The Love House

The Love House: Chapter 20

Ellie's POV

"Come on sleepy head," I say shaking Aaron.

"Ellen." He whines desperately.

"We're going get ice cream." I say tauntingly. Immediately he springs up out of my mom's bed and runs to the dresser.

"I want strawberry." He says pulling out some clothes. I laugh. 

"Sure thing buddy. Want to go the park today?"

He shakes his head yes and i leave the room to let him change.

We leave about thirty minutes later and arrive at Friendship Park. I get him a strawberry ice cream cone, and I get myself a cookies and cream cone.

After having fun on the swings a little bit we make our way over to the big green slide. I sit on the bottom end while he sits on the top. He came up with the idea to yell to each other through the slide. 

It was actually pretty fun, I have to say. His little voice echoed through the slide and my half walrus laugh, I'm sure, echoed right back. 

We go to Winn-Dixie to go grocery shopping and then make our way back to the house.

It is 2:30 when we get back, and I look dreadfully at the clock for what feels like an hour.

2:31.

I am not about to sit here with a ghost for thirty more minutes.

So Aaron and I go outside and throw the football just as Derek and Damen did before. Almost every throw was missed. But Aaron still thought it was fun, especially when he accidentally hit me in the boob that one time.

Damen got back to the house a short 20 minutes later. (Derek made it to his house also, but he didn't even wave to me like usual.) We all sat on the couch to watch Grease and then Aaron went in his room to watch whatever he wanted. Damen and I sat there on the couch for a few minutes silently. 

"You're horrible."

"How am I horrible?!" I say defensively.

"This morning."

I stare blankly at him not knowing what he is talking about.

"You forced me to go to Hell." 

I'm still confused.

"School Ellie." He says exasperated.

"Oh..... well you have to."

"Whatever."

Awkward silence.

Well that is until the lights in the living room start going crazy, then it was just freaky. I instinctively scooted closer and a smirk appeared on his face. I didn't care at the moment though. I was just focused on keeping myself un-possessed. If you can even prevent that.

"You're such a scaredy cat El." He says laughing. I say nothing back. 

Its true.

He gets up (With me whimpering like a whimp as he leaves my side) to go turn the lights off, which by the way feels like the most simplest yet smartest idea ever. Why didn't i think of that?

He comes and sits back next to me and he asks me something i never expected to come out of his mouth.

"Why do you do this to yourself?"

"Whaaa?"

"You.... seem like from the outside just another one of the boring 'gotta do my homework and no time for friends geek', but really you're one of the coolest people i have ever met." He pauses and half smiles. "Maybe a little awkward but still cool."

I really don't know what to say. 

I'm guessing he knows the inner conflict i am having because he just continues on not looking at me.

"All the other girls at our school, well the ones i talk to anyway, they're not like you. I mean yeah they're pretty and popular but they don't snort when they laugh like you do. They wouldn't care about me going to school in the first place if they were in your place right now. They fake like they're stupid and you.. you're just smart. I don't know you're cool." 

Once he's done he looks at his hands in his lap, fiddling. Is he actually nervous. Is he being awkward right now?

"Well you're not the dumb jock i thought you were." I touch his shoulder calmly. I know how horrible it feels to be nervous. He looks up and we lock eyes. 

Is he going to kiss me?

I lean in a little but he gets up and stiffly walks to the light switch. 

"All better." he says as he slips it on and there is no flickering.

I sit there confused and a little disappointed. 

I wanted him to. I was ready.