Forbidden • Ellie Williams

2

• 1 week later •

My crush on Ellie only grew, but I still think she has no idea I exist.

I try to converse with her at every chance I get, but it's never gone further than a couple of "hi"s. I feel so pathetic and desperate.

___

Dina and I are in my bedroom, "studying" for our assignment on Hamlet.

I'm sitting on my bed as I paint my nails, flipping through a comic book Dina brought over. Dina is dancing in the middle of the room, singing into my hairbrush along to the song the record player on the dresser is playing.

"Papa, don't preach! I've been losing sleep, but I've made up my mind, I'm keeping my baby, hmm."

Dina sings along into the hairbrush in a very dramatic and passionate fashion, making me chuckle. Dina reminds me a lot of Minnie, except a little less mature.

Dina flops down on my bed beside me, exhausted.

"Hey!" I exclaim, my nail polish now smudged on my finger.

Dina giggles, grabbing a tissue from the nightstand. "Sorry." She fixes it up. I giggle too.

"So, I heard about a little gathering going on at Brad Lucas's place tomorrow night." Dina says, grabbing the nail polish and painting the rest of my nails for me.

I look up at her, my eyebrows slightly raised in suprised. "A gatheri- you mean like a party? Also who's Brad Lucas?" I say as I look back down at my nails that she's painting, my tone a little confused.

"Yes, it will technically be a party, but you don't have to drink or anything like that if you don't want to, I promise. Also, Brad's just some dumb jock. His parties rock though." Dina says, focusing on my nails.

My eyebrows furrow a little as I think about the invitation. "U- uhm... I mean, I guess I don't really have anything else going on.." I shrug.

Dina squeals and hugs me tightly, smudging my nails polish again. "Dina!" I exclaim again, making her giggle as she tries to fix it up again.

___

• the next day •

I'm walking with Kat, Dina and Abby down the hallway after class.

"Hey babe." Jesse puts his arm around Dina's shoulder as he joins us. Dina blushes and glances at me as she tries to hide her grin. I chuckle. Jesse and Dina have been sort of flirting for a while, but two days ago, Jesse made it official and Dina is over the moon.

All four of us are walking through the school as we talk. Dina seems genuinely interested in what I have to say and is engaging in the conversation, which is new for me. I'm used to people just replying to me, but this is different. I have actual friends, for the first time in a long time.

We're all walking together as we pass the bleachers on the football field. We hear some people and see them under the stairs, smoking and chatting. It's Ellie and her friend group.

"Hey, let's buy some weed for the party tonight." Kat suggests, walking underneath the bleachers to the group of kids. My friends and I follow her.

I immediately get nervous at the mention of drugs, as I've never so much as drank more than a sip of my dad's beer. (I hated it).

But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited at the opportunity to talk to Ellie.

A few of the kids in Ellie's friend group knew us and nodded.

"Sup." Said Ellie to Dina after she blowed some smoke from her mouth. Her voice is hot and gravely, making me weak at the knees.

"Hey there, we'd like to purchase some of your finest for a party tonight." Dina says as she leans against the wall behind the bleachers, her arms crossed.