S C O T T

Connor was up in seconds. Before I could actually process that Elle was at my apartment, Connor had bolted up and raced to the door, throwing it open before I could get half-way across the living room. (Or, push him away from the door so he couldn't embarrass me).

"Elle!" Connor called happily, leaning against the doorway. He grinned ridiculously and turned towards me, wiggling his eyebrows, "It's so great to see you!"

Elle nodded slowly, eyebrows furrowed together, "Okay," she agreed, "is Scott home?"

I didn't give Connor a chance to reply. I skidded to a stop next to him and pushed him out of the way, laughing when he stumbled to the side and landed on his butt. Connor groaned and mumbled something about how much that hurt, and I just rolled my eyes, stepping out into the hallway with Elle and shutting the door shut behind me.

I grinned awkwardly at Elle, and she just smiled back. I wasn't sure what to say at that moment; everything Jay, Connor, and Edi had planned to ask her out wouldn't work now. I couldn't exactly fly an airplane through the hallway of the apartment to ask her out.

"Sorry for, like, just showing up," Elle said, and I just brushed it off, "I just wanted to apologize for my dad. He can be a little too protective sometimes."

Truthfully, the conversation with Elle's dad hadn't been too bad at all. He had subtly said that he had a bunch of guns in his house, but he also gave me the confidence boost to ask Elle out. Without him, I probably still would've been stumbling around the topic of asking her out. So, really, I was kind of grateful for the conversation with him.

"It was fine. My balls are still intact, so don't worry," a smirk spread across Elle's face and I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck, cheeks flushed red, "you, um - you know. He didn't cut them off or anything."

"That's good."

I cleared my throat, an awkward silence settling between the two of us. Elle opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off, a thought coming to mind. A grin split across my face and I rocked forward on my heels.

"Do you have a minute?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow, "I have something for you."

Elle smiled at me and I smiled back, taking a step to the side to open the door. Elle walked in and I heard Jay and Edi shout 'hi's' to her, and Connor mumble something about how he's never opened the door for her again. I snorted and followed Elle inside, kicking the door shut behind me and flicking the lock.

"We'll be back," I said, putting my arm around Elle's shoulder and leading her across the living room, "I got a surprise for her."

A wicked grin broke out on Jay's face, and I took that as my cue to speed up my face, "By surprise he means his d - "

From the corner of my eye, I saw Edi lunge forward and smack his hand over Jay's mouth. My cheeks flushed an even darker read than before and I cursed under my breath, ignoring the grin on Elle's face. I just ducked my head down and opened my bedroom door, flicking on the light and leading her inside.

Elle plopped down on the edge of my bed and I frowned, looking around and realizing that I probably should've staightened up a bit. My bed was a mess of crumpled sheets and piles of clothes, and the floor wasn't much better. It was kind of hard to tell where the floor started and where the clothes ended.

I mumbled an apology and Elle laughed, promising that her room wasn't better. I laughed and dropped down, lifting up the side of my comforter to poke my head under my bed. Miguel hissed at me and ran out from under my bed, disappearing inside my closet. I sighed and glared at where he had just run from; Miguel had a habit of hiding himself in the messiest parts of my room.

I bit my lip and dropped down onto the floor, squinting around my bed. I grinned when the bright purple wrapping paper caught my gaze, and wrapped my hand around the edge, pulling it out from under my bed. Dropping it onto the floor, I grabbed a shirt and pulled it on top of it so Elle couldn't see.

"Close your eyes," I told her, standing up and dusting off my sweats.

"Scott - "

"Please," I pouted, and crossed my arms over her chest. Elle rolled her eyes but reluctantly put her hands over her eyes, "You're the best."

I snatched the small box off my floor and flicked the shirt off of it. Grinning, I dropped it down in front of Elle and poked her on the shoulder, telling her that it was safe to open up her eyes. Elle pulled her hands away from her face and looked down at the box, a grin spreading across her face.

"Purple's my favorite color."

My grin only widened, "Really?"

"No, it's blue," Elle stuck her tongue out at me and I rolled my eyes, pushing the box closer to her. Elle's fingers pulled the wrapping paper off quickly and she lifted the lid off the box. Pulling out the blue jersey, her green eyes widened, "You remembered? This is so sweet."

I smiled and sat down on the edge of the bed, laughing when Elle tugged on my practice jersey. I had always planned on giving it to her, like I promised. I just wanted to give it to her in a special way, and Con had suggested wrapping it up and giving it to her like a present. I knew it wasn't the best present, but Elle was still grinning and playing with he hems of the sleeves.

Elle's arms wrapped around my shoulders and I pulled her towards me, laughing when she kept on thanking me and telling me how sweet it was that I actually gave it to her. I smirked and she pulled back. I bit my lip and laced our fingers together, feeling a sudden burst of confidence.

"You know that I like you, right?" I asked, and Elle nodded slowly, lips drawing up into a smile, "So, can I ask you something?"

Elle ran her fingers through her hair and nodded again, "'Course. But if you're asking for your jersey back, then it's a no."

