𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞

26| stood up

Just like it had been agreed in Biology earlier that day, Elle swiftly made it out of school to meet Cory at the 'bench'.

The only difference was that Cory hadn't turned up, with it now being well over fifteen minutes over the time agreed.

At this point, nothing that Cory did surprised her anymore, as bad as that sounds.

Looking down at her phone, not a single notification sat from Cory to even try and explain the lateness. Checking the time once again, Elle decided to call it quits and started the usual half hour walk home.

"Ell." A familiar male's voice called as the girl had just shifted away from the bench. Elle turned around to find Riz walking down the path. "You alright?"

"Apart from getting stood up by my own boyfriend then I've never been better." The blonde said with her usual sarcastic whit, bringing a small smile to Riz's face. "What you doing here anyway? Thought you'd be chauffeured home in your dad's big posh car."

"Not everything about us Nawaz's are minted and fancy, I can promise you that." Riz chuckled, everyone seemed to have thought the same as Elle. "Preferred the walk home, don't have to listen to Alya wail on about how much she want's to get the lead part in that play."

"Is she seriously auditioning for that? You know she'll definitely get it." Elle shook her head, not surprised at all that Alya would go for that. "Who even wants to audition for that stupid play anyway?"

"The same stupid play you said you would also audition for?" The boy laughed at her. "I think you'd make a great lead. Plus, you're really into your drama, aren't you?"

"With that competition, I don't think so." She doubted herself, although she knew it was something she might've enjoyed if she put her mind to it. "I haven't taken drama seriously since I dropped it."

Riz looked down at the smaller girl, thinking to himself that she was worth a lot more than how she constantly compared and doubted herself. Truth be told, he had never really lost feelings for Elle, no matter how hard he tried to fight that. It slightly hurt to stay friends but he already knew there was no chance with Cory still on the scene.

Elle noticed Riz pretty much staring at her, looking a little lost as she chuckled to herself. "Riz? You alright?" She went up on her tiptoes to ping his nose, bringing him straight back down to earth.

"Yeah, just in a little day dream." Luckily, he managed to recover from that smoothly as he tried to get back on track. "What were we talking about?"

"The play and all." The girl sighed as she looked down to realise it had now been forty five minutes since her and Cory were supposed to have met. "Look, I better be heading off before dad wonders where I am." She said, giving Riz a soft smile.

"At least let me walk you home!" Riz protested, slightly taking the girl aback. "I mean that's if you want to let me." He toned it down a bit, trying to seem less eager.

Elle nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, I'd like that." As the pair set off on the stroll back to the Stewart household.

✰  ✰  ✰

Making it back to the Stewart household even later after the longest catch up with Riz, the girl was greeted home by Gabby and Tyler.

There was no Neil, Carla or Jacob to be seen, which was rather odd.

"If your off to throw another 'blonde bimbo' insult at me, just shut it. I can tell your dying to say something of the sort." Elle stormed past the girl, who did in fact look like she had to say something.

"Actually, I was going to ask if you were alright." Gabby folded her arms as she followed Elle into their now bedroom. "Your home rather late, aren't you?"

The blonde screwed her face up, thinking Gabby was most definitely up to something, with the girls never getting on since day one. "What do you care? We don't even like each other."

"Ty, come through." She shouted for the more tolerable one of the two, who might've had a better chance of holding a conversation with her. "You do the honours, she's looking at me as if I'm speaking in a foreign language."

"You being nice is the equivalent of that."

"We heard you and Cory were having some relationship problems and I just wanted to make sure you were alright." Tyler started, receiving a shoulder barge from his sister after saying 'I'. "Sorry, I mean we."

Elle shook her head, already misunderstanding the pair. "You mean you two want to know why I've moved back in so soon, nosy beggars. She's just wanting her bedroom back to herself."

"Being in the same friendship group as Cory, thing's get around quick." The boy explained, although that was already a known fact. "I know we don't get along but us not liking our parents being together is the only thing that's going to bring us together, isn't it?"

"To be fair, Ty has a point." Gabby hesitantly said, not waning to admit it. "You're not actually such a bitch like I thought."

"Well, I appreciate your concern but I'm sure whatever it is with Cory will work itself out soon enough." She shot them both a small smile, still not convinced they were after something.

"If you're sure but you can come to me if you need anything. Think of me as a last resort." The other girl joked. "But you know where I am." She changed her tone, shooting a small smile.

"Yeah, literally across the room." The blonde half laughed with the other two.

Before she could be questioned any further, the door bell rang, which raised questions as no one was expected.

"Maybe it's Cory?" Gabby suggested, which would have been the most logical guess. "Begging for your forgiveness for the millionth time?"

"Let him beg. Sod him." He was the last person Elle wanted to see after being stood up today.

The door bell rang again.

"If it might be Cory, I'll answer it." Tyler had offered, before no one could answer he had raced down to answer the door.

"Did I get the right house? I don't remember seeing you here." A rather familiar voice echoed through the house, as footsteps emerged in the hall.

"Elle, it's for you." Tyler called, as Elle's stomach sank hearing that voice once again...

✰ ✰ ✰

author's note !

acting like i haven't updated since october lol, i love this book really

elle and gabby finally getting on who would've thought and i wonder who is back on the scene once again??

thank you all for 51k reads, that's mental <33

all my love, b x