Carlie was always going to be a thing. But ORIGINALLY, Ellie was dating CHAD. That's right! I originally had Ellie as this popular, up-there-with-Audrey girl whom everyone loved. 

the original storyline was that Chad was dating Ellie, and Ellie was completely lovestruck, but then found out he was cheating on her with Rapunzel's ORIGINAL daughter, Ramona. Ellie found out because she accidentally switched her phone with Chad's after going on a date to the movies, and kept getting texts from Ramona bad-mouthing Ellie. It's one of the reasons Ellie was going to be so against Evie liking Chad, and so easily turned when the VK's asked her to join them. 

But then I read another fan fiction where the same thing happened to the main character, Holly. And I decided I wanted to be original (and lay off reading fanfics until I'd finished my own) so I cut it. Plus, Ramona was a jerky character, and I didn't really enjoy having Ellie connected to Chad that way. 

BUT---here was the original scene of Ellie's finding out about Chad before I decided I hated it! They'd just finished their date, Chad is saying goodbye, and Ellie returns to her dorm room, where she starts receiving texts, realizes it's not her phone, and hacks it to find... Stuff. 

Enjoy!

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Chad stops his car by the dorm entrance, putting it into park before turning to me with a smug smirk on his face. "Well. Here's your stop, El."

"I had a good time tonight, Chad." I smile, feeling my normal giddiness rush to my face in a blush I hate but Chad promises is cute. 

"So did I." He answers. Then he unlocks his seatbelt, exiting the car in a swift motion. I barely have time to unlock mine before he's at the passenger's side, opening my door for me.

I smile to myself, getting out and taking his offered hand. "Ever the gentleman." I comment, laughing when he smirks and bows, kissing my hand as it's still held in his own. 

"Goodnight, my Lady." he teases, coming up with my hand still in his. "I'll see you tomorrow. Text me before you come over, though, okay? My mom likes to trap my girlfriends and take pictures."

I make a face. "That's fine with me. I look awful in pictures."

He laughs, pulling me close and putting his free hand on my face, tracing my jawline with his thumb. "How'd I end up with a girlfriend as..." He mumbles, stopping to kiss me. Giddiness rushes through me instantly, just like it does every single time. I'm even so pathetic that I'm counting them, since our first one. This one makes one-hundred-twenty-four. 

Chad doesn't finish the sentence, breaking back and sighing, letting go of my hand to look at his watch. "I'm going to miss curfew."

"Go." I urge, taking the hand that's still on my cheek and gently pushing him away. "The last thing I want is to get you grounded before the big game Friday."

"You're the best." Chad says, brushing my hair behind my ear and kissing me one last time---125---before racing back to his car and driving away. 

I put my hand up to my mouth, feeling the stupid smile on my face. Agh, I can't believe I still make that face whenever I'm around my boyfriend. 

I watch Chad's car drive back toward his hotel (aka, his mom's rented-out place so he doesn't have to stay in the dorms) and turn around unsteadily, wobbling back toward my dorm room on the heels I wear every time I'm around Chad Charming. I hate them, but Chad gave them (and an entire new wardrobe that he claims I look amazing in) for Christmas last year. 

As quietly as I can, I unlock the door to mine and Jane's dorm room, entering to the near-black with only Jane's nightlight to guide me to my bed. I drop my purse onto the floor, flopping onto my bed with a happy sigh. 

Tonight was amazing, as usual. We went to see Chad's favorite movie, and he'd put his arm around me about halfway through. Afterward, we'd gone to a fancy restaurant, an old Italian place that got shut down because it was found out that rats had been cooking it. Until people realized that Gusteau's food actually tasted a lot better with Remy in charge. So they re-hired the rats, and now the place is the most popular restaurant in France. 

I smile to myself, thinking about how lucky I am to have Chad as a boyfriend. I mean, out of everyone... Well, no, I take that back. he'd never pick Jane, or Lonnie, or Melody, and Audrey's going to be Queen one day, so she's out. 

My phone buzzes in my jacket pocket, and I flinch in surprise. I always turn my phone off in theaters, so I don't interrupt anything. I reach into my pocket curiously, pulling out what I thought was my phone... until I see my reflection glinting off of the mirrored case in the darkness. 

Chad's phone. 

I laugh to myself, wondering how in the world I managed to switch my boyfriend's phone with mine. It might've been he had groups of people take pictures of us with both our phones. They probably gave me his, and him mine. 

Another text pops up in the dark screen, and I quickly look away. I don't want to snoop on my boyfriend's phone. But then another alert lights up, and I catch my name. My curiosity instantly wins out---I want to know who's texting my boyfriend about me!---and I watch the phone intently for the next one. It only takes a second. 

