A 1x1 between the lovely taketheworldaway and myself, ghoullia. You know the drill; don't post, but do feel free to read along. I promise we will keep you entertained.
xxxxxxxIt had just been a silly fight. They were out on a date and some high school boy made a comment about her, and Jackson freaked out. She kept telling him that it was fine, that she was used to it, but he snapped. "You're used to it? You're my girlfriend, Lizzie." Usually he didn't get this upset when guys said things to her, but for some reason he was especially irritable that day. "Jackson, please," she had begged, but he continued fuming. "I bet you don't even say anything when I'm not around. Hell, I'll bet you even flirt back." It was a ridiculous comment which he didn't really believe, but when she didn't reply, he dropped her hand as if it was on fire. "You do, don't you?" She was tired and annoyed, and by now she was no longer in the mood to stroke his ego. "Why don't you trust me?"
xxxxxxx"Because you never say anything! If a girl was hitting on me, I would shoot her down immediately. You know why? Because we are in a relationship." He folded his arms across his chest. "Or have you forgotten?" Jackson wasn't typically needy or insecure, but lately he had been extra jealous. It was probably because he was constantly away for his job, and they didn't get to see much of each other anymore. She knew he was nervous about her finding someone else, but there really wasn't anyone else for her. "I think I've had enough for tonight," Liz said finally, grabbing her jacket. She slid it on and gathered her purse, but as she was walking away, he grabbed her arm. "That's it? You're just going to walk away?" An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. "I'm heading back to the apartment. I just need some time to think."
xxxxxxx Apparently Jackson had taken some time the wrong way because Liz had waited for him to come home until four am before she finally fell asleep on the couch. When she woke up around 10, she found a note on the table. We need to take a break. Of course, she called him immediately to apologize. Unfortunately, he avoided all of her calls and texts. She didn't understand why he was acting so weird, but when she headed to their bedroom to find her phone, she found the room empty of all of his belongings.
xxxxxxxNo way. He's totally at a club. Now, exactly eight days later, Liz stared at the Instagram post by her ex-boyfriend, Jackson. They had only broken up a week ago, and he was already out looking for a new girl? Didn't she mean anything to him? Tears burned in her eyes as she tossed her phone to the other end of the bed and brought her knees up to her chin. Needless to say, she was having trouble coping with their "breakup." For God's sake, he didn't even have the balls to say it to her face. She thought it was because if he saw her in person, he wouldn't be able to say no to her.
xxxxxxx"Liz, tell me you're not still moping over that loser." The door swung open and in walked her best friend, Jaebum. He grabbed her phone before she could hide it and sighed. "You need to get over this idiot." He turned off the screen and slid it into his back pocket, despite her protests. "Why don't we go out tonight? It's a Saturday. Let's go tear up the town." He passed her the box of tissues on her desk. She pouted for a moment, brushing away her tears. She was about to say she wanted nothing more than to curl up in bed and watch movies until her eyes burned, but then she remembered the picture of Jackson at the club. "Why don't we hit that new club?" she suggested. Needless to say, Jaebum said yes. He was just relieved she was finally willing to leave the house. Approximately an hour later, Liz was dressed in a flattering black dress and heels, her hair and makeup done for the first time since Jackson left. "You look hot," Jaebum remarked, but she ignored him, holding her hand out. Reluctantly, he handed her the cellphone and the two headed out.
xxxxxxxAfter some brief research, Liz discovered that Jackson's band was supposedly playing. However, after about thirty minutes at the club, she was ready to go home. The club was loud and within the first ten minutes of being there, three guys had offered to buy her a drink. She turned each of them down, claiming she was waiting for her boyfriend. Jackson's band was playing, but of course she couldn't say anything to him until after their set. She considered forcing her way to the front of the crowd, but decided against it. She didn't want to throw off their performance. Jackson took his music seriously. From the corner of the room, she watched as her boyfriend--er, exboyfriend expertly played the guitar with his band. He looked so intense, completely focused on the music. She had always thought musicians were sexy.
xxxxxxx After a while, she decided to go get a drink. The set was almost over, and she felt like she needed some liquid courage to actually face her ex. She headed over to the bar and ordered something random. She didn't really have much experience at clubs, so she wasn't entirely sure what half the drinks were. However, she had heard someone order one of them in a movie she watched with Jaebum the night before and figured it sounded like it would taste pretty okay. As she waited, she hummed a song under her breath and glanced around.
lets-fondue
Out Of Chords; I wasn't sure whether or not to quote you, so just tell me if you want me to stop. Liz is wearingthis...
Love. A four letter word that is simply described in the dictionary as: an intense feeling of deep affection. But it is so, so much more complex than that. Love is the feeling you get when someone means so much to you that you would go to the ends of the earth for them. You would put yourself in harms way for this person. They are the first person you think about when you wake up, and the last person you think about before you fall asleep. And even on the worst of days, this special person somehow manages to make you smile like an idiot. Just their touch alone is enough to send jolts of electricity coursing through your body and make butterflies fill your stomach. You are more comfortable around this person than anyone else, and you can talk to this person about absolutely anything without the fear of being judged or ridiculed.
A man named Nathan Bentley had felt that before. His "special someone", on the other hand, did not.
- three weeks earlier -
It had been a rather... rough, break up, to say the least. After a long and tedious day spent at the hospital, Nathan was finally pulling his jet black Lamborghini into his driveway just shortly after 10PM. He had left his girlfriend, Taylor, a text message earlier that day informing her that she shouldn't expect him to be home until midnight at the least, due to the fact that he had to run errands. Though, much to his satisfaction, Nathan managed to polish off a few hours earlier than anticipated and he was ecstatic to spend the rest of the night with Taylor. Even if that meant just wrapping his arms around her sleeping body and holding her close until he passed out as well.
