Ellie's POV - A week after Chapter 16
"Hello?" I answer as soon as I see the name flashing on my phone screen.
"Ellie, are you free later?" She asks me with her cute voice. It sounds almost like Ellie, can you be free later so I can see you?
"Yes, why?" I ask.
"Yay! Come and fetch me at school, will you? I want to go out with you today since it is Friday!" She says enthusiastically.
"Alright, I will pick you up at 2pm okay? I end my lesson at 1 30." I say as I look at my timetable.
"Then I will wait for you since I end mine at 1pm. Alright, see you soon, Ellie. Bye!" She chirps.
"Bye." I reply and hang up.
I place my phone under my table and then I notice the burning stares piercing through my back. I slowly turn my head around and I am right, my friends are eyeing me like a piece of meat with their hawk eyes.
"What?" I ask them with an eyebrow raised.
"Who was that?" asks Lily skeptically.
"You know who." I reply shortly.
I can't be bothered to tell them what exactly happened few days ago. They would probably shoot me tonnes of questions which make me suffocate and just leave me dying there.
"Monique?" Lily probes. I simply nod and take out my lecture notes.
"Hey, when will you ever tell us what happened?" asks Yam with a little agitated tone as she snatches my lecture notes away from the table.
I stare at her and grab my notes back. "I told you nothing," I say and straighten my crumpled end notes.
Yam rolls her eyes as she purses her lips. "We helped you and yet you don't want to share with us. Fine."
I remain quiet and pretend to read my notes. They are buzzing and I don't intend to catch what they are talking about so I just let my mind wander to last Sunday. It was a really good time spent with the love and we just grew closer than before, which is a very good thing for me. Well, we didn't have our first kiss yet because we were afraid something similar might happen again.
Lock the door? No, Monique's door can't be locked.
"Ellie," Toni calls out and looks at me with a displeased look. I bob my head once to tell her to continue and she sighs, "Alright, we don't want to know what happened between the two of you anymore. But we are really happy that you and her grow closer. No matter what, we will be there for you, alright?"
That's what I want to hear. I don't really like sharing too, have I ever told you about it? But since they're my friends, there might be exceptions some times.
"Thank you," I smile earnestly to them, then my lecturer walks in with huge pile of notes tucks under his arm.
"Alright class, we will be having an extra lesson til 2:30pm today. Now, please put your bag, books, handphone, and notes in front of the classroom. We are going to have a short test." He announces.
My eyes widen as I hear his announcement. What, this can't be! I have to meet Monique at 2! This is ridiculous. I say under my breath.
I take my phone under my table to secretly try to tell Monique about the news. But the lecturer's eyes work like a lightning.
"Ms. Ellie Carlson, didn't you understand my instruction? Or you want a detention?"
I quickly slip my phone into my bag with much reluctance and walk hastily to the front of the class room to carry out his instruction.
This old man.
Monique's POV
I look at the time displaying on my phone again, it is past 2 pm already and I still see no Ellie.
Has she forgotten about this? Is she still coming? If not, why am I not receiving any message saying that she might be late or can't make it?
Ellie, where are you? -Monique
Sophie has already left the school long ago. I sit on the bench alone waiting for Ellie to appear right at the corner but there isn't any sign of her.
"Monique?" A not so familiar voice calls me.
I look up with my sulky face and Gerald flashes me his wide grin as he waves his hand at me.
Some girls would probably be squealing if he greeted them the way he greets me.
"Hello!" He says with a friendly tone.
I force a smile at him and look around to see if Ellie's here but still, no sign of her.
"Do you mind if I sit here with you?" He asks politely. I shake my head but my eyes are still looking for particular someone.
"Are you waiting for someone?" He asks again and looks at where I am looking at too.
Isn't he a little too annoying?
I nod with a little impatience and take my phone out again. No reply.
What is happening? It can't be that she's late. She said she ends class at 1:30 but it's already 2:32 now. She must have forgotten about me.
"Hmm.. do you know my name?" He asks unsurely after awhile of silence.
I look at him weirdly and nod. Who doesn't know the Oh-So-Charming Gerald Lopez?
"Gerald Lopez." I say without much interest.
His lips curve into a smile and I saw him doing a mini fist pump. I don't find it cute or charming at all, in fact, he is annoying. I am waiting for Ellie and he just has to come and bother me. Well, great.
"Ermm, Monique can we... be friends?" He requests and looks at me expectantly.
I give no reply as I don't entertain people. I told you I hardly make friends. Do you believe me now?
"Wow, you are a really cool girl, aren't you?" he says with a forced smile and shakes his head.
Are you late or are you not coming? - Monique
I hold my phone in my hand, just in case Ellie would reply me.
I have almost forgotten about Gerald as I am too focused on waiting. I check the time again, it is 2:45 and I already feel like to stand up and leave.
"My treat," an ice cream pops into my vision and the not-so-familiar voice speaks again.
That's weird. Can't he tell that I am ignoring him and yet he buys me ice cream?
My stomach growls because I haven't had any lunch, I thought I could just bear with the hunger and eat with Ellie later on, but who knows she doesn't turn up so I grab the little blessing before me.
"Thanks," I accept it and his grin grows wider.
"You're welcome, Monique." He says and sits down next to me again.
