"Brodie, what are you doing here?"
Sure, I was pretty tired, but even my exhaustion would not come up with this situation.
He smiled, ignoring my questions and taking my bag from me, forcing me to follow him outside to the parking lot. "What are you up to, Brodie?" I groaned.
"Well, actually, I got my license finally last week, so I can drive people who are not family around now. So I decided I was going to come and pick you up."
I smiled, that was very sweet.
"And I am going to take you back to my house, and you and Eli are going to kiss and make up."
My smile fell. That was less sweet.
I thought about how badly I wanted that to happen, but I did not want to be pushy. Maybe it was time to be pushy, though.
I looked down at my matching sweats, feeling much more self-conscious than I had a minute ago. "Ummm."
Brodie could understand what was going through my mind because he swatted my arm. "Stop it, Betty, you look adorable and perfectly harmless. I don't think anyone could be mad at you when you look like that."
I don't know; I was mad at me for looking the way I did right now. I looked like I was ready for bed, and I was about to go to the guy's house who I was falling for and beg him to forgive me. However, I didn't feel ready for bed anymore. All of my tiredness had instantly been replaced with adrenaline as soon as Brodie mentioned Eli.
I felt nervous as I buckled myself into Brody's cute new car. He looked over at me as he started the car, "Oh stop, it's not going to be that bad Betty."
"Oh no, I am much more worried about your driving," I said, teasing him.
He gasped, "rude; I am a great driver."
He was not that bad. He did drive slower than most boys his age; however, I would rather drive slowly than be racing through the streets. It gave me time to think about what I could say to Eli. Or at least it should have because I was drawing a blank.
By the time we reached their house, I still had nothing. We parked, and I turned to Brodie, almost shaking, "How am I going to fix this?" I asked. If he was forcing me to do this, he was being dragged into every last aspect.
"Oh, I already have an idea," he said. We got out of the car, leaving my bag in the back. He smiled at me, "deep breaths Betty."
I took a deep breath and grimaced. I don't know if I could do this without crying. Brodie seemed to have more faith than me at my ability to fix things because he grabbed my hand and dragged me upstairs into Eli's bedroom, slamming the door behind me.
Unfortunately, I fell to the floor in a not so graceful manner. "Brodie!" I screeched. This was not a good idea. This was barely an idea at all. Maybe 12 percent of an idea.
Brodie laughed from outside the door. I tried to open the door, but he had locked it somehow. I did not think there was a lock on the outside of this door.
"No! Betty, you can't come out until you two talk." I could hear Brodie walk down the hallway. Leaving so I wouldn't beg him to open the door.
I huffed and sat on the edge of Eli's bed, trying to calm down. Once I could hear something other than my blood rushing, I heard music playing.
Eli was in the shower.
I had no idea if Eli knew I was in here yet, but when the shower shut off, I swear my heart started beating faster than it should.
What am I going to say other than what I already had? That I knew we were better together?
The bathroom door swung open to reveal Eli, and the shocked look on his face showed how little he knew about Brodie's stupid plan.
I couldn't help but roam my eyes over his gorgeous body. He was still damp from the shower, and he had a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. I stopped at his face, staring into those bright blue eyes.
He almost growled. "Brodie?"
I nodded.
"He locked the door, didn't he?"
I nodded again, feeling nervous, trying to rack my brain for anything to say instead of the word vomit that came out.
"I'm sorry. I know you don't want me here, and you hate me, but I'm really sorry, Eli. I wasn't thinking, you were just so drunk, and I was a little drunk too. There are so many other things I should have done. I just didn't think." He cut me off before I could ramble further about things that we both already knew.
"I don't hate you, Betty, don't be ridiculous." He said, shaking his head.
My breath caught in my throat. "Oh"
He grabbed a pair of sweatpants, and I turned away to give him any privacy I could while being locked in his room. The first few tears fell down my face. Damn it; I knew this would end in me crying. I tried to stop myself before Eli could see what was happening.
My eyes were still closed when I felt him grab my chin.
I opened my eyes, blinking away tears. Eli was still shirtless, but he was wearing pants now. I wanted to look anywhere but his face, but it was hard when the other place to stare made me feel just as upset for losing him.
"Don't cry; I'm supposed to be mad at you." He said grumpily.
I sniffled, "sorry." I didn't know what else to say.
He groaned. "No, don't apologize. Goddammit, you make it hard to be mad at you."
