And now, I finally get the food I've well deserved.

"Wendy's or Chick-fil-a?" Anthony asks, buckling the seatbelt of his car across his lap.

"Chick-fil-a, duh," I reply, earning a chuckle afterwards.

"I don't even know why I asked," He smiles, exiting the school parking lot.

"So, is your head okay from almost breaking the helmet," I grin and he chuckles, shrugging.

"Yeah I mean I guess I just got too caught up in the moment, you know, since the game's coming up and all."

"Makes sense, glad you weren't hurt. Didn't want to have to patch up two guys," I chuckle and his grip on the wheel slightly tightens.

"Oh yeah, how was that?" He asks, giving a slight smile.

"Honestly it was okay, we just didn't really talk. It was just a lot better than what happened in the locker- room," I say, immediately going quiet.

"Locker room?" He asks, his gaze turning slightly to me.

"Nothing, it's fine." I sigh, mentally face palming myself. 

Nice going Eleanor, way to keep that conversation on the down low.

I watch as Anthony's knuckles begin to turn white from gripping the wheel but otherwise he seems to maintain a calm persona... which as surprising.

"Just well me what happened Elle," He mutters and I nod, playing with my fingers in my lap.

"Well in my off-period I was just walking down the hall and someone pulled me in the locker room- it was Jullian," I mumble and glance at him to see him remaining still, starring intensely at the road,  "then that's when he started trying to say sorry and stuff, what I told you on the bleachers."

"I thought you said that in Mrs. Dandre's class," he mutters and I shake my head.

"No that's when he tried talking to me, the first time. It's whatever honestly, it's not like he's going to get anything out of me."

"That's good, just, stay away from him," he says, sounding more like a warning than a suggestion.

"Yeah, I know Andy."

・・・

"Why is their food always so great, I could live here," I smile, my mouth full of Chicken Sandwich.

"Probably because they use their Chick-fil-a sauce to detect what our tastebuds want," He says, chuckling.

"I don't mind it, if anything I should be using more of it then," I grin, dipping a fry in the Chick-fil-a sauce, then eating it, "Yum yum yum, I can already taste it working."

"You're such a child," Andy sighs, eating his own food.

"Oh well, you're such an adult," I grin, eating more food.

"I'm only a few months older than you Elle, wouldn't that make you an adult too."

"Then to me would that make you a child," I raise a brow, him chuckling.

"Touche Elle, touche." 

・・・

"Thank you kind sir for this fabulous adventure," I smile, exiting Anthony's car.

"No problem Madam, I would love to be at your service anytime," He winks, me rolling my eyes.

"Bye Andy," I wave before closing the door, him driving off.

I walk in my house to see I'm home a lone, which I'm not complaining, I have about 10 pounds of homework to do right now. I grab a bottle of water before heading upstairs, into my room.

After changing into my PJs and doing all the nightly things I start my homework, which is when my phone decided it's the perfect time to buzz.

Procrastination.

Eleanor || Biggest Mistake

Just talk to me Norie, please.

I stare at the message for what feels like forever, anger filling my entire body.

Leave me alone Jullian, I've said it before and I'll say it again... there's nothing to talk about... just give it up, okay? We aren't talking.

I toss my phone to the side, but then it starts buzzing.

Buzz.

Buzz.

Buzz Buzz Buzz.

I let out an aggravated sigh before grabbing it again, looking at the screen.

5 New Messages.

I try my hardest not to throw my phone out the window before opening the messages.

At least just call me, something.

I want to be able to talk to you in person, actually have a full conversation

Plus I have to- need to explain... a lot of things.

Can we talk tomorrow...

Please?

Don't count on it Jullian, but good luck.

I then turn my phone on Do Not Disturb, setting it on the side for the rest of the night. Now I am finally able to work on my homework, in peace.

・・・

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I wake up and see papers- everywhere. I guess I forgot to put my homework away.

I get up and shove all the papers in my bag, groggily getting ready for school.

I come back out of the bathroom to see no Anthony and no sign of him- anywhere. I walk downstairs to see my mom baking large amounts of sweets, seeming to be in her own little world, "Hey mom," I say, interrupting her baking session.

"Yes?" She asks, turning around in her apron, flour covering every clothing item on her body, forcing me to try and not laugh.

"Uh- did Andy come by? He's supposed to pick me up," I say, trying to stop the corners of my mouth from lifting.

I failed.

"No, but what are you all of a sudden smiling at?" She asks, putting her hand on her hips forcefully, making little specs of flour fly into the air.

"You seem to be a little... pale today," I chuckle, pointing to her- self. She looks down and gasps, turning into a pit of laughter.

"Oh my! I didn't know I made this much of a mess," She laughs, wiping some of it off, not doing much in the process.

"Well while you do that, I'm going to try and find out where Andy is," I say with a smile as I walk back to my room, finding my phone.

Eleanor || Anthony

Where'd you disappear to Andy?

Oh sorry I totally forgot I had to stop by the school early for something.

Football stuff.

I'm about to be kind of busy so I have to go, sorry Elle.

No it's fine... I'll manage

Well that wasn't weird at all.

I put my phone in my back pocket, grabbing my bag and trotting down the stairs, finding my mom slightly less... covered. "Hey mom, do you work today?" I ask, leaning on the island.

"Not today- I'm baking for the small get together all day, why?"

"Can I take the car, Andy couldn't pick me up today. He had something with- football," I say, and she turns around, smiling.

"Yeah go ahead, they're on the counter- there," She chuckles, looking to her cookie-covered hands, "I'd grab them for you but..."

"It's fine, thanks, mom." I smile, grabbing them, then walking out the door.

・・・

I walk into the school, everyone- and I mean everyone on their phones... which is very odd. I look around to see no sign of Anthony or Jullian.

When I continue to look around my phone buzzes, me internally groaning before pulling it out of my pocket, my face going pale when I read the message.

Jaime: BOYS LOCKER ROOM! NOW!

I quickly look around to still see everyone on their phones, gasping, sighing, and tensing. I quickly peer over someone's shoulder to see that they're all watching a video- the same one, over and over again.

I tap on the girl's shoulder and give her a quick smile before pointing to her phone, "Can I see?" I ask and she hesitantly nods, handing me the phone.

I quickly play the video, my jaw almost dropping at the sight.

What are you doing Andy.

・author's note・

throwback Thursday but on a Monday ⤵

probably should've put 'FOLLOW' on my new banner :/

・originally published on June 22, 2017・updated on June 24, 2019・