AN: Thank you for all that great feedback! I'm glad you're enjoying this! Special thanks to tmmachado and my gutterbug, greeneyesandgoldenlashes, for reading through this and for pushing me into posting this chapter.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Shouldn't be so complicated
Just hold me and then
Just hold me again

Can you help me I'm bent
I'm so scared that I'll never
Get put back together

You're breaking me in
And this is how we will end
With you and me bent

"Bent" - Matchbox Twenty

Enough To Keep You

Chp. 3

Friday had ended rather quickly after all, and with some unneeded advice, which really was over the top, Amy had dropped her best friend off at home; promising to cover for her in case her dad asked.

She was just finishing washing the dishes after dinner, when her dad approached her. "Say, pumpkin, what do you think we should do tomorrow?"

"Sorry, Dad, I'm actually already busy tomorrow."

"Oh really? What are you doing?" He asked.

"We were thinking lunch and then the park," Liz replied, hoping she wouldn't have to lie about her plans the following day.

"Do you need some money?" Her dad pulled out his wallet and held out a twenty dollar bill towards her. "Here, take this."

Liz shook her head. "I'm good, Dad. Thanks."

"Just take it, pumpkin. You never know," he said, pushing the bill into her hand.

She smiled and pushed herself up on her tiptoes, placing a kiss to his cheek. "Thanks, Daddy." Liz already felt bad for not telling him the whole truth, but she didn't want to cause any drama too early.

Falling asleep that night had deemed to be a little problematic. All she could think about was him. His eyes, his smile, his voice, his scent... If he didn't show up tomorrow, she would be so crushed. Liz quickly pushed those thoughts away and instead focused on his hair, wondering what it would feel like between her fingers. She fell asleep with a smile on her face.

The next morning she showered and brushed her teeth, then stood in front of her closet debating what to wear. It was a nightmare. Was this what other girls did every day? This was crazy. She had never really given a second thought about her wardrobe... until now.

Deciding she was lost without her, Liz called her best friend. Amy picked up on the fourth ring, still half asleep. "What do you want?"

"I don't know what to wear!"

The other girl groaned. "Clothes."

"Amy, I'm serious. I don't know what to wear! I... I don't know. I'm gonna cry!" She knew that that wasn't so far from the truth.

She heard rustling and imagined her friend sitting up against the headboard of her bed. "Alright, Liz, calm down. First of all, find the tightest pair of jeans you own."

"What?"

"Trust me. You have a great body, show him just how great it is."

Liz swallowed hard. "Are you crazy?"

"Probably," Amy replied. "Just do it, Liz. He's gonna love it." She sighed and rummaged around her closet before pulling out some jeans. "Got them?"

"Got them," she confirmed.

"Color?"

"Black."

"Good. Black's good," her friend mused. "Now. I remember you buying that cute blouse a couple of months back. You haven't worn it yet, right?"

"Which one?"

"The red one, of course," Amy made sure she drew out the color part.

Liz already held the cloth in her hand. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"Liz! His nickname is 'Red'. Don't you think he'll appreciate this at least a little?"

She released a long breath. "I don't know. I don't know anything. Amy, I can't do this. I don't know -"

"Now hold on. You're panicking. It's gonna be fine, you'll see. He likes you and he wants to meet you. Just be yourself." Liz sat on her bed, absently fingering the material of her blouse. "Liz -"

"Thanks, Amy. Sorry for waking you."

"Liz." Her tone told her that her friend knew this was BS.

"I need to get ready. I'll talk to you later. Sleepover? My dad said he's going to go play poker tonight."

"Count me in!"

After hanging up, Liz started getting dressed, still not entirely sure about her choice of wardrobe and then put on her favorite perfume, hoping that he would like it.

It was 11:50 am when Liz heard the doorbell ring. She quickly made her way towards the front of the house and opened the door, not able to hold the surprise when it was actually Red standing in front of her.

"You really thought I'd ditch you," were the first words out of his mouth.

Liz grimaced. "I wasn't sure," she said truthfully.

He nodded. "I'll have to work harder on convincing you to think otherwise then." He leaned in and placed a chaste kiss to her cheek. "Hello, Lizzie," he said, deeply inhaling her scent.

"Hi, Red."

He took in her appearance and wet his lips unconsciously. He began to work his jaw, his muscles flexing at the movement. "You look great. And you smell even better." She blushed slightly, making him smile at her before extending his arm. "Shall we?"

Liz linked her arm with his and let herself be led to his car, smiling when they finally reached it. "Of course."

"Mhm?" He looked at her.

"It had to be a red Mustang, right?"

He chuckled at her words and opened the car door, helping her in. It had to be the first time anyone helped her into a car. It felt nice. He had manners alright. Red rounded the vehicle and got in behind the steering wheel. "Ready?"

"Ready. Where are we going anyway?"

He shot her a grin. "I thought we could kind of combine things. The weather looks good. How would you feel about a picnic?"

"That sounds great!" Liz smiled.

He made a show of clutching at his chest, while pulling out on the road. "I had hoped you'd say that."

They were sitting on the blanket he had brought, comfortably chatting away. He had prepared all the food himself and Liz was actually surprised how he had put everything together, paying attention to details. Not like she was one to talk. She managed to burn water.

"So." She smiled.

"So?" He smiled back.

"Red. Where does that come from?"

He brushed some imaginary lint from his pants. "It stems from my last name. Reddington."

In her head she was already playing with their names, loving the thought of her first name with his last name. "So you do have a real name?" He laughed at her words. "What's your first name?"

He leaned in closer, his nose almost brushing her cheek while his chest was pressed against her arm. "Raymond." The rumble in his chest vibrated straight through her.

A sigh escaped her lips as goosebumps spread over her skin. After pulling herself together, she turned her head to him, they were almost touching now. "So, I can call you Ray?"

He smiled at her. "You can call me anything you want, sweetheart," he replied before leaning in and placing a gentle, lingering kiss to her cheek and Liz's eyes closed on their own volition. She turned her head slightly and brushed her lips with his, enjoying how soft they felt. It took him a moment or two to react, not in the way she had wanted him to however, as he pulled away from her lips, staying close though. "Lizzie," his voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't want to do anything to hurt you."

A tight fist closed around her heart and Liz pulled back, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She should have known better. He was just being a nice guy and tried letting her down gently, but why had he asked her out in the first place? He should have just stayed away then. Wasn't her first kiss supposed to be memorable? Well, this one surely would be. 'Hey, kids, after my first real kiss, the guy I had a crush on rejected me.' That would be one heck of a story. Without thinking she stood, his eyes followed her every movement, the grey-greenish colored orbs clouded with confusion. She didn't speak as she picked up her bag and started walking away.

She could hear him scramble to his feet, but didn't stop or turn. She was embarrassed. Embarrassed and angry and she had to get away and then lock herself in her room. "Lizzie, wait!" He called after her. The girl just fastened her pace, set on getting away. "Lizzie!"

She realized that he wasn't following her, which only fueled her anger. She was relieved, but also crushed, that he didn't though. She wasn't sure how to handle all of this anyway…