The surgeon gathered his two rucksack's from the passenger seat and slung the straps over one broad shoulder with ease, allowing himself into the house as quietly as he possibly could, in case Taylor was asleep. "Taylor?" he called, shutting the door behind him and making his way into the kitchen. No response; the house was pitch black and as silent as a mouse. Nathan sighed as he started to pull off his coat, and heaved his bags onto the marble countertop before moving towards the fridge in search of something to drink. The only light source that was the fridge casted a faint glow throughout the kitchen and made his bright blue eyes shine. Nathan grabbed a carton of orange juice and twisted off the plastic lid and lifted it to his dusty pink lips for a guzzle.
And then he heard something... peculiar. Opening his eyes as he lowered the beverage, Nathan wiped his forearm across his mouth and fell silent as he started to listen again. His brows, after a few moments, began to crease at the slow realization of what it was--the squeaking of bed springs. The male took his time travelling up the staircase, the noises growing louder with each step he took, until he could hear Taylor's familiar moans, as well. Nathan stopped at the door, his expression contorting into a mixture of disgust and hurt and anger all at once. He almost didn't even want to open the door. He knew what he would see, it was blatantly obvious--the woman that he had grown to love and trust over the past two years, screwing some other guy. With his jaw tensed, Nathan wrapped his hand around the door handle, twisted, and finally walked in.
It was at that point when things took an ugly turn. "Get out..." His masculine voice was surprisingly calm, for a man who had just walked in on his own neighbour, Jim, screwing the love of his life. "Hurry the <******** up before I do something I know I'll regret," he barked menacingly, Jim gathering his remaining articles of clothing in a haste before running past Nathan muttering apologies as he did so. The 6'3" male only slammed the door shut behind him and turned to look at his girlfriend, who was sitting up against the bed frame with the sheets pulled up to cover her chest. She looked embarrassed. Shocked. Guilty. Her hip length brunette hair was a frizzy mess and her pretty face glowed with sweat from the recent activities. Nathan couldn't even look her in the eyes. "Natey, I--" she began, though Nathan was quick to cut her off. "Don't you dare utter another word, Taylor." His voice was low, reverberating with caution. "We're done, you got that? Done. Just pack your s**t, and get out of my sight." His words were sharp, and he spoke without hesitation.
- present -
Three weeks passed since then and yet still the man continued to grieve, calling in sick at work only to visit bars and clubs and drink his sorrows away. Currently, Nathan was sitting lonesome on a tall barstool, hand wrapped around the base of his half-empty bottle of Heineken as he watched the soundless football game play one of the several tv screens above while a live band played in the background. He didn't take notice of the dark haired female (Liz) who momentarily occupied the stool next to his, too intently focused on the game. The doctor was currently clad in a pair of dark jeans and an untucked flannel shirt that accentuated his back and shoulder muscles rather nicely. The top two buttons were left open in a lazy fashion and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. After finishing his second drink of the night, Nathan waved the bartender over and ordered another, the bartender answering with a curt nod and sliding his drink across the counter moments later. His dull blue eyes, that were once so happy and full of life, casted themselves upon the drink in his hand and with a low sigh he lifted it to his lips for a swig.
xxxxxxxLiz scanned the room for Jaebum, but her hopes for leaving were shattered when she saw him wrapped around some cute girl dressed in a white crop top, tiny black shorts, and an over-sized pinstripe button up. He obviously wouldn't want to be bothered. Unless she got a cab, she probably wouldn't be able to get home. There was no way she was walking. With a defeated sigh, she stared down at the drink she'd ordered. What the hell was this? Hesitantly, she took a sip and glanced around. Lately, she felt like whenever she left the house, she regretted it.
xxxxxxx Her attention moved to the man sitting in the stool next to her. He was watching the football game rather intently. She herself had never been much of a football fan. She was much more interested in soccer or baseball. However, he seemed so enthralled in it, she found herself watching the screen as well. She didn't particularly understand the rules of football, so when he finally ripped his gaze away from the TV, she considered asking him about it. It was in that moment that she realized a.) this guy was actually pretty cute, b.) he was rather muscular, c.) the music had stopped, and d.) Jackson was no longer onstage. A wave of panic swept through her as she turned to scan the crowd, but she didn't see him anywhere. What if he left before she could see him? This whole night would have been a complete waste.
xxxxxxx Liz was about to text Jaebum and ask if he had seen Jackson anywhere, but then she thought better of it. She knew Jaebum would only continue to insist she find someone else, someone "better." But she didn't want "someone else." She wanted Jackson. She wanted Jackson and his sweet brown eyes and his goofy smile and his infectious laugh. There wasn't anyone better in the whole world. A soft sigh escaped her lips and she took a sip of her drink, which actually tasted like s**t. She wasn't a big fan of alcohol, after all. She grimaced as the cold liquid made its way down her throat. However, she did find the idea of becoming piss drunk rather appealing right now. She wanted to become so drunk that she couldn't remember how own name, let alone Jackson's.