I take a spoonful of ice cream and eat it quietly. Even though I don't really like strawberry flavor, I will just make do with it.
"You're really pretty," he says as he looks at me.
This is getting weirder. Who the hell looks at someone when they eat? I know I did that to Ellie but, we love each other. But Gerald Lopez?!
"Can you not?" I say irritably and put the ice cream down on the bench.
"Okay okay, I am sorry. Please finish it and I will leave once the person you are waiting for is here." he says and hands the ice cream back to me.
"I don't even know if she's coming or not," the words just slip out of my mouth. I quickly stuff another spoonful of ice cream to my mouth, just in case I say any more.
"She? You're waiting for your friend?" he says with his hopeful voice.
"Y-yes." I reply. I can't tell him that oh no, I am waiting for my girlfriend soon-to-be.
"Wow, okay! I will wait with you, just in case something might happen to a pretty girl like you," he winks and smiles.
I roll my eyes and continue eating my ice cream. After a few seconds, I see a very familiar figure running towards me.
"Monique!" she shouts while running. It is the cutest scene I have ever seen. She's running to me with all her might and doesn't care if her shoelace has fallen off. It is very dangerous but she makes it right in front of me safely.
"I-I a-am sorry th-that I a-am l-late!" she pants heavily.
I put down the ice cream again and stand up to hug her firmly. I thought she's not coming anymore. I thought she had forgotten about me already.
"It's okay. You are here now." I whisper and rub her back as she regains her breathing.
We pull away and I take out some tissue paper from my bag to wipe the sweat on her forehead. I can feel my cheeks getting hotter under her intense stare and her sweet smile.
"Ahm, Monique?" Gerald taps my shoulder. I look at him irritably.
Why does he have to ruin this moment?
"Yes?" I say in a little cold tone.
"This is your friend? She looks so much younger than you. Is she your sister or something?" he asks as he looks at Ellie.
Yes, Ellie looks much younger than her actual age because of her baby-like skin.
"She's my friend." I state. "I have to go now. Good bye." I add on.
His smile falters and nods,"Good bye then. See you soon."
I couldn't react just in time when he pulls me in for a hug. I almost choke because of his smell. I don't like the cologne smell.
Ellie's POV
I stand there quietly as I witness the hug between the two. I saw the guy when I was running but I thought he was waiting for his friends as well. I thought Monique didn't know him.
"You're really pretty, Monique. Bye!" he says and picks up his bag before he leaves.
My fists clench tighter and jaws tighten.
"Shall we go now, Ellie?" Monique says sweetly. But her smile fades away when she notices that I am not in my right state. "Are you okay?" She asks worriedly and checks if I am alright.
"I am fine," I say and turn around to walk towards the bus stop.
I know she would catch up with me and I just need some time to clear my mind. I don't know why but I feel betrayed. She could have waited alone for me even though I am late. She didn't have to ask a guy to wait with him, did she?
"What's wrong with you?" she asks me once she catches up with me. I breathe out heavily through my nosetrils and shake my head.
"Hey, you are obviously upset about something and I have something to do with it, right?" she points out as she pulls my arm to stop me in my track.
I look around and see that the alley is empty. "Right." I reply.
She presses her lips together and looks down on the ground. "What is it?" she asks me with her voice almost cracking.
I refuse to speak. She has to know it herself, right? Or is it that she thinks it is nothing to hug with a guy in front of me?
"Is it because of Gerald Lopez?" she asks. "The guy just now?" she adds.
I look at her with a raised eyebrow. So she knows.
"Don't look at me that way. I know, alright? I didn't hug him. He was the one who hugged me. He was the one who insisted on waiting with me but I didn't care at all. Yes, we ate ice cream together but that's because I waited for almost an hour for you and I was freaking hungry." she explains exasperately
I am speechless. I don't really know what to say. But I feel the strong need to fight back.
"Really?" I question her.
"Yes." she states firmly.
The next thing I know, I pull her close in my embrace and kiss her on the lips. I don't even care if I am wearing my school uniform. I kiss her deeply and I can feel her stiffness in my arms. She is surprised for sure.
My eyes are shut throughout. Slowly, I can feel her relaxing in my arms and her hands find their way to my back.
She pulls me closer and our body press against each other. She reciprocates the kiss as she moves her lips together with mine.
Her head tilts to the right like mine. I hold onto her waist steadily and caress the sides gently. She pulls her hands back and moves them up slowly from my chest to around my neck.
I can feel my heart beating against my chest wildly. My lungs are burning for air but I don't care, I hope she doesn't care as well.
I move forward slowly until her back hits the wall. Her fingers tangle with my hair and I don't care if she messes my hair up or not. Her lips are so soft and I am drowning in this pool of love. I know this sounds ridiculous but we are actually kissing in the alley.
Finally, the both of us can no longer take it anymore due to the lack of air. We pull away and pant heavily. This is more tiring than running but it sure feels so much better than running. We look at each other and I can see her blush, which makes my heart flutters.
"I love you, Monique Williams." I say as we continue staring into each other's eyes. I don't care if she is able to read my inner thoughts now. I need her to know that.
"I love you too," she smiles sweetly and tucks my hair behind my ear.
"Be mine. Be my girlfriend. Now, and forever." I say and close up the gap in between our lips again.