4
Around seven o’clock,
Elizabeth went into her room to get ready. She had spent most of the day at
the hospital looking over her contract she had with Orlando General Hospital.
Tonight she didn’t want to wear anything dressy, so she just slipped on her simple blue dress that was hanging up in the closet.
As she was changing, Anna walked in and made a whistling sound. “Going out with Justin?” Anna asked.
“No,” Elizabeth lied. She smoothed down the dress, not looking up at Anna.
“Are you going on a date?”
“Maybe.”
“Don't wear that then if you are.”
Elizabeth turned around. “And why not?”
“Because it's not something you wear on a date. Hold on.” Anna disappeared out of the room, then came back a few minutes later with a long blue dress. “Wear this,” she said placing it down on the bed.
Elizabeth thought the dress was beautiful, but she wasn’t sure she should wear it tonight. “You’re going to let me wear this?”
“Of course silly. We're best friends, aren't we?”
Elizabeth took off the dress she was wearing then slipped into the one Anna was letting her borrow. “Do I look alright?” She knew it didn’t really matter; it wasn’t like she was really going on a date like Anna thought.
“You look gorgeous,” Anna said. “Whose the lucky guy?” She was a little disappointed that she wasn’t going out with Justin, but she was still happy that Elizabeth was at least getting out into the social scene.
“Um.” She paused. “Michael. Just an old friend.” She hated lying, but how could she tell Anna the truth?
“Where did you meet him?”
“Oh he's just a friend from back home that is here for only one night.”
“Where are you guys going?”
“I'm not sure yet,” she lied.
“Well have fun,” Anna said heading for the door. “Good luck.” And then she was gone down the hall to her own room.
Elizabeth sighed. She hated lying to her best friend but what else could she do? If she had told Anna she was going out with Justin, Anna would go on about how she knew they liked each other, but Elizabeth knew tonight was nothing like that, and her and Justin would never be like that. They were just friends that found it easy to talk to each other. Besides, she was just there to help him tonight.
----Outside At The Club----
Justin was outside the crowded club waiting for Elizabeth to show up. It was only a few minutes before 8 when her jeep pulled into the parking lot. He smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Though he didn’t know her very well, he knew she would show up.
Elizabeth locked the doors of her jeep, then shoved her keys back into her purse. She slowly made her way up the steps and to the entrance where Justin was waiting for her.
“Hey,” she said.
Justin looked her over. The first time he had seen her, he thought she was beautiful, but tonight she looked more beautiful. Her short brown hair flowed in the wind since she had decided to leave her hair down.
“You look amazing,” he said.
“Thanks, so do you.” She looked over him. He was just dressed casual in jeans and a white sweater.
“Well let's go inside.” He took her hand and they walked up to the entrance. He payed the man at the front the money to get in, then led Elizabeth inside the club. Once they were inside, Elizabeth became aware of how noisy it was. There was a band playing loud music on stage, and the place was really packed. Justin led her over to a table and pulled out one of the chairs for her.
She sat down, but he remained standing. “What would you like to drink?” he asked.
But she didn‘t say anything. Instead, she got up. “You got me in here, let me buy you a drink,” she offered.
“Thanks.” Justin sat back down. “Don’t get me anything strong. Surprise me.”
She walked the few feet to the bar and ordered them both a drink. While Elizabeth was getting them drinks, Justin sat at the table looking around the crowded room for Meg. He prayed she would keep her promise. What did she want to tell him?
“Justin.”
When he heard his name being called, he knew exactly who it was. He never forgot that voice. He turned and saw Meg standing there in a beautiful red velvet dress. He was about to smile, but stopped when he saw a guy standing beside her holding her hand. He remembered this guy. It was the same guy she had cheated on him with the last time. Justin glanced over at Meg's hand and he gasped.
On her finger was a ring that told him he had no hope of getting her back. She was engaged, and it wasen't to him. “Hii Meg,” he studdered. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Had he really been that blind?
“Mind if we sit down?” she asked.
