As we're walking to the library, I can tell Ella is dying to ask me about what happened at break. She keeps glancing at me as she messes with her hair and readjusting her glasses. Ella's what some may describe as mousy, but in a good way. Everything about her is soft and petite, including her personality. She probably feels even more shy because my friends and I never talk about guys unless they're the kind that's on our TV screens.
Finally, she asks, "that was Zack Darrington, right?"
Ella knows him too?
"Yeah," I answer hesitantly.
"What did he want?" she asks.
Now that I think about it, I don't know. To bother me, I guess.
"I don't know," I reply thoughtfully. I nibble on my lip. "I guess he was bored or something."
Ella gives me a weird look. "How do you even know him? You never mentioned him."
It felt weird to bring up what happened if Zack and I were never even going to talk again. Honestly, I've wanted to talk about it but what would I even say? It's not like he's my boyfriend or anything.
"I don't really know him. I just..." I recount everything that happened at the party, how that pig kissed me (to which Ella replied I should charge him with sexual assault), my fight with Zack, the car, McDonald's. I leave out the parts about him catching me staring and his suggestive comments. By the end, her eyes are even wider than normal.
"Wait, so does he like you?" Ella asks.
I scoff. "I think he just likes annoying people or something. I'm sure in a couple days, he'll find another girl to bother."
She gives me an unconvinced look and then smiles a tiny bit. "He is good-looking," she notes.
I admit, his hair was nice today: more styled than usual but still messy. And I'm jealous of his eyelashes.
"He's a jerk." I push the image of him away. "And a narcissist and a player."
"Whatever you say," Ella agrees with a tiny grin, which I ignore. She hasn't met him in person yet.
The library is always crowded right after school. We're searching for spots when I hear a notification go off.
Don't reply: did you think about my offer?
My face flushes immediately as I remember our encounter during break.
"Is that him?" Ella asks and I quickly stuff my phone in my pocket.
"Huh? Yeah..."
"Oh my gosh, he likes you," she whisper-shouts.
I give her a look. "Do you know how many girls are after him?"
"But still..." she insists. "He was practically trying to kiss you at break."
Heat starts to crawl down to my neck. "What? No he wasn't," I deny, embarrassed. Thankfully, no one around us is paying attention.
"We all saw it, Amelia." I run a hand through my hair. "So are you gonna respond?" she prompts.
"I don't know... Maybe later."
Ella's face turns concerned. "He's not, like, harassing you, is he?"
I smile. "No, he's not. Honestly, I.. don't really mind."
She gives me a knowing smile and I backtrack. "I'm saying I don't hate him; that's all."
Ella rolls her eyes but thankfully changes the subject. "Okaaay. Well, anyways, how was your first party?"
"It was pretty shit."
"Really?" she wonders aloud. "I was always curious about what they're like."
"Do you wanna go? I'm sure there's some every weekend." Honestly, I would rather not go but I know she wants to and I also know Ella well enough to know that she'll never ask.
Ella hesitates then nods. "Should be interesting." Her eyes shift and light up as she points to the right. "Ooh! There's a spot."
The second we're seated, it hits me. "Shit," I curse and immediately get back up. "I forgot I have to pick up Daniel from school." My parents are going to kill me if he's late to practice. I give Ella a small wave before busting out of there.