angelsglitch

jesse raises an eyebrow, noticing the closeness between you and ellie.

"well, it's about time. i was getting tired of all the drama." dina says

“girls will be girls” jesse sighs and dina chuckles

“tell me about it.”

dina smirks knowingly.

"so, who made the first move this time?" jesse asks

“oh shut up.” ellie laughs softly, her cheeks turning slightly pink.

"it was a mutual thing. don't be a dick jesse."

jesse chuckles and sits down next to ellie.

"whatever happened, i'm glad you two figured it out. now maybe ellie won't be moping around all the time."

ellie playfully pushes jesse and they start to play fight

"i wasn't moping you dick"

-

jesse asks the two of you to hang out at his house after school, ellie looks at you questioningly, still holding your hand.

"what do you think? wanna go?"

“yeah okay, sure.” you reply, knowing you need some actual social time anyway.

dina claps her hands excitedly. "perfect! we can have a game night. jesse's parents are away this weekend."

“sweet.”

jesse grins widely. "cool. i'll grab some snacks and games and shit. see you two after school."

as jesse and dina walk away, ellie turns to you with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"maybe we can find some alone time at jesse's place too..."

“oh shut up you freak.”

“i was just kidding?! …unless?”

“ellie.”

ellie parks her truck in jesse's driveway, looking at the familiar house with a smile. as you both get out, jesse and dina are already waiting at the door, waving you over.

“hurry uppp you gaybos”

“hey you two.”

dina grabs your arm and pulls you inside.

"finally! we were starting to think you two got lost."

jesses little brother, a cute 10 year old, runs up to you and ellie and jesse rolls his eyes.

"ellie! will you teach me how to play your video games again?" the young boy says excitedly.

ellie kneels down to his level, ruffling his hair affectionately. "course buddy! but only if you promise not to beat me this time.”

“sammy don’t be fucking annoying today man” jesse sighs

“awwww what’s your name cutie pie.” you say finding him so precious.

the little boy grins shyly at you.

"i'm sammy! and i'm not a cutie pie, i'm a warrior!" sammy replies with a smile

“yeah you’re a big strong knight.”

sammy puffs out his chest proudly. "i am! and i'm going to be just like jesse someday!"

jesse groans from behind you. "sammy can you just like go away man? stop bothering them and go do your homework."

your smile falters slightly, sad at the fact that jesse’s so mean to his brother that looks up to him.

"that's a great goal, sammy. now go play warrior somewhere else." dina says, obviously fed up by him too.

“sammy i think you should beat jesse up.” ellie jokes

“dude??” you burst out laughing.

“sammy attack!” ellie orders at the kid but he just stands there with a confused smile.

“he couldn’t beat me up if he tried.” jesse scoffs.

“don’t be mean guys.”

jesse crosses his arms, trying to look stern but failing to hide his amusement.

"i'm not being mean, i'm being responsible. and ellie, stop encouraging him!"

“can i stay down here and play with you guys?” sammy asks

“noooooo!” jesse rolls his eyes

“it’s okay sammy, you can play with us.” you give him a warm smile

sammy beams and looks at you hopefully.

"see? shes cool! can we play video games now?" he asks joyfully

ellie sighs dramatically but smiles.

"fine, fine. but you have to help me beat jesse's high score."

you sit and play video games in jesse’s living room. the room fills with laughter as sammy tries to beat everyone at mario kart, while jesse groans every time he loses.

"this is so unfair! you guys are fucking ganging up on me!"

“not even true??”

you guys put on a new game, since jesse rage quitted, and ellie and sammy play a few rounds.

“hey my turn.”

ellie hands you the controller with a smirk.

"show him how it's done then. neither of you are gonna take my first place rank though."

dina leans over to watch, snacking on chips.

the game comes to an end and being the kind girl you are, you let sammy win.

“awwww man.”

sammy jumps up excitedly, throwing his hands in the air.

"i won! did you see that, ellie? i'm the best!"

ellie pretends to be devastated, clutching her chest dramatically.

"oh no! my title has been taken by a 10-year-old!"

you laugh and jesse throws a pillow at ellie.

"ellie don't encourage him to be cocky! and you, that was totally unfair!"

"whatever. you're both spoiling him."

sammy grabs another controller. “can we play again? i want to beat jesse too!"

“we’ll play again later okay? we’re gonna go upstairs.”

sammy pouts but nods.

"okay... but you promise we'll play more?"

“i promise.”

dina winks at you and ellie.

"yeah, sammy. they need some alone time. let's go raid the kitchen."

-

a couple days later you’re taking ellie on a walk to your favourite place, cool, secluded and a nice place to smoke.

“bro where are you taking me.”

“a few more minutes don’t get your panties in a twist.” you scoff

“god.”

“we’re here.”

“a lake, wow.” she says evidently unimpressed

“its a nice spot? sit down and stop busting my balls you’re pissing me off.”

ellie leans her head on your shoulder, her auburn hair catching the light.

"i’m joooking, it’s nice.. peaceful. and with you, even better."

she passes the blunt back to you, her fingers lingering against yours for a moment.

“how cute.” you say.

ellie blushes slightly, a rare sight for her usually composed self.

you exhale and pass it back. “im getting the fuck away from here one day”

ellie looks at you with curiosity, her expression softening.

"oh yeah? where do you wanna go?"

“i don’t even know, maybe the country side or a big city.”

she takes another hit, contemplating your words.

"country sounds peaceful too. but i'd miss the internet. and pizza."

a small smile plays on her lips.

"though i'd love to see joel's face if we told him we were moving to a farm."

“i’d want a really big house though.”

she passes the blunt back, her eyes glazed with smoke and daydreams.

"with a big library and a gaming room? that's would be sick as fuck. maybe we could build our own comic book collection."

she stretches out on the rock, looking up at the sky.

“a big house with nice big gates and a huge garden and our kids could play on the lawn.” you trail off

ellie nearly chokes on her smoke, sitting up straight.

"kids?"

she tries to hide her flustered reaction behind another puff of smoke.

“yeah kids, like when we’re 30.”

ellie relaxes again, though her cheeks remain tinged pink.

"that's still a long way off. but... yeah, maybe. if we survive high school first." she gives you a teasing look.

"plus i'm not sure if you'll be ready to handle mini versions of yourself running around."

“im not sure if you are.”

ellie feigns offense, placing a hand over her heart dramatically.

"me? i'd be the best mom ever, i'd teach them all the savage starlight lore and proper video game strategies, and no we won’t be showering."

“you’re disgusting.”

“call me what you want but i know you ain’t got platinum on every game.”

“yeah yeah, but wouldn’t that be an actual dream, the house would be amazing with 3 floors and a balcony with like leds and shit?”

ellie’s eyes light up with genuine excitement now. "and a huge backyard with a fucking treehouse and maybe one of those cool rich people indoor pools."

she starts making grand gestures with her hands, describing the house.

"we'd have our own library, of course. and a room just for your cheer stuff that i won't accidentally trip over."

“i had a treehouse when i was little.”

ellie turns to you with genuine interest "oh that’s sick, did you have secret bases and shit up there?"

she leans closer, genuinely curious about your childhood.

“no just princess stuff, my dad sawed it down a few years ago for space.”

ellie's expression softens with understanding.

"that’s shitty. i'm sorry. but shit, at least we can build a new one now. better and bigger than your old one."

“you can’t just build a tree house unless you already have a tree in your back yard.”

ellie rolls her eyes playfully.

"well, obviously we'll plant one first. i'm thinking... a huge oak tree. with a tire swing."

“yeah if we platnted it like 30 years ago.” you scoff to yourself.

“what.”

“i don’t think you realise how long a tree takes to grow.” you laugh.

ellie scrunches her nose, realizing her mistake.

"ugh, fine. no tree house then. but we're definitely getting a backyard that's big enough for everything else." she crosses her arms, pretending to be annoyed.

"and you can plant all the trees you want, but i'm not helping with the gardening."

“well just buy a house with a tree in the garden no need to get pissy.” you joke.

ellie playfully shoves you, her previous mood lightening again.

"fuck off smartass. you're lucky you're cute when you're being practical."

she takes one last hit before putting the blunt out.

"soo, when do we start house hunting? and can we get a dog too? his name is overlord gertrido”

“bro what??” you sigh trying to hold your laugh in

“we’ll start when we’re 25.”

ellie nods, seeming satisfied with that timeline.

"deal. but i'm picking the dog. and it has to be a nerd dog - like a chihuahua in a star wars costume, we need the best attire for gertrido."

“oh wow.”

ellie laughs at your reaction, clearly enjoying herself.

"what? you think i'm joking? i'm totally fucking serious about the costume part."

she pulls out her phone and starts scrolling through dog breeds.

"look, there's a french bulldog with glasses. that's practically begging to be a comic book nerd."

“yeah whatever you say ellie, come on we should head back.”

ellie stretches and gets up, slinging her backpack over one shoulder.

"fine, but i'm still thinking about that costume. maybe we should start a line of nerdy pet clothes called like gertrido’s closet or something."

she follows you, walking close enough that her arm occasionally brushes against yours and you kiss her cheek.

-

the next day at school you’re sat in class, ellie sat on the other side. ellie sits at her desk, trying to focus on the lesson but keeps stealing glances at you. she pretends to take notes while doodling in the margins of her notebook. her auburn hair falls forward as she leans over her work, and she absently tucks it behind her ear.

the teacher who no one’s really listening to, says something that catches everyone’s attention “oh everyone listen up our new students arrived, I expect all of you to treat her with benevolence, neighbourliness and respect. please make her feel welcome” the teacher says as a girl walks in the classroom.

ellie's head snaps up at the announcement, her curiosity piqued. she exchanges a quick look with dina, who sits behind her.

the new girl enters, and ellie straightens in her seat, trying to get a good look without being obvious.

she looks at the girl for too long and you shoot her an annoyed glance.

ellie catches your look and quickly looks down at her desk, a slight smirk playing on her lips.

she whispers to dina without looking up, still pretending to be engrossed in her notes.

"whaddya thinks with that face? jealous much?"

“you just checked another girl out right infront of her” dina replies to ellie quietly.

ellie's eyes widen in surprise and she whispers back, shooting a quick glance at you.

"i was not! i was just... curious."

she fidgets uncomfortably in her seat, feeling caught.

"besides, she's just some random new student. not like i'm planning to fuck her."

“yeah, well you shouldn’t be, you have a girlfriend” dina says back

ellie rolls her eyes at dina's comment, though she looks a bit guilty.

"i know that. i was just looking, not proposing."

she risks another glance at you, biting her lip nervously.

"and she's being weirdly territorial right now."

the teacher speaks up again “this is cat, and remember everyone be kind and make her feel comfortable. take a seat honey.” cat walks over to a chair at the front and takes a seat.

ellie watches as cat sits down, then turns back to her notebook with a thoughtful expression.

she starts doodling again, this time drawing a small cat next to her notes. "cat?..what kind of name is that?" she mutters under her breath.

“ellie, i would like you to show cat around the rest of day. im assigning you to stick with her until she makes her own little friend group. is that okay?” the teacher says to ellie.

ellie's eyes widen in surprise and slight panic. she glances at you quickly before responding.

"uh, sure. i guess i can show her around."

she shifts uncomfortably in her seat, clearly not thrilled about the situation but trying to hide it.

"but what about my other classes?"

“i’ve emailed all your teachers already telling them you’ll be late to their classes and they’ve said it’s alright.” the teacher replies.

ellie sighs heavily, resigned to her fate. she gathers her things slowly.

"great. just great."

she stands up and walks over to cat, trying to appear casual despite her obvious reluctance.

"hey, i'm ellie. looks like i'm your personal tour guide today."

the bell rings and you walk over to ellie and cat and shoot cat a dirty look

ellie notices your hostile expression and quickly steps between you and cat.

