Bonjour! Hola! Salutavit! Hello my little followers! This first part is going to come to a close within the next five chapters or so. The next part will be in a mix if Noah and Jaime POV, seeing whatever goes down with those two. It will go back in time to the costume party and revisit old events, but it'll talk about the drama between Noah and Jaime. Excitement!
Then once school and volleyball starts up, it'll be some time between updates. And I'm really sorry about that, but this year is going to be tough. Varsity volleyball on top of all honors classes on top of all these clubs I'm doing. I'm gonna try as much as I can to update.
Well, here we go! PS thank you Becca for finding the 13 the Musical reference!
CHAPTER 15; ELI'S POV;
It had been one month since my first little fight with Joe. We hadn't fought since. Things were perfect. Yet I still couldn't tell him I loved him.
I don't know what was wrong with me. It's not like there wasn't any right moment. There were perfect moments. When we drove out to the country for a hay ride. When we sat on his hood and watched the nonexistent stars in a deserted parking lot. Hell, I could if said it over dinner or during a movie! But every time I tried, it was just this weird choking noise issued from my throat. Joe probably thought I constantly had asthma attacks or something. The bottom line is I was a coward, afraid to admit I was in love.
As I sat in his truck, I pretended as though I was reading a text message, but really I was just uncomfortable. I was unsure at how Joe felt about the situation, but I felt it was an elephant in the room... or car.
"You okay Eli?" Joe finally asked, sensing my stiffness.
"Yeah, totally fine, why?" I asked in a falsely high voice. He pulled into a gas station unexpectedly, causing my to release a stifled shriek. "Joe!"
He pulled into a spot, switched the radio off and looked straight at me. "Eli, you've just been really depressed lately. And we leave for Cleveland in three weeks, I just wanna make sure everything is... okay. You know?"
I smiled in a gloomy way. It wasn't just the fact I hadn't told him I loved him yet. Something else was nagging the back of my heart, causing a heavy chest. "This week is the anniversary of my dad's... death," I mumbled, staring at my intertwined fingers.
I saw Joe run his hands through his hair in the corner of my eye. "Oh... you never told me he died," he said.
I snorted. "I think I insinuated it enough."
"Eli..." Joe almost whispered. I was determined to stare at my hands. I felt his fingers on my cheek, pulling me into eye contact with him. I remember how electrifying I thought his eyes were when we first met. How they swayed like the ocean. And they still have that effect on me. "If you don't wanna go to this tonight, we don't have to. We could go back to my place, you could change into sweats and eat as much ice cream as you want."
I smiled and placed my hand over his on my cheek. "You're the sweetest guy in the entire world. But I wanna go, it'll help me forget it, you know? I don't wanna think about it. I just want to have fun." Joe looked awkward.
"When... did he die?" he asked. I took his hand off my cheek and wrapped my fingers around it.
"When I was eight. Sixteen years from Tuesday," I said. I looked back up at Joe, whose face was at least a foot closer to mine, his gaze darting back between both of my eyes. "I hate talking about it. And I won't. I haven't told anyone about it in three years. It takes me a while to feel comfortable about it with someone I care about."
Joe's face was at least six inches away now. I could see the little wrinkles in his eyebrows, the specs of green littering his pupils, the brown stubble on his cheeks and chin. He was sending a clear nonverbal message. "You can trust me, you love me." I responded by crashing my lips on his, running my hands in his hair. He broke apart, his face red due to the unexpected kiss. "Uh... ready to... uh... party?" he asked lamely.
"You're such a loser," I smiled, rolling my eyes and sitting back in my seat. "Drive on, oh humble boyfriend of mine."
"Onward to party!" he said in an old English accent. He turned to me, giving him my best skeptical look I could muster. "Never saying that again..." he mumbled to my giggles.
In no time, we found ourselves at Meredith's and Denise's condo, in the suburbs. It eerily reminded me of the place from Full House except with more color. The outside paneling was yellow, with red trim and a bright blue door. It doesn't sound like it would look too good, but their house looked like a cookie-cutter, fairytale building, just three more attached to it. I was almost jealous of the fact that all of the Starkids had these nice houses or condos. The kind of houses you dream of living in when you're younger. It made my shitty apartment look really like a pile of garbage.
