^Mal the Beauty
"Aunty flow making a visit today?"
The next day, I looked for Mallory before school started. I knew the Parker boys came to school early so that Rue could go to soccer practice. I started my search at the soccer fields.
Just as expected, Mal, Bates, and Kai were laid out on the benches passing a cigarette around. I stomped up to the spot they were at, wiping dust off of the seat before sitting down. "Guys." I said in a greeting.
Bates eyes lit up as he noticed me. "Hey, Ellie. What are you doing here.
I sent him a smile before freezing up focusing on his face. "What happened to you?"
His left eye was black, with a bruise trailing down his face and stopping under his jaw. His upper lip also looked swollen. When he put the cigarette to his mouth he winced in pain.
"What? This old thing?" He asked with a smirk gesturing to his bruised face.
I slid closer to him, examining the damage for myself. "Oh my gosh, Bates."
It looked painful.
"He's fine." Kai mumbled swatting my hands away from his brothers face. "Next time he'll keep his guard up."
I widened my eyes. Next time? "You're joking." When no one said anything I came up with my own deduction. "Bates, did you fight last night?"
He sent me a huge grin and I knew his mouth was throbbing. "Sure did. You should have been there Ells. I looked like a god."
I was mad. Rage went through my body so fast that I didn't have time to think. Before I could stop myself, I was whirling on Kai and Mal. "You guys let him fight?"
They both shrugged.
Bates narrowed his eyes. "Let me?" He snatched at the cigarette Mal offered. "These assholes don't let me do anything. They're not my fuckinh dad."
I ran my hands through my hair out of frustration. "Bates, look at your face." I said softly.
He looked offended. "You should see the other guy."
His brothers laughed as if he had just told the funniest joke.
"So this is a normal occurrence? You getting bashed in the head by some stranger?"
Again Mal and Kai were rolling with laughter.
Bates leaned in until our faces we're inches apart. "I won."
I lightly tapped his bruised cheek, watching him wince in pain. "Well if this is what winning looks like, you might want to change your profession."
When I stood up to leave Bates did as well. "Maybe you would have seen what winning looked like if you weren't too worried about your curfew."
Hearing the anger in his tone, his brothers stood up. "Chill Bates." Kai mumbled, placing a hand on his chest.
"Back off of me." Bates growled reaching to grab his backpack before stomping away.
I stared at his back as he walked through the soccer field and into the school."Well..." I said placing a hand on my chest.
~*~*~*~
I went out of my way to attempt to talk with Bates for the rest of the day. I practically stalked the kid around the campus. He went out of the way to avoid me.
I had to say, the kid was damn good at it.
"I just don't understand why he's so mad at me." I said to Rue as we walked to the class we shared. It was weird talking to him now, after ignoring him for half of a semester.
He bit into a green apple. "He doesn't like to be belittled." He said with a shrug.
I widened my eyes. "Belittled?"
He smiled. "I know words princess."
I frowned when he called me princess. Unlike Mal who called me princess as if it was my name, Rue made it sound like an insult. "Don't be an asshole." I mumbled sitting down in the back of the class. Rue sat next to me.
"I can't help it. Anyways, it's pretty obvious Bates has a crush on you."
I felt my face burn. "I'm two years older than the kid." I said attempting to brush it off. I didn't want Bates to have a crush on me. I didn't want anyone to have a crush on me.
Rue laughed. "A couple months." He said exactly how Bates had the other day. "And if he hears you calling him the kid he's going to be majorly pissed"
I was about to answer when I heard a chair pull out next to me.
"Ells."
I mentally face palmed. How had I forgotten that Tyler was in this class.
"Hey Ty." I said, trying to play nonchalant. Rue grinned, correctly reading the situation.
"Buddy of yours?" He said eying Tyler like he was covered in trash.
Tyler pursed his lips. "I am confusion." He said directing his words to me and completely ignoring Rue.
I was completely frozen. I definitely didn't want my friends to find out about me hanging with the Parker boys, but on the other hand I wasn't going to diss Rue.
"You know Rue." I said lamely nodding my head in Rue's direction.
I could see all of the questions in Tyler's eyes but he simply gave Rue a head nod. "Why are you sitting back here?"
Tyler wasn't exactly subtle.
"I don't feel like answering questions today." I said resting my head on my arms.
"Oh. Aunty flow making a visit today?" Ty asked waggling his eyebrows.
I gasped. "Ty! You can't just ask a girl that."
I was embarrassed. I knew half of the class had heard him.
Rue burst out laughing. "Seriously dude?"
Ty shrugged. "I ask my sister that all the time. I swear it feels like Aunt Flow visits her more than once a month. I be like damn is the bitch moving in."
I placed my hand over my ears. "Ty shut up right now."
He pursed his lips. "where were you after school yesterday. Sky was looking for you."
I started to lie, but of course Rue had to open his big mouth.
"With me."
I simply winced as I heard the class reacting to the gossip. You'd think they'd be more focused on copying the notes Mr. Olive was scribbling on the board but no.
Ty choked on his spit. "Ells, something you want to tell me?"
I opened my mouth just as the door was pushed open.
"Ellie Valentine, could you follow me to the office."
~*~*~*~
A/N
I'm going to start putting these at the end of the chapter. Sorry for taking so long. This chapter wasn't so interesting, but don't worry. Drama is around the corner. How do you like the Parker Brothers. Who's your fave??
QOTD: If you could marry any celebrity, who would it be
AOTD: Mine would definitely be Ed Sheeran. I have been in love with him for quite some time. I'm currently trying to get over it.
Xoxo -gossip girl 😘