The Catch

Chapter 17

STEPHANIE'S POV
(2 weeks after the break up)
I sit on my bedroom floor and look around. There are empty tubs of ice cream everywhere.

I've not been taking my break up with West well. Emily has come over a few times and forced me to go shopping with her but I still feel awful.

I really liked West and I've thought about the breakup so much. He basically just told me he has a problem with me. If we had a mutual breakup it may have been fine but I can't even look at him anymore.

The art project we were doing together we handed in just before we broke up. And we got 100% on it. I'm forced to sit beside him now because there are no other seats open in Art. We have not said a single word to each other yet since the breakup.

West started dating Thalia to make matters worse. Sure he doesn't look nearly as happy with her as he did with me but that doesn't mean it worries me how fast he's moved on.

Emily finally got the guts to talk to Eldon because Eldon broke up with Michelle during lunch. I laugh thinking back to that day.

I walk over and sit down at our usual table with Riley, Tiffany, Emily, and Chloe right behind me.

"So Steph, how's the breakup going?" Tiffany asks me with sympathy in her eyes.

"It's okay. I'm not completely over him but he seems to be over me." I answer, glancing over at West and Thalia.

West and I make eye contact for a second before I look away.

"And now he's caught me looking!" I say as I chew on a french fry.

"Ok Steph I know you're heartbroken but would you mind if I dated someone?" Emily blurts out.

"No Em, of course not." I reassure her.

"Guys 10 o'clock!" Chloe whispers harshly.

I spin around along with everyone else and I see Eldon walking up to Michelle's table.

We see Eldon say something to Michelle but it's too far away to hear.

Then Michelle stands up and yells "What?! You're breaking up with me?!"

Eldon looks terrified but I can tell he's trying to be brave as he nods slowly.

Michelle screams at him before rushing out with Thalia, Amanda, and Giselle close behind. Eldon walks back to his table and sits down. West, James, Daniel, and Hunter all pat him on the back.

"Ok you're talking to him!" I say to Emily and stand up, grabbing her hand and pulling her up with me.

"Are you crazy? He just broke up with Michelle!" Emily yell whispers at me.

"Does he look upset?" I ask her and look over at a smiling Eldon.

"No. But that's not the point." Emily says looking down.

"You're just scared." I accuse her and drag her over to the boys table.

We stand there and the boys look up at us. Including West. I swallow hard and nudge Emily.

"Uh, hi Eldon." Emily says.

I smile at her and walk back to the table.

"Are they going to go on a date?" Riley gasps.

"I'm betting yes. But I guess we'll see!" I smile at them and we all start giggling.

"Guess who has a date on Friday night!" Emily exclaims as she sits back down at the table.

We all squeal and start pestering her with questions until the end of lunch.

I look around my room and start crying again. I don't know if it's over West or not but I don't want to think anymore.

WEST'S POV

It's been 15 days, 6 hours, 19 minutes and 27 seconds since Stephanie and I have broken up.

I still like her a lot even though it doesn't look like I do. I became Thalia's boyfriend but it was only because she kept asking me to go out with her.

Thalia and I have nothing in common. She likes fashion, I like sports. She likes kale, I like burgers. She's also so needy. She always wants to hang out with me.

Come to think of it Stephanie and I hung out with each other quite a bit when we were dating. But that's different. I actually love her.

I sit up on my bed suddenly. I rethink the thought over and over again before coming to the conclusion that it's the truth.

I love Stephanie Grecchi.

I love her even though my parents don't.

I love her even though her parents hate me.

I love her even though she might hate me.