Escapism.

Chapter Two - Friends

It's been a week since I got fro-yo with Iris.

I've been meaning to call her, I got her number during class last week. I want to hang out with her, but not with Raj and Charlie. I'll call her.

"Hello?" Iris says.

"Hi!" I say.

"Is that you El?"

"El," I thought for a moment.

Where did she get that nickname from? I thought to myself.

"Yup." I paused for a moment. "It's me." I said.

"Sorry. I accidentally called you El. E-Eli." she stuttered on the E.

"It's OK. I like it, It's neat." I said, with a small hidden smile on my face.

"Well, why did you call me?" Iris asked.

"I was wondering if you maybe wanted to hang out," I said nervously.

"Sure, where at?" she asked.

"My house maybe?" I said.

"Sure! Send me the address, I'm sure I don't live that far." Iris said.

"OK, see you then," I said in an excited tone.

"Bye, El." Iris said.

"B-Bye." I said, still shocked at her calling me that. I kinda, like it.

15 minutes pass and she arrives, I let her in, and no one else but me and her are inside.

"Hey! You made it!" I said.

"Yeah!" she said.

"Do you want anything to drink?" I asked

"No thanks. I drank water on the way here so I'm good," she said.

"OK. Well, follow me to my room." I said.

She took off her shoes before she went upstairs, and her socks were mismatched colorful checkerboard patterns, I love those socks.

"I like your socks, where'd you get them?" I asked.

"Hot Topic. They're from like two years ago." she chuckled.

"I like them, I've always wanted some but I never had Vans to wear them together," I said.

"They're pretty comfy, I'll bring you an extra pack I never opened."

"I bought 4 packs and only used 3, there were 6 pairs in each," she said.

"I can't believe you had 3 packs of 6 pairs of socks!" I said.

"Their good socks, don't get me wrong, but they barely have any, anymore," she said.

"Thanks for offering, I will be taking those socks, my holy grail of socks forever," I said while I had a smile. She laughed.

"Speaking of colorful stuff, I like your room, The LED light and vines look so cool!" she said.

"Thanks! I decorated in 2020," I said without a straight face but chuckled.

"I'm surprised you had great taste in 8th grade, I was obsessed with everything weird, anime, and so much more weird shit," she said with an unserious face.

I laughed, "Same. I was obsessed with Anime, the stickers and all that nonsense. I'm a little scared for myself because of that." I said with an embarrassed funny face.

"Same," she said.

"I had all that eyeliner on, fake lashes, and fake piercings over my eyebrows made with makeup. I swear I believed my name was 'Arson' ." I said laughing partially, as we were too, both laughing at the funny crap that we had done

"You know, you're funny and have good taste in fro-yo. Your a great friend El." Iris said.

"You know, you too, you understand me a bit," I said back.

Then we both looked at each other and smiled.

"Sorry, didn't mean to stare. It was just a good moment- I mean, uhm- What am I saying?!- I mean it was a good moment- I uhm-" she said stuttering at every word she could say.

"It's okay. I get what you mean." I said calmly.

We then again, smiled.

"Hey, I have a question," I said.

"Yeah?" she questioned.

"How'd you come up with the 'El' nickname?" I asked.

"Oh- uh... I don't know, I just shortened 'Elodie', then 'Eli' then, just 'El' I guess. Nothing crazy, really." she said nervously.

"I like it. I think it stands out, but only you can call me that, our nickname." I said. It put a small smile on her face.

"That's a relief, I thought you weren't gonna like it," she said and had a soft chuckle.

I had a small chuckle.

Then an hour went by and eventually, Iris had to leave, I said goodbye to her and walked her outside to her car. Right when she got home, I texted her.

Hiii!

Already texting me?

Yeah, I figured you were home.

Well, you're exactly right.

Come back! I'm so bored.

Maybe tomorrow we can go to a cafe.

Yeah, tomorrow early, at 9. Pick me up! Lol.

Okay, see you then.

Read 9:52.