"hey, chill. we're just going to the cafeteria."

she gives you a warning look, silently asking you to behave.

"come on cat. let's get this over with."

“can i come?” you ask evidently looking abandoned.

ellie looks torn, glancing between you and cat.

"i... uh..."

she sighs, realizing she can't exactly say no without causing a scene.

"fine, but no funny business. this is supposed to be about showing cat around, not... whatever this is."

“okay.”

ellie leads the way, walking awkwardly with you and cat on either side.

"so, cat, this is our school cafeteria. not exactly fancy, but the food's... edible."

“i’m gonna go grab some food i’ll meet you guys at a table.”

you get some food and see the two of them sat on a table across the cafeteria, you walk over and sit down.

cat gives you a polite but somewhat intimidated smile “hey, we never really introduced ourselves but it’s nice to meet you.”

“i know it is.” you spit bluntly, not looking up from your food.

ellie shifts uncomfortably in her seat, sensing the tension. “so... cat's from san diego. she's really into superhero shit like me”

she tries to steer the conversation toward common interests, looking between you and cat anxiously

“i don’t really care what she likes.”

ellie kicks your foot under the table, giving you a warning look

“dude... be nice.”

she turns back to cat with an apologetic expression.

“i’m sorry about her. she's usually not this... um...”

cat fidgets with her lunch tray, clearly feeling the hostility “it's okay. i get it.“

she tries to keep the conversation light but can feel the tension between you and cat.

ellie looks at cat for a while and you smack her hand to get her attention, she jumps slightly at your smack, quickly averting her gaze from cat.

"ow! fuck was that for?"

she rubs her hand, giving you an annoyed look while trying to hide her embarrassment at being caught staring.

“the fuck are you doing?” you say hushed

ellie leans closer to you, speaking in a low voice so cat can't hear.

"i wasn't doing anything! i was just... observing."

she crosses her arms defensively, clearly flustered.

"and stop acting like a jealous girlfriend. it's not cute."

you open your mouth to say something but turn away instead.

she watches you turn away, a mix of guilt and frustration crossing her face.

"great. now you're mad at me."

she runs a hand through her messy hair, feeling caught between you and cat.

"look, can we just focus on this showing around shit? this is already awkward enough."

-

the rest of the school day goes disgustingly awkward, so awkward to the point where you leave them and go hang with dina and jesse.

ellie tries to focus on showing cat around, but her mind keeps drifting to your angry expression.

"sorry about that shit before," she mutters to cat. "my girlfriend's being... difficult today."

after the school day ends, ellie finds herself alone in the parking lot, replaying the excruciatingly awkward interactions in her head.

she picks up her phone, debating whether to text you or not, then shoves it back in her pocket with a frustrated sigh.

"this is so stupid," she mutters to herself. "i didn't even do anything wrong."

ellies stood in the school parking lot and cat walks over to her “hey, wanna go grab coffee? i have nothing to do for the rest of the day… and we could get to know eachother more, i could use some friends”

ellie looks surprised at cat's invitation, glancing around as if expecting you to appear.

"um... i don't know. i kind of need to talk to my girlfriend first."

she shifts uncomfortably, clearly torn between her duty as your girlfriend and her desire for social interaction.

"she's been acting weird today though..."

ellie pulls out her phone and sees your message from this morning about shopping.

"shit i completely forgot about that."

she takes a deep breath and bites her lip, feeling guilty for even considering going with cat instead of you, but she just wants to be friendly.

"actually... coffee sounds good. i'll just text my girlfriend and let her know i'm going with you instead."

she pulls out her phone, quickly typing a message to you while trying to ignore the guilt.

you read the message and text back

| you: are you fucking kidding me?

ellie sees your message and winces, but tries to stay firm.

| ellie: i'm just being friendly and shit, cat needs some1 to show her around town too

| ellie : i'll make it up to u later okay?

she then pockets her phone, walking toward cat's car and gets in.

“so, coffee then?”

ellie stares at the message, feeling even more worried. she tries calling your number, but it goes straight to voicemail.

"damn it."

she decides to go to your house; she paces back and forth, her anxiety growing with each passing moment.

she knocks a few times and no one’s answers, the lights in your house are off and she sighs and sits down on your front porch

she sits on the porch, pulling her knees to her chest. she looks up at the dark windows, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment.

"she's not home... maybe she's still in the hospital."

she takes out her phone again, contemplating whether to call you again

your cat walks over to her and sits on her lap

ellie is startled at first, but then she sees the cat and gently strokes its fur.

“hey there, little guy. i missed you.”

she looks down at the cat, feeling a strange sense of familiar comfort from its presence.

the cat purrs and snuggles closer to ellie, clearly enjoying the attention.

"you are pretty friendly for a cat. i guess you're keeping me company now."

she scratches behind the cat's ears, a small smile forming on her lips despite the situation.

the cat meows softly and curls up in ellie's lap, making her chuckle.

“at least someone's happy to see me.”

she looks around the quiet neighborhood, feeling a pang of loneliness.

"i should probably go... but i can't just leave you here alone."

ellie looks at your cat then glances back at the empty house

"i guess i could wait a little longer. just to make sure she's okay."

after a while, ellie's phone buzzes with a message from dina.

| dina: hey where r u? i thought we were hanging out tn?

ellie quickly types back a reply.

| ellie: i'm not at my house but she's not here i found her cat. i'm just waiting to see if she shows up.

dina responds almost immediately.

| dina: waitt what? why r u at her house? i thought you hated her.

ellie hesitates before replying, not sure how much to tell dina.

| ellie: it's complicated. i just need to talk to her about something important.

| dina: dude she’ll be at the hospital for ages and u also shouldn’t forgive her for turning her back on u. even if we like almost killed her on accident

ellie reads dina's message and sighs, feeling a mix of frustration and guilt.

| ellie: ik ik.

| ellie: but i can't just ignore what happened. i need to apologize to her face.

she looks down at the cat, who seems to be watching intently.

| ellie: i did something really fucked up dina. i have to make it right.

dina's response is short and to the point.

| dina: whatever u say. just be careful ellie i don’t want u getting hurt again

ellie knows dina is referring to her past relationships, but this feels different. she can't shake the feeling that she needs to make amends with you.

she spends the next hour sitting on your porch, the cat now asleep in her lap. the sun begins to set, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood.

“i should probably head home soon. joel's going to wonder where i am.” she says to herself, but more directed at the cat.

she carefully picks up the cat and stands up, her legs feeling stiff from sitting for so long.

ellie looks at the cat, contemplating what to do with it.

"i can't just leave you here outside if she’s not back. i'll have to bring you to my place for now."

she gently cradles the cat in her arms and starts walking towards her house, feeling a strange sense of responsibility.

as she walks, she glances back at your house one last time, hoping to see you.

"i'll come back tomorrow. i have to find a way to talk to her."

the cat meows softly, as if it understands her determination.

ellie arrives at her house and opens the door, letting the cat inside. she sets it down and watches as it explores the living room.

"joel's gonna fucking freak when he sees you."

she smiles slightly, imagining joel's reaction to a random cat in their house.

sure enough, joel walks in a few minutes later, his eyes widening at the sight of the cat.

"ellie, what in god’s name is that?"

he looks at the cat, which is now curled up on the couch.

ellie grins sheepishly and scratches the back of her neck.

"uh, it's my friends cat. i found him at her house."

joel raises an eyebrow, clearly confused and a bit annoyed.

"and you brought it here?"

ellie sighs and sits down next to the cat, stroking its fur.

"i couldn't just leave him there. he seemed… lonely. and i need to give him back to my friend when she gets out of the hospital."

joel crosses his arms, still looking skeptical.

"and how long is that going to be? you can't just keep a goddamn fur ball indefinitely, ellie."

ellie shrugs, trying to sound casual.

"i don't know. but i'll figure something out. just give me time, okay?"

she looks up at joel with pleading eyes, hoping he'll relent.

joel sighs and shakes his head, muttering something about "teenagers and their pets." he watches as ellie carries the cat to her room and closes the door.

ellie snuggles under the covers with the cat, who seems content to stay close to her. she falls asleep quickly, feeling a sense of comfort from the warm body beside her.

-

the next morning she wakes up to a reply from you.

| you: sorry my phone was off i just got back home from the hospital

ellie's eyes snap open as she sees your message. she quickly grabs her phone and reads it, her heart racing.

| ellie: ur home?

| you: yep

she types back quickly, her fingers trembling slightly.

| ellie: r u good? do u need anything?

| you: im fine

| you: thought you didn’t wanna speak to me

ellie feels a pang of guilt reading your words.

| ellie: i do want to talk to u. i js dk where to start.

she bites her lip, trying to gather her thoughts. the cat stirs beside her, sensing her anxiety.

| you: right well before u do im freaking my cat is gone and we cant find him

ellie's eyes widen in realization.

| ellie: oh shit

| ellie: um

| ellie: your cat is here

| ellie: at my house.

she glances over at the sleeping cat, feeling guilty for not mentioning it earlier.

| you: ?? why

ellie takes a deep breath and types out a long message.

| ellie: i found him at ur house yesterday. nd i was waiting for you to come back but u weren't there. so i brought him to my place. i was going to give him today but i forgot to tell u

she waits anxiously for your response, hoping you won't be too upset.

| you: what???

| you: right js bring him back as soon as u can

ellie feels a mix of relief and disappointment at your short response. she quickly types back.

| ellie: i will. i promise. i'll be over in a few minutes

she carefully gets out of bed, trying not to disturb the cat, and changes into some clothes.

ellie gently picks up the cat and heads out of her room. she grabs her keys and slips on her shoes, her heart pounding as she thinks about seeing you again.

she walks out of the house, the cat tucked securely in her arms, and starts making her way to your place.

as ellie approaches your house, she can feel her palms getting sweaty. she takes a deep breath and knocks on the door, trying to steady her nerves.

the door opens and you appear, looking tired but relieved to see your cat.

"hey... here's your cat."

she holds the cat out to you, avoiding eye contact.

“thanks…”

ellie nods, still not looking at you directly. she shifts her weight from one foot to the other, feeling awkward.

"sorry for keeping him. i didn't mean to cause any trouble."

the cat meows and jumps out of her arms, immediately rubbing against your legs.

“um.. are you coming in? or going?”

ellie hesitates, caught off guard by your question. she wasn't expecting to be invited in.

"um, i guess i could come in for a bit. if that's okay."

“right.” you say starting to walk upstairs, your cat following behind you.

ellie follows you upstairs, her heart racing as she wonders what this means. she watches as your cat trots up the stairs ahead of you.

once inside your room, she stands awkwardly by the door, unsure of what to do or say.

"school won’t tell my dad who dumped the apple juice on me, and he’s really mad."

ellie's eyes widen as she processes your words. she knows exactly who did it.

"wait, you got juice dumped on you? that's shitty."

she fidgets with the hem of her shirt, feeling guilty about keeping quiet.

"why are you acting like you didn’t know? you got the nurse didn’t you?"

ellie shifts uncomfortably under your gaze, her mind racing as she tries to come up with a response that won't expose her and dina.

"it was... it was dina. she did it."

she says it quickly, almost defensively, hoping you won't press further.

"what?!"

ellie flinches at your shocked tone, knowing she's just made things worse.

"i know, i know. i should have told you sooner. i just didn't want to be the one to get her in trouble."

she looks down at her feet as she lies, unable to meet your eyes.

"pass me your phone."

"what?"

"now."

ellie hesitates for a moment, then reluctantly pulls out her phone and hands it to you.

"what are you going to do with it?"

"so i can call her."

ellie's eyes widen in alarm as she realizes what you're planning.

"wait, no! you can't call her man."

she reaches for her phone, trying to take it back from you.

"ellie."

ellie stops reaching for her phone, but her expression is pleading.

"please, just hear me out. dina already feels guilty about it. calling her won't solve anything."