Meredith and Denise lived on the end condo. You could tell it was theirs due to the loud music thumping from the walls and the many balloons littering the walkway. I didn't know how their neighbors could stand all of the noise. Maybe they were so deaf from the many blowout parties Joe had told me about earlier.
We walked up to the door, hand-in-hand. "Ready to forget everything?" he asked as he rang the doorbell. I don't even know if you could hear it over the thumping music.
"Maybe not everything," I smirked up at him. He planted a quick kiss on my cheek before Denise could open the door. She smiled at Joe a little more coldly than I anticipated, and gave me a quick hug, letting us in. Joe went off to Jim, but Denise pulled me aside, a stern look on her face.
"Eli, good luck," she whispered in my ear. She gave me one last look, almost a look of pity, then whipped around quickly and vanished into the crowds. I was utterly puzzled. Why would Denise look out for me like this? She barely knows me. And that cold look she gave Joe? I mean, I know they dated two or so years ago, but I thought they would both be over it by now...
"What do you mean...?" my voice trailed off, not seeing her blonde hair in the mass of people in her tiny entrance hallway. I shrugged it off, figuring she probably was drunk and was warning be about the Browns losing (again). But something about that comment stuck with me the entire night, as things became weirder.
My vision was suddenly blocked by a maroon, plaid shirt and a bright white smile. "Dylan!" I exclaimed as I pulled him into a big hug. I've been hanging out with Dylan at least once a week now, either watching Doctor Who or going for breakfast. Usually, our greetings weren't this warm, but no one else, besides Maria and Noah, know about us becoming insanely good friends. We thought it would be for the better to not broadcast our friendship due to Joe's jealousy and the fact that all the Starkids didn't seem to trust him for some reason that I have yet to discover.
"Eli!" he responded in the middle of our hug. "How you've been lately? I haven't seen you in forever," he gushed. I gave him a quick look to tell him he was sugarcoating it too harshly.
"Can we move? I'm feeling sorta claustrophobic," I yelled over the music. He nodded behind his thick glasses and led me to the dining room, where the radio at least wasn't thumping through my heart. His eyes today were a teal shade, almost green.
Dylan took a swig of his beer and smiled. "I'm not gonna get that drunk this time, I promise. No illicit make-outs for me," he joked.
I smiled dryly. I hated anything that had to do with deep conversations about relationships or bad memories or something like that. "Yeah, I think that would be for the best."
"You okay Eli? You seem... less like yourself tonight," Dylan said.
"I could say the same thing about yourself," I rebutted. His regular, silky voice was seemed strained and in need of water.
He shrugged though. "Awkward encounter with someone I didn't want an awkward encounter with, you?" he said conversationally.
"Anniversary of events I don't like remembering," I said in the most nonchalant manner. Even though it was over fifteen years ago, talking about my dad's death makes my stomach swoop. Dylan raised his eyebrows, like I needed to explain more than his vague statement. "My dad's death..." I said awkwardly. I hated when people would pity me over his death, like I was this emotional wreck about to cry at any little comment.
The thing I liked about Dylan, though, was he didn't treat me any different, no matter what my swan song may be. I was still the same Eli. "What about you? Awkward encounter with who?"
"Well aren't we nosy," he teased.
My smile grew even wider. "You're one to talk! Making me recollect my dreadful childhood like that, you should be ashamed Dyl."
"Don't call me Dyl."
"Okay Dyl." We had that same conversation at least three times, but it never stopped a smile from my face.
Just then, a tall mass of black hair swept over Dylan, encasing him in a hug. "Hey man! Haven't seen you in forever!" came an very familiar voice.
"Noah?" I asked incredulously. I had to force him to the last party, now he was here on invite?
I had noticed a change in Noah lately. Ever since my party, he hasn't been his normal, sulky self. I know my brother to be unenthusiastic and, well, a normal guy. But there's something different about him. He has this spark in his eyes that I've only seen on several occasions, and not for this long. Like he was just constantly happy. And every time I ask him if anything was different with his life, he just smiles. And I know he's still with Savanna, which makes the whole situation just more impossible. I didn't know what was up with him.
As expected, he had an almost empty beer bottle in his hand. We both cope with the anniversary in different ways; I sort of sulk around when Noah just gets wasted. "Eli! Hey, you!" he slurred. Okay, maybe he had more than just one beer.
