CHAPTER 3
oiii.
SAFE TO ADMIT

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ELIZABETH STARED BLANKLY at her loose sketch, something that didn't take at least ten minutes. She didn't really expect anything out of it though, it was just a drawing of a rooster. Nothing came to mind when she at first thought on what to do, and how many times she drew the same things over and over again. They would vary from her indoor plants, to sketches of Elle rehearsing in her room, and then to plates of food or coffees she bought. However, she never really thought about drawing animals, and what better was her first being a chicken?

Elizabeth glanced over each one, from the slightly more detailed one in the middle, to the very few on the sides. Another drawing done for class, next Monday, she thought to herself. But although she tried distracting herself from a certain thought with the amount of drawings she forced herself in doing, she was never able to let go on what happened last Friday night. It was something she felt confused on whether she did the right thing or not.

Although, being left by herself with nothing but a note in her sketchbook that she was "awesome" that night left her feeling somehow empty. Of course, it wasn't like she totally regretted sleeping with Roger. He was the man she laid eyes on ever since she entered the pub. But she also thought about how she wanted something more from it. Anyways, it seemed as if he was only in it for the pleasure, and nothing that had to do with her. And that made her regretful, angry, and even saddened. But something still inside her told her to think differently about it. To grasp her last hope that maybe something would come out of it later on.

Her dorm rooms door suddenly opened, revealing Elle as she walked in. She wore a sparkly, sleeveless-black fitting jumpsuit, flaring at the bottom. She wore chunky black clogs, making her taller than she already was. Her hair was perfectly styled in puffy waves, her minimal makeup complimenting her skin nicely. "You would not believe how hard it was to try and persuade Ashley for a thing like this," she breathlessly laughed, stopping in her tracks midway.

"I know what you're about to say," Liz spoke, her hands in front of her as some defense, beating Elle to talking first. "But hear me out on this-"

"Elizabeth Lorena Morrow, what are you doing? Sitting on your bed, drawing a chicken on a Friday night? What- what are you even wearing?"

Liz arose to her feet, watching her friend walk over to her chest. "Elle, please, please, please don't force to me go tonight," she tried begging.

"I'm not forcing you to go, I'm telling you," she bluntly stated, rummaging through her many un-neat piles of clothing. Now and then, she would pull out a blouse or two, but look at it in some sort of way, before shoving it back in.

"One night is all I ask for. You know what happened, and you know I'm not ready," Liz tried negotiating, crossing her arms together as she got a step closer to Elle.

"It was one night, Liz! You're the one who brought him here," Elle explained, a dress bunched up in her hand, flying around because she raised her arms up. She looked at it, gave it the same look as the others, and threw it across the room.

"Can you be nice for once? To me and my clothes?" She hinted towards the dress away from them, slowly walking over towards it before picking it up from the ground.

"Oh, please, Lizzy. Don't let one man ruin a whole night for you, it's simply not worth it." She finally got another dress from her second drawer, putting it arms length so she was able to see. "How about this flirtatious Queen?"

Liz looked up, eyeing the dress Elle held up. It was one of her favorites, something Liz loved to wear. It was a flowing dress that reached her thigh, abstract patterns and designs. It would look nice paired with some leggings and leather boots, she thought to herself.

"Lizzy is thinking," Elle mocked, the dress half covering her face. Elle wore a big smile on her lips, Liz snatching the dress out of her hands before slightly smiling.

"You know I don't like being called Lizzy," she mumbled, taking a look at the dress in her hands.

"I bet if he called you that, you'd think otherwise," Elle quietly spoke, now standing in the middle of the room. Liz glared at her for just a few seconds, before looking back at her dress.

"What about you, Poppy? What show are you putting out tonight?" Liz threw the dress on her bed, watching her friend take a second glance at her own outfit.

"You remember Luke, right? Well, he was able to contact a close friend that's knows a man who knows a thing or two in the music industry. And guess what? He's coming tonight, to see me on stage. Luke recommended me to a potential record producer!"

Elle nearly screamed in enthusiasm, Liz's mouth agape a little. "Elle- oh my god, this is amazing, wow! I'm so proud of you!" They both hugged each other and laughed, using the few extra minutes to celebrate some exciting news between the two.

"I'm gonna do it, Liz. I'm gonna reach for stardom," Elle spoke, a spark of hope and love that glistened in her beautiful eyes. Liz felt utterly proud of he best friend, and only hoped the best for her. They pulled away, Liz making sure to quickly grab her dress off the bed.

"Well let's not keep him waiting."

...

WITH A PINK lady in her hand, Liz took very few sips now and then, making sure to keep the drinks at a low. Once again, she didn't want to make the same mistakes. And somehow, she always overlooked the consequences and did them once more. But, Liz trusted in herself to no longer let that happen, and to not only limit the intake of alcohol, but to not bring any hot stranger into her dorm to leave her in the dust.

