Ellianna
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After Shane left I didn't know what to do with myself, I was bored out of my mind. Yesterday I had already cleaned my whole room, today I had absolutely nothing to do. I had no driver's license to go anywhere and even if I did I had no car. I spent most of the day watching Netflix and scrolling on social media. I saw Colin had posted a picture of the gang at the lake, they looked like they were having a good time, I so wished I could've been there too instead of being stuck here doing nothing. after opening Instagram for the 10th time today I noticed something different in the top right corner, I had gotten a DM. It didn't make much sense to me, I didn't talk to many people at school, after what happened to me in 8th grade I kept my circle small, if any of my friends wanted to talk to me they would text me. I thought about ignoring the notification on the top of my screen but I couldn't resist, if I was stuck here at home I might as well talk to someone. so I clicked the messenger icon, I couldn't believe the person messaging me. Austin Greene, I read his message all it said was "Hey blondie". I closed my phone and paced around my room starting to feel my chest tighten with anxiety. what could Austin want from me? after what happened at Colin's party I would be happy with never talking to him again, I stared at my phone on the bed. What if I responded to the message? just to see what was up, then I would block his account and that would be that. I took a deep breath and then grabbed my phone off my bed, with my heart racing I responded. "what do you want?" I pressed send and then put my phone down again, I was so stupid why would I voluntarily engage with Austin, that was dumb so dumb. my phone dinged again. "I wanna use my favor." the message read. favor? what favor? I didn't owe Austin anything. Then I remembered getting out of his car he said I owed him a favor, fuck. how was I gonna get out of this one? "I don't owe you anything." I sent off, I probably should've blocked him after that, but my judgment was already lapsing at this point. "you don't even know the favor." he countered, I took a minute to think and then typed back with a certain intensity that doesn't need to be used when typing. " I don't need to know the favor to know I don't want anything to do with you." I let out a huff satisfied with my reply. again, Austin didn't take long to respond. " then I guess you don't mind if I tell Miranda that I drove you home." I clenched my fists, he got me, there was no way I'd let him say anything to Miranda. "what's the favor?" I asked. "I knew you'd come around blondie." I could feel his smirk through my screen, and I already felt sick to my stomach. "what's the favor Austin." I typed again demanding wanders. " you and me, my brothers spring break bash tonight at eight, wear something pretty."
I contemplated my choices, I guess I didn't have to go to this I could lock myself at home, but he would tell Mer he drove me home, and although it didn't seem like a big deal I knew Miranda would blow it out of proportion. anything that had to do with Aaron would cause a blowout. besides I was craving some fun and maybe this was my chance, it's not like any of my friends would be at this party, and I didn't have to tell anyone I was there, Aaron was a Western kid now so it was not like Northview kids would be there. I was gonna do this whether it was a bad idea or not. I got dressed an hour and a half before the party settling on clothes I hadn't worn in a while, a Burgundy mock neck tank top and ripped jeans, I flat ironed my wavy hair and put on some dark eyeliner, at 8 I waited by my front door until I saw Austins Nissan pull up, I walked out my front door punching the code locking it behind me, I was really doing this. I opened the passenger door of Austin's car and sank into the seat, the smell of cigarettes and weed welcoming me. "hey." Austin said to me, obviously trying to be cool. I groaned a bit beginning to feel uncomfortable in my skin, regretting all my decisions. " I cannot believe I'm doing this." was the response I gave him, he smirked at me. " honestly I can't believe it either." I sat up a little bit straighter and glared at him. "you blackmailed me Austin." I replied, knowing that if that wasn't the case I wouldn't be going at all. he chuckled a bit looking pleased with himself. "oh yeah forgot that detail." he admitted a bit sarcastically. "why did you want me to come? honestly, no bullshit comment." he stopped for a minute. "what if I just wanted to take a pretty girl out to a party?" he considered out loud, I was unsure if I could believe him. "is that really the truth?" I countered skeptically. "It was the only way I thought you'd say yes, so yes." I felt my cheeks get a bit hot, thank god it was dark out, I didn't need Austin seeing me blush over his comment. "You should be glad I wanted to get out of the house," I mumbled as I gazed out the window until we arrived at Austin's house.
