As they approached a traffic light AJ brought the Jeep to a screeching halt, propelling Nick and Brian slightly forward in their seats. Unfazed, AJ flipped on the radio cranking the stereo up to the limit. Bobbing his head to the beat, he slammed his foot on the gas as soon as the light turned green.
AJ was ecstatic. Things were going so great between him and Elizabeth. For a while, AJ had felt a little strain between the two of them. After last night�s goodnight kiss though, he had decided that it was all a figment of his imagination. Things couldn�t be better between the two of them. He loved everything about her. She was one of a kind. A true individual. They were so much alike that it was uncanny. He was eager to see her so that they could spend some quality time alone with each other. They hadn�t had the chance to be alone for a while. Elizabeth was always busy with something or the other. We�ll make for up lost time today, AJ grinned to himself.
AJ swerved around the bend, turning onto the girl�s street. The beach house was located at the end of the street surrounded by other houses similar to it. AJ slowed as he approached the front of the house, blaring the horn loudly as he pulled into the cobblestone driveway.
The girls clambered slowly out the door with Elizabeth trailing behind them. AJ immediately noticed something was wrong. Her face was ashen and it had a strange pallor to it � almost as if she was sick. He looked her over worriedly as she approached the car, her eyes tracing the intricate pattern of the cobblestone never meeting his.
AJ hopped out of the car swinging the door roughly. Nick and Brian followed suit to help the girls fit their things into the trunk. �Liz. Are you okay baby?� he inquired pulling her into his arms.
Elizabeth squirmed slightly in his arms but answered �I�m fine,� her voice shaking as she pronounced the words.
AJ tightened his arms around her as he leaned in close for a kiss. Their lips touched briefly for a second before Elizabeth pulled away quickly. Surprised, AJ loosened his grasp around her waist.
Elizabeth glanced quickly at AJ�s face as confusion registered upon it. She looked away unable to meet his penetrating gaze. I don�t think I can do this, she thought to herself. Her stomach felt queasy as it did a flip-flop. She felt like turning around and making a mad dash for the house, but she knew that was not an option. If I care about him, I can do this. I owe him at least this much. I have to tell him today.
�Let�s go help them,� Elizabeth said avoiding AJ�s eyes as she began walking towards the group. AJ followed her wordlessly silently fuming to himself.
As they approached the car, Elizabeth stopped cold as her eyes fell upon Brian and Lila�s intertwined bodies. She watched as Brian and Lila greeted each other with a long passionate kiss.
A pang of jealousy washed over her. For a split second, she wished that she and AJ could be like that. They had been once. Not anymore. We�ll never be like that ever again. She tore her eyes away from Lila and Brian�s hot and heavy make out session as hot tears stung her eyes. She took a deep breath to compose herself. It worked slightly, but she knew just one look at AJ could send her reeling again.
After a perilous life-fearing ride, they finally made it to Sun Valley in one piece They had unloaded the car together and now they were each scattered about trying to make themselves more comfortable in his or her own way.
Jessica was struggling with an oversized sun umbrella that the girls had brought along with them. She fumbled with the umbrella clasp unable to operate it. She was having a hard time concentrating at the task at hand because her eyes kept drifting over to Nick and Brian. She watched as together they hauled the ice cooler from the trunk. She watched as Nick�s muscular arms rippled as he set the cooler down in the sand. She managed to look away, but not before Nick caught her gazing in his direction.
Now it was Nick�s turn to stare. He watched as Jessica fiddled with the umbrella testing out various different positions. She finally settled on one and stood up slowly dusting her sand encrusted shapely thighs off with her hand. Satisfied with the umbrella, Jessica began walking over towards Lila and Elizabeth who were unravelling their towels and strategically positioning them in order to catch the sun�s rays.
Elizabeth and Lila smiled as Jessica approached them. They had already shed their clothes and were clad in their bikinis. Elizabeth had chosen a wild leopard print two piece. If anyone else had chosen to wear it they would have looked ridiculous, but with Elizabeth�s unique sense of style it looked amazing on her. Lila on the other hand had chosen a simple classy halter style black bikini.
