Chapter 15: A Mother's Advice
A/N: A DECADE AND MORE YEARS OF WAITING FOR THE REUNION OF 1D HAHAHAHA DOUBLE UPDATE COOKIES!
P.S. HI TO ALL MY READERS WHO ARE LOWKEY DIRECTIONERSðâ¤ï¸ð
ðªEllie's P.O.V
"No fucking way! Was this the reason why you didn't want to FaceTime me during the weekends?!" Ark whisper-shouted, taking a piece of my hair and staring at me in disbelief.
"Surprise?" I lamely greeted, letting her pull me in a hug.
Ark couldn't go to school last friday because she was suffering with a migraine and couldn't afford to get out of bed.
"And you're rocking a new outfit," She eyed my clothes and turned back to me,"What the hell is happening boo? What happened to you on Thursday that you wouldn't tell me over the phone?" She questioned, eyeing the librarian who passed by us.
I didn't waste a second and started telling her what happened on Thursday, excluding the part where Todd and I watched the sunset.
What? Can't a girl keep some secrets to herself?
"So, he's the guy that the girls were talking about on Thursday! I haven't seen him yet though," Ark replied, turning back to her book.
Ark and I have been ditching lunch with the pack of skittles and would hide in the library instead. I wasn't in the mood to talk to them when they were clearly keeping secrets from us nor do I want to see the son of a bloody skittle.
I'd rather not torture myself from seeing them together and I'm not the type of person who can be two-faced. I don't want to laugh and act everything's good when clearly it isn't.
I'm not like that.
Todd texted me earlier saying he can't eat lunch with us because he was currently serving detention for being late on Ms. Coax's class.
I'm not even surprised.
"You'll meet him soon. He's a great guy," I smiled, resting my head on the table.
"Great enough for you to forget Alec and date him instead?" She suggested, an innocent look on her face.
"Ark, we're just met and don't start with the fricking emoji," I warned, giving her a look.
She sighed,"I honestly don't get why Alec would do that though. That was a fucking d!ck move," Ark thought out loud, placing her chin on her palm.
"I don't know either Ark. Maybe he wasn't what we though him to be. I can't believe I fell for his tricks." I frowned, staring at the book shelves.
"It's his lost boo," Ark pointed out, patting me on the cheek.
"Have you heard from Sage yet?" I said, turning to look at her.
"No, she's still avoiding my calls. I miss her," Ark pouted, pushing a strand of hair away from her face.
"I miss her too. I guess we just let her be, she'll talk to us one way or another." I sighed, biting my lip in deep thought.
The bell rang, indicating the end of lunch. I let out a small huff, Ark and I standing begrudgingly in our seat and placed the books back to the shelves before fixing our things.
"I'll see you after school," Ark glanced at me, walking out of the library.
"Yeah, good luck!" I smiled, before walking off to my next class.
The rest of my classes were uneventful. There were a few times where I dozed off and felt frustrated because my mind clearly wasn't in the mood to work with me.
I walked out of the room, ignoring the stares that I've been getting. Ever since we've been hanging out with the pack of skittles, people have taken an interest to share fake rumors about us.
I wasn't bothered by it though, I knew the truth and I know myself better than those trashy rumors being spread around.
I didn't bother going to my locker because I needed the books tonight for some homework. I walked straight to the parking lot and waited for Ark and Todd underneath a tree.
The wind whipped past me gently and I couldn't help but smile softly. My eyes looked up, gazing at the blue skies and different shapes of clouds.
I wish I was a cloud, just doing nothing and following where the wind takes me. I wonder what it feels like when you're a rain cloud? Like do you feel fat or pregnant?
Do clouds even given birth? I think that's a dumb question for me to ask. Shit. I forgot about all those lessons in science during middle school.
"Ellie?"
I turned to the sound of my voice and felt my smile slipping away upon seeing Annie and Alec standing a few feet away from me.
Annie looked beautiful today. She had her hair pulled up in ponytail and was wearing a black skirt, a shirt that was tucked into it, and a pair of vans slip on with ankle socks.
"Hi," I greeted, both of them walking closer towards me.
NO. Stay away. Shoo. Don't come any closer!!