"Then stop being mad at me," I begged. "I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. I have never fought with a friend like this." It was true, I had never given someone a reason to be this mad at me, and I quickly forgave all my friends.
Eli groaned, "Of course you haven't. I am ridiculous for being mad at you, but you're just apologizing. Tell me how you're really feeling."
"I'm just sorry, Eli."
"You're not mad at me?"
What if I didn't even know? I missed him a ridiculous amount for only knowing him a short while, but maybe I was also mad he threw away our friendship so quickly, no matter how brief. Still, I shook my head. I was willing to throw that all away if he would just forgive me.
"Maybe you should be?"
My nose scrunched, "do you want me to be mad at you?"
Eli sighed. "I don't know, but I don't want you just to apologize! Maybe I need to elicit another response from you." He paused. "I know you get jealous easily..."
My breath caught, was he going to do something with someone in front of me? I knew I might have to deal with that at some point, but I don't know if I would be able to handle that right away. I almost growled, what does this boy want from me.
My breath caught, "that is manipulative, Eli."
He growled, "then tell me how you REALLY feel, Betty! Don't let me walk all over you."
Tears started streaming down my face. "I am mad that you almost ruined my friendship with Taylor!" I sniffled.
His mouth popped into an 'oh' as if that was not what he was expecting.
I sniffled, "I feel terrible, Eli, but why did you have to tell Kyle and Jones to stop talking to me? I am new. I am lonely enough without losing the only friends I thought I had here. So many people were telling lies about us at school, and none of you did anything to stop it."
Eli gulped. "I thought you were just going to yell at me for cancelling our date."
I nodded, "well, you did cancel our date and didn't talk to me at all. And now Taylor is upset about keeping secrets, and I was scared I lost her too. And Brodie is upset too, Eli. I tried to apologize to you, and Owen won't tell anyone, I know he won't. I just.. Why can't you just forgive me? I know you feel guilty, but it is all a little ridiculous, Eli."
He nodded, "I should have just forgiven you, shouldn't I?"
I nodded. Angry now. Through all of this, I hadn't been mad at him, but now I was.
"I don't even know why I wanted you to forgive me..." I said quietly. "Why did I let Brodie take me here?"
Eli looked at me, and his eyes were wide. "Ya know I don't think I've ever seen you mad before."
I scoffed. "Well, most people don't make me mad. You had purposely made me mad, Eli!"
I had felt so bad that I hadn't even thought about being mad at him before. I looked back into his eyes. They looked worried and confused.
Another tear fell down my cheek. I didn't like wasting my minimal energy on anger; it was such a useless emotion. Sure, I spend a lot on jealousy, but we all have our vices.
Eli wiped my tears away and pulled me into a firm hug. I had been craving a hug from him for the last three weeks, but now I wasn't so sure. Was it even worth it? I didn't reciprocate the hug at first.
"I'll stop if you ask me too," Eli said. I didn't ask him to.
After a minute, I wrapped my arms around him, and he took that as permission to pull me into his lap to get closer to me. I laid my head on his shoulder. I was hurt by it, but I missed it.
I missed this strange close connection that we had. We had become so close so suddenly, and it felt natural to be here with Eli. Maybe that's what made our relationship so special. Perhaps it was meant to be. I was always one to preach about true love. Maybe I needed to start believing that's what I could find, and maybe it was with Eli.
I stayed wrapped in his arms for a while.
"I'm sorry I was ridiculous, Betty. I never put up a front with you, and it felt nice. I am not the guy they all say I am, but it was easier letting them see that. I have never let someone get so close to me. When one thing went wrong, I ran away, and that was unfair." He took a deep breath.
"So, I am sorry, Betty."
I curled into his chest. We stayed like that for a while.
Eventually, the door creaked open. "It got really quiet for a while, yall better not be doing anything gross cause I'm coming in," said Brodie from the other side of the door.
Eli released me when Brodie came in, and I sat next to him on the edge of the bed, wiping my face with my sleeve.
Brodie took one look at my tear-stained face, and he punched Eli in the arm. "You made her cry, what the hell, man?"
I giggled. "You had to know I would cry, Brodie."
"Yeah, but I'm still a little mad about it." He said, glaring at Eli, who put his hands up in surrender.
I smiled.
Brodie sighed, "So you guys okay now?" He looked so hopeful.
