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ten

chapter ten: how to win the game

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November 2, 1953

"And right after that, she goes and makes out with some random guy!" Matthew yelled, ranting to his friends. They all stared at him in disbelief, Rosie clearly annoyed and the boys, amused. Matthew stood there, still frustrated about what Eloise had done Saturday.

Sure, she was right. This was what he wanted, and now he was free. But, now what was left for him to do?

"Who does that?" He asked, staring at the floor.

"I don't know, man," Danny replied, a hint of a smile on his face.

"You know girls, they're so confusing," Ricky chuckled. "They take out their anger in weird ways."

"Shut up," Rosie said, rolling her eyes and smacking Ricky's arm.

"See!" Hey yelled.

"Could you guys stop messing around?" Matthew asked, sounding annoyed. They all turned to Matthew, not saying a word.

"I don't get you, man," Danny said. Matthew turned to Danny and raised an eyebrow. "First you want nothing to do with Eloise. You hate her and you want her off the face of the earth."

"I-"

"No, hear me out, Matt," Danny said, not letting Matthew speak. Matthew stopped, listening to whatever Danny had to say.

"Then, when you finally get that, you get bothered and do nothing but think about Eloise all the time!"

"Exactly!" Rosie joined in. Matthew turned to Rosie, listening to her as well. "This is what I've been trying to tell you guys for so long but of course, nobody listens to the girl."

"We just thought it was because you liked Matthew," Ricky smirked, followed by him and Danny laughing. Matthew was too busy to even realize what they had said, as he had caught sight of Eloise down the hall.

"I'm going to talk to her."

"Why?" Rosie asked, annoyed, grabbing Matthew's arm. Matthew yanked his arm away from her grip.

"Because I can," he replied angrily, walking away.

"Eloise!" Matthew yelled, walking fast down the hall. She didn't stop.

"Eloise!" He yelled again. Eloise turned around, two boys and two girls turning around with her.

"What?" She asked as they stood behind her. He stared at her, unable to say anything with all five of them staring at him.

"I-I-"

"Are we going through this again?" She rolled her eyes.

"No!" He said as she began to turn.

"Then what do you want?" She asked. They stared into each other's eyes this time, no anger evident.