I rolled my eyes, "No, you can keep that," I swallowed past the lump in my throat and looked down at her, "Do you want to go out? You know, like, go out? As boyfriend and girlfriend?" I felt my face burn and I quickly added more, "That sounds really cheesy and like we're in sixth grade but I really do like you, Elle."

Elle's grin only widened and I gave her hand a small squeeze, "I'd love to go out with you," Elle paused, grin turning into more of a smirk, "I'd love to be your girlfriend."

I laughed and wrapped my arms over Elle, knocking us both onto the bed. Elle smiled at me and I grinned, leaning forward and giving her a quick kiss. Elle smiled against my lips and I just wrapped my arounds around her waist.

"Scott?" Elle mumbled, and I pulled back, looking into her eyes, "Your jersey smells like sweat."

It turned out Elle didn't have to go home. She had told her dad she was going out for the night, anyway.

That was how we all ended up on the floor.

Connor had invited Kelly over, and Connor declared we'd be having a huge double date, featuring Edi and Jay. Connor and Kelly were wrapped up in a comforter on the floor, and Elle and I were sprawled out next to them, tugging on the comforter and trying to pull it away from each other. Jay was laying across the couch, a bowl of popcorn next to his face, and Edi had taken place on the chair by the couch.

I sighed and looked up, blinking at the movie on the tv. Edi had chosen some horror movie for us to watch, and while I had no problem watching them, Connor looked absolutely petrified. His face was half-hidden behind the pillow, and he was gripping Kelly's hand ridiculously tightly, making me laugh at the two.

"I bet you she goes in the closet," Jay called, and I turned to look at him. With every step the main girl took to the closet, Jay's brown eyes got wider. I snorted and heard the creek of the closet door open, and Jay let out a high-pitched scream, "Fuck! Why did she go in the closet?"

Edi rolled his eyes and poked his toe against Jay's face, "It's a horror movie. The point is for her to go in the closet."

"Scott?" Connor asked, and I turned my head towards my best friend. Con was slouched down, and all I could see were his brown eyes staring back at me, "All the closets are closed, right?"

I sighed and nodded, "Yes."

"Can you go check?"

"No."

"Do you want me to die?" Connor cried, flailing his arms when the girl in the movie screamed. Kelly rolled her eyes and grabbed Connor's arms, placing them back by his sides.

"Go check the closets yourself," I retorted, leaning back down to wrap my arms around Elle's waist and pull her towards me, "Worst thing that happens is you, you know, die."

Connor grabbed the pillow behind him and flung it at me. I laughed and ducked, promising Con that all the closets were shut and he was totally safe. Kelly gripped his hand and promised that, when the movie ended, she would go check the closets with him. That shut Connor up right away, and he grinned and nodded.

I smiled and pulled Elle towards me, playing with the ends of her hair. She had borrowed one of my shirts, and I laughed at how many times she had been struggling and messing with the sleeves to make it stop going so far down her arms.

"You look fine," I promised, ducking my head down to avoid the demond that popped out of the closet, "I mean, not as good as I look in that shirt. But, still, pretty good."

Elle rolled her eyes and flicked me in the nose, making me just reached forward and lace our fingers together. It felt good to be able to do that - be able to hold Elle's hand when I wanted, or kiss her whenever. Nothing had really changed - Elle was still sarcastic and annoying at times - but now we were together, and I didn't mind her sarcastic comments as much.

"You're so sweet," Elle teased, and I grinned proudly, running my fingers through my wavy hair and pushing it back from my forehead, "I mean, not as sweet as me. But, still, pretty close."

Before I could respond, Miguel came sprinting into the living room. Jay and Connor screamed together, and my eyes widened when Jay flung his bowl of popcorn off the couch. Kelly pushed Con back against the pillows in an attempt to shut him up, but I was more focused on the fact that Jay's bowl of popcorn had landed on Edi's lap, and, now, Edi was covered in popcorn.

"Jay," Edi said slowly, grabbing the bowl and putting it on the counter next to him, "I'm legitimately going to murder you."

"Edi - "

"With this bowl of popcorn," Edi added, smacking popcorn pieces of his pants. Edi opened his mouth again, but his eyes darted back to Miguel, who was strolling around the living room, "Scott, why does your cat have your boxers in his mouth?"

I shot up, eyes locking on Miguel. I growled in annoyance because this stupid cat always took my boxers and hid them from me. I sprang up and sprinted after Miguel, grimacing when he ran around the kitchen table and started running towards the hallway.

"Don't go near the closets!" Connor called, and I flashed him a thumbs-up before following Miguel down the hallway.

It took fifteen minutes to get my boxers, and then I made sure to slam my door shut. By the down I plopped down next to Elle, the movie was out, and Connor and Kelly were cuddled together, sound-asleep. Jay had said he was too tired to drive home, and since Jay had driven Edi, it meant they were both sleeping over. I didn't really care.

I yawned and wrapped one arm around Elle's waist. Her head was snuggled against my chest, and a wide grin was on my face as I held her.

"Goodnight," I mumbled, placing a light kiss on her temple.

"Goodnight," Elle whispered back, lacing our fingers together.

And I fell asleep like that, the same ridiculous grin on my face because Elle was my girlfriend.