"do your password."

you say sternly looking at her angrily.

ellie sighs in defeat, knowing she can't argue with you.

"it's 1994."

you open her phone and call dina.

ellie watches anxiously as you dial dina's number, her heart pounding in her chest. she crosses her arms and leans against the wall, waiting for dina to answer.

dina answers, thinking it’s ellie since it is her phone.

dina's voice comes through the phone, cheerful and unaware of who's actually calling.

"hey, ellie! what's up?"

"dude are you fucking kidding me?

dina's tone immediately changes to confusion and worry.

"what? what are you talking about?"

"you did that? with the apple juice? you bitch"

dina's voice becomes defensive.

"whoa, hold on. i didn't mean for it to get that bad. it was just a stupid prank."

"i could have died!"

dina's voice falters, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"i... i didn't think about that. i'm sorry, i really am."

dina pauses, suspicion creeping into her voice.

"wait, how did you get ellie's phone? are you with her right now?"

"yeah, i am and she told me it was you."

dina lets out a frustrated sigh.

"of course she did. i should have known she would."

dina's tone becomes more confrontational.

"hold the fuck on, we both did it. you can't just blame me for everything."

"what the fuck are you talking about?" you sigh.

dina huffs in annoyance.

"i'm saying that ellie was there too. she helped me plan it."

"you’re joking."

dina's tone is firm and serious.

"i'm not joking. ellie might have told you it was just me, but it wasnt.."

you end the phone on dina and look at ellie angrily.

ellie flinches as you hang up, knowing she's been caught in the lie.

"dude, wait. it's not what you think..."

you scoff.

"oh so what is it then?"

ellie runs a hand through her messy hair, looking stressed.

"dina and i were just... we were messing around. we didn't think it would go that far. we didn't mean to hurt you."

"hurt me? you tried to kill me!"

ellie's eyes widen in horror at your words.

"what? no! we didn't try to kill you. we just wanted to scare you a little. it was supposed to be harmless."

"just because i left you for my old friends?"

ellie's expression hardens slightly, a hint of jealousy in her eyes.

"yeah, maybe. you just... you didn't need me anymore. you wanted your popular friends and your perfect life back."

"i said fucking sorry ellie!"

ellie crosses her arms defensively, her voice raising.

"yeah, you said sorry. but it didn't change anything. you still chose them over me.”

"yknow what? get out." you say bluntly.

ellie clenches her jaw, clearly hurt but trying to hide it.

"fine. i don't need this."

she grabs her backpack and storms off, leaving you alone.

"i don’t need this fucking shit either. im glad i stopped being friends with you."

ellie stops in her tracks, her back to you. she doesn't turn around, but you can see her shoulders tense up.

"yeah, me too."

she continues walking away, not looking back once.

"oh fuck off."

ellie flips you off without turning around, her middle finger raised high.

"have fun with your friends man"

you pick up a scrap book and walk over to her and shove it into her.

ellie turns around, surprised by the sudden contact. she looks down at the scrapbook in her hands, her expression a mix of confusion and anger.

"the fuck is this?"

"it’s yours. now go."

ellie looks at the scrapbook, her fingers tracing the edges of the pages. she seems torn between wanting to keep it and wanting to throw it back at you.

"i don't want your shitty gifts."

"whatever. was gonna give it you that day till i got fucking juice poured all over me"

ellie's grip on the scrapbook tightens, her knuckles turning white.

"yeah, well maybe you shouldn't have left me hanging that day. then we wouldn't be in this mess."

"whatever, ellie. just leave."

ellie's eyes narrow, but she doesn't argue anymore. she takes a step back, holding the scrapbook tightly.

"fine. i'm gone. have a nice fucking life."

she walks away, clutching the scrapbook to her chest as if it's the only thing keeping her from breaking down.

ellie doesn't look back as she disappears from your sight, leaving you standing there with a mix of anger and regret. the silence feels heavy in the air.

she walks to a bench outside and sits down, she opens the scrap book and it’s pictures of the two of you, from when you were friends.

ellie sits on the bench, flipping through the pages of the scrapbook. her eyes scan each photo, a bittersweet smile tugging at her lips despite her anger.

the pictures show moments of laughter, shared secrets, and inside jokes. you can see the genuine connection between you and ellie in each one.

ellie stops on a particular photo, her finger tracing the outline of your face. she whispers to herself, her voice barely audible.

"why did it have to end like this?"

the next page she sees an apology letter from you, saying about how you're sorry for being friends with your old friends again.

ellie's eyes widen as she reads the letter, her hands shaking slightly. she hadn't known about this apology, and it clearly catches her off guard.

she reads it again, and again, her expression softening with each word. the anger in her eyes slowly fades, replaced by a mix of sadness and confusion.

ellie closes the scrapbook, her fingers lingering on the cover. she takes a deep breath, trying to process everything she just read.

she looks up at the sky, her thoughts racing. the apology letter had opened a wound that she thought was healed, and now she's not sure how to feel about it.

ellie's gaze drifts towards your house, a flicker of longing in her eyes. she knows she should leave, but something is holding her back.

she bites her lip, torn between wanting to confront you again and the urge to run away. the scrapbook feels heavier in her lap now, as if it's weighing down her decision.

after a few minutes of contemplation, ellie stands up, the scrapbook clutched tightly in her arms. she takes a hesitant step towards your house, then stops.

she shakes her head, muttering to herself.

"no, i can't do this shit. not now."

she turns away and puts the scrap book on the bench and starts walking in the opposite direction, her footsteps echoing in the quiet street.

as ellie walks away, she glances back one last time, her eyes lingering on your house. there's a hint of regret in her expression, but she keeps moving forward.

she disappears around the corner, leaving behind the scrapbook that holds memories of a ‘friendship’ that was once strong.

-

later that night, after ellie had went back to get the scrapbook, she sits in her room, the scrapbook open on her desk. she can't stop thinking about the apology letter and the memories it brought back.

she runs her fingers through her hair, frustrated with herself for feeling this way. she knows she should be angry, but the truth is that she misses you.

ellie leans back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. she whispers to herself again.

"i hate that i still care."

she reaches for her phone, her thumb hovering over your contact. she wants to text you, to say something, anything, but she stops herself.

ellie knows that reaching out would only make things more complicated, and she's not ready to face the possibility of rejection again.

she sets the phone down and picks up a comic book instead, trying to distract herself. but the words on the pages blur together as her mind keeps drifting back to you.

ellie sighs heavily, knowing that no matter how hard she tries, she can't escape the past that still haunts her.

she goes on your instagram and starts looking through your pictures.

she scrolls through your instagram feed, each photo a reminder of the life you're living without her. she sees pictures of you with your old friends, laughing and having fun.

her heart aches as she clicks on one photo, a candid shot of you smiling brightly at the camera. it's the same smile she used to see directed at her.

ellie's finger hovers over the like button, but she quickly pulls it away. she can't let herself do that, can't let herself give in to the urge to connect with you again.

she closes the app and sets her phone down, feeling more conflicted than ever.

ellie buries her face in her hands, feeling overwhelmed by her emotions. she wants to be happy for you, to see you living your life, but it hurts too much to watch from the sidelines.

she knows she needs to let go, to move on, but the memories and feelings are too strong to just forget.

-

later that night, ellie dreams of you. she dreams of the times when things were good between you, the short time when you were inseparable.

in her dream, she's back at your house, laughing and talking like nothing ever happened. but when she wakes up, the reality hits her like a punch to the gut.

-

she groans as she gets out of bed, rubbing her eyes. she had forgotten about her suspension and now she's bored out of her mind.

she decides to go to the store to buy some snacks and maybe some comics to keep herself occupied.

as ellie walks to the store, she puts on her headphones and listens to her favorite playlist. she tries to clear her mind, but your presence keeps creeping back in.

she reaches the store and heads straight to the snack aisle, grabbing a bag of chips and some candy.

she then sees you in the aisle, catching her off guard, her eyes trail to the person next to you, mason, your ex boyfriend.

ellie freezes in her tracks, her heart racing as she sees you and mason together. she quickly looks away, pretending to be interested in the chips.

she can feel her stomach churning with jealousy and hurt, wondering why you're with him.

ellie tries to keep her distance, moving further down the aisle. she can hear your laughter and mason's voice, and it makes her blood boil.

she clenches her jaw, fighting the urge to confront you both. she knows it's none of her business anymore, but seeing you with him feels like a slap in the fucking face.

ellie watches as you lean into mason, your smile bright and carefree. it's a stark contrast to the pain and anger on ellie's face.

she feels a pang of jealousy and longing, remembering the times when you used to laugh like that with her.

she can't stand it anymore. she quickly grabs her items and heads to the checkout, trying to get as far away from you and mason as possible.

she pays for her things and hurries out of the store, her mind racing with thoughts of you and mason together.

as ellie walks home, she can't shake the image of you with mason. she feels betrayed, even though she knows she has no right to feel that way.

she kicks a rock on the sidewalk, muttering to herself.

"of course he's with her. why wouldn't he be?"

she gets home and starts reading a comic as it starts to rain the later in the night it gets

the rain patters against ellie's window as she curls up on her bed, trying to lose herself in the pages of her book.

the rain becomes heavier, and ellie can hear the wind howling outside. she glances at her phone, debating whether to text dina or jesse for company.

but she knows they're both busy with their own lives, and she doesn't want to bother them with her problems.

ellie's phone buzzes, and she sees an instagram notification - you posted a photo. her heart skips a beat as she hesitates to open it.

she bites her lip, torn between her curiosity and the fear of seeing something she doesn't want to see.

ellie's stomach drops as she sees the picture. it's a selfie of you and mason, both of you smiling at the camera. mason has his arm around your waist, pulling you close.

ellie feels a surge of anger and sadness, her grip on her phone tightening until her knuckles turn white.

she looks at the comments of my friends asking if me and him are back together

ellie scrolls through the comments, reading the questions and speculations from your friends. they seem to be under the impression that you and mason are dating again.

her heart sinks even further. she had hoped that you were single, that there was still a chance for something between you, but now it seems like she's too late.

she slams her phone down on the bed, feeling a mix of anger and despair. she can't believe that you're with mason again, the same guy who hurt you in the past.

she buries her face in her hands, tears threatening to spill over. she knows she shouldn't care, but she can't help it. she still loves you.

ellie wipes her eyes, trying to compose herself. she picks up her phone again and scrolls through the comments, reading them over and over again.

she can't help but feel a pang of jealousy every time she sees your name paired with mason's. she wants to scream, to shout at you for making the same mistake again.

she grabs her keys and decides to go to my house, she has to make things right, she has to.

ellie stands up, determination replacing her earlier despair. she puts on her jacket and shoes, her mind made up. she's going to confront you, to tell you how she feels, even if it means risking rejection.

she grabs an umbrella and heads out into the rain, the drops soaking her clothes as she walks towards your house.

the rain pours down in sheets, making it difficult for ellie to see ahead. her hair and clothes are drenched, but she keeps going, her steps quick and determined.

she shivers slightly from the cold, but she pushes on, her thoughts solely focused on you.

finally, she reaches your house. she stands outside for a moment, hesitating. her heart is racing, and she can feel her palms sweating despite the cold rain.

she takes a deep breath and rings the doorbell, her fingers trembling slightly.

the door opens, and you stand there, looking surprised yet confused to see her.

"ellie? why are you here?"

ellie looks at you, her eyes intense despite her soaked appearance.

"i need to talk to you. it's important."

"what?" you say stepping outside.

ellie steps back to give you space, but she doesn't take her eyes off you.

"it's about mason. and you. i saw the picture on instagram."

"so what?" you say wiping your now wet hair out your face.

ellie's expression hardens, her frustration evident.

"so what? you're really going to get back with him after everything he's done to you?"

"it doesn’t concern you, we’re not friends anymore" you scoff.

ellie flinches at your words, but she stands her ground.

