I look her in the eyes, "I love you."
She gasps, "Again."
I smile, "I love you, Elizabeth."
She turns her head to her sister, who has now simmered down. "He loves me, Bridget. You can't kill him now."
"Fuck, I know. Why are you just now saying this, why not before?" She questions.
I shake my head, the whole house is looking at me now, this is so exposing. "I was scared to say that I loved your sister, because it made it real. I have loved before, and that same love almost killed me. I was scared of the same thing happening with Elizabeth, but I know now that what I have with your sister is different, Bridget. I went to Stanford, to talk to Jessie, to hear her side of the story, and let go of the anger I felt for the past three years. I know it sounds crazy, but that one conversation cleared up everything, I don't feel anger or anything, I'm cleansed."
"Let me talk to Andreas, alone." Elizabeth takes my hand, leading us into the backyard. We sit in the chairs that look out into the woods. After a few minutes passed of us staring at the sky, she speaks.
"So, you love me?"
"I do." I look over at her, she's already looking at me. I rub her cheek with my thumb.
"You went to go talk to Jessie?"
I nod my head, "Yes, and it was needed. She's happy and I'm happy, it's all that matters. I want you, Elizabeth. I want you to be mine."
She sighs, then looks up at the sky, "It's true, I've been wanting you to tell me that you love me, but that doesn't mean I'm going to forgive you for everything and jump into your arms."
I fiddle with my fingers, "I know."
"You're going to have to fight for me." She gets up from her chair.
"I know, and I will."
As she walks away, I hear her say something, "I know you will." Then, she shuts the door and leaves me outside. Most likely going in to tame her sister.
✏️✏️✏️✏️
We won our game against Washington. It was a tight game at first and we thought that we would walk away with a loss, but Topolski pulled off the best play of the century, which led us to victory.
After coach pat our backs and congratulated us, we all decided to go to a bar across the street from our hotel here in Washington.
It's busy out here, with it being a Friday night and all, what do you expect. Girls are in their most scandalous clothes, talking to guys or talking to their friends in a group. The lights from the buildings shine around us, creating a hue of colors.
I walk behind the team as they all point out the hot girls, talk about our win, or brag about how much they will drink. Parker is the head of the group, trying to say that he can beat them, and if he does win, he will pay each member 100 dollars each, which I believe he can afford. His parents are some types of moguls, doesn't matter if they're rich, that makes Parker rich by blood.
He throws his money around like it's nothing, he's a great football player, but that's all there is to him. He buys the team with money, which usually works for him, but not with me.
We all walk into the bar. Loud music, and the smell of beer and perfume waft in the air. A large booth is empty in the back of the bar, we all rush over before someone else takes it. The bar is pretty nice. It's 1920's themed. A couple of chandeliers hang from the ceiling, the booths are tan and golden looking. Old black and white photos of celebrities from the golden age of Hollywood hang on the wall.
"What are you guys going to order?" asked Parker, looking at the menu.
"Probably just some beers." most of the team members say. No one goes to the bar and orders a fancy drink; beer is always the way to go. And most of the time, it's the cheapest.
"I'm getting water," says Topolski. The whole team just looks at him like he said he killed someone. Jaws are practically on the ground.
"Topolski, we are at a bar. Shouldn't you want to order something with alcohol in it?" asked John, one of the defensive men.
"I don't like the taste." The team just stares, before they say anything rude to him, I chime in.
"I'm not drinking beer either, the taste isn't that good anymore." I give Topolski a small smile, patting him on the back. The other team members just nod their heads and continue talking to each other.
✏️✏️✏️✏️
"I'M ON TOP OF THE WORLD!" Parker yells to the sky as John and Cameron, an alternate, carry Parker across the street. He drank more than everyone on the team, the guys will be outside his room tomorrow waiting for their money.
"How much did he drink, I lost count," asked Topolski, just staring at Parker through his reddish hair. He hasn't cut it in a while so it's just hanging in his eyes.
"I believe it was 20 beers. Rich people are fucking crazy."
"True that."
We both said goodnight to the other members of the team and walked to our hotel room. All the guys got to pick who they wanted to room with, and since Jace is still in the hospital, he should be getting out tomorrow, and Teddy is suspended, and I don't vibe with anyone else on the team, I chose Topolski. Also, no one wanted him because he's quirky and different.
I like him, he's fun to talk to and he doesn't try to conform to what the team wants him to be.
"Do you want to shower first?" He asked me, walking into the room first while I follow behind him.
"No, you can go in first. I need to make a call."
"Cool beans." He picks up his clothes and body products, shuts the door, and starts up the shower. I sit on my bed that's near the window, and gives me a good view of Washington, dialing my favorite person's number.
Elizabeth.
She answers on the third ring, "Andreas, hi." Her voice was small and delicate.
"Hi, E. Were you sleeping?" I asked.
"No, Jill and I were watching a movie, and now she's asleep. I didn't want to wake her up or anything. What are you doing?"
"I just came back from the bar with the boys, and am now laying on my bed, waiting for Topolski to get out of the shower so I can wash up."
"Mhm, I'm sure you smell." She jokes.
I smile, "Please, you know I smell good. How are things there?"
"It's been fine, Bridget has cooled down if that's what you're getting to. Classes are boring, per usual, and I started watching a new show. I heard you guys won your game."
"We did."
"That means you'll be going to the championships."
"It does."
"Are you excited?"
"Yes, Elizabeth, I'm very excited." I smile through the words. "Hey, E?"
"Yeah."
"I love you."
For a moment, I don't hear anything. "Again."
"I love you, Elizabeth." My hand grips the sheet, gosh those words.
"Do you mean it?" Her voice wavered a little.
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't. Now, what's going to happen when I get back to Berkeley."
"Ummm, I don't know. I'm not going to automatically become your girlfriend because you said that you loved me. It's going to take more."
"Oh, I know. I'll do whatever I have to do to make it up to you. Just tell me what you want."
"I don't know, and I can't tell you even if I had something. You told me that you loved me, now I need you to show it to me. Use your imagination, Andreas Chen."
I chuckle, "My imagination is shot right now. I can barely hold my eyes open." I snuggle my head into the pillow, while my fingers hold open my eyes.
"Then go to sleep, dummy." She jokes.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because I've been waiting to hear your voice all day," I swear I hear her squeal quietly over the phone. She's so cute.
"My voice is not interesting to listen to." She confesses. "It sounds like any girl."
"No, it does not. Especially when you orgasm, it sounds so-"
"OK! I get it, you like my voice. Get some sleep, Andreas."
"But I don't want to-"
"Sleep, Andreas. Be thinking about how you're going to show me that you love me. Bye." Then she hangs up the phone and I'm left on the bed, body weak and my mind running amuck.
Fucking Elizabeth.