Austin was a transfer to Northview, he was zoned to Western the school across town that had a reputation for being a bit rough around the edges. the houses in the Austins neighborhood defiantly reflected this. some were trailer homes others were small one-stories that looked as if they were on their last legs. Austin house was one of the one stories it was probably once painted bright white but now resembled a weathered dingy color. there was a small set of steps that led to a porch that looked like it was slanting to the right. the front door had a screen then a simple white door behind it. A waist-high chain link fence surrounded the property, Austin opened the metal gate a began to walk up to the front door, I followed him hesitantly unsure of my surroundings, I had never been to a Western party before, and I was anxious to enter these uncharted waters. when we stepped inside the small house I was greeted by the same smell of Austin's car, cigarettes, and weed. the front door opened directly into the living room there were kids gathered on the couch talking, smoking, and drinking and I could see kids in the kitchen doing the same, there was no one here I recognized which I was grateful for. A boy approached us he had the same olive complexion as Miranda and a short spiky hairstyle he held a blunt in one hand and a plastic cup in the other. the boy looked me up and down."Austin you finally bought one of them fancy North View girls." Austin grabbed the blunt from the kid and took a drag. exhaling the smoke into the already very hazy house. Austin let an arm snake around my waist, I didn't mind it, if anything it provided me some comfort in this new environment. "this is Ellianna, my girl for the evening." the guy across from me nodded his head, he seemed extremely relaxed. "like Anna from frozen, that's sick, my names Holden." the guy responded, totally mishearing my name. "It's Ellianna, like two names in one." I retorted, trying to yell over the music playing. Holden simply nodded his head, I wasn't sure if he had heard me or not. "does she hang? were playing flip cup in the kitchen." Holden asked directing the question towards Austin. Austin looked at me and gave me a smirk. "yeah she hangs." he replied for me all the while taking another drag of the blunt still in his hand. "sweet, flip cup is this way." Austin and I followed Holden into the small kitchen where we started playing flip cup with the group, it didn't take long for me to relax and after an hour or so I was feeling good, great even. I could tell Austin was feeling the same way, we were still playing and having a good time when Austin turned to me.
"ima go out and have a smoke, wanna come?" he asked me, I was having a good time right here but I still shrugged my shoulders and replied. "yeah I could use some air." I followed Austin outside to the crooked porch and we sat on the steps together side by side. he pulled out a cigarette and his lighter and lit it he took a puff and then shoved his lighter back into his pocket. "not like a Northview party huh?" he asked me I cocked my head to the side and smiled. "no nothing like it, but It's not a bad thing." I stared out at the night sky, wondering if any of my friends were staring out at the sky right now too. "you can't tell anyone at Northview I was here." I told him, knowing my friends wouldn't approve of me being here, especially not with Austin. "what? your uptight little circle wouldn't approve of you being with the lower class?" Austin scoffed, and my eyes went wide. "no that's not what I meant." Austin took another puff of his cigarette. "that Shane guy seems like he has a stick up his ass." I couldn't help but giggle a little bit even if it was uncalled for. "he's been through shit okay." Austin met his eyes to mine. "Haven't we all?" he responded, and he had a point we do all go through things, me, him Shane, Mer. it doesn't give us any excuse to act a certain way. "yeah I guess you're right." I admitted, I stared at Austin's cigarette the glow of the burning tobacco seemed enticing. "why do you smoke those?" I asked, Austin shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, helps with life I guess." I guess I couldn't argue with that, we all had our vices In one way or another. "what does it taste like?" Austin offered the cigarette to me. "Wanna try it?" I shook my head. "I don't really wanna smoke. just curious" I said. I looked into Austin's green eyes he laughed a little bit and threw the cigarette on the ground stomping it out with his boot. he then turned his attention back to me. he gave me a little smirk and the next thing I knew he leaned in and kissed me. It took me off guard at first but I didn't hate it, I tasted the tobacco from the Marlboro and kissed him back. when our lips parted Austin was the first to speak. "now you know what it tastes like." I nodded my head stunned. partly from the kiss itself and partly because of how much I enjoyed it. "uh huh." I responded. "see blondie, told you I just wanted to take a pretty girl out." I allowed myself to exhale, not realizing I was holding my breath in the first place. I didn't know what to expect coming here tonight but thank god I did.