“Just get down to the point,” Justin said angrily. “And tell me why you dragged me all the way down here.”
“Justin just calm down. You remember Rob,” Meg said. She didn’t sit down because she could see the anger in Justin’s eyes.
“Why the hell did you want me to meet you here?” He wanted to get down to the point. Right now, he found the conversation pointless.
“We're getting married,” Meg said. “Me and Rob.”
“Yeah I figured that!” Justin yelled.
“Justin please…” she begged.
From the bar, Elizabeth saw the commotion but decided to stay out of it, so she sat at the bar watching closely.
“Why couldn't you just tell me over the phone?” His voice was a little calmer now.
“I'm sorry, I just thought you deserved to know in person.”
“How dare you come here and tell me that after all I've done for you!” He caught Elizabeth’s gaze across the room. He felt bad; he didn’t want her to see him like this. “Just leave me the hell alone.”
“Have it your way,” Meg said.
Meg and Rob walked away hand in hand. As they were walking away, Justin watched them from his chair. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. He actually thought she wanted him back. What a fool he had been.
Elizabeth looked on from the bar. She saw how upset he was and wanted to help so she slowly walked back over to the table and sat the drinks down, his in front of him and hers beside his, then sat down. “I'm sorry,” she said softly.
Justin looked up with tears in his eyes. He never felt so hurt in his life. “I can't believe I thought she wanted me back. I feel so foolish.”
“She's making the biggest mistake of her life.”
He looked up with a glimpse of hope in his eyes. “You think so?”
“You seem to be a really nice guy and if she doesn't know what she had, then she doesn't deserve you.”
“Thanks, you know you really know how to cheer a guy up.” He felt a little better so he took his glass and took a sip of his drink. Now he wished he had asked for a strong drink. “Thanks for putting up with me tonight,” he said.
“I’m here if you need someone to talk to.”
“Did Thomas ever.…”
She knew exactly what he was asking. It brought up bad memories, but it didn’t hurt as much as it used to. “Yep. They were married a few years ago. Just a few months after we broke up.”
“What's wrong with us that we can't find somebody to love us?” Justin asked.
“We just haven't met the right person yet,” Elizabeth replied. “One day you'll find the right girl and you’ll forget about what’s her face.”
That made him smile a bit. “I hope you're right.” Justin sighed then got up. “Come on, we came here to have fun, let's dance.”
She got up and took his hand that he extended to her.
Justin led her to the dance floor. When they got there, a slow song came on. He placed his arms around her waist then she placed hers around his neck and they started to dance. During the whole song, he held her close wondering why he couldn't find a girl like Elizabeth. Everything he knew about her so far he wanted in a girlfriend. Elizabeth on the other hand, was just loving spending time with him. She had never met anyone who knew how she felt and seemed to actually care about her feelings without some hidden agenda behind it.
They danced a few more songs and later had another drink then they headed outside and Justin walked her over to her jeep.
“Thanks for tonight,” she said digging her keys out of her purse.
He wasn‘t sure if it was alright, but he did it anyway. He placed a kiss on her cheek. “No thank you.” He stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and contemplated whether they should say goodnight yet. “I really appreciate what you said in there tonight.”
“I'm glad I could help at least a little. I know what you're going through.”
“ I think I'm just going to go home and go to bed,” he said, just before Elizabeth yawned.
“Yeah I think I'm going to do the same.”
“Again thanks for coming tonight. I'll see you tomorrow.”
“You will?”
“I've been invited to join you, Anna and JC at the beach," Justin said with a sigh. “Not that I don't want to go, I'm just not going to be in the mood after what happened tonight.”
“You don't have to go.”
“I don't want JC mad at me.”
“I'm sure if you told him what happened tonight…”
“No JC can't know!” Justin said frantically. “If he knew I wanted her back, I'd get a whole big lecture. Please just keep what happened tonight between us.”
“Sure no problem. If you want I can just tell them that you aren't feeling well,” Elizabeth offered.
Justin smiled at her kindness, but shook his head. “Really, it’s okay. Least you’ll be there. If they start lecturing either of us again, at least we’ll have each other there to bail us out.”
