(Eli Pepperjack x Reader pt 2)

It had been...

Awkward between you and Eli for a little bit...

You'd be lying if you said it still wasn't awkward.

But you weren't making it awkward.

You'd been rathe polite when you asked Eli if he wanted to sit with you at lunch and have a piece of the brownies that your mom made for you two. He'd turned away and apologized because he was sitting with Steve today.

You'd said okay... Well... Maybe next time?

Sure (y/n).

You'd looked at the lunch table and tried to hold back tears. No. You would NOT cry at school. You felt the lunch bench next to you squeak with protest as someone sat next to you.

"Hey (Y/n)," Claire Nunez sain from your left and placed a hand on your back ", What's wrong with you and Pepperjack? I thought you were best friend."

You look at the table and sigh.

"I mean... Yeah... But Um... I told him I liked him recently and..."

"And it didn't end well?"

"Not really..."

Claire nods a little bit and you finally look up at her, she's sitting there, thinking. Suddenly she snaps her fingers and grins at you.

"Let's give him something to look at, huh?"

"What..."

"Makeoveeerrrrr," She tips her shoulders up and down, grinning at you. Your eyes widen with horror. Oh no.

"O h g o d n o."

.   .   .

Somehow.

Some way.

Claire Nunez dragged you to the local mall. Into the local Hot Topic. And was now holding up two different shirts up to you. One was black with blue and green outlines of crystals, the second was an off white with black stars and sun s and moons with faces on them. Both were short-sleeved and stopped around the mid stomach. You liked the shirts, sure, but they were stuff that popular girls like Claire, Darcy, and Mary Wong wore.

Claire gave each shirt a turn held up to your chest and making a 'hmmm' noise.

Then she would hold the other up and 'hmmm' again.

You were highly uncomfortable.

"Umm... Claire."

"I'm thinking the black and blue... What do you think?"

You thought for half a second before agreeing. Claire smiled at you and draped it over her arm, then led you to the clearance section of the store to look for a not nerdy pair of jeans. You glanced at Claire every so often, unsure if you should say anything or not.

"Umm.... So... What... What should I say to him?" You finally ask after you chose a pair of rockstar jeans with blue and green crystal patches on the rear pockets.

"You tell him the truth, you know?" Claire smiled at you ", You rock out to the beat of your own drum and live."

"But that really doesn't help my situation..."

"It might and it might not, you know? Boys are... Weird and aren't as good at processing their emotions as girls are and need more time. But for now, you need to live your life. He'll come around and talk to you when he knows how HE is feeling."

You look at the clearance rack and think about what she says.

"Thanks, Claire."

"No problem, (y/n)."

.   .   .

It was late and your cell phone was buzzing OFF THE HOOK.

You'd wear some of the stuff that you and Claire had gotten while shopping and EVERYTHING CHANGED. And it was scary how boys were now talking to you and other girls wanted to be your friend and you were giving your number out to all these people who wanted to hang out with you. Three weeks ago you were a nerd, now you were popular. 

And you loved it.

And oh...

Eli had also text you.

:Hey... Um... Can we talk?:

You'd said :Sure:

And now you were waiting, arms crossed, one hand playing with a strand of your hair and biting your lip ever so slightly. You felt...Well... Nervous was the easy emotion to say. You kept peaking out your window so when he showed up you could climb down the gutter and talk to him. (Claire had taught you to climb it the day before)

Soon enough the boy was there.

He'd become fitter and somewhat muscled, presumably because of Steve's influence over the past few weeks. His deep teal glasses still pressed to his face and he rubbed his arm nervously. You were shocked when he spoke and his voice was deeper than before.

"Hey, (Y/n)."

"Eli..."

It was only slightly awkward. Your arms crossed over your chest and your hip popped out as if it had a mind of its own. Eli's hands fidgeted and then finally rested in his pockets. he didn't look at you when he spoke again.

"So... I was thinking about what you said... And I'm sorry for not... Not saying anything sooner... I really hope you can forgive me for that..."

You frown slightly ", I'm not going to say it's okay, Eli. It hurt when you started ignoring me. It's not okay, but I forgive you."

He looked up with dark brown eyes that would have made you melt if you weren't trying to be very strong. Your arms fell to your side, slowly.

"I know... It wasn't okay and I'm really sorry..."

"I know you are... You wouldn't be here if you weren't."

You both stood there in silence again. Eli took a step towards you and reached one of his hands out, slipping it into yours so that your hands were held in the spaces between you. You took in a deep breath.

"I do care a heck of a lot about you, (Y/n)," Eli said quietly and he slowly laced his fingers with yours ", And I'm sorry that I made you feel the way you did. I want to fix that, but only if you want me to."

You let his fingers twine with you and you close your eyes, feeling as his body drew you closer to him, your head resting on his chest after a minute. You wanted him to fix it. Oh god, you wanted him to hold you and care and love you.

"I..." You whisper quietly and a sob escapes your throat "... I do..."

Eli lifted your head and you opened your eyes, gazing deeply into his. His hand caressed your cheek and his thumb lined your bottom lip.

And he kissed you.