"yeah you're right, we're not friends. but that doesn't mean i don't care about you. mason isn't good for you, he never was."

"okay? is that all you came here to say ellie"

ellie clenches her jaw, struggling to keep her emotions in check.

"no, it's not. i came here because i can't just stand by and watch you make the same mistake again. hes gonna hurt you just like last time."

"you hurt me too!"

ellie's eyes widen in surprise, her anger momentarily replaced by guilt.

"i... i know i did. and i regret it. but that doesn't change the fact that mason is a manipulative dick head who only cares about himself."

"well i have no one else so tough shit."

ellie takes a step closer, her voice softening.

"that's not true. you have me, whether you believe it or not. i'm here, and i'm trying to help you. i know i messed up, but i'm not going to give up on you."

"no!- no. i dont. ellie look, maybe it was meant to be we shouldn’t be friends we’re complete fucking opposites."

ellie's heart sinks at your words, but she tries to hide her disappointment.

"opposites can work together. we don't have to be the same, but we can still support each other. i don't care if we're different, i care about you."

"i hurt you, you hurt me. i tried to apologise you poured fucking juice on me."

ellie looks down, shame washing over her.

"i know, i know i did. and i'm sorry for that. i was angry and hurt, but it was wrong of me to take it out on you like that. i should have talked to you instead of lashing out."

"yeah, you should have ."

ellie looks back up at you, her eyes pleading.

"i know i messed up. but i've learned from my mistake- please, just give me a chance to prove it."

"bro just stop."

ellie lets out a shaky breath, realizing you're right.

"you're right. i don't deserve your forgiveness. but i'm asking for it anyway. i miss you, and i hate seeing you with mason."

"you think i wouldn’t rather it be you?"

"ellie i thought what we had was real, a friendship- or maybe more, but we both ruined it. now it’s too late, so just go."

ellie's heart breaks at your words, but she nods slowly.

"you're right. it is too late. i just... i wish things could have been different."

"i’m sorry ellie."

ellie swallows hard, tears threatening to spill again.

"i'm sorry too. i'm sorry for everything. i hope you're happy with mason, even if i don't think you will be."

you start to cry and ellie's heart aches at the sight of your tears, and she instinctively reaches out to comfort you.

"baby please don't cry. i hate seeing you like this."

"you’ll always be my girl ellie and im sorry i let my stupid friends get in the way of that, i know they don’t care about me like you do so i don’t know why i made up with them im just fucking stupid."

ellie pulls you into a tight hug, her own tears mixing with the rain.

"you're not stupid. you were just trying to fit in. i understand that now. and i'll always be here for you, no matter what-"

she gets caught off guard because before she can finish her sentence you kiss her.

ellie freezes for a moment, surprised by the kiss, but then melts into it. she wraps her arms around your waist, deepening the kiss as the rain continues to pour around you.

ellie breaks the kiss, her forehead resting against yours as she catches her breath.

"i missed this. i missed you so much."

ellie cups your face in her hands, her thumbs gently wiping away your tears.

"i'm here. i'm not going anywhere this time."

"i love you."

ellie's heart skips a beat, her eyes locking with yours.

"i love you too baby. i always have."

ellie kisses you again with a mix of passion and desperation, pouring all her emotions into the kiss. her hands tangle in your wet hair, pulling you closer.

the kiss grows more intense, fueled by the rain and the intensity of your feelings. ellie's body presses against yours, seeking the warmth and comfort of your touch.

-

ellie ends up staying the night at your house. she curls up next to you in your bed, her fingers tracing patterns on your skin as you both lie there in the darkness.

"i never thought i'd be here again. it feels like a fucking dream."

"i know."

ellie snuggles closer, resting her head on your chest.

"promise me this isn't a one-time thing. promise me we can try again."

"as friends again?"

ellie hesitates for a moment, then nods slowly.

"as friends... for now. but i can't promise i won't want more eventually."

"how long is eventually?"

ellie chuckles softly, her breath warm against your skin.

"give me a few weeks to make you fall for me all over again, and we'll see."

"okay casanova."

ellie grins, her confidence returning.

"hey, i've been practicing my charm. i'm practically irresistible now."

"yeah yeah."

ellie playfully pokes your side and you squeal.

"just wait and see. you'll be the one begging me to be more than friends."

"oh will i now?"

ellie smirks, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"oh, of course. i'm going to make you remember why you fell for me in the first place."

"so why can’t we be more than friends now?"

ellie sighs, her expression turning serious.

"because i don't want to rush things and mess it up again. i want to do this right this time. no more drama, no more misunderstandings."

"i get it."

ellie gently lifts your chin to look at her.

"but i promise, it won't be long. and in the meantime, we can just enjoy being friends... with a little... extra flirting."

"hmm."

ellie smirks again, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"don't 'hmmmm' me. you know you love it."

"sure."

"liar. you're blushing."

-

a week later at school you're texting ellie all day since she’s still suspended, however its her last day of being suspended.

ellie replies quickly, her messages filled with humor and sarcasm.

| ellie: bro i'm so bored. who knew being suspended could be this tedious

| you: what does tedious even mean

ellie sends a laughing emoji followed by an explanation.

| ellie: it means boring or tiresome. u should use it more often it makes you sound smart lmfao

| you: oh ok einstein

she rolls her eyes at the nickname.

| ellie: ha ha very funny. i'm not a genius js well-read. unlike some people i know.

| you: yikes.

| you: anyways.... ur house after i finish school?

ellie perks up at the suggestion.

| ellie: definitely.

| ellie: i'll b waiting. and i'll have snacks ready for us

| you: okie dokie. text u later lovely

ellie's heart flutters at the nickname, but she tries to play it cool.

you get to her house after school, ellie opens the door, wearing a comfortable hoodie and jeans. her eyes light up when she sees you.

"finally! i've been dying to see your face all day."

"how cute."

ellie steps aside to let you in, blushing slightly.

"shut up and come in before i change my mind about being nice to you."

"weird to think we use to hate eachother."

ellie closes the door and leans against it, a nostalgic look crossing her face.

"yeah, it is. we were such assholes to each other back then. but look at us now."

"what do you think would have happened, yknow if we didn’t speak at the party, we’d still hate eachother?"

ellie shrugs, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"i don't know... yeah we'd still be fighting at school. and i'd be too scared to even look at you."

"wow."

ellie moves closer to you, a hint of vulnerability in her voice.

"i mean, i was scared of you. you were the most popular girl, and i was just... me. the weirdo nerd who kept to herself."

"yeah and i was a bitch to you"

you remain quiet for a second.

"cmon i wanna watch a movie and smoke."

ellie grins and leads you to her room, where she's already set up a cozy movie setup.

"alright, movie and weed it is. any requests?"

"the notebook?"

ellie groans playfully, flopping onto her bed.

"the notebook? seriously? you're making me watch that sappy romance shit again?"

"it’s not ‘sappy romance’ it’s expressive." you explain.

ellie grabs the remote and starts searching for the movie, rolling her eyes.

"expressive my ass. it's just a bunch of people crying get out"

"it's yearning."

ellie pauses the search and raises an eyebrow at you.

"yearning? you mean like the yearning you have for me?"

"oh ha ha."

ellie grins wider, patting the spot next to her on the bed.

"oh come here, you hopeless romantic. i'll let you cry over allie and noah while i smoke."

"right."

ellie lights up a joint and takes a hit, passing it to you.

"just don't start quoting it to me, okay? i've heard enough 'i'm drawn to you like a moth to a flame' speeches."

"i see."

ellie laughs, settling in closer to you as the movie starts.

"yep, i can already see you tearing up at the first scene."

the movie progresses and it gets to a sad scene, ellie notices you getting emotional and wraps an arm around your shoulders, offering you a new joint she sparked up.

"here, take a hit. it'll help with the feels."

"maybe we should take a break." you pause the movie.

ellie nods and grabs her phone, scrolling through her playlist.*

"sure thing. what kind of music are you in the mood for? something to distract you from the love story?"

"yeah whatever."

ellie laughs and selects a mix of rock and pop songs, letting the music fill the room.

"this should do it. soppy shit, just good vibes."

"so i want to talk to you about something."

"i wanna talk about us."

ellie's heart skips a beat, but she tries to stay calm and casual.

"us? like... our friendship? or something else?"

"well what are we?"

ellie fidgets with the hem of her hoodie, clearly unsure how to answer.

"i mean... we're friends, right? but we've been spending a lot of time together lately, and it's not just friendship anymore, is it?"

"no."

"well you said eventually you’ll want more than just friends."

ellie's eyes widen, remembering her confession.

"i did say that... and i meant it. but i didn't want to push you or rush anything. i thought you might still be figuring things out."

"well you already know i like you, so."

ellie's face softens, a mix of relief and hope in her expression.

"i know you like me, but that doesn't mean you're ready for anything serious. we've been through a lot together."

"i am though."

ellie moves closer, her voice barely above a whisper.

"are you sure? because once we cross that line, there's no going back. i don't want to lose you as a friend if this doesn't work out."

"you won’t ellie seriously."

ellie reaches for your hand, intertwining her fingers with yours.

"then promise me you'll be honest with me, no matter what happens. i can't handle any more lies or half-truths."

"pinky promise."

ellie smiles softly, squeezing your hand.

"then i'm all in. i've wanted this for so long"

"so yeah? i can be your girlfriend?"

ellie's smile widens into a genuine grin, her eyes sparkling with joy.

"yes, you can be my girlfriend. and i'll be yours."

you kiss her.

ellie melts into the kiss, her arms wrapping around your neck as she pulls you closer. the kiss is sweet and tender, filled with all the unspoken feelings that have been building between you.

she moans softly against your lips, her fingers tangling in your hair. she deepens the kiss, her body pressing against yours as she loses herself in the moment.

ellie breaks the kiss for a moment to admire you, her hands exploring your bare skin with a mix of excitement and desire.

"you're so beautiful baby. i can't believe you're mine now."

ellie pushes you back onto the bed, straddling your hips as she continues to kiss you passionately. her hands roam over your body, igniting a fire within you both.

"let me show you how much i want you."

ellie starts kissing down your neck, her lips leaving a trail of hot kisses on your skin. she whispers against your ear.

"i've been wanting to do this for so long... to touch you like this."

her hands move to your chest, teasingly caressing your tits through your bra.

"please." you moan.

ellie smirks, her fingers slipping under your bra.

"please what? tell me what you want, baby."

"fuck me."

ellie's eyes darken with lust as she removes your bra completely, her mouth descending to your nipples.

"whatever you say babe. but we gotta be quiet, okay? don't want anyone hearing us."

ellie sucks on your nipple, her other hand sliding down to unbutton your pants.

"just try to stay quiet babe. i'll take care of you."

"okay."

ellie pulls your pants and underwear off in one swift motion, leaving you completely naked beneath her. she admires your body with hungry eyes.

"you're so perfect... i'm gonna to make you feel so good."

she positions herself between your legs, spreading them apart as she leans down to kiss your inner thighs.

ellie's tongue flicks out, teasing your clit gently.

"you taste fucking- amazing. i could eat you all day."

she starts licking and sucking your clit in earnest, her fingers teasing your entrance.

"oh god." you say trembling,

ellie pushes two fingers inside you, curling them upwards to hit your g-spot while continuing her oral assault.

"that's it, angel. let go and cum for me."

"i love you ellie."

ellie pauses momentarily, looking up at you with adoration in her eyes as she continues her ministrations.

"i love you too my girl."

days pass, and ellie finds herself growing closer to you. the initial hostility and awkwardness has faded, replaced by a comfortable friendship. she starts sitting with you at lunch, much to the shock of the other students.

during lunch, dina approaches your table with a curious look.

"hey, can i talk to you two for a sec?" she says

she glances between you and ellie, her expression serious.

“yeah?” you reply

ellie nods, putting down her sandwich.

