Chapter 23: Back again

Chapter twenty-three: Back again (Ellie's POV)

"I didn't tell Isaac anything. He asked me if I'm attracted to you and I said no, is that a problem?" he asked.

"Why would it be a problem?" I questioned.

"I don't know, you tell me. Do you want me to be attracted to you?" he smirked.

"I don't care, it just doesn't make sense for you to make an entire bet to make me fall in love if you're not attracted to me, that's all," I shrugged before going into the bathroom, locking the door behind me so I could shower.

He is such an idiot.

The rest of the day we went grocery shopping, all three of us this time and then just hung around the apartment, I've only got two more weeks here, two weeks are already over and it feels weird to think about going back home, it's so much more fun here. I'm always alone back at my house.

It was now Monday morning and we were at school, heading to the cafeteria for lunch. Like earlier, Zach wasn't here, he went to the back of the building to smoke. It's annoying watching him do that, I don't like smoking or smokers.

"Ellie, go get Zach," Nathan demanded.

"I'm not a dog, go get him yourself." I rolled my eyes.

"He doesn't listen to us, Brett tried calling him on his way here, he'll listen to you, go call him, please? Come on," Spencer pleaded.

"If you guys enjoy his company so much, why don't you guys hang out with him?" I questioned.

"Because we will choke to death," Brett replied.

"Oh, and I won't? I'm immune to cigarette smoke apparently now," I turned to Ashley who was just as amused as I was.

"Oh, cut it out, just go. Do them a favor," she shrugged at me.

"Traitor," I coughed before standing up and heading back there. "I should wear a mask going out there," I huffed while opening the door to the cafeteria and beginning to walk to the back.

"Hey!"

I turned around and saw Isaac jogging over to me. "Hey," I smiled at him.

"Where are you headed?" he asked.

"I'm going to grab Zach," I replied.

"You're going back there?" He seemed surprised.

"Someone's gotta do it," I shrugged in response.

"Someone he listens to?" he asked knowingly. I nodded while laughing lightly. "I was wondering if you wanted to go out again this weekend? We have a game on Friday, after that maybe?" he questioned.

"Yeah, sure," I grinned, "Text me when and where?"

He nodded. "I'll see you around, bye," he smiled before walking back over to his friends and I continued out back grinning like an idiot.

This is the first time someone has shown any interest in me in a year, before that, Zach never let it happen and after that, James came and went and nobody wanted to get involved.

I got to the back and swung the door open, pulling my sleeves down and covering my nose.

Thank God I'm wearing a full-sleeved shirt.

It wasn't too hot today so I was doing just fine. It was kind of windy.

I turned to the guy who's name I learned was Cameron. "Round the corner," he nodded. I saluted him with two fingers before squinting, my eyes burning slightly while I walked over there. Just like Jessica's time, he was sitting against the wall.

"They're calling you!" I screamed through my palm. He shook his head slowly. I feel like if we just don't let him come over here, he won't have the time to smoke and he'll quit it. But I want him to quit because he wants to, not because someone made him. "Come on," I whined and stomped my foot.

"I don't feel like it today," he said.

"Did I ask?" I retorted. I stuck my hand out, waiting for him to grab it and pull himself up. He eyed my hand wearily before looking up at me. "What? I'm not gonna bite you, come on," I said, getting impatient.

He sighed in defeat before grabbing my hand, pulling himself up and then killing the cigarette, following me back inside. I rubbed my eyes once we stepped back into the building and began walking to the cafeteria with him beside me.

While we were walking, Samantha, she's in my math class, came over and stopped in front of Zach. I watched in confusion while neither of them said anything until she smacked him right in the face.

My eyes widened and I flinched, covering my mouth.

"Asshole," she hissed before strutting away.

I turned to him, he was mumbling curses while glaring at her retreating figure. "In school?!" I smacked his chest, shocked that he would do that.

"What kind of bullshit is that? When she sees her boyfriend talking to another girl she wants it, but when I say no I become an asshole," he groaned while rubbing his cheek.

"She came to you and smacked you because you said no?" I questioned and he nodded in response. "Why did you say no?" I eyed him with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Because I wanted to," he shrugged. It's weird for Zach to say no to a girl.

"Fair enough," I replied, "Are you okay? That looked like it hurt," I winced for him.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he nodded.

"You sure?"

He nodded again and so we continued our way to the cafeteria. "Can today just be over already," he mumbled as we walked in.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I sat down on the bleachers, taking out my math homework, hoping to finish it before their practice ended. While I was sitting there, Steven and his friend, whose name I'm not interested in knowing, came, and sat a few seats down from me. Steven's younger brother is on the team, that's all I know.

They were talking in what they think is hushed-tones but clearly, they want me to hear what they're saying since they're talking about me.

"What do you think she's doing here?"

"She's probably waiting for someone who has practice."

"Which one?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, you know. There are three of them. There's Brett, Isaac, and of course, Zach's always there."

I rolled my eyes and continued with my work, plugging my earphones in to block them out. About fifteen minutes later as I was finishing up with my work, someone tapped my shoulder. I looked up to see Steven's friend. "What?" I asked.

"So, which one is it?" he asked. "Huh?" He rolled his eyes, "Is it Brett, Isaac, or Zach?"

I plugged my earphones back in and began ignoring him while putting my stuff back in my bag.

Why is Steven here anyway? He never comes and waits for his brother.

"Is it none of them?" he asked, pulling my earphone out.

I snatched it back and continued ignoring him while I watched the guys play. Zach was playing too, but his eyes were focused on me.

"Is it all of them?"

I glanced at him and then back at Zach. He looked at me questioningly and I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, look. Does he follow all of your commands?" They laughed.

I sighed in annoyance while moving a bench over. Before they could say anything else, I looked up and saw Zach kicking a ball at them, which his friend in the head. And the other one hit Steven's stomach.

I looked down and bit back a laugh while Zach and Brett came over to grab the ball. "Oops," Zach shrugged while pulling the ball back with his feet.

"Are you kidding? What is your problem?" Steven stood up.

Here we go.

And we did. We went. To hell and back. It was like the party all over again. All the kicking, punching, pushing, pulling, shoving, bleeding. The whole team was trying to pull the five away. Yeah, Isaac felt like joining too.

"Guys stop it!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. I was standing on the bleachers so I could see over the crowd but it wasn't of much help. I looked around, hoping I could spot someone who could help and call the guards or something but nope, what I saw instead was Principal Withers. "Guys! Principal Withers!" The team completely backed off and left the five to it. "Fucking hell," I mumbled before hopping off and hoping to grab one of the guys.

I managed to get a hold of Isaac and yank him back with full force. "Principal Withers!" I whisper-yelled. He broke up Brett and Steven's friend but Steven and Zach were still at it.

Principal Withers himself had to break up the two while we all stood watching. "What is going on here?" he asked while pushing the two in opposite directions.

Zach stood beside me while glaring at Steven. He took another step forward but I grabbed his arm and jerked him back. He looked down and me and I slowly shook my head.

"Fucking prick," he mumbled under his breath.

Next thing you know, we are all in Principal Withers' office, standing in front of him while he paces. Back again. Right back in his office. He is fuming.

Zach, Steven, and I were seated on the chairs, apparently, we're the culprits, and Isaac, Brett and Steven's disgusting friend, are all standing behind us.

This may take a while.

.

.

.

.

.

Chapter twenty-three

Principal Withers is gonna lose his shit.

Q: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A: I have no idea, but maybe like Paris... Idk, or maybe Miami or LA, those places are all fun, 10/10 recommend.

Next Chapter: Friends don't do that

But more than friends do ;)