Jessica decided it was time to change into her bathing suit as well. It was around noon and the sun was at its peak making it unbearably hot. Unaware of Nick�s gaze, she slipped carefully out of her shorts and brought her T-shirt over her head. She let her clothes fall into a pile in front of her. She removed her sandals and dug her feet into the warm sand. She bent down to pick up the pile of clothes that lay at her feet. As she bent down, she had the distinct feeling that she was being watched. She looked up and saw Nick�s piercing blue eyes staring back at her. Although he was standing a fair distance away from her, Jessica could feel the intensity of his gaze. She felt as if Nick could read her every thought and feeling. In Nick�s eyes she saw something so powerful, so sincere, it almost willed her to get lost in them. Jessica felt herself inexplicably drawn towards them. His gaze was so intense that it made her legs weak.
Flustered, Jessica suddenly remembered her clothes that lay heaped in the sand in front of her. As she picked them up, her fingers felt like rubber. Her whole body was still trembling from Nick�s penetrating stare. No one had ever looked at her with such intense emotion that she had forgotten her surroundings. Nobody. Not even Justin.
Nick watched as Jessica fumbled clumsily with her clothes in an attempt to fold them. She was so beautiful. Her curvaceous figure, her hair, her megawatt smile. She was so beautiful that she almost seemed surreal to Nick. Up until then, a girl like Jessica could only have existed in Nick�s imagination.
Right then, Nick made a decision. He had to talk to her. He waited anxiously for Lila and Elizabeth to stray over to the water�s edge so that Jessica was alone. He took a deep breath and began walking.
AJ watched as Elizabeth and Lila stood by the shore, their feet wading in the surf. He could tell they were having a serious discussion from the grim looks on their faces. He desperately wished he knew what they were talking about. He knew something was wrong, he just wasn�t sure what it was.
His mind suddenly flashed back to earlier this morning when Elizabeth had abruptly ended their kiss. The look on her face had been so distant, so cold. It was so unlike Elizabeth to do something like that.
�Enjoying the scenery?� a familiar voice interrupted AJ�s thoughts. It was Brian. Brian�s eyes followed AJ�s gaze and settled on Elizabeth. He had witnessed Elizabeth�s strange behaviour this morning as well. He knew how much AJ cared about her and he knew that although AJ was acting tough and macho on the outside, inside he was hurt by her actions.
�You should tell her,� Brian said in a low voice. AJ looked at Brian with a puzzled expression. �Tell her that you love her,� Brian continued. �Before someone else does,� he added quietly before he walked off, leaving AJ alone.
AJ watched Brian�s retreating figure. He knew Brian was right. AJ had never been one to get involved with emotional baggage in a relationship. He wasn�t good at expressing his true feelings for anyone. He never had been. He had never actually told Elizabeth how much he loved her. He had tried to express his love for her in other ways. In his heart though, he knew that it wasn�t enough. Elizabeth deserved so much more. He knew he had to tell her how he felt about her - before it was too late.
He began walking over to Elizabeth; his jaw set in determination. Lila saw AJ approaching and immediately stopped talking. Elizabeth noticed Lila�s silence and turned slightly. She saw AJ approaching them, his pace increasing with each step he took. Lila put her arm on Elizabeth�s shoulder, silently wishing her good luck as she began walking away. Elizabeth watched Lila silently as she left, sadness taking over her whole body. This is it, she thought to herself taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm her ragged nerves.
Lila passed AJ who seemed oblivious to her presence. She silently prayed that Elizabeth would take her advice and let him down gently. AJ cared about her so much.
AJ came to a halt in front of Elizabeth. Painstakingly, Elizabeth willed her eyes to meet his. �We need to talk,� AJ said in a low throaty voice. �Let�s go somewhere more private,� he said leading her by the arm towards the pier.
As Elizabeth walked her legs felt heavy as they moved, mechanically following AJ�s lead. She kept her eyes on the sand the whole way to the pier unconscious of the inquisitive stares AJ was sending her. She was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to even contemplate why AJ had been so adamant about needing to speak to her. Stumbling upon a seashell embedded in the sand, she shifted her gaze onto the fast approaching pier.
