Thorn [Farkle Minkus]

[03] After School

January ended and February began. Now that February began, it meant that Valentines Day is around the corner.

John Quincy Adams High School was decorated in pink, red and white.

Ellie was fine with valentine day in the past but for some reason, she's already sick of it this year.

Ellie entered her high school and walked over to her locker, opening it in anger. She stuffed her locker with notebooks that she won't need until after lunch. She was already sick and tired of seeing Valentine's Day decorations.

"Are you okay?" Anthony asked Ellie from behind her.

She turned around. She closed her locker door and gave Anthony and Aaron her full attention.

"I dont know," she said.

"You're usually fine with Valentine's day every other year," Anthony said.

"I know," she said. "I have no idea why I'm so bothered with it this year."

"Does it have anything to do with Farkle?" Aaron asked.

"What?" she said.

"Farkle Minkus," he said. "Does it have anything to do with him?"

"N -" Ellie began, but stopped herself. "I... don't know."

Aaron and Anthony gave each other a look.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing," they said.

"You guys gave each other a look," Ellie said. "You guys know something that I don't. Spit it out."

Aaron bit his lip and Anthony glanced at Aaron.

"Well, um," Anthony said, hesitantly, "we've been talking and..."

Anthony looked at Aaron, unsure of what else to say.

"And we think that... you might like Farkle," Aaron said.

"What?" Ellie said, almost laughing. "Farkle and I are just friends."

Aaron and Anthony glanced at each other.

"We noticed the way you look at him," Anthony said. "And the way he looks at you."

"What are you talking about?" Ellie asked. "Farkle has a girlfriend. Smackle?"

"We know," Aaron said. "But that's what we think and we think that he might like you but hasn't realized it yet."

Ellie shook her head.

"Yeah, right," she said. "I don't like Farkle like that."

"If you say so," Anthony sighed.

***

What if Anthony and Aaron are right? Ellie thought.

Ellie couldn't stop thinking of what Anthony and Aaron told her.

Ellie began to head out of school when Farkle caught up with Ellie.

"Ellie!" Farkle said, jogging to Ellie.

She stopped in her tracks and turned to Farkle.

"Farkle, hey," a smile instantly appeared on her face.

She felt something. She had no idea what it was but she felt like her stomach took a somersault.

"Hey," Farkle said, smiling as he caught up with her. "I was wondering if you wanted to study together?"