xxxxxxx With this goal on her mind, Liz once again brought the glass to her lips. "Lizzie, is that you?" She hesitated, not wanting to seem like she had been waiting for this moment. But she was also extremely pleased because, you know, she had been waiting for this moment. She sat up a little straighter and looked over her shoulder, expecting to see her ever-so-handsome ex-boyfriend alone. Her heart immediately dropped when she saw him standing beside a disgustingly pretty Korean girl. She was prettier, thinner, and--she felt this part deep in her soul-- taller. If there was one thing she was insecure about, it would always be her height. Liz currently stood at a height of exactly 5'1, and at the age of 24, she was probably unlikely to grow much more. One of the things she loved about Jackson was that his height was a source of insecurity for him as well, probably because he was only 5'9. It was still a hell of a lot taller than her, though. She always secretly thought that Jackson would have liked a taller girl, but now her fears were confirmed.
xxxxxxx"J-Jackson," her voice raised an octave as she turned to face him. "What are you doing here?" She tried not to think about the way his hand was hovering over the small of the girl's back. "You hate these places." She flushed, tucking a loose lock of wavy hair behind her ear. "Yeah, well, I can't spend the rest of my live in our--my apartment." A nervous laugh escaped her lips and she swallowed a mouthful of her drink. This time, she didn't notice the awful taste. The girl shot Jackson a confused look. "I'll order us some drinks," she suggested after a long moment before walking away to chase the bartender. Liz's eyes followed the girl down the bar. "Her name's Sun Hee," Jackson informed her hesitantly. "Korean. Nice." Liz stared down at her glass. "I hope this isn't awkward. I didn't think I'd see you here because you hate clubs and crowded areas, so I figured it'd be safe to--""Oh my God, Jackson," she interrupted him, raising a hand to stop him. "It's fine. Don't worry. She's really pretty and I hope you guys are happy together."
xxxxxxxJackson looked at her for a long time with those warm puppy dog eyes that made her heart melt. "I just thought that because we--er, I mean you--I just... it's only been a few weeks--" he stammered out, running a hand through his dark hair. "Me? Oh, don't worry about me." Once again, she felt the heat rush to her face. "I'm fine. I'm totally okay. In fact, I'm in a relationship now, too. Me and--" In a panic, her eyes flickered around the area before she finally gestured towards the empty-eyed guy sitting next to her. She leaned against the counter and put her hand on his arm to get his attention, shooting him a pleading look. "We're dating now."
lets-fondue
Out Of Chords; This was a really bad post and mostly I rambled. sweatdrop Liz is wearingthis...
Nathan soon pulled out his phone from his pocket to check the time, reading 11:08PM. He knew he would have to awake early the next morning and be in O.R. for 6AM, and figured he should probably head back home after he finished his drink. Nathan had taken a rather unacceptable amount of days off over the past few weeks and he was beginning to hate himself for it. His colleagues needed him and so did his patients, because of the simple fact that he was regarded as one of the most highly skilled surgeons in the country. And he loved what he did, too. He wasn't just in it for the money--which was a rare thing to say about most people nowadays. He just loved helping people. The man had saved the lives of countless amounts of people over the past few years, and seeing the loved ones of his patients with tears of relief and joy pouring out of their eyes and smiles stretched as wide as their faces was his fuel. It was what kept him going.
It was after he took another sip of his drink that he decided to glance around. A woman to his right soon grasped the male's attention and Nathan stole a glance when her's was focused elsewhere, giving her a bit of a once over. She was a cute little thing. Very petite, minuscule compared to his massive form, and had a full head of short, wavy brunette tresses. Though, judging by the way she seemed to be glancing around almost worriedly, he assumed that she was waiting for someone to arrive. A late night date, perhaps. So, he chose to not bother her and redirected his attention to the television instead.
Minutes passed and soon a conversation had sparked between the woman sitting beside him and some guy, who, judging by the sound of it, was her ex. Nathan was never one to eavesdrop on conversations but he couldn't help it this time. It was happening two feet away from him. Absently, Nathan circled his nearly empty bottle and lifted it to his lips, tipping it upwards to finish it off--just as he felt a small hand on his bicep. "We're dating now," the woman said, her brown eyes literally begging for him to play along. Nathan loved helping people, right? After a few seconds, he nodded his head in acknowledgment of her words as he swallowed the rest of his beer and turned in his seat slightly, putting on the best (and rather handsome) smile that he could muster up at the moment. "We are," he said as he extended a hand to the man, simultaneously showing off the tattoo on his forearm. "I'm Nathan. Nathan Bentley." His clavicle tattoo was also peeking out a bit from his shirt.
"Err.. Jackson." He shook his hand tentatively and quickly. The poor fella almost seemed intimidated, and admittedly a little disappointed. "How did you guys, uh--how did you guys meet??" Jackson asked, in an obvious yet fail attempt to sound cheery. Nathan looked to the brunette on that one encouragingly. "Why don't you tell him, hunny?" he urged with a smile. Nathan was a wee bit too intoxicated for story-telling at the moment. He knew he would just end up fumbling over his words and raising suspicion. Jackson looked to Liz questioningly.
xx
taketheworldaway
lolol no pressure, liz! xD and i am SO sorry for quoting you multiple times, as you can see i was screwing with his layout
xxxxxxxAt this point, Liz had almost forgotten how to breathe. She didn't want to be caught in her little white lie. How pathetic would that be? Well, she was already feeling pretty pathetic, but she couldn't back down now. Not now that Jackson was looking at her with those big eyes, waiting for her to say more. For a brief moment, she thought he seemed... disappointed. Because she and this guy were fake-dating? For a second, she wanted to confess that the only reason she was even here was because of him. She saw the look in his eyes as he glanced between her and the guy beside her--Nathan, apparently. God bless him for playing along. She'd make sure to thank him later. However, right now, she wanted to throw herself into Jackson's arms and tell him that no matter what, he would always be the only one. She didn't care that he was here with someone else. She just wanted them to be together again. She was so sick of sleeping alone at night.
