Eli and Essa

1

I woke up frantically and sat up in my bed. Its just a dream. Its just a dream.
As I looked over at the small pocket watch on my dresser, I realise I still have to get ready for school.
Making my way over to my wardrobe, I chuck on a sweatshirt and some shorts. Glancing back at the watch I start to head downstairs.
I'm met in the kitchen by Cassian and Louis, doing what brothers do best and messing up my hair. Shrugging out of their grip, I walk over to the fridge and pour myself a glass of orange juice because apple is just too piss coloured for my liking.
Flint walks through the door, along with 3 of his friends - Austin, Grant and Tripp. As I sit down on the couch and go to switch on the TV, I'm stopped by a strong arm. "Not today Essa", Austin says, with a colder tone,  "I won't sit here and watch you rot away on this sofa."
I sigh and stand up to get changed and go for a run like I used to, every morning before school.
School. Shit.
I quickly walk up to my room and change into a pair of black leggins and a matching black sports bra which I cover up with a grey sweater.
I walk down the stairs and hear Flint and Austin talking. I eavesdrop. Duh.
"I just don't think she should come Austin. I mean look at her, she barely eats anything, what if Warner says something..?"
Warner? Who's that?
I listen in closer.
Austin uttered back, "I get it okay but she needs to be able to have her own friends. Not just me and the guys."
What? I do have friends what is he talking about. I have him and Tripp and... ohhh.
"Please just let her come with us, just this once" he pleaded, "I promise I won't let anything bad happen to her."
Flint sighed. "Fine. But just this once, okay?"
Austins face lit up at his words. "Got it."

~~~

After my run I decided I'd stay off school, I do have a cold after all.
Flint walked in.
Oh shit.
"Why the fuck aren't you at school?" He decidedly marveled at me.
"I'm ill." I said, thinking about what I could say if he told me to go to school.
"You don't look it. Get up."
"Just today Flint.. pleaseee?" I replied, hoping to make him feel bad.
"No you can have tomorrow off but you have to go today okay? Please. I promise it'll be worth it." He added, willingly.
"What am I doing tomorrow?" Concerned, I questioned him. Wanting to know what it is thats happening.
"Don't worry, you'll love it." Reassuringly, he patted my back before lifting me off my feet and sitting me in his car, driving me to school.
What a dick.

~~~

When we got there I immediately felt eyes on me. Watching my every move.
What is it with these dumbass fucks and staring.
Flint walked me to the front office and registered me. Unwillingly, I followed behind him to my first class. Chemistry. What a fucking joke.
I set my bag down and sit next to some guy that I haven't seen before.
Trying not to be that one creep who stares at everyone, I try to catch a glimpse of his face but before I can, he looks over at me and smirks while holding eye contact. "Hey." He whispers, "what did you get for question seven?" He points at the question in my book and I take a minute to stop looking at his deep set, hazel eyes. "I um... I'm not sure i just guessed but I think Mrs Watson said the information stuff was on page... 632? Don't quote me on that though I wasn't listening." He nods and smiles at me, then returns his focus to the textbook in front of us.
I glance at him again, taking in his strong jawline and straight nose. "Sorry but um.. are you new?" I say, hoping he won't think I'm wierd, "I haven't seen you around before?"
"Yeah I moved here last summer, I haven't seen you either? Is there a reason for that or..?"
"I got into a car accident a year or so ago and haven't been able to come in. Todays my first day back i guess." I giggle lightly to try and rise the mood.
He looks into my eyes. Oh my god he's looking into my eyes.
I look away abruptly and clear my throat to which Mrs Watson replies, "you okay over there Odessa?"
I look up and see her staring at me. "Yeah im good.." and she carries on with her lesson.
The guy next to me turns to catch a glimpse of my face but im already looking right at him.
Oh hello mr handsome pants.
No Essa you can't say that. "Whats your name?" I ask plainly, half expecting a response and half not giving a shit about what he's going to say.
"Its Elijah"
Damn. That's a hot ass name.
"You can call me Eli though." He adds with a smirk. I melt. But the bell rings and ruins the moment.
Fuck sake.

~~~

I sit outside underneath a tree and begin to write in my journal. Flint told me to keep my anger compressed within it but its currently holding more than just anger.
I'm about to shut it and place it back into my bag when Elijah aka the hot guy from chemistry puts his hand onto mine and keeps it open. "Whatchu writing?" He asks, before sitting down next to me, our legs touching.
Am I really about to tell him? Yes.
"I write about my emotions and what I do during the day. Judge all you want, I know its weird okay."
I feel a hand fall onto my knee.
"Is your brother Flint Diaz?" He questions.
Not knowing what the right answer is i stutter, "He um.. he is.. how did you know?"
"He's one of my close friends, I thought he had told me about having a sister, here you are I guess" he lets out a warm laugh, filling my lungs up with all the air he exhaled. Delicious. Shut up.
"Are you doing something with Flint tomorrow?"
"I am yeah. Are you going to be there aswell?"
"Be where?"
The fuck is he talking about?
"The ball? Has Flint not said anything about it- oh. I wasn't supposed to tell you was I"
"Probably not, but um can I hang with you when we're there? I don't really know many people who are going"
"Of course yeah" he gestures past me over to a bench under a cherry blossom tree, "that's Leon and to the right of him is Gray and Red is the one wearing the jacket" I look at all three of the guys and memorise them and their names. "Is he really called Red..?" I say, generally confused.
"No his full name is Alfred but everyone calls him Red"
"Ohh okay" I reply, looking up at him smiling.
One of the guys, Leon I think, calls over at him and tells us to go over there. I look at Eli nervously but he just helps me up by holding my hand and we walk over to the bench.
Eli introduces me to them as just 'Flints little sister' even when I try to correct him, talking over him while introducing myself properly as Odessa.
After half an hour or so, I start to feel tired and I stand up and I pass out, falling into Elis' arms.
Fucking embarrassing.

~~~

Stop.. leave me alone don't touch me. I said stop-
I wake up. My face covered in tears and my head banging with a headache.
Wait. Where the fuck am I?
I carefully walk downstairs and into what looks like the kitchen and see Eli, Flint and Cassian standing there. Staring right at me. I try to act like they were looking behind me, and I turn around too, only to be spun back around vigorously by Flint, who's looking straight into my eyes, as if he's trying to access my fucking soul.
After a few awkward seconds I push him away and get myself a drink of water from the fridge.
I almost sigh at the taste of the liquid.
Thats what she said. Shut the fuck up.
From the corner of my eye I spot Eli walking towards me, until he isn't walking and I'm pushed up against the counter, with him touching and poking my forehead.
"Yeah she's gonna need stitches" he says, turning around to speak to Flint.
What?
"Stitches? Why?" I start to panic at the sense of blood tricking down my face and I walk down the hallway a bit to look in a mirror. Fuck. My dad's going to be so mad.
Eli walks back over to me and pulls me into a hug, whispering, "it's okay, I won't let him hurt you."
"How do-" im cut off by his hand placing itself on my mouth.
"I read your journal, sorry I know its an invasion and you probably feel awkward right now but I needed to, I'm going to help you." He explained, placing a soft kiss ontop of my head and walking away, back to Cassian.

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Thank you so much for reading the first chapter!!
I hope y'all like it, this is my first book I've written on here so I'm sorry if its not great.
Id appreciate if you could leave tips and comments for things I could add or improve!
But thank you again!! 🤍

All rights to this book are copyrighted.
Elliot Montgomery.