"i just wanted to know what's going on here. you two are hanging out a lot lately. has me wondering if the worlds gonna blow up"

“we made up, obviously. and im not friends with my friends anymore so yeah.”

dina raises an eyebrow, surprised by your bluntness.

"just like that? you're done with them?"

“well pretty much.”

dina sits down, still processing the information. "and you're cool with ellie now? the nerd?"

you laugh “you could put it that way.”

ellie rolls her eyes at dina's comment, but there's a hint of amusement in her expression. "thanks for the vote of confidence dina."

"i'm just saying, it's a bit unexpected. you both were always so... different."

“yeah i know i didn’t like her but ive matured.”

dina looks at you thoughtfully, then at ellie. "well, i'm glad you're both getting along. it's nice to see the two of you happy.”

“thanks.” you smile

ellie smiles softly, feeling a sense of acceptance from dina. she bumps her shoulder against yours playfully.

"yeah, thanks for not being a total jerk anymore."

“okay okay.”

dina chuckles and stands up. "i'll leave you two to your nerd stuff then."

“okay im not a nerd.” you say defensively

ellie snorts. "sure, keep telling yourself that."

“dude.”

ellie grins mischievously.

"what? you hang out with the most ‘nerdy’ person in school now."

“yeah yeah.” you nudge her shoulder

she nudges you back, her eyes sparkling with humor.

-

ellie come to your house after school to chill, she arrives, carrying her backpack and a comic book.

"hey, thanks for letting me come over."

“it’s fine.” you smile

ellie looks around, taking in the fancy surroundings. she shifts uncomfortably.

"your house is... really nice."

“eh not really.”

she raises an eyebrow skeptically. "not really? it's like a mansion compared to my place."

“aw no need to be insecure.” you pat her back jokingly.

ellie blushes slightly at your touch, but tries to play it cool.

"i'm not insecure, just stating facts. some of us have to work for our stuff."

“right.”

she follows you inside, still looking around curiously.

"so, what do you usually do when you're not being popular and mean?"

“uh. have parties.”

ellie snorts again.

"of course you do. let me guess, with all your popular friends?"

“ex friends.”

she sits down on your couch, crossing her legs.

"right, right. well, now you have me."

“yeah.” you give her a sarcastic smile

ellie opens her comic book, trying to act casual.

"so, do you have any other nerdy friends i should know about?"

“yknow i’ve never heard a nerd refer to themselves as a nerd.”

she looks up from her comic, slightly defensive.

"well, i can accept it because it's true. i am a nerd. and you're sitting here with me, so what does that make you?"

“suicidal.”

ellie rolls her eyes again, but there's a hint of concern in her expression. "very funny. seriously though, you can't just hang out with me and then act like you're above it all."

“well i am. well i was.”

she puts down her comic, giving you a serious look.

"dude, you're not above anything. you're just a person who's been through some shit and is trying to figure things out. and guess what? that's okay."

your cat walks over to ellie and sits on her lap

ellie's face lights up as the cat snuggles against her. she gently pets it, a small smile forming.

"hey there, little buddy. you're a cute one."

the cat starts purring, clearly enjoying the attention. ellie looks at you with a soft expression.

"what's its name?"

“kevin.”

she laughs lightly, scratching behind kevin's ears.

"kevin? pretty human name for a cat."

kevin rolls onto his back, demanding belly rubs. ellie obliges, still smiling.

"he's really friendly. y’know joel has a cat too, her name is squirrel."

“cute.” you say smiling looking at your cat with ellie.

ellie nods, continuing to pet kevin.

"yeah, she's adorable. she's a rescue too, joel found her on the street."

your dad comes downstairs, to grab a drink “hi amy-” he says to ellie, then double takes noticing it’s not herz “oh. you’re not amy” he speaks, looking confused since he’s never seen ellie before

ellie tenses up slightly, feeling awkward under your dad's gaze.

"uh, no, i'm not amy. i'm ellie."

“dad i told you im not friends with amy anymore.”

your dad rubs his forehead, clearly still confused. "right, right sorry darling. my apologies ellie. it's nice to meet you. i'm this annoying one’s dad."

ellie awkwardly waves, still petting kevin.

"nice to meet you too, sir."

you burst out laughing “sir?”

you go into a fit of laughter and ellie shoots you a glare, her cheeks turning red in embarrassment.

"shut up, i'm being polite."

your dad chuckles as well, amused by the interaction.

"well, i'll leave you two to it. just don't do anything i wouldn't do."

he walks back upstairs, leaving you and ellie alone again. she's still blushing.

"your dad seems... nice."

“he’s okay.” you say trying to catch your breath

she nods, still feeling a bit embarrassed.

"he's definitely not like your ex-friends' parents."

“yep..”

she leans back on the couch, looking more comfortable now that your dad is gone.

"i guess that's a good thing though. you need better people in your life."

-

after a while it’s time for ellie to go home she stands up, reluctantly handing kevin back to you. he meows wanting to go back to ellie.

"i should probably head out. it's getting late."

“oh.. yeah.” you reply sounding disappointed

she grabs her backpack and slings it over her shoulder.

"i had... fun. surprisingly."

“i was just about to say that.”

she smirks, a hint of playfulness in her eyes.

"don't get used to it. i still think you're annoying."

“oh righhttt.”

she rolls her eyes, but there's a hint of a smile on her face.

"just don't forget it princess. i'll see you tomorrow at school."

“bye.” you lean in for a hug reluctantly not knowing if she’ll return it

ellie hesitates for a moment, clearly surprised by your gesture. she awkwardly hugs you back, patting your back.

"bye, sugar plum."

“bye freak.”

-

ellie walks into school, spotting you by your locker. she approaches with her usual confident stride, a comic book in hand.

she leans against the locker next to yours, opening the comic.

"good morning, sunshine. ready for another day of pretending to care about school?"

“ew.” you say looking at her then shutting your locker revealing some of your old friends behind you.

ellie raises an eyebrow, noticing your old friends. she glances at them with mild disinterest.

"ah, the sheep have come to greet their former queen."

“why are you seriously still speaking to her” one of them say to you.

ellie crosses her arms, unfazed by their comment.

"oh, i'm sorry. is my presence bothering you? maybe you should run along and find someone else to worship."

“i thought you weren’t friends with them anymore anyway?” she says turning to you.

“we made up.” you reply

ellie snorts in disbelief.

"made up? really? you're choosing them over me?"

you give her a not caring shrug and walk away, your friends laugh and follow behind you as one spits their gum at her.

ellie watches you go, her expression hardening. she clenches her jaw, feeling a mix of anger and disappointment.

"typical. i should've known better than to think you'd actually change." she mutters under her breath as she walks away, clutching her comic book tightly.

"what a waste of time."

during lunch, she sits alone at a table, scrolling through her phone and trying to ignore the stares from your friends who keep glancing over at her. she scoffs and gets up abruptly and walks away.

she heads to the library, finding a quiet corner to hide in. she pulls out her sketchbook and starts drawing, trying to distract herself from the events of the morning.

dina and jesse walk over to ellie “what up smellie ellie? where’s your bestie today?” jesse says

ellie looks up from her sketchbook, annoyance clear on her face.

"not in the mood, jesse. and she's not my bestie anymore."

“uh why” dina asks.

ellie sighs heavily, putting her pencil down.

"she decided to go back to her old friends. apparently i'm not good enough for her anymore."

“c’mon, we all knew that would happen, you seriously think a girl like that could change, she’s too far gone” dina says

ellie nods slowly, a bitter look on her face

"yeah… yeah i know. i was just stupid enough to believe she actually cared."

“it’s fine anywway, jesse and i were starting to think we lost our best friend” dina laughs

“i thought i lost you guys.”

jesse grins and ruffles ellie's hair.

"nah, we still got you, nerd."

ellie rolls her eyes at jesse's gesture, but a small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.

"you're such an idiot."

“but hey, why don’t we teach her a lesson not to hurt people’s feelings?” dina suggests

ellie looks intrigued, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"what did you have in mind?"

“i don’t know, throw paint on her or like a gallon of apple juice..” dina says trailing off

jesse laughs, clearly amused by the idea. "i like where your head's at dina. but maybe we should do something more... creative?

“i like the apple juice scheme.” ellie says nodding to herself

dina smirks, high-fiving ellie. "apple juice it is then?"

“okay but- guys this isn’t a movie, where do we get that? and doesn’t this make us just as bad as she is?” jesse says.

ellie shrugs, her expression hardening again.

"she hurt me first, jesse. and we can get it from the cafeteria. they have those big containers of juice."

“fair enough, but don’t involve me till you’ve got the shit. im not going down from being caught stealing from school aswell as her wrath.” jesse sighs

dina chuckles and pats jesse's back. "you're such a coward jesse. but fine, we'll handle it ourselves."

he chuckles and walks off

“pussy.”

ellie and dina exchange knowing glances, already plotting their next move. the both of them agree to do the plan tomorrow so they head to the cafeteria to get the juice.

they wait until after school, making sure no one else is around. ellie grabs a large container of apple juice from the kitchen area.

"this should be enough to really piss her off."

“bro help me carry it” ellie says as dina looks at it

dina grabs the other side of the container, struggling a bit under its weight.

"fuck, this is heavier than i thought. how are we gonna pull this off without getting caught?"

ellie glances around nervously, her heart racing with excitement and a hint of guilt.

"we'll just have to be quick and quiet. and we need to find the perfect spot to dump it."

“we need it to be somewhere that we know she walks by every day”

ellie thinks for a moment, then snaps her fingers.

"i got it. the hallway outside her locker. she always goes there before her every class."

“oh yeah, we have to be there before she is so we have time to prepare to put it up then push it and shit”

ellie nods at dina , readjusting her grip on the container.

"right. we'll need to set it up so it pours right on her. maybe we can prop it up with something."

“yeah. text jesse and say we have it.”

ellie pulls out her phone and quickly texts jesse.

| ellie: we got the juice 💪 meet us by the lockers tomorrow morning.

jesse responds almost immediately.

| jesse: "got it. be careful you tho two man. don't get caught.”

-

ellie gets home and sits on her couch, sparking a blunt

she takes a deep drag, letting the smoke fill her lungs as she leans back against the cushions, her mind racing with anticipation for tomorrow's prank.

her phone buzzes, it’s a text from you.

| you: im sorry

ellie stares at the message, her heart skipping a beat. she considers not responding, but her curiosity gets the better of her.

| ellie: what do u want

| you: i really didn’t mean for that to happen, i was speaking to them about something completely unrelated and they just asked to be friends again

ellie scoffs, taking another hit from her blunt.

| ellie: sure yeah whatever. u should've known better than to hang out with them again. especially after everything they did to me??

| you: i’ve done bad stuff to you too so what’s the difference

ellie pauses, feeling a pang of guilt at your words. she takes a moment to collect her thoughts before typing back.

| ellie: ur right. you've been an asshole too. but at least you're not pretending to be my friend anymore.

| you: you didn’t answer the question

ellie sighs, frustration building up inside her.

| ellie: the difference is that i trusted u. i thought you were different from them. but clearly i was wrong. knew you hadn’t changed.

| you: u are my friend ellie.

ellie's grip on her phone tightens, her emotions conflicting. she wants to believe you, but the hurt is still fresh.

| ellie: friends don't abandon each other. friends don't let others bully their friends. you did both. so no, im not.

| you: i was just scared. im sorry

your text bubbles come up again then stop.

ellie feels a mix of anger and sadness as she reads your apology. she wants to believe that you were scared, but it's hard to trust you again.

| ellie: scared of what? being alone? or just being a coward??

| you: both

ellie takes a deep breath, her fingers hovering over the screen as she contemplates her response.

| ellie: u should've thought about that before u chose their side. i can't just forget what happened.

| you: i know i know. i just hope u can find it in ur heart to forgive me

ellie hesitates, her walls still up but feeling a small crack in her resolve.

| ellie: idk if i can. it's gnna take more than just an apology

| you: i know. i’ll figure something out. you’re still my favourite girl

ellie looks at your message, goes to type a reply then puts her phone down.

she stares at the ceiling, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. she's touched by your words, but also frustrated that you're still trying to win her back.

she sighs and goes to get a shower

the hot water runs over her body as she tries to clear her head. she thinks about your apology and the upcoming prank, wondering if it's all worth it.

she tries to forget about it all for the night and goes ro sleep. she sees dina waiting for ellie as she pulls up to school

-

dina is leaning against a tree, scrolling through her phone. she looks up and waves when she sees ellie approaching.

