Freshman Year

Truth Hurts

The next day was nearly a mess. No one wanted to sit with anyone at the table. Apparently Nicole was mad at people, and Aiden wanted to sit with Ellie. Then there was Brooke and Hadley trying to get Lauren to invite Mason to sit with her. Every time anyone spoke of him now she blushed. Nothing happened between them except them going to the homecoming dance together. That was one of the cutest things ever.

"Mason, you don't have to if you don't want to. It is just that if you did you can. My friends do not care in the least." Lauren says. She plays with the hem on her pants. There is a long awkward pause as she waits for his answer. Suddenly he starts laughing. In her face. "What's wrong with you?"

"Hey buddy you are still alive right?" Brooke asks. Leaning closer to the two of them to see what was going on.

"So if you don't make it can I have your food?" Hadley asks. "Who am I kidding if you sit with us I am still taking it."

"Don't sit close to Hadley. Like at all." Brooke warns.

"Wait you were being serious?" He asks Lauren sheepishly. He gently rubs the back of his neck. Lauren nods her head slowly. "I would love to. Hadley stay away from me." He jokes.

"Its okay. Everyone hates me already anyways." Hadley just laughs and follows her friends back to the table. The tension was high.

Audrie and Emerson suddenly saw Nash approaching their table. Then there was Nicole walking with him. Theoretically speaking of course. There was even tension between Nash and Nicole. That was clear. As soon as they approached it was clear Nicole hated someone. Then there was nervous Nash.

"Hey um... Emerson I really need to talk to you." He says. Emerson looks at Audrie. She was silently pleading for Audrie to slap him again. "Listen I know that I am a jerk, but I want to make things right between us. Just please hear me-"

"You are a filthy man stealer, Emerson! I thought we were friends. I hope you can live with yourself!" Nicole yells at Emerson. Then she directs her anger towards Nash. "Goodbye, Nash. I still love you."

They all just watched Nicole walk away. She went and grabbed Addison from her table and Daelyn from hers. Then she proceeded to drag them elsewhere. Audrie noted that she took them to the bathroom area. Nash turned to Emerson. Emerson was just caught up in so many different emotions she didn't know how to tell him no. He leans down and whispers please to her.

Ellie finally interrupts before Emerson can try to say no, "Trust me. You should hear him out. He already gave Carter and I the speech. It is rather convincing. Nash, I still hate ya buddy."

"Same." Hadley comes from behind Audrie to try and scare her. She successfully does causing everyone to erupt into laughter.

"I will listen to you no promises." Emerson walks to a quieter place. That is where Nash tells her what he said in detention. He even apologized for being a jerk. He just said it in a more colorful way. At the end Emerson gave him her brilliant smile then tells him goodbye and leaves him standing there.

_____

Ellie slowly leaves her last hour class and begins her quest. She was in search of finding Chloe, Courtney and Kennedy. There was something unsettling about the whole pity date thing. Then there was also the fact that Kennedy was stringing along Justin. It had gone on long enough. Ellie had now decided that if they were going to play dirty then she would do it right back. Thankfully she had leverage to use. Not much but just enough. The only problem was that Aiden asked her to meet him at the water fountain in 10 minutes. She had almost no time. Finally she spotted them.

"Hey, Kennedy, can I speak with you for just a quick moment?" Kennedy nods politely. Chloe and Courtney share a glance before looking to Aiden then me.

"What do you need, Elliston?" She says kindly. For a moment Ellie doubted that Kennedy didn't like Justin. However she reminded herself to see through the fake smile.

"I know you do not like Justin. You are stringing him along like a stupid puppy. I want you to tell your friends to stay out of my business. If you can do that I will not tell Justin. Either way you might lose a friend." Ellie says as anger courses through her. Her eyes meet Aidens right before he mouthes fountain. "Annndd thank you. Goodbye. Text me your answer. I know you have my phone number. You have till midnight." Ellie waves goodbye to the enemy then runs after Aiden. She was done with all the dramatic crap going on at the moment.

Aiden was the first to speak, "I know Chloe told you that it was a pity date."

"Um... Yeah she did. She actually keeps telling me that it is." Ellie laughs. Slowly she meets his eyes and continues. "I know it wasn't though."

"Well about that." He mumbles and rubs the back of his head. Ellie's heart sinks. That kiss had to have meant nothing to him. She deeply considers even letting him finish his sentence. "It was suppose to be a pity date. That was why I was late. You were so rude and feisty at first. Surprisingly I really liked that. Then you became really funny. Also you kissed me so that kind of pushed me over the top. I'm sorry about that."

"Wow. Why didn't you just tell me that?" Ellie says with a half hearted laugh.

"I couldn't bring myself to. Everyone that I asked about it told me I could do better than you by a mile. That included them saying I should get back together with Courtney." He laughs while shaking his head. "Am I really forgiven?"

"Yes. As long as you stay honest with me." She tells him.

"I'm gonna need proof that you forgive me okay?" He says pretending to be stumped about this. He raises an eyebrow. "What would be good proof?"

"Okay well..." An idea forms in Ellie's head. This was something she had seen in a movie. She scoffs to herself. "Close your eyes. I want to give you some kissing advice." He does what she says. She begins leaning in knowing full and well he had his eyes partly open. She slowly puts her hand against his cheek. She made sure to be nice and close before completing the task at hand. Instead of kissing him she licks the whole left side of his face.

"That was disgusting. Ew!" Aiden complains before grabbing Ellie and pulling her close. This time she actually leaned in and gave him an actual kiss... On the cheek.

_____

Justin was on his way back from practice when he overheard a girls voice. She was laughing and talking to someone. Of course he recognized the voice to be Kennedy's. He started to walk over to her thinking he would scare her. However it was he who was the one to get shocked.

"Love you, babe. Call me tomorrow okay. Ugh I can't wait to see you this weekend." She says then lets out a very girly laugh. Justin freezes while his heart seems to shatter. He wanted to move, but he couldn't force himself to. She turns around and faces him. Her jaw drops to the ground. She looks completely flustered at the sight of him. "Bye, Carlos."

"Who.. Why... What is going on here? Is this a joke?" His words jumble together. He starts laughing suddenly. "It is isn't it? There is no Carlos. That is your um... Brother."

"No, Justin, he is my boyfriend. I'm sorry I just did not know how to tell you. We can still be friends. Well... Bye." She waves and walks away quickly while biting her lip.

"Did you ever like me?" He grabs her arm. This forces her to look him in the eye. She shakes her head no and leaves.