Eli nodded. "I hope so." I smiled at that. I wanted us to be okay too. But I knew I couldn't jump right back into Eli being my new world. I had to find a balance, but I had to do that myself.
"Thank GOD!" said Brodie, pouncing on the two of us so that we all fell backwards onto the bed, Brodie in between.
Eli and Brodie both sat up, but I stayed down, my tiredness taking over again. This bed was very comfortable.
"But now, YOU! Why do you not tell anyone about our house? You know it's weird, right? It's not that weird to be rich! Stop acting like a sad little poor boy who likes to get in stupid fights! You're lucky that I don't tell dad every time you come home with a bloodied fist," Brodie yelled at Eli.
I could tell that this conversation had happened a lot because Eli sighed in frustration. I almost giggled, Brodie acted a lot more mature than Eli some of the time.
"You've given me this lecture every day for the past three weeks," said Eli.
"Yeah, but Betty is here now, so maybe you'll listen," Brodie said, touching my hand. I looked up at the two of them.
Eli smiled at me. "Yeah, I know it's weird, Brodie."
I feel bad about this, but I couldn't help it, I yawned. I wasn't kidding about not sleeping this past weekend.
Eli laughed, "Oh, so this is boring for you?"
I gave him a sheepish look. "I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing. Do you want me to drive you home?"
I hesitated, I didn't want to go home, not now, but I was so tired.
"Yes, please, but I have to get my suitcase from Brodie's car."
"Suitcase?" asked Eli incredulously.
"I was in Arizona for my friend Carla's birthday, and Brodie kidnapped me from the airport."
Eli smiled, "ah, so miss fashionistas outfit makes a little bit more sense now." I blushed.
"Okay, well, let's get your bag, and we will get you home."
Brodie helped me up from the bed before giving me a hug goodnight. He was going to be very proud of himself for a while because of this. I can't wait to listen to it for the next month.
Eli took my bag to his car and put it in the back while I got in the passenger seat.
He got in and buckled in too, but he didn't start the car right away. I looked over at him. "We are okay, right?" He asked shyly.
"Are you going to stop talking to me again?"
He shook his head.
I smiled, placing my head back against the headrest. "Then, yes."
I must have fallen asleep on the short drive because I was woken up by Eli, picking me up out of the car. My eyes fluttered open as I felt my limp body being moved.
The door was locked when he tried to open it. Happy in Eli's arms, I told him the code, and he carried a sleepy me and my bag into the house. I guess it was still early because my parents weren't home. They must have gone out to eat or something when Brodie kidnapped me.
I tried to get out of Eli's arm, but he held me tighter. "I can walk upstairs, Eli," I said.
"No, let me. Payback for you having to drag me to my bed."
I thought back to that night. "It was mostly Brodie." Eli was having no issues walking up the stairs with me and my bag.
"You still got me home that night, and I am sorry that I never had the chance to thank you for that. I was pretty drunk."
I smiled, "yeah, I know."
Eli opened my bedroom door, and I was pleased with myself that I had cleaned it up before I left.
He stood in the doorway, me still cradled in his arms.
"Do you want to get changed for bed?"
I thought about staying in my lounge clothes, but realizing I was on a plane earlier made me want to change into pyjamas. I nodded, and he put me down. I steadied myself and squeaked that I would be right back while rushing over to my closet, almost dizzy from exhaustion.
I checked my phone in my pocket, and it was only 7:15 PM. It was very early for bed, but I was too tired to care. I consciously put on my cutest pair of pyjamas before moving to my bathroom to clean up slightly. I took my hair out of the ponytail and brushed it out, and then I wiped my face before heading back into my bedroom, where Eli was waiting patiently.
I stood at the foot of my bed, where he was sitting, almost nervous.
Why did it feel so weird to get into my bed with him here?
"Stop looking so nervous, Betty. I didn't make you this nervous before, did I?"
I smiled, "you know that you did, Eli."
He pulled my arm, so I was standing in between his legs. My heart was racing. He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek before pulling me into a hug. My cheek burned where he had touched it.
"Come on, get to bed, Betty, you are exhausted." He whispered, and I shivered.
I nodded and moved around him, crawling into bed and under the covers.
I may have even been asleep by the time he left my room.
"See you tomorrow Betty."
---
2823
"I know I let you down
I think about it all the time" - parachute
yay! do you like? - Kayla