I think this should be the part where I suddenly get super powers like being able to control the wind so that I could lowkey push them away without them noticing.
Ugh. Why does the universe love putting us in awkward situations? I water my mom's plants every single day!
"I knew it was you! I almost mistook you for someone with your new hair. You look gorgeous Ellie, blue really suits you." Annie beamed, her dimples showing with her smile.
Curse you dimples! Why can't I have dimples?
I want a dimple.
"I-Thank you, I like your outfit." I said, my fingers awkwardly playing with the fabric of my shirt.
"Aw, thank you! Where are you heading? Alec and I could give you a lift," She offered, glancing up to Alec who was staring at me with an expression I couldn't tell.
I imagine walking up to him and poking both his eyes and telling him to 'stop looking at me with an expression I can't read!'
Shit. Duck. Puck. FUCK.
We stared for a few seconds before he cut eye contact and looked down at her, a small smile gracing his lips when their gazes met.
I felt my throat clogged up at the action. Seeing them together made my heart hurt and I fisted my hands behind my back, willing myself not to cry.
"No need for that. I'm taking her home," I felt relief flooding in me at the sound of Todd's voice.
He was walking towards us, Ark was beside him and was throwing daggers at Alec with such intensity.
She went to my side while Todd on the other, placing a friendly arm on my shoulders and I couldn't help but feel thankful for that.
I couldn't tell if Alec did really narrowed his eyes unto Todd's arm but eh, thats not happening anytime soon with Annie on his arm.
"Oh, well, drive safe T. I'll see you at the house later." She nodded, a small smile gracing her features.
"Thank you for the offer though," I piped in, before letting Todd and Ark pull me away from them.
Once we were near Todd's car and hidden from any view, I felt Ark pull me towards her, my head immediately resting on her shoulder and only then did I let the tears fall.
I cried quietly, Todd taking a hold of my hair to prevent it from sticking to my face. He ushered us both inside the backseat of his car to make sure there weren't prying eyes.
Ark was the first to go in and immediately pulled me in for a hug once I was seated. I couldn't stop the tears that streamed down my face while Ark tried to wipe it away.
The driver's seat slammed shut, Todd turning to look at us from his seat with a grim expression. He took something out of his compartment and handed Ark a box of tissues.
"It's okay boo. Let it all out," Ark comforter, rubbing my back gently and handing me a bunch of tissue.
"We weren't even together and I'm crying like we dated for months," I stammered, blowing unto the tissue.
Was it wrong for me to cry for a guy I had a thing with?
"That's okay blue, you're crying because you genuinely cared and being left hanging isn't exactly a nice feeling," Todd assured, leaning in to push my hair back away from my face.
"Why couldn't he just talk to me? Why does he have to rub it in my face like that? That's not fucking fair at all," I cried out, pulling away from Ark's hug.
He's a fucking tissue! A dirty one at that!
"I'm sorry boo, Alec's the only one who can answer that and its quite clear that he has no plans in doing so." Ark sighed, dabbing a tissue lightly unto my wet face.
"I'm sorry for being a bother," I mumbled, leaning unto the seat and feeling sleepy all of a sudden.
Crying makes me sleepy.
"Don't blue," Todd started off."Don't even think about that. You're our friend and I would rather see you cry and be here with you than lock yourself up in your room and cry alone with no one to comfort you." He clarified, frustration evident in his voice.
"Thank you guys, I'm lucky to have you both." I softly said, feeling Ark take a hold of my hand.
I sighed, closing my swollen eyes. A sudden feeling of fatigue rested on my shoulders and I couldn't help but drift away into sleep.
I woke up to someone stroking my hair and I let out a sleepy groan, the hand not stopping.
I opened my eyes, meeting my mother's sad gaze. I suddenly sat up in surprise, realizing that I was in the comfort of my room.
"How are you feeling darling?" Mom asked, pushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.
She was sitting next to me and I couldn't stop myself from going back to her side and letting her arms wrap around me.
"I feel fine now mom," I replied truthfully, cuddling close to her.
When I cry, all the negativity leaves my body and although my thoughts are in disarray the heaviness that I felt in my heart earlier was lighter.