"What... what are you doing here?" I asked. Don't get me wrong, I love Noah and hanging out with him is always a fun time. I just found it odd he was being social with my friends, who he usually finds annoying.
"Oh, Jaime wanted me to come with her. You know where the bathroom is?"
Jaime? I didn't know they became friends? I saw them talking at my costume party months ago, but I didn't know of anything past that point.
"Not to be a killjoy, but you know you have a girlfriend, right?" I asked awkwardly. The only person I could even stand drunk was Noah, just because he was family, and it was my responsibility to sober him up every time.
"Yeah, and you didn't answer my question. I got a log cooking, and it's prariedogging." I rolled my eyes while Dylan erupted in laughter. I would never understand guy humor.
"There's one down here, but not many people know about the one upstairs with the really good smelling soap. Second door on the right," Dylan said. Noah quickly waddled up the stairs as I stared at Dylan almost comically. He made eye contact with me, and said, "What?"
"Good smelling soap? What are you twelve?" I laughed.
"I appreciate the smell of good hands, excuse me! Rather that than smelling like crotch!" I was about to respond with something witty, when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, the CALLER ID reading Georgia.
"Sorry, I gotta take this," I said, running out of the room and up the staircase and shutting myself in the first room I could find. "Georgia!" I yelled into the receiver.
"Natalie, oh my god, you would never guess who just came in for a job interview!" she said in her British accent.
"Dude, I'm at a party, I can't talk now, I'll call you back tomorrow, okay?" I said loudly.
"Okay, bye-bye!" she said. I hung up, about to return to the party, when I heard something from inside the room. I looked around; it was someone's bedroom. The lights were off and the blinds were shut, making it extremely dark. There was one big bed taking up almost the entire room. The noise came again, it sounded like someone crying.
I took a tentative step towards the bed, where I could see a head of hair on the other side, sitting on the floor. Another step showed the identity of this person, which made me gasp.
"Lauren?"
She turned towards me slowly, turning a light on the bedside table on. Her face was beet red, her eyes dead. "Oh, Eli, I didn't see you there," she said. I know there was no way she didn't know I was in the room, making the situation more awkward than it already was.
"Lo, are you okay?" I asked lamely. Of course she wasn't okay! She was hidden at this fun party, crying by herself! But it was the best thing I could think about asking.
"Uh, yeah, I just... thought this was the bathroom," she said, getting up and leaving the room as quickly as she could. I caught her arm to stop her.
"Lauren, you don't have to leave just because of me." I led her to the bed and sat down next to her. "What happened?" I asked quietly. I felt so weird consoling someone when I thought I was the one who needed therapy. Add on to that the fact it was Lauren Lopez, my number one idol growing up, and I couldn't even dream of something like it.
"You're the last person I want to talk about this!" she spat. I was taken aback at the level of spite, but I swallowed down any snarky response.
"You can talk to me. You know me. I won't judge. I mean, unless you murdered someone. I might judge a little then." She smiled slightly at my dry joke.
"It's nothing. Really. I don't know why I'm getting so worked up about it, it's... a guy thing. But you wouldn't understand, you have this perfect relationship." I know she wasn't trying to be malicious, but if she wasn't my role model growing up, I would of knocked her out.
"You think I have this perfect relationship? I was dating this guy once back in Cleveland, and I was certain we were gonna get married and everything. We dated for over two years. But then I found out he cheated on me for an entire year. So I know things about guys," I said.
Lauren took a deep breath. "I really don't want to talk about it."
"That's fine. Totally fine. We could just sit here until you feel like you want to go back out. I hate talking about things when I'm upset. It doesn't make me feel better, it makes me feel whiny and needy." Lauren just nodded. I grabbed a tissue from my pocket and wiped the tears from her eyes. Never once did I imagine I would be doing this.
"You know, I used to watch all of your musicals before I met Joe," I started after about a minute of silence. "And I would always see you, Lauren Lopez, and think you were the most badass person in the entire world. You helped me feel confident about myself when I was not, in high school. And now it's my turn." I took her shoulders, which were more muscular than I imagined. "One guy should not, and does not, shape your life. And if he doesn't like you, it is totally his own loss. I mean, I would totally fuck you. Why shouldn't he?"
Lauren nodded and pulled me into a tight hug. "Thanks a million Eli. But, if only you knew who I was talking about..."