"hey, you're here early."

dina notices the tired look on ellie's face and raises an eyebrow. "everything okay? you look like you didn't sleep well."

ellie shrugs and walks over to dina, rubbing her eyes.

"just had a lot on my mind. ready to get this shit started.?"

"oh yeah, we're definitely ready. jesse is waiting by the lockers."

ellie takes the container and checks the contents, a smirk forming on her lips.

"great. let's go set this up."

the two girls walk towards the school entrance, spotting jesse already in position near the lockers. he gives them a thumbs up as they approach.

"morning ladies. everything's ready to go."

ellie smiles as she feels a tinge of guilt doing this especially since you tried to apologise her yesterday but she shoves it aside because she’s still hurt.

dina notices ellie's hesitation and nudges her gently.

"you okay, ellie? you seem a bit off."

ellie forces a smile and shakes her head.

"i'm fine. let's just do this."

“right for the record you guys are realllyyyy sure about this?” jesse asks them for the 5th time

ellie rolls her eyes at jesse's question.

"yes, jesse. we've been over this. it's harmless and she deserves it."

“i know she like chose her old friends over you and all and that sucks but i just think shit like this only really happens in those like old 2000s tv shows like were probably gonna get suspended, is it actually worth it for like two seconds of satisfaction?” he rambles.

dina groans and facepalms.

"jesse, seriously? you're such a fucking buzzkill. we're not going to get suspended. it's just a prank."

jesse crosses his arms, still looking skeptical.

"i just don't want to get in mess again. last time we pulled a ‘prank’, we had to clean entire gym for a month, im not doing that shit again."

ellie sighs and puts a hand on jesse's shoulder.

"look, if you're really that worried, you can bail. but dina and i are doing this. we've got a plan and we're sticking to it."

“okay but like, now she’s back friends with her little minions isn’t she like even scarier? and her brothers.. oh god her brothers are gonna assassinate our souls” he says pacing up and down

dina laughs at jesse's dramatics. "calm down, drama queen. we can handle her and her friends. besides, they're not going to do anything too extreme."

“whatever, i am nottt apart of this. you two have fun” he says walking off throwing his hands up in surrender.

ellie watches him leave, shaking her head.

“pussy.”

“anyways… jesse tied this rope to it so we can just let go of it and it’ll fall right onto her from up there” dina says.

ellie looks up at the rope, then at the position they need to be in.

"right that’s fine. we'll just have to wait for her to walk by and then let go."

dina and ellie then wait for you to enter school and grab something from your locker

-

ellie can see you approaching from a distance, chatting with your friends. she grips the rope tightly, her heart racing with anticipation. she sees you starting to open your locker.

dina nudges ellie, signaling that it's time.

"she's almost here. get ready."

ellie takes a deep breath and counts down quietly.

“three... two... one...”

on cue, ellie and dina let go of the rope, watching as the bucket of juice starts to fall.

the bucket hits you right on the head, drenching you in juice. your friends scream and back away as you stand there, stunned and covered in sticky liquid.

you gasp.

ellie and dina burst into laughter, trying to hide behind a nearby pillar.

your friends look around frantically, trying to figure out who did it. you wipe some juice off your face, your expression a mix of shock and anger.

“amy, stacy, get me tissues now”

amy and stacy quickly rush to grab tissues from the nearby bathroom, while ellie and dina continue to snicker behind their hiding spot.

you burst into tears and your other friends hug you.

ellie's hushed laughter stops abruptly as she sees you crying. she feels a pang of guilt but quickly pushes it down, telling herself it's just a harmless prank.

one of your friends gasps and wipes some juice off your arm and smells it, she gasps again “it’s apple juice.” she says to you and your mouth drops open.

dina's eyes widen at the revelation. she looks at ellie, who looks slightly guilty now

“shit. she figured it out.”

“im fucking allergic to apple juice!” you say and burst out crying again trying to wipe off the juice with your hands.

ellie's face pales as she realizes the severity of the situation. she had no idea you were allergic to apple juice.

"wait, what? the fuck is she talking about?"

“dude? did you know she was allergic to apple juice?” ellie asks dina. “yeah? i thought that was the whole point?” dina whispers back.

ellie feels a wave of panic wash over her. she can hear you sobbing and your friends trying to calm you down.

"no, no, no... i just thought it was a harmless prank. i didn't know she could actually get hurt.”

ellie watches as you start to have a reaction, your face getting redder and your breathing becoming labored.

"we need to do something. she's going into anaphylactic shock." dina says

ellie steps out from behind the pillar, her hands shaking. "i'll get the nurse. someone call an ambulance!"

she runs towards the nurse's office, feeling completely responsible for what's happening.

ellie bursts into the nurse's office, panting heavily.

"ellie? what's going on?" the nurse asks trying to calm her down

"she's having an allergic reaction to apple juice. she's in the hallway."

a few teachers come running out and the principal looks confused “i- uh- is she okay? why’s there juice all over the floor oh my goodness” the principal says frantically.

the principal's eyes widen as he sees the state you're in. "get her to the infirmary now! and for the love of god somebody clean this mess up!"

ellie feels the weight of the situation crushing her as she watches the teachers rush to help you.

the nurse quickly assesses your condition and begins administering medication. "she's going to be okay, but we need to get her to the hospital for further treatment."

ellie stands frozen, guilt eating away at her as she watches the ambulance arrive.

the ambulance takes you away, and the principal turns to ellie with a stern expression. "ellie, come to my office. now."

ellie follows the principal to his office, her heart racing. she knows she's in deep trouble.

"sit down, ellie. i need to know what happened. and i have a feeling you might know."

ellie sits in the chair, her hands trembling as she looks down at her lap.

"so do you know why she was covered in apple juice and having a severe allergic reaction?"

ellie takes a deep breath deciding to just be honest, her voice barely above a whisper.

"i... i was the one who put the juice in the bucket. it was supposed to be a prank."

the principal's face turns red with anger trying to keep his professionalism.

"a prank? you could have seriously hurt her ellie! that poor girl’s in the hospital because of you."

ellie feels tears stinging her eyes, but she tries to hold them back.

"i'm calling her parents and your guardians. you're suspended for the rest of the week, and i'll be discussing this with the board."

ellie nods numbly, her mind racing with thoughts of what joel and tommy will say when they find out.

"and ellie, this is a serious matter. i hope you've learned your lesson."

the principal dismisses her, and ellie slowly walks out of the office, feeling like the weight of the world is on her shoulders.

"prick." she mutters to herself.

ellie walks past your locker seeing it’s half open since you didn’t get to close it properly after putting your stuff in there. she opens it and flowers fall out. the label has your hand writing written on it, it reads ‘to ellie i’m sorry’ with a heart drawn next to it.

ellie's eyes widen as she sees the flowers and the note. her heart sinks even further, realizing the true nature of your relationship with her.

"oh god... the fuck have i done” she whispers

she carefully picks up the flowers, her hands shaking as she reads the note.

ellie's vision blurs with tears as she reads the note. she feels a pang of regret and guilt stronger than before.

“she... she really was trying to apologize to me. and i almost nearly fucking killed her."

she clutches the flowers to her chest, the realization of her actions hitting her like a ton of bricks.

ellie slides down to the floor, the flowers still in her hands. she buries her face in them, sobbing quietly.

"i'm such an idiot. i thought she was just another popular liar, but she was... she was being genuine."

she mutters, feeling like the biggest jerk in the world.

she realises she’s suspended so she should probably head home for the day, but ellie doesn't move. she stays there, lost in her thoughts and guilt.

"i have to make this right. i have to find a way to apologize to her and make sure she's okay." she thinks to herself.

“right.” you laugh then walk off.

elie lets out a sigh of relief as you walk away, but her moment of peace is short-lived. the party is getting more chaotic by the second, and she feels trapped in this situation

she walks out into the garden and takes a deep breath of fresh air, grateful for the quietness of the garden. she pulls out her phone and starts texting jesse

| ellie: i'm outside in amy’s garden. way too loud in there. come find me when you're done?

jesse responds quickly

| jesse: yeah man i'll be there in a minute jst tryna get away from this girl too lol being annoying as usual

a few minutes later, jesse finds ellie in the garden and sees her sat on a bench

“you good? saw you sneak out here before” he says

ellie nods, still looking a bit stressed. “yeah, I just needed some space. that girl is relentless.”

he sits down next to her “yeah, she gets like that. but you shouldn't let her get to you. she’s just jealous of how smart you are.”

ellie snorts “jealous? of me? that's a first.”

jesse grins “seriously man, you're way cooler than her. and all of them — you just don't see it.”

ellie rolls her eyes, but a small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth “whatever you say, jesse. let's just chill out here for a bit longer. i really don't want to deal with her ass again tonight.”

“alright, i’ll go find dina then i’ll be back” he says disappearing back inside

ellie watches him go, then leans back against the bench, staring up at the stars

“finally, some peace and quiet." she says to herself, however she jinxed it as you walk out into the garden.

ellie notices you and tenses up again, her shoulders stiffening as she pretends to be engrossed in her phone

“ohhh my god what a loser” you laugh to yourself slurring your words in the process.

ellie’s face flushes red with anger and embarrassment, but she keeps her voice steady "leave me alone bro. i’m not in the mood for your bullshit."

“why should i? i didn’t fucking want you to come anyways” you snap back

ellie stands up, finally facing you head-on “bro what the fuck is your problem with me?”

“i just don’t fucking like you!” you spit

ellie laughs bitterly "yeah, i got that loud and clear. but you know what? i don't like you either. you're just a shallow, fucking judgmental person who thinks being popular makes you better than everyone else."

“i’m not-! i just can’t- just forget it” you stutter trying not to say the wrong thing

ellie crosses her arms, looking at you with a mix of irritation and curiosity "can't what? can't handle someone who's not like you? someone who actually has interests and doesn't care about being liked by everyone?"

“you think i haven’t tried to fucking like you?”

ellie raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by your outburst "what are you talking about? you've made it pretty clear you hate me from the moment we met."

“you just don’t get it and you never will so just… stop” you sigh

ellie scoffs

“no, i don't get it. you come here and start shit, then say you tried to like me? that's rich."

“seriously fucking just stop you’re gonna get shit out of me that i don’t wanna say”

ellie takes a step closer, her expression softening slightly “fine, i'll stop. but you know what? you're the one who keeps coming back to bother me. maybe you should figure out why that is before you start throwing insults around."

“because..” you trail off, too drunk to collect your thoughts

ellie waits, her eyes searching yours for an answer “because what? spit it out."

“because i fucking like girls” you let out a breathy scoff to yourself “and im in denial… but i know, deep down, but i cant-i have a reputation and i just can’t.”

ellie's eyes widen in surprise, her expression shifting from anger to shock “you... what? you like girls? that’s why you’ve been so shitty to me”

“i’ve always liked you I just- couldn’t let myself… so i tried to hate you and i was a bitch. i admit that”

ellie takes a step back, processing this information “wait, you've liked me this whole time? and you thought the best way to handle it was to bully me to push down your feelings?"