My jaw drops open as I quickly read the notice before it disappears. 

your stupid date is already done isnt it, babe?

Something in my chest shrivels, and I grip the phone tightly. 

babe, why arent you answering?

don't tell me your stupid girlfriend is still keeping you

I glare at the screen, a small buzzing audible in the back of my brain. I sit up in bed, leaning against my pillows as I chew on my lip. 

Then, before I can second-guess myself, I slide upward to unlock Chad's phone. 

It asks for a password, and my fingers hover over the screen for a moment before it occurs to me. 

kingchadrules

His phone instantly unlocks, opening up to his home screen of a sweet photo of himself a few months back, at Cotillion, wearing a peacock-feather cape. He looks smugly at the camera. 

I remember taking that picture. 

Another alert rises in the screen, this time informing me that it's from someone named Ramona.

I flinch, my mind doing a double-take. Ramona? Do I know someone named Ramona? I run through a list of people in my head, finally settling on the daughter of Rapunzel. I'm fairly certain her name is Ramona. 

I open up Chad's messages and see his first is indeed Ramona, who keeps filling with more and more texts. I tap her chat, my hands shaking furiously as I read her texts. 

The first one, starting about an hour ago---

babe, when are you going to be done with your stupid date?

Five minutes later---

It better be soon. you said we'd hang out tonight

Twenty-three minutes later---

I dont know why you dont just break up with her, chad

Seconds later---

You said you were going to soon.

Furious, I quickly scroll upwards to try and find the very first text in this chat. My heart drops to my feet when I see that it's from three months ago. 

On my birthday. 

Chad: Hey, I really enjoyed our time tonight, beautiful. 

Ramona: So did i. I cant believe your girlfriend didnt catch us

Chad: she;s oblivious

A choked whimper escapes my mouth, and I quickly cover it with my hand, trying to recover. I remember that night. Jane and Lonnie had banded together to throw me a huge surprise party, and Chad had kissed me when all the streamers went off. He'd handed my my gift, said he had to leave, and then wished me a happy birthday. I hadn't really cared at the time, because I figured he'd had some thing come up with his parents, but I do remember now he'd left minutes after that. And he never told me what had happened. 

He cheated on me on my birthday?

Furiously, I scroll through every single text sent back and forth. Apparently, after every single date with myself, Chad would go visit Ramona until the next day. And between classes. And whenever I sat with Jane at lunch on Tuesdays and Fridays, instead of Chad, Audrey, and Ben. 

I stop again when I realize I've reached the bottom, and Ramona is still texting. 

babe I can see you reading these it says youve read them

babe

seriously babe pick up your phone

are you coming over or not?

babe theres someone pulling up to my house and i know its not you because you always text when youre pulling up

babe I'm seriously freaked right now

PICK UP YOUR PHONE

I press my lips together, feeling a guilty about feeling satisfied she's scared. And, before I can decide against it, a plan forms in my mind. 

My fingers tap before I know what I'm doing. I go to my own messaging with Chad, and text my own phone. 

Chad, I have your phone. You left it here by mistake. Do you want me to tell you who was texting you, or should I let you guess?

Chad answers within seconds, making me realize I should really give my phone a password. 

babe, theres an explanation i promise

Funny how you knew who I was talking about, Charming. 

He doesn't answer for a few moments, so I have time to watch the three bouncing dots with growing anger.

Babe you know me .  ramona is just a friend

A friend that keeps telling you to break up with me?

thats just advice, she doesnt understand our relationship

An unbelieving scoff escapes my mouth. Is her serious?

Okay, so someone who's "just a friend" is someone you visit after our dates, leave my birthday for, and call "babe"?

Each second he doesn't answer feels like an eternity of blood roaring in my ears. 

youre not understanding babe

No, YOU'RE not understanding. We're done. 

babe you cant be serious

I'm dead serious, Charming. 

I exit as quickly as I can, going over to Ramona's. 

Hi, this is Chad's ex-girlfriend Ellie. Just so you know, Chad will frequently make you hold a mirror for him while he fixes his hair. He also blames you if he does something embarrassing, and won't give a single real compliment if his life depended on it. 

I hesitate for a moment before adding something else: 

Also, he sleeps in a hairnet. And steals your makeup to cover a zit. He currently has a big one underneath his nose that is being covered with my concealer. You're welcome. 

I don't wait to see her response before grasping his phone and hurling it at the floor, shattering the mirror casing. 

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Ellie became a little... twisted here. I didn't particularly enjoy the way she changed, so it was cut. Hope you guys enjoyed!