Roger was the only thing holding Liz back from showing up tonight, she definitely wasn't ready to see his face. But Elle meant much more to her, she wanted to be there every step of the way. She soon regretted telling Elle that she let a boy ruin her chances of seeing her best friend succeed in life. But tonight was Elle's night, and she wasn't going to let anything else get in the way.

She swirled the pinky drink in her cup, facing the bar as she took in her last sip. A solo singer had just finished his song, a roar of claps and a few whistles echoing throughout the room. Liz settled the drink down on the bar, asking for just one more. As the bartender finished her order, sliding it over towards her, a hand reached outwards. "This ones on me. A Budweiser too, please."

Liz nearly rolled her eyes at Roger standing in the exact same spot with her last time they were here, looking at him for just a few seconds before looking back down. He slid her cup over to her side. "I can pay for my own drinks," She mentioned, her voice a little lower than usual.

"I was worried you weren't going to show up," he stated, completely ignoring her comment as he was handed his beer. He leaned against the bar, Liz not being able to help but look at him once more. She quickly gazed along his outfit, from his bohemian-floral printed shirt, which by the way was on the tighter side, to his dark denim jeans.

How was he so perfect?

That was what annoyed her the most. Liz could even bet a hundred dollars that he didn't think much about her the way she did. And after everything he did that night, she still couldn't help but feel attracted to him. She hated herself for it.

"Enjoying the view?" Roger smirked, standing a little more upright. He caught Liz in mid-daze, the girl only looking away quickly before taking her Pink Lady. She took a bigger sip than usual, a million words that scolded her over and over again. However, it wasn't until a few awkward seconds later that Roger realized she hadn't said a word since. She continued to take small sips here and there, no longer eyeing him with suspicion.

"Everything alright?" Roger asked, bending his head down a little more to her level, just making sure she was hearing things right.

Liz hated the fact that her ears suddenly felt as if they were on fire. Or that her stomach caught a feeling of butterflies. This was what Liz expected, and this was why she didn't want to be here in the first place. But as stubborn as she was, she only gave him a quick side-eye, before taking another sip of her drink. "Just peachy," she mumbled, yet again taking another sip.

"Anything been on your mind recently, then?" Roger tried striking something up, clearly noting that at the moment, she had no interest in talking to him.

"No," Liz bluntly stated.

"Nothing I need to know of?"

"Look, if your only here regarding everything besides my body, I suggest finding a new girl," she spat out, putting her drink down before turning around and leaving. Her cup had been nearly done, but she wasn't in the mood to even finish its last sip. Elle should be performing soon, she tried telling herself. She held her rage inside, trying her best to not suddenly lash out.

"Hey," Roger began, his hand gently grabbing onto her wrist, Liz forcefully spinning around as her face suddenly bared coldness and anger.

"You were awesome, really?" Liz recited the small and unthoughtful note he wrote in her sketchbook, crossing her arms around her chest.

"Well... yeah," he let out a breathy chuckle at the end of his statement, his hands slightly moving up and down at his sides.

"I'm sure all the girls swoon at your feet the minute you say those exact same words to every girl you managed to sleep with." Liz didn't know where all this was coming from so quickly, or why she felt the need to exaggerate every movement of her hand as she basically scolded the man in front of her. This time, she didn't hold back.

"Well, what do you want me to say?"

What did Liz want him to say? Of course, she didn't want him to lie. She'd know the second he said "I don't tell every women I've slept with that she's good in bed," would be rubbish, and to say the least, hasn't slept with any willing rookie at all. But she also hated him telling the truth, that she was just another one-night stand. She couldn't think of anything to fire back, because he was right after all.

She opened her mouth for a few seconds, unable to pass-by the amused smile Roger gave her while he watched. "You're really annoying, you know that?" That was all Liz was able to say.

This earned her a genuine laugh from Roger, the man clearing his throat before taking his beer in his hand while taking a drink. "Stay for a little longer."

"Who said I'm staying for you?" Liz chuckled, noticing that Roger would take glances at her body every time she spoke. She bit the inside of her cheek, not knowing how to feel when she caught him in doing so.

Just then, a man came up from behind Roger, placing his hand on his shoulder for just a few seconds. "We're up in a few minutes, Rog," he pointed out. His hair was dark and wavy, reaching just over his shoulders. He was quite tall, a few inches above Roger. He peered over at Liz, smiling while at it. "I'm not sure Roger has introduced us."

"Wouldn't think he would," Liz smirked, holding her hand out. "Elizabeth."

"Brian," he said, the two shaking hands. "I hope to see you further," he kindly spoke, patting Roger on the back before exiting himself from the two.

"Do you know if he's single?" Liz joked, Roger rolling his eyes.

He settled the empty bottle at the bar, facing Liz once again as he took a step closer. He knew Liz's emotion suddenly changed due to her facial expressions, she had a hard time covering them up. Leaning in closer to her ear, Liz could feel his breath against her skin. With chills than ran throughout her body, she swallowed harshly.

"Will you be here later?" Roger questioned, his voice enticing. It was as if his voice was luring her to stay for the night, telling her what she was doing later on rather than asking. He looked down at her, pursing his lips together while his eyes locked on hers. Liz was a mess on the inside, hoping Roger wouldn't notice her blush.