“what else could i do?! i couldn’t let anyone find out! everyone would see me differently, especially because you’re…. you”

she looks hurt and frustrated “so you decided to make my life hell instead of just talking to me like a normal person? you know, i thought you were just some typical homophobic bully. but now I see it's just your own internalized issues."

you stand there at a loss for words

ellie crosses her arms again, her voice firm but not unkind “you need to figure your shit out. you can't keep pretending to be someone you're not. and you definitely can't keep taking it out on me."

you sigh “im sorry okay? so there’s your answer.”

ellie sighs deeply, running a hand through her messy hair "sorry isn't enough. you need to stop being a coward and be honest with yourself and others. it's not fair to anyone, especially me."

you throw your hands up in the air in frustration “oh god i don’t even know why i told you.”

ellie looks at you with a mix of sympathy and frustration “maybe because deep down, you know you can trust me. but trust doesn't just magically fix everything, you still have to make things right.”

“i swear to god if you tell anyone about this you better count your days and count them well”

ellie’s expression hardens again “don't threaten me. and i won't tell anyone, but only because it's not my secret to share. but trust me, i can handle whatever you throw at me."

you sigh again “i just don’t know what to do.”

ellie softens slightly, seeing your genuine distress “you need to start by being honest with yourself. and maybe stop being such a jerk to people who don't deserve it.”

your expression falters and you look at her looking genuinely apologetic “im sorry, i really am. i just thought it was easier for me to not think of you in a romantic way if i just filled my head with bad thoughts about you.”

ellie shakes her head, a small smirk playing on her lips "that's the stupidest shit i've ever heard. but i guess i can understand the logic... sort of. you really are an idiot, you know that?"

“yeah, i am”

ellie chuckles softly, the tension between you starting to ease “at least you're self-aware. but seriously, you need to work on your coping mechanisms. they fucking suck.”

“seriously, i just don’t know what to do now. i don’t wanna keep on being mean to you but if i just stop altogether, my friends will think something is up.” you say

ellie considers this for a moment "well, we could start by being civil. maybe not hang out with your friends when they're being assholes to me. and maybe... we could try talking more. like normal people."

“are you serious? really? i can’t be seen speaking to ellie williams of all people.”

ellie rolls her eyes “oh please, like i care about your social status. i'm not asking you to be my best friend or anything. just... not treat me like shit anymore."

“ill think about it” you joke playfully

ellie rolls her eyes again, but there's a hint of a smile on her face "yeah, yeah. don't strain yourself too hard thinking, princess."

“you know you’re actually not that bad as ive conditioned myself to think” you admit

ellie smirks “and you're not as much of a bitch as i thought. who would've guessed?"

“oh ha ha”

ellie laughs genuinely this time "just admit it, you like speaking to me."

“maybe. or maybe my true feelings are coming out from the deep depths of shadows” you laugh

ellie raises an eyebrow, clearly amused and bursts into laughter "oh lord you're such a weirdo. but hey, if you can stop being a dick, maybe we can be friends."

“bro friends? i’m trying to not like you not fall in love with you”

ellie's expression shifts to one of surprise and slight disbelief "wow, you're really laying it all out there today, aren't you? you can't just say stuff like that and expect me to react normally."

“i’m drunk. i really don’t care what i say.”

ellie crosses her arms, looking skeptical "drunk or not, you should still watch what comes out of your mouth. especially when it's about your feelings for me."

“why” you say confused

ellie steps closer, her voice lowering “because it complicates things. you're supposed to be my bully, not someone who's secretly into me. it's confusing and messy.”

“fair enough” you shrug

she studies your face, trying to gauge your sincerity

“so, what happens now? you just go back to being the popular pretentious bitch and pretend this conversation never happened?”

“well, i don’t know. i’m sure you heard the talk of the school that me and mason broke up and i don’t know what to do about it because he wants to get back together, but i don’t like him. i don’t know if i like boys at all.”

ellie's expression softens slightly, showing a hint of concern "yeah, i heard. and honestly, it sounds like you need to figure out your own feelings before you worry about mason. you don't have to rush into anything."

“i’m sorry for like telling you my feelings about you and shit”

ellie shrugs

"it's fine. i mean, it's not like you planned to confess your feelings while drunk. just... maybe next time you're feeling confused, talk to someone who's actually a friend."

“thank you” hug her but she doesn’t push you off

she stiffens slightly at first, clearly surprised by the hug, but then relaxes and awkwardly pats your back

"yeah, don't mention it. and maybe lay off the alcohol for a bit."

“it’s cold, do you wanna talk inside?” you suggest while rubbing your arms

ellie glances at the house, then back at you “sure, why not. i could use a break from the cold anyway."

ellie follows you, looking around curiously as you walk upstairs and enter the guest room

"so, what's the plan? are we just going to sit here and avoid the real world for a while?"

“i mean sure, i don’t mind”

ellie plops down on the bed, making herself comfortable "cool. i could use a break from studying anyway. and honestly, i'm curious about why you're suddenly being nice to me."

“well i did just fucking confess my feelings” you say, confused about her obliviousness

ellie laughs softly "yeah, that is true but that doesn't mean you have to be nice. you could still go back to being your usual self tomorrow."

“fair… do you think it was obvious?”

she looks at you

“y’know that i liked you or was i too much of a bitch for you to tell”

ellie thinks for a moment, fiddling with a loose thread on her shirt "i mean, i had my suspicions at first. the way you would always target me specifically, the insults that seemed a bit too personal... it made me wonder if there was something more behind it."

“oh.”

ellie smirks again "yeah, 'oh' is right. you weren't exactly subtle about it"

“did you ever feel any type of way back..?”

ellie hesitates, avoiding eye contact “i... don't know. maybe a little confused? i mean, i never expected the girl who made my life hell to suddenly have feelings for me.”

ellie notices your silence and looks at you "what? you can't just ask me that and then not say anything."

“i just don’t know what to say.”

ellie sighs and leans back against the wall "well, maybe you should start by explaining why you even liked me in the first place. i mean, we're literally complete opposites."

“i don’t know, you’re pretty, your smart, you have friends that like you…”

ellie chuckles slightly at the compliment

“pretty? that's a new one. and yeah, i have friends, but they're not exactly popular like yours.”

“yeah.”

ellie looks at you intently

“i really didn’t plan on telling you this”

ellie laughs again, shaking her head "i know you didn't. but now that you did, we're stuck in this weird situation where you have feelings for me and i'm just... confused."

“yeah” you walk over to the bed and sit next to her

ellie tenses up slightly as you sit close to her, the bed adjusting to the new weight

"you're really not making this any easier you know”

“what?”

elie looks at you, her expression a mix of annoyance and curiosity "trying to figure out what to do about all this. you're sitting here, being nice to me, telling me you have feelings for me, and i don't know how to react."

“right”

ellie runs a hand through her messy hair, clearly frustrated

“and it's not like i can just forget everything you've done. the bullying, the insults... it's hard to just move past that.”

“i’m not saying you have to like me back ellie”

ellie looks at you, her expression softening slightly "i know you're not. but you're still expecting something from me, aren't you? some kind of reaction or response?"

“well yeah i guess, but i im not expecting anything i mean i made your life shit for ages” you reply back to her as she glances down at your lips as you talk

ellie quickly looks away, trying to hide the fact that she was staring at your lips "you're right about one thing. you've been a real fucking pain in my ass”

“i know i get it” you say as the two of you hold eye contact

ellie's breath hitches slightly as she maintains eye contact, her heart racing. the tension in the room is palpable.

"then why are you still here? why do you even care about how i feel?"

“i’ve already told you, i get it’s hard to understand, it’s confusing for me too.”

ellie swallows hard, her gaze flickering between your eyes and lips again

"yeah, it really is. you're a walking contradiction, you know that? one minute you're being a total jerk, and the next you're confessing your feelings."

“i know, i know” you say looking down at her hands avoiding her stare

ellie notices your gaze and instinctively pulls her hands away, crossing her arms defensively "stop looking at me like that."

“like what?” you say, genuinely oblivious

ellie huffs, clearly flustered

"like you want something from me. like you're waiting for me to do something."

“i said nothing, and the fact you brought it up seems like you want to do something.”

ellie rolls her eyes, but there's a hint of a smile on her face "you're infuriating, you know that? always finding a way to twist my words."

“i’m just kidding, unless? joking.”

ellie lightly shoves your shoulder, a small laugh escaping her lips

"oh, shut up. i'm not doing anything with you."

“your loss.” you shrug as you lean back on the bed

ellie watches you lie down, her eyes lingering on your relaxed form for a moment before she shakes her head

"you're actually so full of yourself. just because you're hot and popular doesn't mean i'm going to fall for your charms."

“oh so you think im hot?” you say turning to face her fully.

ellie face turns bright red as she realizes her slip-up "i- bro- i didn't say that- i just meant… oh you’re so fucking annoying”

“aw” you mock her and pull a fake sad expression

ellie covers her face with her hands, clearly embarrassed "stop being so smug. it's not cute."

“you’re cute”

ellie peeks at you through her fingers, her cheeks still flushed

"i hate you."

“i hate you too.”

-

jesse pushes through the crowd of everyone in the kitchen and walks up to dina.

“hey d, you seen ellie anywhere?”

“ohh, no she’s not in here or in the garden, maybe check out front or upstairs, we’ll look in abit” she says to him taking a sip of her drink as she dances.

“alright we’ll check for her soon” he replied as he places a kiss on her mouth.

-

ellie hesitates for a moment before lying down next to you, keeping a small distance between you

"this doesn't mean anything, okay? i'm just tired of arguing."

“yeah, i know… me too.” you let out a breathy sigh

ellie stares up at the ceiling, trying to ignore the fact that your shoulder is almost touching hers

"you're really testing my patience here man.”

“could say the same to you”

ellie looks at you with a mixture of annoyance and curiosity "what do you mean by that?"

“im kidding” you say nudging her shoulder

ellie groans in frustration "you're such a tease. i don't know if i should punch you or kiss you."

“oh?”

ellie's eyes widen at her own words, realizing what she just said

"i- like bro i didn’t even say that. i didn’t mean it like- i'm just tipsy and saying stupid things."

“so why don’t you?”

she freezes, her heart pounding in her chest*

"why don't i what?"

“the second option.”

ellie's breath hitches as she looks at you, her eyes flickering to your lips again

“you’re fucking kidding me”

“am i?”

ellie swallows hard, her resolve weakening "yeah actually, yes, you are. and i should be smarter than this, but... i can't help myself."

ellie leans in slightly, her voice barely above a whisper

"you're really going to make me do this shit, aren't you?"

“hm?” you tilt your head slightly

she leans in and kisses you passionately, her hands gripping your shirt as she pulls you closer. the kiss is filled with pent-up frustration and desire.

ellie breaks the kiss for a moment, breathing heavily

"i hate you for this."

“i hate you more.”

you lean back in ellie kisses you back fiercely, her fingers tangling in your hair as she deepens the kiss. her body presses against yours, seeking more contact.

suddenly dina walks in as she’s looking for ellie and you both jump away from eachother quickly

ellie quickly runs a hand through her messy hair, trying to compose herself as dina stands in the doorway with a smirk on her face.

"well, well, well. what do we have here?" dina scoffs

“what.”

dina leans against the doorframe, crossing her arms

"don't 'what' me. i saw you two. i'm not blind."

“what’s happening is someone fucking?” one of the school jocks, logan says peering through the door

ellie's face turns bright red again, mortified at being caught by not just dina, but also logan

"looks like the nerd finally got lucky." he says

“and with little miss queen bee? noooo wayyyyy! and after mason? hashtag downgrade!” he chuckles to himself as he snaps a pic of us, finding himself hilarious.

ellie shoots him a glare "shut up, logan. fuck off."

logan chuckles and walks away, leaving dina still standing there with a knowing look on her face

"you know this is going to be the talk of the school now right?

ellie groans and puts her head in her hands

"i'm never going to live this down. i can already hear the whispers."

“how about you just drive me home?” you change the subject, forcing a smile.

ellie looks up at you, grateful for the distraction "yeah, that sounds like a good idea. let's get out of here before anyone else shows up."