xxxxxxx But then she realized how desperate she was acting. Jackson was here with someone else. Clearly, he was no longer interested in her. He had moved on. The thought left a sour taste in her mouth, but as she twisted a lock of curled lock of hair between her index and middle finger, she knew that Jackson definitely wouldn't be coming home tonight as she'd hoped. Although it was hard to admit to herself, part of her knew that she and Jackson wouldn't be together. At least, not for a while. As she looked up, she realized he was waiting for a response.
xxxxxxx"Nathan and I met..." She paused, glancing over at the man. He was muscular... He liked football... He had tattoos.... Where would they have met? "... at the gym...?" Well, Nathan was pretty fit. She wasn't sure how he'd pull off that body without working out. She herself wasn't particularly interested in lifting weights or anything of the like, but she did run sometimes. She'd been on the track and cross country team in high school. It seemed pretty believable, at least to her, that she would go to the same gym as the man sitting beside her. "You joined a gym?" Jackson looked skeptical, so she bit her lip and tried to think of a reasonable explanation.
xxxxxxx"Well, yeah. It's not like I can just look like this naturally." A tight smile formed on her lips and she finished her drink, setting the glass on the counter. "I, uh... It was one of the first times I was there. I was pushing a little too hard when I was on the treadmill and," she chuckled, "I'm not really sure if I tripped or what, but the next thing I knew I was on the ground." It sounded stupid and embarrassing, but Jackson knew her. If there was even a single thing that seemed weird about her story, he would notice. Anything where she didn't do something potentially traumatizing was probably unlikely. "This guy here," she elbowed Nathan, mostly because she'd already forgotten his name, "rescued me. Anyone who can see me do something that embarrassing and still find me attractive is a winner to me."
lets-fondue
Out Of Chords; Somehow my post got even worse. They keep getting shorter and shorter... Liz is wearingthis...
.. At the gym. Of course. He released air through his nostrils in a small chuckle that went completely unnoticed by Jackson, who was currently staring at Liz while she went on with the story. Nathan did go to the gym, yes, whenever he wasn't working or spending time with the guys--which was rare. He just had a high metabolism, sometimes went for morning runs, as well, and had a very healthy diet. People often jumped to the conclusion that he was a personal trainer, because his body was so well-proportioned, so what Liz said didn't phase him in the slightest. With one muscular arm resting on the black countertop, Nathan leaned his jaw against his fist as he, too, listened to the woman. Apparently, they had first laid eyes upon each other when Liz tripped on the treadmill and Nathan swooped in and saved the day. Which sounded believable, he guessed.
His blue eyes flickered towards Jackson briefly, who seemed to be accepting the story as true. The male nodded his head impressed when Liz had finished, although being the playful soul he was, he decided to put his own spin on the lie. "Alright, first of all," Nathan began seriously, lifting his hand off his lap to silence Jackson before he could speak. "Saying she 'tripped' is an understatement. And by that I mean, she completely wiped out. You ever seen America's Funniest Home Videos? It was one of those kind of wipe outs." The corner of his mouth quirked up in amusement, and Jackson gave a soft laugh in response. "No harm was done, though. I made sure of that. Didn't I, sweetheart?" Nathan flashed a rather boyish grin that lit up his blue eyes. This was rather fun--and definitely a story that would be worth sharing with his colleagues on the morrow.
"Wow. That was uh.. quite the story." Jackson allowed himself another laugh, the sad puppy look completely ridded from his face. Suddenly, his girlfriend who had disappeared to get them drinks, returned with two glasses in her hand. "Err, Nathan, this is my girlfriend Sun Hee," he said with a smile, returning his hand to the small of her back. At least someone remembered his name. "Good to meet you." Nathan clasped and shook her slender hand briefly. "Would you guys mind if we joined you?" Jackson suddenly asked, gaze twitching between Liz and Nathan. The male blinked, and took in a breath as he tried to quickly muster up an excuse for them not to. "Well, we were actually about to..." His deep voice trailed off when he noticed a familiar someone standing not too far behind Jackson and Sun Hee--Taylor.
There she stood in all of her glorious beauty, clad in nothing but a short deep red dress that hiked up on her thin, tanned legs along with a pair of matching six inch heels. Her layered hair fell in waves down her back, a few loose strands draping over her chest, framing her angular face perfectly. And, of course, she and her group of friends just happened to be blocking the only exit. He felt his mouth go dry at the sight and he licked his lips, quickly returning his gaze to the two before they had the chance to suspect anything. Nathan smiled warmly and shook his head. "By all means," he answered, and the couple smiled at one another before occupying the stools that were on Liz's side.
xxxxxxx Liz clenched her jaw as Nathan spoke. One of her favorite details about Jackson was that he never laughed at her when she screwed up, he would fix her up and make her feel better. Now, she could admit that there was a lot to laugh at when it came to being around her. If there was one thing she was good at, it was humiliating herself. That was why she appreciated the fact that he never did. Perhaps it was because he was just as much of a mess as her, maybe even more. But now, as Jackson shared a laugh with her so-called boyfriend, she had a heavy feeling.