"Maybe," is all she replied with, shrugging her shoulders as she stared right back at him. If it weren't for time, he would've stayed longer, to only poke around with her for enjoyment and interest. Instead, he walked past her, his hand brushing along her arm as he left in satisfaction, a victorious smile on his face as he walked off.

Liz didn't even bother to look around at him, standing in her spot in total shock. It took her a few seconds to realize how long she'd been holding in her breath, letting out a deep sigh as she ran a hand through her perfectly straightened hair.

"He's a total flirt!" Liz heard from her side, looking over at a enthusiastic Elle. Her friend smiled widely at her, the two of them standing close together as they now faced the stage.

"You enjoy the show?" Liz joked around, shaking her head as she tried holding back a smile. Roger left a big impact on her, even though they haven't known each other for that long. Even if he did leave her that night.

"Not only does he radiate major sexual tension, he definitely shows interest of something more. Aren't you glad you didn't stay in tonight?" Elle nudged Liz's side with her elbow, teasing her friend as Liz could only smile and laugh. She shook her head, crossing her arms again.

"Trust me, after tonight it'll go the same as it did before. Besides, he's got loads of girls snogging him with the chance they can get." Liz spoke above the crowd, the two of them watching as Smile began to appear on stage.

"Say whatever you feel, but you can't deny, he's a total sex magnet," Elle said, switching her attention from the band to her friend, to back to the band. Brian reaches over towards the microphone first, Liz remembering their small encounter not too long ago.

"Hello everybody," he said in the microphone, a couple people clapping as everyone averted their attention towards the band. "We've got a few, uh-, few fresh faces."

Everyone noted the two newbies that appeared on stage, one striking up attention that caught every eye in the pub. With such elegance, the man walked on stage, smiling at every pair of eyes.

"This is John Deacon, our bass player," Brian said as he introduced the first one, John waving slightly with his hand before handling his attention back to his bass guitar. A few people roared, clapping as both Elle and Liz joined in.

Elle nudged the side of Liz, eyebrows furrowing as she searched around the stage, and towards the crowd. "Where's Tim?"

"Yeah, and our new lead singer, Freddie... Bul- Bulsara. Freddie Bulsara," Brian seemed to struggle at first, Freddie nodding his head.

"That's right."

Liz looked over at Roger, watching as he sat there waiting for Brian to call his name next. "And Roger, of course. The biggest member of them all," Brian pointed behind him, a few girls ahead of Liz calling out his name. Elizabeth snorted, feeling a very small wave of jealousy hit her when Roger smiled at them. Although, she could've sworn that for just a few seconds he stared at her, winking quickly.

"Hello, all you beautiful people," Freddie spoke though the microphone, silence conjuring amongst everyone. Even Liz felt the tension in the crowd, a feeling that was uneasy.

"Where's Tim?" A voice yelled out, a question most people had been wondering. "Who's the Paki?" This caused some laughs to double in the room, Liz looking utterly disgusted at whoever intended a harsh comment to a kind person as Freddie. And although the look on his face said otherwise, he continued through it, the band starting off their song.

Freddie grabbed a tambourine from the side, banging it against his leg to the beat of Brian's guitar notes, grabbing the mic at an angle that caused it to break. Another row of laughter followed as everyone watched Freddie struggle with the microphone still, pulling it back and forth, while still managing to sing in his commotion. However, he pulled the microphone and it's stand, everyone looking in confusion, as he did too, at the now broken microphone. But not stopping him, he began to sing the first verse of the song, a voice so unusual and different that it caught every ear in that room.

Liz had to even admit to herself that during their performance, for once her attention wasn't solely on Roger. Everyone began to feel for the music, bobbing their head to the song as they slowly enjoyed the newcomers. Freddie had a style like no other, though. His movements on stage was what captured Liz and Elle in admiration, not even taking a second to blink to miss the show. With exaggerated and intricate movements of his arms and hands, moving back and forth from the stage, it was an interesting sight.

Even Liz felt a sprang of energy just by watching him run along stage in his eccentric ways, admired by who he was. Though she couldn't help but look at Roger, the way he played the drums so easily though it was much harder than it looked. And in that moment, nothing else mattered but the fact that her interest in him had peaked to its fullest, and it was safe to admit that she was still attracted to him.

hola hola.

first off, i wanna say thank you guys so much for 1k already on this book, it's unbelievable, you guys are awesome!! let's hope we'll be able to keep that up!!

secondly, the sketch above IS mine, and i had to quickly do it right after school. i really do think adding my sketches to this book can be really fun and cool to experience. however, please don't take them, it is my work and i work hard!!

thirdly, this chapter was hella long because i thought you guys deserved it. i hoped you liked it though, it's super late and i have school tomorrow. ( 2-hour delay WHATS GOOD ).

anyway, what did you think of the chapter?? make sure to leave a comment on what you thought and don't forget to vote!! thanks guys (: