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seven

chapter seven: ignorant desires

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September 16, 1953

The school year was falling and passing by the students so quickly that they could barely settle in and realize what month it was. More work was being given to them, day by day, as junior year was fulfilling its promise to be the hardest year of high school yet.

Eloise sat at her desk, doing her essay to the best of her ability. Matthew sat at his desk, not even bothering to look at it.

He was too busy staring at Eloise from his seat that he had been moved to, which was right behind her. A month- a whole damn month into the school year and Eloise Rosewood hadn't chased Matthew down the hallway, calling out his name or try to talk him at all. It was like she just one day decided to stop talking to him completely and so far, she was doing a pretty damn good job at that.

Today she was wearing a cardigan with high waisted shorts, considering it was still super hot here in California in the middle of September.

Eloise hadn't once worn a bow or those socks with the ruffles at the ends this month. It was only bandanas and scarves.

Who was this new side of Eloise and why did she change? Matthew finally came to the conclusion that it wasn't for him but he knew that this whole "dressing for herself" statement was a scheme. You don't drastically change everything about yourself one day, stop talking to some people, and then go on with your life.

Or was it that simple?

And it wasn't like Eloise had stopped talking or knocked a huge amount of people out of her life.

She had just done that to Matthew and it was bugging him that he was the only one experiencing Eloise's cold shoulder.

Why was it that she said hi to everybody in the hallway except him?

She wouldn't even look at him.

Matthew didn't know why.

But, this was something Eloise did know that Matthew didn't.

She couldn't get herself to face Matthew, let alone look at him. She felt that just one look would send her back to liking him and she couldn't have that again. She wanted; she needed to be strong.

"Mr. Espinosa, keep your eyes on your essay," the teacher demanded.

"Sorry," he muttered, looking down at his empty lined paper.

***

"Eloise," Matthew said, following her out of the class. She didn't bother turning.

"Eloise," Matthew said once again.

"What do you want Matthew?" She snapped, turning around quickly. He turned, unable to speak. He stood there, looking dumbfounded as his mouth hung open. He didn't even know why he went up to her - he just did.

"Uh- uhm," he tried to come up with something but, Eloise just wasn't having it.

"Still thinking that I'm doing this for you- a month into the school year?" Matthew stood there, not knowing how to answer her question. He began to slightly nod his head but quickly shook it, instead.

"Then what do you want, Matthew?"

"I-uh-"

"Why have you been bugging me so much so often?" She questioned. "It's like one day you wanted me off the face of the earth and now you can't stop coming up to me."

"This is coming from a girl who chased after me since sixth grade-"

"Yeah, but that girls gone, Matthew! Have I chased after you once this school year?" He shook his head slowly. "Then why don't you get over with? It's in the past and I'm not doing it anymore.

"Be happy." Eloise walked away toward the cafeteria to find her friends as Matthew stood there, watching her go.

They always said in movies to go after the girl; to go get her when she ran or walked away from him. But, Eloise wasn't his girl and he didn't want her to be.

He wanted her out of his hands and that's what he finally got.

***

From here I'm gonna like skip around a lot and at one point we're going to end up in December but that's where shit finally starts getting real.