Error Number: 505

01 - bullshit.

Eden's POV:

What the fuck is wrong with people?

Never would I think I'd be in the position of beating a boy up, yet, here we are.

"Good! Good, Eden!" My trainer says. I snap out of my thoughts and look at him.

Oh, shit.

"I was imagining that bag as a man," I say. He grins pats my shoulder.

"You've shown great improvement. That's all for today. Go stretch and cool down. Drink water, not caffeine."

"And if I chug the can of monster that's waiting for me in my car?" He rolls his eyes.

"You're gonna die at 27."

"I'll join Amy winehouse and Kurt Cobain in club 27. I'm fine with it, Joseph," I say.

"Stop calling me Joseph."

"Sorry, Joey," I say, taking my gloves off.

"Alright. Bye!" I walk out and go into the locker room. I hop in the shower and pray I don't walk out to a girl changing.

I forgot my towel at home, and the showers they have at here are so short.

I get out and quickly get dressed in what I came here in. Black biker shorts and the Rolling Stones tour shirt that I stole from my mother.

I brush my hair, put on my shoes, and grab my bag before walking out.

And right as I make it to the front door, I'm met with the eyes of someone I was not expecting to see.

Eleanor James.

Dressed in a matching, baby pink work out set, with her perfect, baby pink almond nails. Her light-brown hair is pulled into a low ponytail with.. you guessed it. A baby pink scrunchie.

"You like the color pink, Eleanor?"

"I'm sorry, who are you?" She asks, with that sweet smile of her's.

Of course she doesn't know me. Fuck.

Not like I've been crushing on her since 7th grade. Nah, no biggie.

"A girl. In your grade." I walk past her and walk out. The warm breeze of September hits me. Why the hell is it so fucking hot year round in Arizona?

"Wait. That wasn't really a good first impression. You know me but I don't know you."

"I wouldn't expect you to know me, Eleanor."

"Stop saying my name like that."

"Like what?"

"Like you know every detail about me and I just broke your heart so now you're acting cold."

"Oddly specific," I say.

"I like your shirt."

"Thank you. It's my mother's. I'll see you tomorrow, Eleanor." I turn around and start to walk away.

"Ed-" she says, before stopping. I turn around. She swallows.
"Eden. Right? Your name is Eden?" We hold eye contact.

"I remember you now. From 8th grade. You won an award for your drawings."

"I'll see you tomorrow, Ellie."

And then I get in my car and chug the monster waiting for me.

———————————

I meet the eyes of Eleanor's the next morning.

She's wearing black cargo pants and a baby pink crop top.

And I'm gonna need her to wear that outfit again.

She walks away from her group and walks over to me. Which makes all of them look our direction. She doesn't seem to mind, though.

I admire that about her. She never seems to care what others think of her.

"Hi," she says.

"Hey," I say, leaning against the locker. She looks at the book in my hand.

"You like.. the mafia romances, hm?" She asks.

"Yeah," I say.

"Too intense for my liking." I raise my eyebrows.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"Do you hate me? Did I make a bad first impression yesterday? I thought about it all night I-"

"You ever think about getting on anti-anxiety meds? Lexapro?" I ask.

"No," she says, softly.

I know someone who's overwhelmed when I see one.

"No, Eleanor. You didn't make a bad first impression. This isn't your first impression, either. I've known you since 6th grade. You just haven't known me." She nods once, like she's hurt by that answer.

"Did it really keep you up all night, Ellie?" She nods.

"Yeah," she whispers.
"It's stupid, I know. But I just- I have this fear that I-" she clamps her mouth shut.

"C'mon."

"What-" I start walking away, and she comes next to me.
"What?"

"I don't know why you get here early every day when you don't have a first or second hour, but that's not my business. The odds worked in your favor, today, though, Ellie." I unlock my car.

"You drive a Benz."

"I do drive a Benz."

"You have Benz money?"

"No. It was a gift from my uncle before he passed." I get in the back seat and motion her in.
"I take naps during my lunch period."

"How did you know I didn't have a first or second hour?"

"I know things." I hand her a pillow and blanket. She lays down.

"Sleep. Do you like dunkin?" She nods.

"Mhm." She yawns.

Holy hell, she's cute when she's sleepy.

"Coffee order, sleepyhead?"

"Um.. extra vanilla. Iced."

"Okay."

And for the first time, in maybe three years, I just cracked a fucking smile.

A/N - I'm so fucking tired. It's 11:11 pm when I'm writing this.

I'm a grandma. What the fuck.

I love you!! 💛💛

Future A/N - Made that authors note like 3 weeks ago and now it's 1:16 am and I'm just as tired as I was when I wrote that. Bye.