Tonight she didn’t want to wear anything dressy, so she just slipped on her simple blue dress that was hanging up in the closet.
As she was changing, Anna walked in and made a whistling sound. “Going out with Justin?” Anna asked.
“No,” Elizabeth lied. She smoothed down the dress, not looking up at Anna.
“Are you going on a date?”
“Maybe.”
“Don't wear that then if you are.”
Elizabeth turned around. “And why not?”
“Because it's not something you wear on a date. Hold on.” Anna disappeared out of the room, then came back a few minutes later with a long blue dress. “Wear this,” she said placing it down on the bed.
Elizabeth thought the dress was beautiful, but she wasn’t sure she should wear it tonight. “You’re going to let me wear this?”
“Of course silly. We're best friends, aren't we?”
Elizabeth took off the dress she was wearing then slipped into the one Anna was letting her borrow. “Do I look alright?” She knew it didn’t really matter; it wasn’t like she was really going on a date like Anna thought.
“You look gorgeous,” Anna said. “Whose the lucky guy?” She was a little disappointed that she wasn’t going out with Justin, but she was still happy that Elizabeth was at least getting out into the social scene.
“Um.” She paused. “Michael. Just an old friend.” She hated lying, but how could she tell Anna the truth?
“Where did you meet him?”
“Oh he's just a friend from back home that is here for only one night.”
“Where are you guys going?”
“I'm not sure yet,” she lied.
“Well have fun,” Anna said heading for the door. “Good luck.” And then she was gone down the hall to her own room.
Elizabeth sighed. She hated lying to her best friend but what else could she do? If she had told Anna she was going out with Justin, Anna would go on about how she knew they liked each other, but Elizabeth knew tonight was nothing like that, and her and Justin would never be like that. They were just friends that found it easy to talk to each other. Besides, she was just there to help him tonight.
----Outside At The Club----
Justin was outside the crowded club waiting for Elizabeth to show up. It was only a few minutes before 8 when her jeep pulled into the parking lot. He smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. Though he didn’t know her very well, he knew she would show up.
Elizabeth locked the doors of her jeep, then shoved her keys back into her purse. She slowly made her way up the steps and to the entrance where Justin was waiting for her.
“Hey,” she said.
Justin looked her over. The first time he had seen her, he thought she was beautiful, but tonight she looked more beautiful. Her short brown hair flowed in the wind since she had decided to leave her hair down.
“You look amazing,” he said.
“Thanks, so do you.” She looked over him. He was just dressed casual in jeans and a white sweater.
“Well let's go inside.” He took her hand and they walked up to the entrance. He payed the man at the front the money to get in, then led Elizabeth inside the club. Once they were inside, Elizabeth became aware of how noisy it was. There was a band playing loud music on stage, and the place was really packed. Justin led her over to a table and pulled out one of the chairs for her.
She sat down, but he remained standing. “What would you like to drink?” he asked.
But she didn‘t say anything. Instead, she got up. “You got me in here, let me buy you a drink,” she offered.
“Thanks.” Justin sat back down. “Don’t get me anything strong. Surprise me.”
She walked the few feet to the bar and ordered them both a drink. While Elizabeth was getting them drinks, Justin sat at the table looking around the crowded room for Meg. He prayed she would keep her promise. What did she want to tell him?
“Justin.”
When he heard his name being called, he knew exactly who it was. He never forgot that voice. He turned and saw Meg standing there in a beautiful red velvet dress. He was about to smile, but stopped when he saw a guy standing beside her holding her hand. He remembered this guy. It was the same guy she had cheated on him with the last time. Justin glanced over at Meg's hand and he gasped.
On her finger was a ring that told him he had no hope of getting her back. She was engaged, and it wasen't to him. “Hii Meg,” he studdered. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Had he really been that blind?
“Mind if we sit down?” she asked.
“Just get down to the point,” Justin said angrily. “And tell me why you dragged me all the way down here.”
