"You sure you don't wanna stay behind and watch," Carlos asked; the two of us had met up in the halls after our final class, "Miss Jenn won't mind, and then we can go get our celebratory first day of school milkshakes after?"

I thought over his offer; we'd been getting our celebratory first day of school milkshakes for as long as I can remember; mom started the tradition with us when we were little. we still did it now, too, despite how much has changed since the first grade, "I should probably get home, dad's working late, and someone's gotta feed, Laurie." I also didn't really feel like sitting through a meeting about the upcoming musical; I'd already be hearing enough about it from Carlos.

I chuckled at Carlos' dramatic sigh, "fine," He rolled his eyes playfully, "but only because I love your dog and don't want him to starve."

"Wow, I love you too," I push his arm playfully, "milkshakes after?" I ask once we reach Miss Jenn's office; Carlos shoots me a thumbs up before entering the room.

The sun blares in my eyes as soon as I step outside, so I duck my head; if Carlos were here, he'd probably tease me about how he always carries his sunglasses with him and remind me that he told me I should have brought a pair with me in an "I told you so," manner.

I keep my eyes on my feet, hoping to get to the shaded path that leads to my house without any interruptions.

I was so focused on getting home; I didn't notice the worn pair of vans approaching me until it was too late, "Woah," of course, I'd bumped right into him, his hand immediately going to my arm to steady me, "sorry I didn't see you there." So, he hadn't been paying attention either, which makes this a lot less embarrassing then.

I take a breath, mustering the confidence to reply, "I wasn't paying attention either," I look up to meet his eyes; I had seen this boy around a few times in the past but never actually talked to him.

His hair was curly and brown, but in the sunlight, I could see hints of blonde and maybe even red shining through; I looked away as his brown eyes moved away from what he was looking at behind me and connected with mine.

I would have walked away by now, trying to erase the awkward encounter with this boy I didn't know, but his hand still gripped my arm tightly, "Um," I resist the urge to cringe at how awkward I sound, nodding towards his hand.

He pulls it off quickly, nervously brushing it on his denim jeans, "sorry about that," He apologizes, sticking his hand out to me, "I'm Ricky, by the way."

I hate shaking hands, always have; I overthink it way more than anyone actually should, "Eloise," I nod. I decided to pretend his hand isn't outstretched; he keeps it up but drops it when he sees something behind me that makes him sigh in disappointment.

I should just wave goodbye and walk away, but a part of me wonders what has this boy so flustered, so I turn, and I wish I hadn't.

EJ Caswell is standing on the other side of the courtyard, his typical group of water polo jocks standing around him; it's hard to focus on any of them, though, not when there's a girl tucked under EJs arms, looking up at him with doe eyes.

"I-I should... I should probably go," I stutter, backing away from Ricky; he nods absent-mindedly, too focused on EJ and this mystery girl to care that I'm leaving.

On the walk home, all I can think about is EJ; even though he was popular, he didn't date much; being class treasurer, captain of the water polo team, and star in every musical took up most of his time.

I mean, sure, he'd gone on dates before; I'd always overhear girls whispering to their friends about the date they went on and how amazing of a guy he is, but this girl looked like more than just a random date to him.

"Hey, Laurie," my dog greeted me as soon as I entered the house; Laurie was a rescue mom had adopted a couple of years ago. She'd gotten him in hopes that he'd cheer us up while she went through chemo, and while he did, sometimes, seeing him was also a reminder of her last good moments.

The boxer mix ran around my legs, acting as if it'd been months since he'd seen me; I played with him for a bit until his energy was no more and then climbed the stairs to my room, Laurie trailing behind as I walked.

I should get a head start on homework, or maybe even finish the novel in my backpack, but all I can think about is the girl wrapped in EJ's arms; as much as I hated myself for it, I needed to know more, and I knew just the person who can help me...

"Her name is Nini Salazar-Roberts," Carlos informed me at the diner two hours later. The two of us sat on the same side of our usual booth, both looking at a picture of the mystery girl. "She's a junior like us, always in the musicals as a background character, she isn't necessarily popular, but everyone likes her... her and her boyfriend just broke up."

"Ricky." Carlos glanced over at me with furrowed brows, I barely knew anyone at our school, how did I know him, "I bumped into him earlier, he was looking at the two of them," I began explaining, "and he looked kind of heartbroken," It made sense now, Ricky's dazed expression when he saw them together, that used to be him.

Carlos immediately began explaining Ricky and Nini to me; somehow, I was his only friend, yet he knew everything about everyone in the school. According to his "sources," Nini wrote Ricky and adorable song about how much she loved him, then next thing you know, she had deleted it, and he was seen on a date with someone else while she was at camp.

Now, we both leaned over his phone, sipping our milkshakes as he scrolled through her Instagram, she did seem sweet, her entire Instagram was just dedicated to her playing ukulele, it doesn't get more wholesome then that.

"She's pretty," I say, which was true; of course, EJ liked her, who wouldn't?

Carlos nudged my arm, "so are you," I duck my head; I hate compliments, "besides, they've been dating for like a day; you still have a chance."

I laugh at that; I never "had a chance," being with EJ was always some farfetched dream; how was I ever supposed to date him if I can barely hold a conversation with anyone else.

"I'm being ridiculous," I shake my head, "we never even dated, I shouldn't feel this sad."

Carlos shook his head, "Don't ever tell yourself you're not allowed to feel emotions El," He pointed at me; he knew me too well. When we lost mom, I pushed everything away; until one day, I just broke. "You know, EJ is probably auditioning for the show," he changed the subject, nudging my arm playfully.

"Not gonna happen," I shoot down his suggestion, "I love you, but being in a room with a bunch of theatre kids and being expected to socialize with them sounds like my worst nightmare."

Carlos fakes hurt, holding his hand to his chest as if I deeply offended him, "Ouch, what about me?"

"I'm not being "forced" to hang out with you," I remind him, using air quotes around the word forced, "and besides, you're the exception," I wink, taking a sip of my strawberry milkshake, "alright, enough about me, I can tell you're dying to talk about the show."

We spent the next hour like this, Carlos talked about the show, I talked about my AP English class that I'm taking this term, and we drank our milkshakes; a lot of things were changing, but at least I Carlos and I never will.

🤍

Eloise and Carlos' friendship is my favourite!
Also... Ricky and Eloise have officially met🙈
( Btw, if you're wondering what Laurie looks like, his picture is at the top!)