“good plan.” the two of youwalk down the stairs through the kitchen and leave amys house, then get into ellie’s car.

ellie starts the car and pulls out of amy’s driveway, her knuckles white as she grips the steering wheel tightly

"i can't believe this is happening. why did i let myself get caught up in this?"

“to be honest i think we would have been fine if logan and dina didn’t see” you say trying to look on the bright side to a situation that has no bright side

ellie glances at you, her expression a mix of frustration and annoyance

"yeah, but they did see. and now everyone's going to know. it's just... embarrassing."

“dina won’t tell anyone, but logan… i don’t know, he’s like masons best friend”

ellie's grip on the wheel tightens even more at the mention of mason

"yeah mason is the last person i want to know about this. he'll never let me hear the end of it."

“how do you think i feel he’s like the most crazy ex ever!”

ellie lets out a humorless laugh

"right, i forgot about that. he's obsessed with you. this is going to be even worse for you than it is for me."

“exactly and like y’know.”

ellie nods, understanding the gravity of the situation

"yeah, he's going to flip out. he's already threatened me once for even talking to you."

“i don’t think people would even believe logan though, like me with you.”

ellie glances at you again, her expression softening slightly "maybe not. but he'll still try to start rumors. and you know how fast they spread in this school."

“it’s fine, i don’t even care anymore.” you sigh

ellie lets out a small sigh following yours, her shoulders relaxing a bit

"you're surprisingly calm about this. i'm still freaking out here."

“i think if i lose my friends for yknow making out with a nerd then they’re obviously not my friends, y’know?”

ellie smiles slightly, touched by your words

"i appreciate that, angel. but i don't want to cause any problems for you. you have a reputation to maintain."

“it’s fine ellie, really, i feel speaking about it tonight kinda changed my thoughts on things, y’know.”

ellie pulls up to your house and parks the car

"i guess i did have some things to say. but i didn't expect them to affect you so much."

“thanks for driving me” you say giving her a genuine smile.

ellie turns to face you, her expression serious

"anytime. and if you ever need to talk again... i'm here."

“i- okay.” you say giving her a quick kiss on the lips

ellie blushes again, caught off guard by the kiss

"see you tomorrow, princess."

“see you at school nerd.”

ellie watches as you get out of the car and head inside. she sits there for a moment, processing everything that just happened before driving away.

-

ellie walks into the school hallway, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. she can already hear whispers and see people pointing and staring at her. maybe not that dramatic, but it definitely felt that way.

ellie tries to act casual as she walks into class andtakes her seat next to you, but she can't help but notice the looks from her classmates. she whispers to you

"i think everyone knows."

“yep. same” you say quietly

the teacher looks at the two of you

“girls stop talking.”

ellie quickly shuts up and faces forward, her cheeks still slightly pink. she glances at you out of the corner of her eye, silently communicating her discomfort.

“awww love birds” one of the boys on the basketball team speaks out

ellie tenses up at the comment, her hands gripping her pencil tightly. she shoots a glare at the basketball player.

“shut the fuck up, jake."

you pull your phone out under the desk to message ellie

| you: everyone knows and ive fell out with pretty much all my friends because of it ;-;

ellie's phone buzzes and she discreetly checks it, her heart sinking as she reads your message. she types back quickly.

| ellie: sorry to hear that like genuinely. this is all my fault

| you: it’s okay, i have u right? my little loser

ellie can't help but smile at your message, despite the situation. she types back with a hint of sarcasm.

| ellie: wow thanks for the pep talk. i feel so much better now.

| you: but seriously, it’s good. im sure masons mad, haven’t seen him yet today

ellie glances around the room nervously, half-expecting Mason to burst in at any moment.

| ellie: yeahh i’m sure he's seething. he's probably planning some dramatic confrontation.

| you: we can talk about it behind school later, me and u

ellie nods slightly, understanding your plan.

| ellie: okay sounds good. i'll meet u there after class

ellie takes a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

| you: its gonna be okay

| ellie: i hope so. but I trust u. srsly

you give her a small smile as you glance over to her, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation for your meeting later.

| you: speak to u later see u there loser

this weekend your best friend amy made it your job to invite everyone in the school. this made you wish that mass texting the school in the click of a button was a thing just like in those cheesy teen tv shows.

now why amy wanted the whole school to come is because her parents were out of town and she wanted to throw the biggest rager of the year, reasonable. so you got to inviting everyone you saw in the halls, obviously your other friends would help too just casually nudging people and saying “you can come to amys party this weekend if you want, text me if you’re coming we’ll send the details.”

if you were honest you were quite excited, who wouldn’t be? you was gonna be at a fun party and sleep over with your friends after.

however, your boyfriend mason was not happy about any of this whatsoever. which is reasonable. he knew what you were like at parties, but you felt he was being too controlling.

the two of you argued when you got home from school ending up with you breaking up with him, and also leaving you heartbroken, but you tried to look on the bright side and think the party will be even better because you’re single. right?

-

the next day at school you were telling your friends about the big breakup with mason as you chilled in the hallway — acting like the usual jerks you were.

everything was normal until you felt someone crash into you.

ellie williams - one of the quiet nerds in your school, she hung out with the drama kids — which was like social suicide, so she was a perfect victim for you and your friends to fuck around with when you guys were bored of insulting your usual targets.

she wasn’t ugly, but she wasn’t popular standards either, you actually thought she was quite pretty, but you would never say that outloud, but you hated her anyway for being a smart ass in class.

“fuck my bad.” she mumbled, she looked nervous, probably expecting a snide remark. but in your mind, you were just playfully teasing her. your mind, at least.

“watch it.” you sneered as you watched her face scrunch up.

"i said sorry." her voice was low and sad. poor, poor girl.

"i wasn't looking where i was walking."

she kneeled down to pick up her books she had dropped, then adjusting her glasses on her face without daring to make eye contact with you.

you were suprised by her tone today, you assumed she’d probably had a bad day since shed usually reply different to how she is now.

she would never dare be disrespectful to you but she’d usually tell you to drop it or just ignore you completely but she actually apologised. weird.

“so ellie, you wanna come to our party this saturday?” your friend camilla says to her

“the fuck are you doing?” you say under your breath turning to camilla, she ignores your annoyed look and laughs.

this caught ellie off guard, her eyes widening behind her lenses. she looked at the group and back at you, expecting the punchline.

"..me?" she asked, her voice a touch sceptical.

“yeah you. who else would we be talking to.” camilla says sharply, clearly annoyed by ellie’s stupid response. your friends laugh, amused by the fact that camilla is seriously inviting ellie right now. of all people, ellie williams.

she flinched at the laughter, her cheeks reddening. she pushed up her glasses again, her nervous habit when put on the spot.

"you want... me to come to a party? on saturday?"

she asked again, still trying to process the information.

“are you a fucking parrot? yes that’s what we just said” she says back, getting frustrated.

"right.. just wasn't sure if you were just fucking with me."

she avoided eye contact, her fingers fidgeting with the rings on her fingers. the idea that the ‘popular’ group would include her in anything, especially a party, was a foreign concept.

“everyone’s going” another one of your friends say, chiming in, as she pops her gum.

she lets out a half scoff half confused breath. "alright.. i'll come."

her voice was quiet, almost tentative as if she was bracing herself for the punchline, for the moment where they'd say, "psych! you actually think you're invited?!"

“why’re you still stood here? go.” you say, aggravated that this is happening.

she nodded quickly. "shit my bad. see you saturday."

she walked away, disappearing down the hall. her heart was pounding. why had she agreed? it was probably a setup, a cruel joke.

“im not going if that fucking loser is” you say turning to amy

“oh come on, it’ll be fun you won’t even know she’s there there’s gonna be that many people.” amy says putting her hand on your shoulder.

“right… whatever” you scoff, annoyed about the concept of an annoying ass nerd being at a party. you really didn’t know why you was so mad, but you was.

-

it was now friday, the party was the next night, the whole week you had been giving ellie dirty looks or purposely pushing her. you really didn’t want her to come but you couldn’t give yourself a reason why.

you walk into class but before you sit down the teacher says “oh, don’t sit down there sweetheart, i’ve swapped everyone’s seats. you sit…. there” the teacher says pointing towards a seat next to ellie.

“you gotta be fucking kidding me” you mutter under your breath as you drag your bag on the floor and slump in a chair next to ellie.

she looks over at you as you watch her write notes in her book, and you notice her staring

“the fuck are you looking at” you say sitting up

“nothing” she turns away, then continues to write notes.

what feels like hours into the class, ellie’s arm touches yours, it makes you feel weird, like something got shot through your body

“can you fucking move?!” you snap at her

“yeah… yes. sorry it was an accident just leave it” she says moving over.

-

it came to the night of the party, finally, you and your friends were getting ready, telling eachother your perfect scenarios for the night ahead.

meanwhile ellie was already ready with dina and jesse, she hadn’t had to do much, she threw on a t-shirt with a blue flannel paired with some baggy jeans.

ellie stands in front of her mirror, fidgeting with the hem of her slightly oversized band t-shirt. she's clearly uncomfortable in the outfit she's chosen

“i can't believe i let you talk me into this. i feel like a complete idiot.”

“why?” dina says turning around to scan over ellie’s outfit.

ellie looks down at her outfit, then at her messy hair

“because i'm not exactly party material. everyone there is going to look at me like i don't belong.”

“dude” dina laughs

“there’s going to be so many people there nobody will notice you” jesse says.

ellie sighs deeply, still not convinced

“that's not exactly reassuring. plus, i'm sure a certain someone will find a way to make a scene.”

she sits down and opens insta to pass the time of waiting to leave, as she opens the app, she sees this

she sighs, then closes the app then proceeds to get something to drink.

-

“i think im just gonna find someone really cute to make out with and hope someone records it and sends it to mason so he gets jealous, y’know?” you say to your friends as you put your makeup on

“that is fucking genius.” lucy says to you as she puts on her dress

“i know right.” you laugh as you take another shot. then pick up your phone to reply to masons string of texts.

you were too tipsy to care about what he had to say, he was just saying the usual ex type things ‘you better not hook up with anyone else’ or ‘don’t do any stupid shit’

you scoff and put your phone down, then take another shot. you look out the window and see people are already starting to show up. so you go downstairs to start greeting people

-

ellie hesitates at the entrance, her anxiety visibly growing as she sees you. she grips the strap of her backpack tightly

“i really don't want to do this...” she mutters under her breath

jesse nudges her forward “come on, ellie. we're already here. let's just try to have a good time.”

ellie reluctantly follows jesse, keeping her eyes downcast as they approach the door where you're standing

you notice them approaching and flash a bright smile, though it's clearly directed more at jesse than ellie

“hey jesse! glad you could make it.” you say to him not looking over at ellie

as ellie walks in properly behind jesse and dina you glance at her and take double take. she looked hot gross. you scoffed as she walked past and started to greet the others.

ellie feels your scoff like a physical blow, her shoulders tensing up. she keeps her eyes firmly fixed on the ground, trying to ignore your presence

jesse notices the tension and tries to lighten the mood

“hey, thanks for inviting us. place looks fire”

“yeah i know, amy really outdid herself”

ellie remains silent, still avoiding eye contact. she shifts from one foot to another, wishing she could disappear into the crowd

the music grows louder as more people arrive, creating a chaotic atmosphere. ellie starts to feel overwhelmed and pulls out her phone as an excuse to leave the conversation

ellie sits on the couch, nursing a drink. she watches as jesse and dina mingle with other people, occasionally joining in their conversations but mostly keeping to herself

the party is getting wilder by the minute, with people dancing and spilling drinks everywhere. ellie feels increasingly out of place in the sea of drunken teens

you glance over at her again as she sits on the couch, you feel a wave of something wash over your body but you didn’t know what. you didn’t want her presence to annoy you too much. the night was just getting started.