xxxxxxx She pushed her emotions away as Jackson's girlfriend returned. Sun Hee was everything that Liz wished she had been for Jackson: tall, pretty, blonde, Korean. Actually, her hair was a pinkish blonde, becoming more and more pink as it got closer to her tips. It was disgustingly trendy. Ugh. She knew that despite being American-Korean, Jackson's parents had always wanted him to be with a Korean girl. They had never been Liz's biggest fan, but they put up with her because she made their son happy. As she looked over Sun Hee, she had a sinking feeling that Mr. and Mrs. Wang would absolutely, without a doubt approve of her. Liz couldn't help being born to a British father and a Filipino mother, just like she couldn't help being short or having naturally dark hair. Jackson had always denied having a thing for Korean girls, but she could see it in his eyes now as he touched his new girlfriend.
xxxxxxx Liz definitely minded them joining, and she was relieved that Nathan was about to turn them down. However, when his voice seemed to falter, she followed his gaze to a woman who appeared to be blocking the door with a crowd of her friends. Great, another long-legged beauty. Her self-esteem was definitely taking a hit tonight, and she felt a rush of regret for ever leaving her bedroom. Right about now, all she really wanted to do was go home and cry into a tub of ice cream. Her heart skipped a beat as Nathan invited them to join them, and Jackson slid into the bar stool next to her.
xxxxxxx Her mind was racing, trying to find a decent excuse as to why she needed to leave immediately. She scanned the area for Jaebum, but didn't see him anywhere. She reached into her bag for her phone, but stopped short when she felt Jackson's hand on her knee. Recoiling at his touch, she almost dropped her bag in surprise. "Hey, I just wanted to say..." Jackson whispered in her ear. "I'm glad you're happy. I just never knew you liked white boys." The feeling of his hot breath on her neck was far more stressful to her than his words, and she put her hand on his shoulder and pushed him away. "I never knew you liked Korean girls," she whispered back before resting her elbow on the counter and propping her chin up on her hand, completely turning away from him.
xxxxxxx Liz was facing Nathan now, but she was far too embarrassed to say anything to him. She squeezed her eyes shut and suddenly felt as if she were going to break down right there and then. However, that wasn't an option. After taking a deep breath, she forced a smile onto her face and prepared to blurt out some lame excuse about why she needed to leave right away. Before she could say anything, unfortunately, Jackson spoke. "So, Liz, what does your new boyfriend do for a living?" Her gaze flickered to Nathan, and once again panic swelled up in her throat. She had no idea what he did for a living, unless it was something along the lines of having pretty blue eyes and nice biceps.
lets-fondue
Out Of Chords; Ouch, Nathan. Also, I feel like this is unimportant but Sun Hee looks likeTaeyon. Liz is wearingthis...
As Jackson and Sun Hee moved to their seats, Nathan went back to facing Liz, although his eyes seemed to linger on the beauty that was his ex-girlfriend for a little while longer. There she was, living it up and having the time of her lives with her friends, dancing with other men, while he--the one who declared an end to the relationship--had spent the past three weeks in quite possibly the most depressing state he's ever been in. Exhaling through his nostrils, Nathan's gaze shifted back to Liz, who was now facing him. She looked as though she was on the verge of tears, ready to just break down, and it was in that moment that he realized he messed up. Nathan was merely kidding around earlier, half-expecting that she would laugh along with him and Jackson, but she didn't. Apparently her sense of humour was far from self-deprecating.
His lips set into a grim line and he leaned a little closer to the girl, parting his lips to apologize, merely a fraction of a second before Jackson spoke up. Nathan closed his eyes briefly and sat up straight again. "I'm a doctor," he replied, pressing his lips into closed-lips smile. The two seemed momentarily taken aback, as if they were expecting an answer such as a personal trainer, or a fire fighter, or any other job that would require a body meant for extreme tasks. "More specifically a surgeon, I specialize in neurosurgery," Nathan continued. "What's that?" Sun Hee questioned, cocking her head to the side slightly. The male laughed softly, waving the bartender over for yet another drink. He had a lingering feeling that it was going to be a long night. "You're not the first person to ask me that," he started. "Neurosurgery, it's uh.. it's surgery that's performed on the nervous system, to put it in the simplest terms. Y'know, the brain, the spinal cord, so on and so forth."
His drink of choice was set on the space of the counter that was between Nathan and Liz, and with a silent nod of his head towards the man, he wrapped his hand around the base of the bottle and lifted it to his lips for a guzzle. "Oh," Sun Hee responded dumbly. "That's really cool," Jackson piped up. "How 'bout you, Jackson? What do you do for a living?" he rounded the question with eyebrows lifted questioningly, completely unaware that he had just been on stage performing with his band. Jackson went onto explain that he was in a band and that they had just finished a gig, the two exchanging a few more words before the other announced that he would be right back before heading over towards the men's washroom. Sun Hee, having nothing to say to either Liz or Nathan, decided to order herself another drink. Nathan decided to take this opportunity to speak to Liz.
