“Why not?" Amber's voice had become soothing, comforting.

“It just feels... wrong..."

What was going on? Was Amber trying to get E-Beth to break up with me?

“Like... I'd feel... dirty, if I did it. I have an obligation to him.

Before David... I... I was nothing. I was a fat, ugly geek.”

“I remember. Well, more to the point, I DIDN'T remember you." I could actually picture the way Amber's head was nodding as she spoke.

“But YOU made yourself the woman you are today. You and no one else.”

“Because of him. He was the first cute guy to be nice to me. He was the first popular guy to even talk to me like a real person. I don‘t know that I ever would have gained the self-confidence I have now, or worked so hard to have the body I have now, if it wasn't for him." E-Beth's sounded so pained.

“He's a good guy. You've no argument from me there. But that deserves your respect. Nothing more. You can't feel... obligated... to be in love."

“But I am obligated.”

“E-Beth, Listen to me. You told me that he's already started to talk about marriage. And kids! Are you ready for that kind of commitment? If you don't feel as strongly as he does and you're not sure you ever will, you need to let him know. You have to break up with him."

"I just don't know that I could ever hurt him Like that."

"You'd be doing him, and yourself, a favor. Stringing him along would only make things worse."

“I know, I know. Am I a bad person for feeling this way? I'm just finishing my freshman year at college! There are so many things I wanted to experience before I leave here. To try new things. To try... new guys! But... But what if other guys can't make me feel like he does? Gawd, the sex is incredible, Amber! We have an *amazing* chemistry together."

“There's more to life than chemistry."

“Doesn't hurt..."

“E-Beth... you have to do this. There's no other way. If you stay with him now you'll resent him for the rest of your life."

"I know..." I heard E-Beth sniffle. "Hell, he'll be back from the car any second and now I'm crying.”

I was crying too. The tears were rolling down my cheeks listening to

Elizabeth's pain. And I was the cause.

"Shhh..." Amber soothed.

"You know he never got over his dead girlfriend?"

“What ?"

“Every now and again, when we're making love, he'll say her name. I mean, Ellie sounds like a nickname for Elizabeth, but I know that's not why he says it. When his heart goes into that... that place, it's her name that comes out. I feel like I'm just a substitute, plugging this hole inside of him." Her crying had turned into a full-blown bawling.

“E-Beth... you can't live Like this. You've got to live your life, not