Chapter 18: Know your worth

Chapter eighteen: Know your worth (Ellie's POV)

"So, what's up with you and Isaac?" Brett asked on the way back to his place.

"Nothing, he just called me and asked me if I wanted to go out to dinner. Why is this such a big deal?" I asked.

First Nathan and Zach didn't like it, now Brett doesn't, Ashley was okay with it but she didn't say much, Spencer just said I should do whatever I want.

"It's not a big deal, it's just out of the blue, don't you think? Where did he even get your number?" he questioned.

"I don't know where he got my number, Ethan must have given it to him. Yeah, it's a little out of the blue but I am sort of friends with him, he said he wasn't sure if there was something going on between me and Zach and that's why he didn't do anything earlier." I was still kind of confused about that.

"Zach only got here like a week ago. What about the two years he was gone?" Brett asked. That's a valid point.

"Well, one of those two I was with Asshole James. I don't really know, maybe I'll ask him," I shrugged in response.

He nodded in response, keeping his eyes on the road as we reached the apartment building.

"So, Zach has a date today?" I asked.

He glanced at me while pressing the button to his floor. "Yeah, he's going out for lunch with Jessica," he said.

"Jessica? Like the waitress from The Brew?" I questioned.

"Yup, apparently she's liked him for a really long time. She's never once hung out with him but apparently, she likes him," he shrugged.

"Maybe she does, you never know," I replied.

"I think she just likes his face, to be honest. She doesn't know one thing about him, they've never spoken either." "Let's just see where they go," I shrugged.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"I win! Again!" I cheered, standing up and jumping on the couch. The whole day, Brett and I had been playing Uno. Zach was not back yet and we had no hopes, we weren't expecting him to be back for a while.

We already had our dinner and were just lounging around when the door opened and in walked Zach with Jessica behind him. Brett and I looked at each other before turning back to the other two.

"You didn't tell me your roommates would be here," she laughed awkwardly.

"It's no problem, right?" Zach asked us.

"Yeah, no problem," Brett and I nodded in sync. I gave Brett a pointed look before we went into his room. "That air mattress would be nice right about now," I mumbled.

"This is gonna be a long night, let's just go to sleep," he huffed.

I woke up the next morning with my alarm ringing. The night wasn't too bad, but as I said, it's the snoring. It's not so adorable when you're trying to sleep. Brett was nice enough to take the floor but halfway through the night and his constant backache complains, he just shared the bed with me, it's his room and his apartment.

The night was not easy, the sleeping situation aside.

We had the pleasure to hear constant screaming, moaning, panting, clashing, squeaking, I don't want to list anything more.

"How are you gonna go there?" Brett asked while sitting up against his headboard.

"I don't know," I huffed, "But if they're in the room then I can just get some tea, right?" I asked while standing up.

"They-"

I didn't let him finish, "Yeah, I can just grab some tea, it'll be fine, I'll be right back," I headed over to the door.

"Ellie, he doesn't-"

I was out before he could finish. I closed the door behind me and froze when I saw Jessica asleep on the couch. "Shit," I whispered, I turned back around to rush back into the room but she woke up. With nothing but a blanket over her.

"Hi," I smiled at her awkwardly.

"Hi," she said while standing up, gathering her things while the blanket was wrapped around her.

"Sorry for waking you up, I'll just-"

She cut me off, "It's okay, I'll be heading out," she laughed.

"Oh," I replied, slightly confused.

"I'll be waiting for his call, could you tell him that for me?" she asked.

"You'll be waiting for his call?" I questioned, very confused, "I'm sorry. How long have you two been talking?" I asked.

"We haven't really, we just hung out yesterday," she replied.

"And you think he's going to call you back?" I blurted out.

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend you, but you think he's going to call you back?" She nodded, slightly confused.

"Did you tell him that? That you're expecting more than uh- more than a one-night stand?" I questioned.

"Do I have to tell him that?" she scoffed.

"You might want to," I answered.

"Why?" she pouted.

"Because um- Zach doesn't uh- he doesn't really..."

How the hell do I say this without offending her?

"Date?" she finished the sentence for me.

"Yeah," I answered honestly.

"What the hell am I supposed to do now?" She fell back onto the couch.

I didn't have an answer to that, nor should I. "You can find someone better? I mean uh- someone who treats you better, right? I-I'm sure there are so many guys who like you, everyone knows you from The Brew anyway," I shrugged.

"Huh?" she asked, dumbfounded. "But Zach is..." she trailed off.

"Zach is Zach. He's a dick," I shrugged.

"What do you mean?" she questioned.

"He doesn't date, like you said," I explained extremely confused myself, "Don't you think you can do better than someone who uh- who treated you like that? Just out of curiosity, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to but um- did you just come here with him to hook up? Or uh- is that what he thought?" I questioned.

"Yeah, kind of."

See, so it's not all his fault, if he wanted something more then she should have told him, but that doesn't mean he should do what he's just done.

"I just think you should know your worth, you know what I mean? Find someone who treats you better than uh- than a one-night stand. Jessica, you're a great girl, you can find someone better than Zach, you know that, don't you?" I asked.

No girl should have to be treated like shit when she wakes up the next morning and realizes that the guy she just gave herself to actually doesn't give one shit about her, no one deserves that, no girl or guy should have to go through that.

"You know what? You're right. I can find someone better than Zach fucking Rivers." She stood up angrily while grabbing her things. "Tell him I said thanks and fuck off," she said before storming out of the apartment.

Well, there's that.

"Is he even gonna come in today?" Ashley asked as we walked to class. The first three periods had gone by and Zach was nowhere to be seen.

"I don't know, I came with Brett today. He was still sleeping when I went in, I thought he'd wake up," I shrugged as we rounded the corner, heading to our class.

"Isn't it concerning if he didn't? What if Jessica came back and killed him or something? You never know," she shrugged.

"Don't be-" I stopped talking and let out a gasp when I felt someone grab my arm and pull me into an isolated classroom. I was about to scream but I felt someone clamp their hand over my mouth. I let out muffled noises until the shushed me and then pulled away.

"Tell her you'll be right back," he demanded.

I nodded before sticking my head. "I'll see you in class, okay? Just go," I said. She nodded uneasily before leaving. I closed the door and turned to him. "What the hell do you want? And where the hell have you been today?" I folded my arms across my chest.

"At home after Jessica followed me out of the apartment. What the hell did you say to her?" He took steps closer and I took them back till my back hit the wall.

"N-nothing," I stuttered.

"Ellie, what did you tell her?" He stepped closer, his body pressing into mine while he placed his hands on the wall, beside my head.

"I didn't tell her anything, I swear," I lied.

"Ellie," he sighed.

"Zach," I said mockingly. He glared at me and I sighed in defeat. "I just told her to know her worth. As she should," I arched an eyebrow at him. It's really tough to not get intimidated by him, and it's taking a lot to not let that happen right now.

"So she goes all psycho on me?" he scoffed.

"How was I supposed to know that's what she's gonna do? I just told her to find someone who treats her well? What do you want me to do about it now?" I asked.

"You created the problem, now you solve it."

How do I solve it?

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Chapter eighteen

Who's your favorite artist/singer?

Mine is probably once again, Harry Styles. Also, can someone please help acknowledge how underrated Liam Payne's music is???

Next Chapter: I'm not a liar