Ice Melts for Love

Shut Up And Smile

 Chapter 2 

I laid on top of my bed lazily. New Found Glory was blaring from my speakers and I sang along. It was a boring Saturday morning. Misha and I were supposed to hang out at her place today but her manager called, saying she had an emergency photo shoot. If I hadn't persuaded her that I was cool with it, she wouldn't have gone.

Nate didn't go to school the week after the party, which made me so happy and relieved. Misha said something about his family going to Paris or something. Michael was absent, too. Matt was mostly present but he did nothing other than play his Nintendo or laptop at the library. I knew because Misha and I saw him whenever we went there. He would smile at us reluctantly whenever he noticed us. Misha just huffed at him. Weirdly, Matt would look dejected whenever Misha snubbed him.

I thought about what Misha said about Nate branding me. What did she mean by that? I forgot to ask her. Does that mean I'm not the only girl he was toying with? Did the rumors tell about other girls being dissed by Nate, too? For once, I regretted always spacing out. I totally need an attitude makeover.

I kept thinking about my panic attack. I was never going to parties ever again, I thought grimly. I had nightmares since that night but they stopped last evening. I hated having nightmares.

"Ellen?"

I lifted my head up to see my little brother Quinn standing at my doorway. He was 8 years old and pretty looked much like me except he had intelligent light brown eyes. He was holding my guitar.

"What is it, Q?"

"Can you teach me how to play the guitar?" He said hopefully. "I want to learn too!"

I laughed. He was too adorable for his own sake. "I'd do anything for you, little bro," I said grinning. He seldom asked for my help anyway. "Give me a minute to change first. Meet you downstairs?"

His face lit up brightly. "Cool! I'll be on the front lawn."

He ran away, dragging my guitar with him. I changed into a white shirt with a black print saying, 'Those who laugh last thinks slowest', black walking shorts and black Converse training shoes. I didn't wear my glasses since nobody close from school lived here in our neighborhood anyway. I ran down with my music book, grabbed a cookie from the counter and went outside. Quinn was already sitting on the ground under our oak tree. He waved at me excitedly and I grinned at him as I approached.

"Hello there, young grasshopper. Let us now begin the lesson of the ways of the guitar."

Quinn giggled and nodded solemnly at me. He was a fast learner. Just teach him the basics and he can already manage from there. I laughed as he did a Mike Dirnt impression because he knew I loved Green Day. As far as I knew, the only people who could make me laugh like this were Quinn and Misha. Dad was seldom home anyway, always out on business trips. Mom was always out all day working as a landscape artist but sometimes, she would find time for us. It was just me and Quinn most of the time.

Suddenly, I felt a prickling feeling at the back of my head and I looked around to see if someone was staring at us. Wow, our neighbor from across the street must have bought a new car again, I thought as I spotted it. They enjoyed being ostentatious. Nobody else was around so I shrugged off the feeling and continued teaching my brother happily.

**********

I was minding my own business in the library when somebody kicked my chair from behind, startling me. I stiffened for a bit then relaxed, thinking somebody might have accidentally kicked it.

"Ugh, tell me why we're here again?" Somebody asked with a groan. He sounded drunk and his voice sound awfully familiar.

"We need to take some tests, you dope. And I need to study." Another kick landed and I was getting pissed. I couldn't concentrate on reading.