Nerves ate the lining of Effy's stomach. The nerves were overwhelming and she was scared but mostly exited because tonight Effy was going on a date. With Jake who had kissed her last night and then asked her out to dinner. It was very surreal and exciting but most of all Effy was nervous, mostly because she was crossing the lines with Jake and they were moving beyond being just friends. Effy didn't want to mess this up but she had never been on a date before. Most guys that Effy had met, she hadn't exactly gone on dates with. She had met them and had skipped the date and went straight for the after date fun. But this time wasn't like any of those other times as this was Jake, he was someone that meant a lot to Effy and she wasn't going to screw this up as Jake was one of the few good things in her life. Effy looked at her reflection and she wasn't sure about what she was wearing. Jake had kind of been cryptic about what their actual date was going to entail so Effy wasn't sure how she should dress. So after much debating and going through half her wardrobe and finding out half her clothes were not first date appropriate Effy finally settled a navy chiffon dress that just stopped shy of her knees. Effy teamed a light jacket with it and figured that she could be not overly dressed up or too causal but somewhere in between. Effy wanted to look nice but not like she had been trying too hard. It was kind of funny how Effy was over thinking everything but it's only because she wanted things to go well as she wasn't sure that Jake and her could go back to being simply just friends.

"Nervous?"

From where she stood looking at her reflection Effy could see Nathan standing in her doorway with a small smile on his face. Effy couldn't believe that she was actually thinking this but she was glad that Nathan was here as she needed someone to distract for a while because her nerves were really starting to get to her. There were times Effy thought she was going to be sick but there was nothing for her to throw up but the nerves were bad enough that the sick feeling wasn't going anyway anytime soon. "That obvious, huh?"

"Yeah.. I don't think I've ever seen you like this before. It's kind of weird to see you so on edge especially about a boy as you've always been so easygoing and effortless when you're not screaming your head off about something. It's kind of nice to see this side of you Lizzy." Nathan stated and his little sly jab at her caused Effy to laugh.

"Jake isn't just some boy Nathan, he's more than that and you know it." Effy quietly replied as Nathan walked further into her room and sat down on her bed. Effy was starting to feel a little more better and the nerves were staring to settle but she had built excess energy which Effy really needed to get rid off otherwise she would be bouncing up and down the walls for the rest of the night. So Effy began to pace up and down her room, well aware that Nathan was looking at her as if she had lost her damn mind and given how Effy had been fretting over this date for the last twelve hours Effy wasn't sure that Nathan was wrong about looking like her as if she was crazy. Effy certainly acted like it at times which made her question why someone like Jake Jagelski wouldn't be interested with her. Effy was a mess, a whole bunch of crazy and eccentricities in a bag with an even more crazy family to boot. Effy had no idea why someone like Jake would kiss her let alone ask to take her out to dinner the next night. Effy supposed that she would have to ask Jake that very same question tonight.

"You deserve this Eff."

"Deserve what? To be a nervous wreck?" Effy quietly chuckled as she wearily walked around her room searching for some jewelry to put on but Effy couldn't seem to find anything suitable. This was when Effy wished she knew how to be more like a girl instead of the awkward mess that she was, Effy was temped to call Brooke or Peyton for some advice but she had decided to against it as Brooke would no doubt tell everyone. And Effy was certain that Peyton would no doubt still be upset over what had happened last night with Lucas so that ruled out Effy calling either of them and there was no way that Effy was going to ask her mother for any advice as Effy had no intention in telling her parents about her and Jake, whatever the hell that they were. Jake was one of the few good things that Effy had in her life and she wasn't going to let anything ruin that for her especially her parents as they had screwed Effy up ten times over.

"No, I meant that you deserve to be happy. Things haven't always been easy and I haven't helped with that especially recently with dad. I should have said something Effy as what dad said was really out of order even if he claims what he said was supposed to be his warped idea of a joke and I'm sorry. You were right, I haven't been acting like much of a big brother to you over the last couple of years."

"Thank you, I really appreciate that Nate and I know that I haven't exactly been a saint myself. I guess a lot of it is resentment and jealously over Dan wanting to spend more time with you instead of me but I see how hard he pushes you and I'm kind of relieved that I don't have that in my life. If I did then it would make it a lot harder for me to get away with the things I do." Effy admitted as she slipped on some silver bracelets before turning to smile at Nathan, the two of them had been making some real progress lately. Less screaming at each other and more talking, as in actual taking and having conversations with each other like the way normal people did. Maybe Dan hadn't completely screwed the two of them up yet.

"You know I kind of expected you and Jagelski to get together a couple of years ago, it's kind of surprising that it took the two of you this long but then again not so much given how oblivious the two of you seem towards each other. I may not be the smartest person in the world Eff but even I could see that the two of you liked each other." Nathan stated and Effy could feel her cheeks ting slightly pink as she hadn't been aware that her feelings for Jake had been that noticeable. Sure Brooke had occasionally made comments about Effy and Jake but Effy had never taken much notice of that. Effy had always kept her feelings for Jake hidden but yet both her Uncle Keith and Nathan had seemed to be aware of it. Maybe it was more apparent that Effy had thought if Nathan could see it. "I'm glad he makes you happy."

"That obvious?"

"Pretty much, you've had that same goofy grin on your face since last night when you came back from wherever it was you disappeared to with Jagelski for god knows how long." Nathan pointed out and Effy chuckled as she knew that Nathan hadn't quite believe Jake last night when he had told everyone that the reason why him and Effy had disappeared for so long was to get some fresh air.

"Can't seem to keep anything from you, can I?" Effy questioned and she sat down at the end of her bed next to Nathan and smiled.

"I know you better than you may think Elizabeth." Nathan replied and for some reason Effy didn't doubt that, sure her and Nathan had their rocky patches but he was still her twin brother and they had this connection that nobody else could ever understand. Sure they drove each other crazy most of the time but they lived in this madhouse they called home together and they would always need each other and they would always have each other. "I'm glad that Jagelski makes you happy and if he keeps it up, it means that I don't have to kick his ass."

"That's good to know Nathan." Effy replied feeling rather good that Nathan would willingly kick Jake's ass if he hurt, sure it would never happen as Jake was the good guy that every girl dreamt off. But it meant a lot to Effy to know that Nathan was looking out for her and didn't want her to get hurt, she really appreciated the sentiment. And before she could open her mouth to add something else, the doorbell rang and there was only one person that there could be. Jake.