As the familiar jagged rocks of the pier came into view, they brought back memories of the times they had shared together there. Elizabeth fought hard to hold back the stinging tears that were beginning to form in her eyes.
The view from the pier was breathtaking. The pier peaked slightly above the water creating a light spray when the waves crashed against its rocks. It was the perfect backdrop for romantic endeavours. Or heartbreak, Elizabeth though wistfully to herself.
AJ mounted the pier first extending a strong arm out to Elizabeth. She grasped AJ�s hand tightly, her palms damp with sweat. AJ pulled her towards him until he was inches away from her face. Elizabeth could feel his warm breath on her face as he gazed intently into her eyes. �Elizabeth,� he whispered softly.
Elizabeth knew what was coming next. In her own selfish way, she wanted AJ to tell her that he cared about her. She wanted to hear him say the words � just this once. In her heart, she knew it was wrong. Her mind racing, she pursed her lips to tell AJ to stop, but she couldn�t make a sound. Her lips remained frozen, almost as if they were plastered to her face in a complacent smile.
�Elizabeth,� AJ breathed again. He took a deep breath before letting it all pour out of him. �When I think of how my life used to be � so cold and so empty and then I think of you, I realize how truly blessed I am. You are my one and only, my everything. Without you I�d be lost. You've shown me so much and for that I love you,� Having said the words, AJ looked up at Elizabeth for a sign � anything to show that she felt the same way that he did.
Hearing AJ�s confessions, Elizabeth began to tremble, her fresh tears coursing down her cheeks. He had finally said it � but it was too late. She was sobbing uncontrollably as she looked up at AJ through her tears.
Surprised and unprepared for her reaction, AJ stood in shock unable to understand why she was crying. Why was she in so much pain? Why had his words prompted her to cry? Was she just overcome with emotion or was it something else? He managed to push his thoughts from his mind as he instinctively reached out to comfort her.
Elizabeth backed away from him, her feet stumbling awkwardly as she moved. �I�� she choked. She could feel her throat constricting as she tried to speak. �You know I care about you. No matter what happens I�ll always care about you. I know you care about me too,� she finally managed to whisper. AJ looked at her with questioning eyes. �Sometimes though, caring is not enough,� her was voice barely audible as she said the words.
AJ stared back at her, his eyes glassy as he tried to comprehend her words. �I don�t understand,� he said slowly.
�I can�t�� she choked out. �I don�t� I can�t do this anymore. We can�t be together,� she finished in between sobs.
AJ took a step back from her, confusion and immense pain taking over his face. He stopped cold in his tracks as the blood slowly drained from his face. He opened and closed his mouth several times as if in a protest, but nothing came out. Not a sound escaped his lips as they stood in silence.
�Did you �,� he asked, his voice trailing. �Did you ever truly love me?� he asked quietly.
Elizabeth stared off towards the water, her eyes never meeting his. Her tears fell harder now, as she was unable to say anything. She couldn�t open her mouth for fear that the whole sordid truth about her feelings would pour out. She had been so lonely and AJ had filled that loneliness. She couldn�t hurt him anymore by telling him the truth.
AJ took Elizabeth�s silence as a sign. She didn�t love him and never had. She had been leading him on all this time. It was all just a game to her. A game she had played with his heart. He could feel his world crashing down around him. He could feel his happiness being replaced with sadness and anger. Everything around him became a blur as he moved. He pushed past Elizabeth roughly, almost knocking her off the pier. He felt her trembling hand reach out and try to hold him back. Her touch felt so cold to him now. He shrugged her hand off violently as he angrily stalked away from the pier.
�AJ!� she screamed. �This isn�t how it was supposed to be. You don�t understand,� she yelled in between sobs.
AJ stopped in his tracks whirling around angrily to face her, his eyes flashing with anger. �I understand perfectly, � he shot back in a low growl. �You don�t love me, you never did and you never will,� he spit at her. He turned on his heel and stomped away angrily without so much as a glance back at Elizabeth.
Elizabeth watched his retreating figure her wrenching sobs becoming louder. �No!� she screamed. � AJ! Don�t leave me! Don�t go!� she screamed repeatedly her knees buckling as she fell into the sand sobbing.
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