Crying should be considered as the best medicine. How could your laughter heal you when its not even genuine happiness in the first place?
She sighed,"What have I told you about being my daughter? I know when you're lying," She pointed out.
"It hurts being left hanging," I mumbled, closing my eyes.
"What exactly happened?" My mom asked, her hand stroking my hair once more.
I couldn't help but let out a small smile at her actions. When I went home that day with my new hair, she scolded me abit for choosing blue but then she pulled me in for a hug and says she'll get used to it.
My dad had the funny reaction, I had my back turned to him when he came in the kitchen and he asked mom who was the smurf standing on our kitchen.
When I turned around, he started choking on the energy drink he was gulping down and couldn't breath for ten seconds straight.
He was rambling about how I turned from an innocent Smurfette to a rocking Vexy. He resorted to calling me that until Mom had enough and scolded him.
I told her what happened these last few days but I didn't tell her about mall incident. She listened quietly and only interrupted if she wanted to clarify something.
"Maybe there's a bigger picture to this honey. Maybe Alec has his reasons for doing this. What reason? I don't know but one thing I'm sure, is that what you felt? It's what he felt too." She started, her hand slowly patting my head.
"How do you know mom?" I turned to her, meeting her gaze.
"I've seen the way he was around you and the way he looked at you, well, that kind of sincerity can't be faked easily honey." She explained, her voice soft.
"Well, If he cared for me then he wouldn't hurt me." I scoffed, pulling away from her to lean unto the headboard instead.
She nodded,"You're right he wouldn't but maybe his hands were tied?" She asked, my heart beating faster at the feeling that she knew more than she like to let on.
Is she hiding something for me?
"Sometimes when the people we care about are in stake, we do foolish decisions without thinking the impact it would do to that person as long as they are safe." She said, staring off into space in deep thought.
Her words rang in my head, letting it sink in. I suddenly gasped, my mind connecting dots that I hadn't thought about before.
I turned to my mom with my wide swollen eyes and hugged her. That earned a confused oomph from her before she hugged me back nonetheless.
"I don't know what's happening mom but maybe you're right," I said, offering her a thankful smile.
She nodded before standing up, a wide smile gracing her features before she walked out of the door but not before turning back to me.
"You should talk to him honey and whatever happens, just know that we always got your back." She reminded, before walking out and closing the door behind her.
I quickly took my phone and dialed the person I knew would be willing to listen to me 24/7.
"Hey boo, how are you feeling?" Ark's voice meeting my ears.
"Ark, I think I know why Alec's doing this," I started, my voice coming in short breaths.
"What do you mean boo?" She asked, concern lacing in her voice.
"Remember Donald and why was he looking for me when I don't even know him? Then remember that he knew Sage and the way he acted after he saw the pack of skittles and Alec? That was a clear sign that they knew one another right," I rambled out, my hands doing weird hand movements.
A big fat pause.
"Right," Ark trailed off, earning an eye roll from me.
"Yes, well, this is just a theory okay? Well, after we left what if Donald had said something to Alec like, well threatened him and stuff like that about me and Alec's avoiding me because of this? This can be another reason why the pack of skittles won't tell us?" I thought out loud, my heart beating wildly.
I know it sounds crazy but I mean, I read these in wattpad books before and although its not real; there's a possibility that it could happen.
"Hm, that's a good theory but then why would they threaten Alec with you? and then where does Annie fit into all of these?" Ark wondered, a shuffling sound can be heard in the background.
My shoulders slumped, realizing the missing gaps."Huh, I haven't thought about that, maybe he just genuinely cares for her? I guess, I don't know." I pouted, the excitement wearing off me.
Ark sighed,"You should really talk to him boo.
Even if it's there's something genuinely going on between them, you at least deserve to know why it went down south." Ark pointed out.
"You're right A. You know, it sucks that he left me hanging but what pained me the most was the thought that we were friends and maybe he cared enough to talk about it properly." I smiled sadly, my hand playing with my blanket.
"I love you boo. You'll always have me." Ark softly assured.
"And I'll forever consider myself lucky for that A. I love you too," I smiled, looking up the ceiling.
They'll always have my back.