"Liz, right?" he whispered teasingly, leaning the side of his head against his fist once more as he looked into her eyes in an attempt to meet his gaze with hers. "Listen, I didn't mean to upset you earlier.." his voice was low and hushed as he spoke. "I took it too far and I'm sorry." Liz probably wouldn't care for his apology, seeing as they wouldn't see each other ever again after tonight, but he felt that it was only proper to apologize nonetheless. Especially since she was a young woman.
xxxxxxx It would’ve been a lie to say that Liz wasn’t surprised by the fact that Nathan was a doctor. It would have been an even bigger lie to say that she wasn’t skeptical towards the idea of him being a neurosurgeon. However, he said it so matter-of-factly, she couldn’t help but believe him. She listened to him explain about what he did for a living, and she was actually quite impressed. She had always supported Jackson’s passion for music, but there was always a concern for her about paying the bills. She herself was employed as an editor at a publishing company. Basically, she read for a living. It was enjoyable most of the time, but the deadlines were rather stressful, especially when Jackson got home from travelling and wanted to spend time with her. Although, now that she considered it, she supposed that wouldn’t be a problem much longer.
xxxxxxx Her gaze focused on the counter in front of her as Jackson began explaining his being in a band. She had spent many long nights watching them rehearse in the past. She was no expert on music, but she had always thought they were rather talented. Unfortunately, her opinion didn’t matter--it was the opinion of the record labels’. It always weighed heavily on her mind that she was unable to help him in any way when it came to his music.
xxxxxxx She felt her heartbeat return to its usual pace once Jackson left to go to the men’s room. Liz found herself releasing a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. This night had somehow turned into a nightmare. Running a hand through her caramel-colored hair, she sighed and tried to collect herself. This was not a good time for a mental break down. There would always be time for that when she got home. She bit her lip, looked up at the ceiling, and cleared her throat in an attempt to force down any tears that could possibly ruin her mascara.
xxxxxxx Then her attention flickered to Nathan as he began to speak. There was really no need for him to apologize. He clearly misinterpreted her frustration over Jackson as her feelings being hurt over what he had done. Really, there were no hard feelings. Maybe it had irritated her when the words left his mouth, but she was already past it. “I should be the one who’s apologizing,” she replied in a low voice. A remorseful smile found its way to her lips as she met his gaze. “I’m sorry for dragging you into my mess.” After all, she was eternally thankful for him playing along. He could have thrown her under the bus and mortified her right in front of Jackson and his new girlfriend.
lets-fondue
Out Of Chords; It took me like 10 years to type this omg. Writing this stresses me out because I based Jackson off of a real guy named Jackson so whenever I go to write something bad about him, I immediately feel bad because I love him so much, haha. // Liz is wearingthis...
A crooked smile etched into his perfect features--something that was meant to be reassuring--and he gave a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders as situated himself by sitting up a little straighter. The toes of his brown leather boots rested against the lower bar of the stool. "Forget about it," he began, lifting his booze to his lips for another sip, "I'd be lying if I said I had anything better to be doing anyways." Nathan wrapped both hands around his beer as he held it on his lap, his piercing blue eyes that were beginning to show signs of fatigue clouded by thick long lashes. Nathan kept reminding himself that he would have to be up early the next morning, though as long as Jackson and Sun Hee were still around, leaving was not an option. Either he left with Liz or he didn't leave at all.
As Nathan took another swig of his beverage, he became abruptly aware of the fact that he had to pay the bathroom a visit. He put the drink back down onto the counter and stepped onto the floor, arising to his full height. "'Scuse me," he said to Liz, and escaped in a hasty fashion towards the men's bathroom. He felt the dancing sweaty bodies press and rub up against his as he did so, but he didn't mind. It was the fastest way across the room and he really had to go. Nathan reached out to push the door open, but a second before he could do so, he heard an all too familiar voice. "Nathan??" His jaw tensed and he inhaled deeply. Nathan almost couldn't believe his ears. She was the one who was unfaithful to him, and yet she had the nerve to turn their first encounter into an interrogation?
He licked his lips before speaking, looking her straight in the eye. "Taylor... we're over, alright? Who I choose to associate myself with is no longer any of your concern..." He chose to maintain a level of composure, as fighting fire with fire with Taylor would only result in a heated yelling match. She had a tendency to get a little aggressive when she got angry, too. On too many occasions had their quarrels resulted in objects being thrown across the room as well as broken dishes. "So you're screwing her." Nathan mentally cursed himself, sighing exasperatedly, and opened his mouth to speak to her unearthly accusation, but the only thing that came out was, "Goodbye Taylor..." And with that, Nathan pushed open the door to the men's washroom and made his way towards one of the urinals. He could hear Taylor yelling profanities as the door slowly closed behind him until it was shut completely.
She may have been finished with Nathan, but she most certainly wasn't through with the mystery girl he'd been conversing with for the past half hour. The tall brunette pushed her way through the crowd towards the bar area. "Who the hell are you?" she spat, grimacing as she stood behind Liz's barstool.
xxxxxxx Liz nodded, but wondered what he'd have been doing had she not crashed his night. He did say he was a doctor, and while she wasn't an expert on the life of a neurosurgeon, she did question whether or not he would have to get up early the next morning. She herself did not--she worked from home a lot of the time, so she didn't need to wake up until she felt ready to work. For a moment, she worried Nathan looked a bit tired. Her gaze followed him as he headed to the rest room before finally, she decided to text Jaebum and see what he was doing. She couldn't leave without Nathan, so she figured she should tell her friend to leave without her.
xxxxxxx Upon her initial text, all she did was ask Jaebum where he was. She was not prepared for the onslaught of messages that then attacked her phone, first warning her that Jackson was here, then realizing that the only reason she had suggested the place was because of the former, then lecturing her for being so hung up on him, and finally chastising her for not realizing she was so fantastic and not understanding that she didn't need Jackson to make her happy. It had been two weeks since the brutal breakup, and Jaebum had reminded her everyday that she should be more focused on becoming a whole rather than finding her other half. But he didn't understand-- she was fully capable of being on her own. She'd spent the first twenty-two years of her life on her own before she met Jackson. After two years of being with him, it was just hard to adjust to being without him. She didn't know how to not be with him at this point. She laughed harder when she was with him. She felt more herself. Whenever something went really wrong--or even really right-- he was always the first person she wanted to tell.
