Nothing to Lose

“Eloise how could you?” Margot cried as she ran into the apartment later that evening, “Josh is a wonderful fellow! You really hurt him today!"

“You don’t even know what happened.” Eloise groaned as she turned over in her bed and pulled her pillow over her head hoping that she would just go way.

“All we know is that Josh came home so upset that he punched a hole in the wall that we now have to pay for, thank you very much.” Max’s voice filled the room. This caused Eloise to sit up and stare at them with cold, glassy eyes. They we're slightly shocked at how miserable the girl actually looked.

“I’ll give you the money to pay for the fucking wall if you will bloody shut up about it!” She screeched, “You two have no right to be angry at me for anything. It's your fault for even butting in!”

“You don’t need to pay for the wall, El.” Max whispered nervously. He didn’t like seeing the girl so upset, “It’s not a real big deal. What matters is what is going on between you and Josh.”

“Nothing would be going on with us if you two didn’t have to meddle in our lives! I’m sorry that you hate our significant others so much that you try to set us up, but life doesn’t work like that, sadly!” Eloise spat angrily as she climbed out of bed, staring them down as she ran to her closet and pulled out a large duffle bag.

“El, what are you doing?” Margot asked cautiously as she watched her best friend begin tearing open drawers and threw clothes into them. The room was quickly beginning to look like a tornado came through.

“I'm getting the fuck out of here, I am sick and tired of everyone’s bullshit.” Eloise snarled. She even surprised herself at how venomous she was speaking to her best friend. It wasn’t her at all, she didn’t know she was anymore.

“Eloise!” Margot pleaded, “Don’t do this!”

“Let her go.” Max whispered gently as he pulled his girlfriend in close to comfort her as the tears began to fall. They both watched wordlessly as Eloise hurried past them and left them alone in the apartment, slamming the door on her way out.

“Hello?” A voice answered the phone groggily as if they had just been awoken.

“C-Caleb?” Eloise sobbed, “C-can you come pick me up please? I’m at my apartment.”

“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He said before she ended the call. She collapsed to the pavement and began to bawl her eyes out until a sleek, black car pulled up and Caleb stepped out smiling smugly.

“I always said this would happen. Those friends of yours are worthless shitheads.” Caleb said as he picked up the exhausted girl and carried her around to the passenger seat, “You’re finally coming to your senses.”

“Yeah, I guess I am.” Eloise nodded her head as she closed the car door. She watched as she left her home behind her until she slowly drifted off to sleep.



“Eloise! Caleb! What a pleasant surprise!” El’s father beamed as the two stepped into his hospital room, “Caleb, my boy, I haven’t seen you in ages!”

“Yes sir, it’s been a while!” Caleb grinned at the man as his hand remained planted on Eloise’s lower back.

“Father, I have news.” Eloise smiled warily at the man, “I’m engaged!” She held out her hand to show her father the rather large engagement ring on her left ring finger, “Aren’t you happy?”

“Oh Darling that’s wonderful!” Her father gushed, “You two are great together. It makes me so happy to see my daughter very much in love and with such a genuine guy. Caleb, what took you so long?”

“I was waiting for the opportune time. Once Eloise moved in three weeks ago, I knew it was the proper time to ask.” He smiled as he took a seat next to Eloise’s father. She smiled at the two of them. The two of them together like this reminded her of a time when she truly loved Caleb, when he was a perfect gentleman all the time. It almost appeared as if it was still that way. But Eloise could see through the façade of her family now. The only thing keeping them all together was her dying father. She had no idea what life was going to be like when he was actually gone.



“Oi mate, you’ve been glum for weeks now. What’s the matter?” Dan asked as he sat down next to Josh on the couch at their flat, “We’re almost ready for tour, you cannot be all pissy for the whole tour lad!”

“It’s nothing.” Josh shook his head and rested his feet on the coffee table, “I think I’m developing depression is all.”

“That’s pretty serious, Josh. Are you sure?” Dan squinted his eyes and stared at Josh, “That can’t possibly be it. Does it have something to do with that girl Eloise?”

“Absolutely not!” Josh exclaimed as he stood up and walked across the room in frustration, running his fingers through his messy hair, “Why would you say that?”

“You talk in your sleep mate.” Dan shrugged, “And your door is always open at night.”

“I don’t like sleeping in total darkness.” Josh grumbled.

“Then get a bloody night light if you don’t want me hearing you talking in your sleep.” Dan suggested with a smirk, “You’ve got it bad for that girl.”

“I do not, Daniel.” Josh rolled his blue eyes as he sat back down, “She made it very clear that we barely know each other, and you know what? She’s completely right! I barely know anything about her and you simply cannot have feelings for someone you don’t know… ‘sides, I have a girlfriend.”

“I thought you were breaking up with her?” Dan said with a disgusted look on his face, “You didn’t?”

“I couldn’t.” Josh admitted as he let out a heavy sigh and rested his head in the palm of his hands, “She’s been in my life so long, I just don’t know how to let go.”

“Well I say it’s about time you do that.” Dan ordered, “You’ll never know how to be happy if she’s hanging around you all the time. Eloise actually made you happy mate. I saw it, we all saw it. It doesn’t matter how well you know her, you need to convince her you want to get to know her.”

“You think?” Josh asked as he looked up at his friend, “Thanks man.”

“Anytime.” Dan grinned, “Now what are you still doing here? You’ve got work to do!”