𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐃

school project

dina's pov:

my mom and dad danced around the kitchen as i packed two lunches for school, one containing the stuff i bought for ellie last night.

she was all i could think about all night, i barely got any sleep because of it.

i'm more than excited to see her today, i shot her a text last night asking if she'd be coming to school today but she never responded.

hopefully she's just busy.

"you must be hungry, huh?" my dad asked, staring down at the two lunchboxes filled to the brim.

"yeah, i guess so." i chuckled, turning toward the door.

giving my mom and dad a quick hug i left, my sister was supposed to drive me to school today but work called her in early.

i tried texting ellie again, not that i was expecting a response but it's worth a try.

| me
you coming today ?
i miss youuu

i shut my phone off with a sigh, shoving it into my back pocket as i started my route to school.

every once in awhile i'd stop and check, i had just a little hope that she'd finally respond.

i was starting to get worried.

maybe im just overthinking it, i tend to do that a lot. it's nothing new.

i finally arrived at school, my friends were already waiting for me outside as they waited for the doors to open.

"hey didi!" my best friend peyton called, running to hug me. all i could do was stare into space, imagining that was ellie's arms wrapped around me.

"didi, you good?" she said, jokingly shaking me around snapping me out of whatever zone i was in.

"y-yeah yeah, sorry i-"

"it's that stupid girl again huh?" my friend arya pitched in, a stern look on her face.

"one, she's not as stupid as you guys think she is." i began, holding my hand up.

"so she is stupid, just not that stupid?" she dragged out, i knew she was only doing this because she knew i liked her.

"arya please, don't ruin this for me."
"you're ruining it for yourself, are we seriously about to do this right now?"

she shouted loud enough to gain the attention of the crowds of people which stood around us.

"please don't do this."

"listen, if you'd rather hang out with that depressed bitch then go right ahead, once she finally kills herself you're gonna regret ever leaving us for her."

her words strike me silent, unable to say a word i immediately stormed off into the building.

a crowd of people laughed obnoxiously as i pushed through the school doors, tears filled my eyes as i rushed to the bathroom.

the bell rang, everyone came rushing in while i tried my hardest to stay as far away as possible.

i finally reached the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind me as my back slid down the wall.

i tried my hardest not to cry, especially not now when someone could come in at any given time.

the first period bell rang, i wasn't one to miss class to i quickly gathered myself and left.

first period was one out of the three classes i had with ellie, i almost immediately felt a sense of relief as i knew we sat close.

i let out a sigh before heading down to first period, math.

i've always hated math, especially as i got older and they have us dividing whole letters. who even thought of that shit?

my mom hired me a tutor back in middle school for it, clearly it didn't work if my grade is still the lowest it's ever been.

the math teacher sat at her desk as i walked in, smiling as she handed me a sheet of paper.

"share this with your shoulder partner." she said, sending me on my way.

ellie was my shoulder partner, i was praying she'd show up so i didn't have to do this alone.

i hate working by myself.
i'm lying, actually, i love working alone. but when it comes to ellie, i'm always available for a partner.

mainly because i knew how she was, if someone didn't do the work for her it wouldn't get done at all.

sometimes i'll go through her bag when she's not looking and finish whatever she hasn't started yet, just so she doesn't get a bad grade.

the room filled with the last few students, i eagerly began to fidget with my fingers as ellie was nowhere to be seen.

i know what you're thinking 'you don't even know her, why are you so worried?' i do.

i guess i spoke to soon, the second i put my head down i heard the door open slowly.

i could recognize the sound of her feet from a mile away, i tried my hardest to hold back my smile as she pulled out a stool beside me.

"hey el," i said as she got comfortable. all she did was smile, twirling a pen between her fingers.

the teacher stood up, turning on the smartboard. "alright class, if you didn't know we have a project coming up this weekend, worth 95% of your grade."

"for those of you who don't do it," she turned to glare at ellie, who sat beside me with her head down.

"you will be getting an f."

ellie immediately picked her head up, her face red and full of panic as she closed her sketchbook.

"it's okay, i got you for this one." i whisper, and her face finally went back to it's original pale color.

the teacher sent us to do our own thing, ellie excused herself to the bathroom while i started off the packet for her.

i thought it would seem weird if i wrote her last name, maybe even stalker-ish as she never told me it and i still found it out through one of the teachers.

i left it as 'ellie', flipping the page and filling out what i already know. i didn't want to sound too creepy so most i left blank.

she came back after awhile, that same frowny expression on her face as her earbuds dangled below her waist.

i couldn't help but blush as she sat down, her hands in her lap. she looked tense.

"you good?" i ask, lightly placing a hand on her leg as it bounced up and down.

"please don't touch me." she pushed me away, fear evident in her voice.

the teacher went around the room handing us the instruction sheet for the project before class ended.

ellie's pov:

"you wanna come to my place tomorrow? i can help you finish this up if you want." dina said, pointing to the already folded packet i was shoving into my bag.

all i did was shrug, zipping it up.

"oh wait, i got you this too." she said, throwing her bag onto the table in front of us and pulling out a small, purple and black lunchbox.

i never really said much, i mainly just shook my head or shrugged to everything she said.

she handed me the bag, i smiled lightly and shoved it into mine.

"so?" she drags out.

"i don't know." was all i said as the bell rang for lunch, the second she turned her head i was already out the door.

1,232 words.