xxxxxxx It was difficult not being able to tell him anything. Like, right now. For a moment, her thumb hovered over his name in her phone and she was about to text him about the ridiculous mess she was in before she realized she couldn't. Mostly because the situation involved him (man, she was stupid) but also because she wasn't sure he would even care anymore. As she opened Jaebum's text, she knew it wasn't something any of her friends would understand. Look, I know you loved him, Jaebum had said. But she hadn't loved him, she still did. She loved him present tense. She did, she does, and she always would. Even if she did find someone else one day, there would always be a part of her heart devoted to that 5'9 Korean dweeb, Jackson Wang.
xxxxxxx When she felt a presence behind her, she assumed it was either Jackson or Nathan, and she prepared to tell either one of them that she would be leaving soon. After all, she was getting increasingly uninterested in the loud, drunk atmosphere. However, she was surprised to find herself faced with a tall dark-haired girl in a tight red dress. Well, this definitely isn't Nathan. She blinked in surprise as the girl sneered at her, wondering what she had done to invoke such raw anger. "I, uh... I'm sorry?" She stared up at her. "You're Sorry? What a stupid name for a stupid girl. What are you, seventeen?" Liz could admit that she did look rather young for her age. She hadn't grown at all since the eighth grade. It was undeniable that she was of a small, petite build. However, she didn't understand why this girl was so angry with her.
xxxxxxx"I'm twenty-four," she corrected her, but it didn't really make her feel much better. Actually, she felt pretty small. "What the hell are you doing talking to my Nathan?" At this question, Liz's eyes widened. Hers? She wasn't even particularly interested in Nathan. He was hot and all, but he was no Jackson. "We're just talking," she insisted, raising her hands in surrender. "Nothing more." Unfortunately, Jackson picked that moment to return from the bathroom. "Excuse me." He passed Taylor and slipped back into the bar stool next to Liz. "You know," he began, completely misreading the situation as a friendly conversation. "I was thinking. You and Nathan should come over for dinner tomorrow night so we could all get to know each other. I'd love to learn more about your new boyfriend." Jackson was nothing if not oblivious. Liz shrunk under Taylor's sharp gaze, caught between a rock and a hard place. Where the hell was Nathan anyway?
lets-fondue
Out Of Chords; I wasn't really sure how to do this, so sorry it this sucks omg. // Liz is wearingthis...
「 :◤ GETTING HARDTO SLEEP ✱ ❜ – xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing mexxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing mexxxxxxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing me
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing mexxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing mexxxxxxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing me
Nathan hastily zipped up his fly and buckled his belt when he finished, adjusting the hem of his shirt as he made his way towards the sink to wash his hands. With Taylor now on his mind, he couldn't help but reminisce the night of their break up. She had put on quite the show in hopes of changing his mind. There were tears--enough to fill up an entire bathtub--and countless I love you's. "Please don't do this," she had pleaded. What had almost made him give in was the way she cupped his cheeks and met her teary, puffy eyes with his. Nathan could have absolutely melted in her eyes. They were the perfect shade of green and her dark long eyelashes were so delicately curled, wet from the excessive tears. Across her cheeks were a light powdering of freckles... and her smile. It lit up her entire face and filled the darkest of dwellings with a beautiful glow that radiated from her, and always managed to leave Nathan breathless.
Yet still, despite all of that, Nathan managed to tear himself away and stick to his guns. She was packed and moved out the following morning, jobless and forced to stay with a friend. Nathan had been generous enough to call her a cab, and pay the gentleman a handsome amount of cash in advance as well.
Rubbing his wet hands against his jeans as he emerged from the bathroom, Nathan's nostrils were instantly assaulted by the intermingled smells of smoke, sweat and too many people. His pupils dilated as his eyes adjusted to the imminent darkness. The song Dead Inside by Muse blasted throughout the room and Nathan could feel the bass in his chest. Surrounding him were tangled dancing bodies while others stood off to the side, drinking and chatting the night away. It would be false to say Nathan didn't feel out of place. Clubs weren't exactly his particular scene; one would usually be able to find him at a low-key bar, playing pool and poker or just watching a game and sharing drinks with his friends. Though, since this club was fairly new, and rather close to his house, he figured why not check it out. Mistake number one. Inhaling deeply, the man began his venture through the dance floor once more towards the bar area on the other side, mumbling apologies to those he bumped into as he did so.
Nathan stopped dead in his tracks, eyes growing wide when he saw Taylor unleashing her wrath on his so-called "girlfriend". Jackson had returned as well and Liz looked absolutely terrified as she stared up at Taylor, who had quite a few inches on her especially in those heels. Nathan knew he had to intervene. He pressed his lips into a firm line when he met the eyes of Taylor who suddenly turned on him as he approached, giving him a look of literal death. "What the ******** is going on?" Taylor placed her hands on her hips. "You're dating this b***h?!" she screamed, loud enough to grasp the attention of the people that stood nearby. "I gave you two years of my life, Nathan! Two years!" She was screaming in his face now. His eyes locked on her, expression solemn.