I broke apart quickly, like Lauren was burning my skin. "What do you mean?" I asked. "You don't mean Joe, right?"
She laughed. "No, no, Joe is like my brother. But think. Someone else you care about." She smiled and left the room like nothing had ever happened. I know she was definitely felt better, but it left me with a sinking feeling and the thought that I didn't think I really liked Lauren that much.
I went back downstairs to find Maria in the kitchen. "Hey girl!" I said. If anyone could cheer me up, hopefully it could be her.
"Eli!" she shrieked, pulling me into a hug. "How's Joe's dick been?"
I sighed. "Can't you, at least once, be a little more subtle?"
"What's the fun with that?" I laughed as we talked for maybe twenty minutes, not leaving our place in the kitchen once.
After some time, I saw Maria zoning out to the porch from the kitchen. "Dude, what are you staring at?" I finally asked.
"Um..." I finally stared out to the porch. It was Joe, Joey, Clark and Dylan, but Clark and Joey were at an uncomfortable distance away. Joe and Dylan were right up by each other. They weren't shouting, but just by their stance, you could tell they were arguing. Dylan's face was red while Joe's hands were forming fists at his sides.
I went to go stop whatever was brewing, but Maria stopped me. She placed a finger on her lips and opened the door just a crack, so we could understand what they were saying.
"...just don't trust you completely!" I heard Joe.
"Good! Fine! I don't need your trust!" Dylan spat in a voice I didn't even knew he possessed. "But you can trust Eli!" My stomach dropped. They were fighting about me. Maria gave me a look, as if to say don't blow it, be quiet.
"I know I can trust her! But I just don't know what you're trying to do with her! I know her, I more than know her. But what I don't know is what you're doing!"
"Yeah, you don't! But you know I wouldn't lie to you! Can't I just be friends with someone!"
"I know what this is!" Joe snapped. "You want revenge! You're so bent out of shape of what I did, you want me to know how you felt!"
I couldn't stand it anymore. I stood up and walked away, Maria rushing behind me. "Eli, you don't know what that could mean--"
"I ruined everything. Dylan and Joe were best friends, I ruined that. Now they hate each other, and it's all because of me."
"Don't talk like that Eli! They're guys, all dudes fight over chicks. Joey used to fight over me all the time, and look at us now. Golden."
I wanted to believe Maria, I really did. But I knew, deep down, by me walking into Joe's life, I ruined a friendship.
-oOo-
On the car ride home, I was unusually quiet. "Eli, are you still upset about your dad?" Joe asked delicately.
I couldn't keep it inside. "Everyone was just acting weird. Like, Lauren was crying, Denise gave me this cryptic message, and..." I took a deep breath. "I heard you and Dylan fighting."
Joe took a sharper turn than before into my place. "Look, Eli, I just don't trust Dylan. I don't know what his priorities are. You're beautiful, you're perfect. And guy would jump all over you. And there are some that wouldn't care that we're together," he said.
I took Joe's hand, giving me goosebumps up my arm. "I mean, I understand there are dudes like that. But you have to trust me. Because I would never leave you for someone who would pounce on another girl. And I think Dylan and I are just friends."
He took my cheek and kissed me softly. "I'll walk you in," he said softly.
We were walking down my hallway, his hand in mine. All of the odd event from tonight were forgotten. I was with Joe, and that's all that matters.
"Well, um, I'll see you later," I said, kissing him.
"Yeah, we leave for Cleveland soon, I love you, we gotta start packing and--" Joe started, but I cut him off.
"Wait, what did you say?" I asked. I wasn't sure if I heard him right. His face turned a respective shade of purple.
"We gotta start packing?"
"Before that."
"We leave for Cleveland soon?" I looked at Joe seriously.
"Joe..." He stopped me with his lips on mine, pushing me into the door.
"Eli, I love you." he breathed on me.
"I love you too." I threw my arms around him and kissed him as forcefully as I could. After all this time of keeping my real emotions in, I needed to work it all out.
And it felt more than amazing to finally say it out loud.
"I love you Joe," I whispered again. He smiled widely.
"I love you too."
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The love is finally out! So what do you guys think this revenge is? Who is Lauren crying about? What was Denise's cryptic message about?
Fanfiction turns Agatha Christie.
~Tootsie Megagirl