“Justin just calm down. You remember Rob,” Meg said. She didn’t sit down because she could see the anger in Justin’s eyes.
“Why the hell did you want me to meet you here?” He wanted to get down to the point. Right now, he found the conversation pointless.
“We're getting married,” Meg said. “Me and Rob.”
“Yeah I figured that!” Justin yelled.
“Justin please…” she begged.
From the bar, Elizabeth saw the commotion but decided to stay out of it, so she sat at the bar watching closely.
“Why couldn't you just tell me over the phone?” His voice was a little calmer now.
“I'm sorry, I just thought you deserved to know in person.”
“How dare you come here and tell me that after all I've done for you!” He caught Elizabeth’s gaze across the room. He felt bad; he didn’t want her to see him like this. “Just leave me the hell alone.”
“Have it your way,” Meg said.
Meg and Rob walked away hand in hand. As they were walking away, Justin watched them from his chair. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. He actually thought she wanted him back. What a fool he had been.
Elizabeth looked on from the bar. She saw how upset he was and wanted to help so she slowly walked back over to the table and sat the drinks down, his in front of him and hers beside his, then sat down. “I'm sorry,” she said softly.
Justin looked up with tears in his eyes. He never felt so hurt in his life. “I can't believe I thought she wanted me back. I feel so foolish.”
“She's making the biggest mistake of her life.”
He looked up with a glimpse of hope in his eyes. “You think so?”
“You seem to be a really nice guy and if she doesn't know what she had, then she doesn't deserve you.”
“Thanks, you know you really know how to cheer a guy up.” He felt a little better so he took his glass and took a sip of his drink. Now he wished he had asked for a strong drink. “Thanks for putting up with me tonight,” he said.
“I’m here if you need someone to talk to.”
“Did Thomas ever.…”
She knew exactly what he was asking. It brought up bad memories, but it didn’t hurt as much as it used to. “Yep. They were married a few years ago. Just a few months after we broke up.”
“What's wrong with us that we can't find somebody to love us?” Justin asked.
“We just haven't met the right person yet,” Elizabeth replied. “One day you'll find the right girl and you’ll forget about what’s her face.”
That made him smile a bit. “I hope you're right.” Justin sighed then got up. “Come on, we came here to have fun, let's dance.”
She got up and took his hand that he extended to her.
Justin led her to the dance floor. When they got there, a slow song came on. He placed his arms around her waist then she placed hers around his neck and they started to dance. During the whole song, he held her close wondering why he couldn't find a girl like Elizabeth. Everything he knew about her so far he wanted in a girlfriend. Elizabeth on the other hand, was just loving spending time with him. She had never met anyone who knew how she felt and seemed to actually care about her feelings without some hidden agenda behind it.
They danced a few more songs and later had another drink then they headed outside and Justin walked her over to her jeep.
“Thanks for tonight,” she said digging her keys out of her purse.
He wasn‘t sure if it was alright, but he did it anyway. He placed a kiss on her cheek. “No thank you.” He stuffed his hands in his jean pockets and contemplated whether they should say goodnight yet. “I really appreciate what you said in there tonight.”
“I'm glad I could help at least a little. I know what you're going through.”
“ I think I'm just going to go home and go to bed,” he said, just before Elizabeth yawned.
“Yeah I think I'm going to do the same.”
“Again thanks for coming tonight. I'll see you tomorrow.”
“You will?”
“I've been invited to join you, Anna and JC at the beach," Justin said with a sigh. “Not that I don't want to go, I'm just not going to be in the mood after what happened tonight.”
“You don't have to go.”
“I don't want JC mad at me.”
“I'm sure if you told him what happened tonight…”
“No JC can't know!” Justin said frantically. “If he knew I wanted her back, I'd get a whole big lecture. Please just keep what happened tonight between us.”
“Sure no problem. If you want I can just tell them that you aren't feeling well,” Elizabeth offered.
Justin smiled at her kindness, but shook his head. “Really, it’s okay. Least you’ll be there. If they start lecturing either of us again, at least we’ll have each other there to bail us out.”