Now it was his turn to lay down the facts. He refused to just stand there while Taylor played the innocent victim. "I'm sorry, have you forgotten why we broke up? You cheated on me, Taylor. For months. With our next door ******** neighbour of all people!!" His voice was so loud, so thunderous, that Taylor couldn't concentrate on what he had said, only the tone in which he had said it. Nathan had become a whole different person. His shining, blue eyes had twisted into a dark and gloomy ocean-like colour. Taylor was left speechless, and just as he thought she was going to storm off, she proved him wrong. Her lips pursed and she raised her hand back, throwing it forward as hard as she could, whipping it across his face. The crack of skin contacting skin was sudden, and sharp. <******** you, Nathan." And with that, Taylor turned and stormed off. His cheek, now a bright red, slightly stung, although he didn't show it.
Nathan tongued the inside of his cheek for a moment before slowly walking back to his seat. He was too embarrassed to look at Liz or even Jackson for that matter. "I'm sorry..." was all he could think of saying. They didn't deserve to witness any of that, Liz especially.
xx
taketheworldaway
wow this took me forever to get out, sorry of it sucks ._.
xxxxxxx Relief was written all over the young girl's face when Nathan returned. She was almost worried that this tall, angry woman was going to attack her. Liz was not good with conflict. It was painfully obvious that if she were to ever get into a fight, she would without a doubt lose. There was no end to this situation that she could foresee that didn't end with her crying, to be honest. However, her concern quickly moved from herself to Nathan when Taylor released her rage on him. She was two seconds away from peeing herself, honestly. Biting her lip, she considered stepping between the two, but she got the feeling that it would only make things worse.
xxxxxxx It soon became clear to her just who this Taylor person was. Needless to say, she was not happy with the situation. When she slapped Nathan, Liz's jaw clenched. Who did this girl think she was? She had no right to stomp in on Nathan's life now, especially considering she was the one in the wrong. She had a thing or two to say to her, but she bit her tongue. She wasn't about to start something she couldn't finish. Nonetheless, that didn't mean she wasn't fuming over what had just happened. Her gaze flickered back to Nathan and the red mark on his face. "Oh my God, Nathan." Even though she barely knew him, her heart sunk.
xxxxxxx From a young age, Liz had been instilled with a great sense of empathy. Remember when you were little and you had to change the channel during parts of the movie because it was just so embarrassing or heartbreaking? Yeah, she felt like that all the time. Especially now that she spent all of her free time watching movies and dramas instead of spending time with you-know-who. Now, as she watched Nathan walk back to his seat, her immediate reaction was to try to fast forward out of this situation. However, this was not a movie and she was not in her apartment. Upon realizing how stupid she was being, she slipped her phone back into her bag. Well, that didn't work. Hesitantly, she looked back at Nathan. It was time to face the music.
xxxxxxx"I'm so sorry," she blurted out. She'd had no idea he'd been in such a toxic relationship. He was probably twice her size, but she felt the sudden urge to protect him. It didn't matter that he was taller and a lot stronger. At that moment, he was the equivalent of a wounded puppy in her eyes. In a soft voice, she said, "We can leave now if you want to." She put her hand on his knee without thinking and tried to catch his gaze. It wasn't that she thought he needed her permission, but she knew she had to keep up the appearance of at least being a couple while Jackson and Sun Hee were around. She looked at Nathan with big, worried eyes.
lets-fondue
Out Of Chords; my post is super short, so I'm sorry. // Liz is wearingthis...
「 :◤ GETTING HARDTO SLEEP ✱ ❜ – xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing mexxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing mexxxxxxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing me
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing mexxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing mexxxxxxxxxxxxxxblood is in my dreams, love is killing me
Nathan chose to stay silent at first, jaw tensed and lips pressed into a grim line across his face as he stared down at his drink. He could feel this awful, overabundance of anger and dejection swelling deep inside of him and all he wanted to do was hit something, as childish as it may sound. Taylor and Nathan had definitely had their share of fights. They yelled, Taylor threw things, but not once had their fights ever taken a physical turn. She had never slapped him, and Nathan had never in his life even considered hitting a girl.
Upon hearing Liz's question, however, Nathan paused before giving a few nods in acknowledgment of her words. "Let's go." He met his gaze with hers briefly and glanced down at her hand, that seemed so small in comparison to his. Nathan wasn't sure if this was just part of the crazy masquerade they had going, but nonetheless, he cupped his rough, calloused hand over hers and curled his thick fingers around her palm as he stepped down from his stool. Their hands were now enfolded and it was an awfully strange feeling, something that Nathan couldn't exactly describe. It just felt... different. When Liz hopped off the bar stool, Nathan found that she was a great deal shorter than he'd originally anticipated--and she was wearing heels.
After they said their goodbyes, Nathan guided Liz through the massive crowd of people towards the exit. As soon as he pushed the double doors open he was greeted by a breeze that was a sweet relief from the overly heated, unpleasant nightclub. The thumping of the obnoxious music still vibrated slightly but nonetheless Nathan was happy to be out of there. "We can breathe," he chuckled, finally releasing Liz's hand to dig his hands into the pockets of his dark-washed jeans. Nathan looked up towards the sky, and saw that the sun had completed it's tour for the day and had been replaced by darkness that was speckled by myriad stars. He turned to gaze at Liz after a moment. "Do you, uh--do you live in the vicinity? I can walk you home," Nathan offered. He knew she didn't have a ride, and the last thing he wanted was for her to have to walk home alone. This particular neighbourhood wasn't known for any kind of danger, but Nathan knew he'd lay awake in bed all night thinking of her wandering the streets if he didn’t make sure she arrived home safely.
Just then, the doors swung open behind them as Jackson came jogging out. "Hey, glad I caught you guys--I was wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner tomorrow night?"
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