𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 (𝐂𝐅)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞- 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

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I knock on the door as it swings open almost immediately. I walk over to Shayla as she engulfs me in a hug. "Now are you going to tell me why you have to move in with me?" She asks soothingly as I nod my head.

"Go on the couch I'll make us some teas." I pull away from her walking over to the sofa as I sit and before I knew it Shayla was back with two teas.

"First of all I'm not like harbouring a fugitive? You're mum and Susanna won't freak out and have a hundred police men looking for you around cousins?" She asks and I laugh shaking my head taking the tea from her.

"No I told them we planned to spend the last week of cousins together but forgot to mention it." I take a sip of my tea and Shayla puts in some music quietly in the background.

"So what's happened?" We're do I even begin was the question. It was hard to summarise everything in a nut shell, I knew the only thing I couldn't mention was Susanna's cancer. I felt bad for leaving Susanna the most, but we've planned to go for lunch or shopping this week.

"We'll as you know me and Jeremiah slept together." Her eyes go big as she grabs my hand. "Are you two an item!" She says with excitement. "Try the other fisher." Her eyes go even wider as her grip tightens on my hand. "You and Conrad!" She gasps before chuckling a little.

"He does get around cousins doesn't he." She jokes but I couldn't find it in me to laugh, just the mention of his name makes my stomach flip. "Uh oh I'm guessing it didn't end well." She read my facial expression.

"We slept together not long after me and Jeremiah did. But it was different with Conrad. With Jeremiah it felt like nothing, it was just for fun, you know he's one of my best friends. But with Conrad.." I trail off trying to find the right word.

"I felt like it was my first time. He was gentle and just being near him made me feel safe. I've never woken up in a bed before and not regretted it, well until Conrad." I smile a little, Shayla's head was tilted at me with a small smile plastered on her face too.

"Come to find out I was pushing away all my feelings towards him for a while, which was that I loved him. But I don't know keeping Jere a secret was eating me alive. I told him and that was the end of us." I shrug taking another sip of my drink.

"And does he love you?" She asks. "Since he was five, but after I told him he made it very clear he hated that he loved me, and told me that if I'm around he will never be able to get over me. And that's why I'm here."

"Ellie, you can stay here for a week but you're always going to be in each others lives. You don't see each other for more than half a year and yet he came back to cousins still in love with you. I mean it makes sense why he used to treat you like shit."

"I just have to respect that me and him will never happen." I shrug leaning back on the sofa closing my eyes.

"Just give it time El's, whatever the universe decides for you two, even if it isn't being with him, it will get easier." I look at Shayla smiling as I move over resting my head on her shoulder.

"Thank you for letting my stay." I say quietly. "Well duh! But I'm not having sad Ellie, we're gonna have the best week, starting with Deb practice!" She says excitedly. Ugh I completely forgot about this whole Deb thing which was literally in four days and I still had no date!

"Shayla who am I gonna take to the ball?" I whine closing my eyes. "Take that Jamie guy, that Susanna was trying to hook you up with." That could be a good idea, especially since even when me and Conrad where good he said he would never take me to a Deb ball.

I grab my phone getting up Jamie's contact and pressed call. After one beep he picks up.

"Hey Jamie!" I say turning to summon some enthusiasm into my voice. "Hey Ellie, what's up?"

"I was wondering if you wanted to go the Deb ball with me? It's this Saturday, starts at eight pm, but you'll have to be there for seven. There will be drinks and a buffet and music, you're families welcome to come watch as well." I tried to make it sound as unboring as possible in hopes he says yes.

"Sounds good, I'll pick you up at Seven." I'm surprised how quickly he said yes, but I wasn't complaining. "Ok brilliant! I'm staying at a friends house so I'll send you the address so you can pick me up."

"Cool, see you on Saturday El." I hang up the phone as Shayla squeals excitedly. "Why are you not squealing?" She says pouting. "Forget Conrad for Joe and enjoy the fact a sexy, smart boy is taking you to the Deb ball."

Shayla was right, me leaving wasn't just for Conrad but for me too, it was my time to move on as well. "You're right, let's go get ready!" I say with more excitement as she claps standing up before pulling me off the sofa.

We get ready before heading to practice where we meet belly outside. "It feels weird being the only girl in the house, the boys are picking on me a lot more." She complains. "Boys will be boys bell's." I boop her nose.

"Oh and guess what." A smile grows on her face. "What?" I ask hesitantly. "I asked Jeremiah to be my Deb escort and he said yes!" She jumps up and down. "Oh my god bells that amazing." I smile hugging her.

Then two finally happened, I can only imagine how happy Jeremiah was. "So are you two dating?" I ask as she shakes her head as Shayla hugs her as well.

"The amount of anxiety I had just asking him to be my Deb escort was enough! He's gonna have to be the one to ask me." She nervously laughs.

"I'm happy for you guys, you're perfect for each other." I say holding her hand as she blushes and gleams.

I couldn't help but picture how it would be if that were me and Conrad. But before I can get wrapped up in another sad though Shayla grabs my arm. "I can see you getting sad." She whispers as we walk in.

"I don't know what your talking about." I giggle quietly as we head up to Deb practice.

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