just replies by pulling her closer and kissing her.