Freshman Year

The Meltdown

The months flew by. New friendships had formed then broken. Fights had broken out amongst them and yet their friendship stayed in tact. For some odd reason Hadley was the first to wake up. She glanced over at her phone that just kept buzzing until she finally picked it up and pressed it to her ear.

"Hey is this Hadley?" A familiar voice asked.

"Elliot?" Hadley sighed sleepily.

"Yes." There was a long lapse of silence. He took a breath and blurted out, "Will you go on a date with me?"

"I'm sorry... Do you have the right number?" She stammered to find the right words. "Are you sure I mean- oof!" Ellie had thrown a pillow at her. "Ellie, don't make me come over there! Elliot, I guess where are you taking me?"

"Anywhere you want to go. Honestly I didn't think you would say yes..." He mumbles into the phone. Even though Hadley hadn't heard anything he just said she hung up the phone to go back to sleep.

She laid down and stared at the ceiling when something hit the side of her head, "Did you just throw a pencil at me, Ellie?"

"I need my pillow back." She sticks out her bottom lip. Hadley grudgingly throws the pillow back to Ellie. Ellie very happily sets the pillow underneath her head and closes her eyes. Hadley closes her eyes to go back to sleep even though something was nagging at her that she just couldn't remember.

•

The next thing Brooke knows she is being shaken awake by Lauren and Emerson. She stares at the two of them before throwing the pillow over her head. Emerson's phone buzzes again. Audrie and Ellie were begging them to come over. They were acting like somebody in their dorm room didn't just scream bloody murder. Emerson grabs Brooke by the feet and pulls her into the floor. Finally Lauren opens the blinds bringing light to their dark dorm. The two girls get on either side of Brooke and drag her next door.

Before they even knock on the door Ellie opens it with pale face. They all just give her a funny look before glancing over at Hadley who is rambling about something to Audrie who just kept laughing an nodding her head. Finally Hadley just buried her head in her hands and said that this wasn't funny over and over again.

"Can we back up a sec?" Lauren asks Ellie who was trying her best to keep a straight face. "What happened in here?"

"Well-" Ellie begins before getting cut off by Hadley.

"Elliot... he- he asked me out... and I said yes!" Hadley basically yells. She then dramatically flops backwards on the bed. The others just begin to laugh before they realized just how serious she was. "He called me up about 20 minutes ago, I was half asleep, and I said yes. Can you believe it?"

"What is the big deal? Elliot is a nice guy." You can never say that Lauren didn't try to make her feel better. Hadley shakes her head knowingly. She knew someone would ask that stupid question.

"See I told myself that at first, but then I remembered something. Elliot asked Thea out a few weeks before Christmas break. Thea then made out with Cory at the New Years bash. Thea left Elliot for Cory- who I have a crush on. Long story short Elliot is crushed by being cheated on and I am his rebound girl. I don't want to be a rebound, Lauren!" Hadley nearly yells. She sounded hysterical now.

"You need coffee." Ellie says under her breath. "Actually you make me need some coffee.. anyone else? No? Okay I guess I will go downstairs by myself."

As soon as Ellie exits the room she sees Addison leaving her room. They both begin to walk downstairs together. This was a tradition for Addison. Once she had gotten her new boyfriend they would meet in the lobby. As soon as Addison saw Max she left Ellie to get coffee by herself. Ellie had just gotten her coffee when someone jabbed her sides. She let out a loud shriek as some coffee spilled onto her arm.

"Ow! Frick! Why would you do that?!" Ellie turned to see Carter. Her face lit up and she jumped onto him. After Christmas Carter had to stay home because his parents were getting a divorce, and he didn't know if he would be returning. "Carter you're back!"

"I'm glad too! Why didn't you text me you little twat?" Ellie laughed at what he had called her.

"I've been busy and Brooke told me not to. I think she was feeling a little jealous over our friendship." Ellie let out a small laugh. She turned to get more coffee. When she turned back around Carter was still standing there. His face was a little... sadder if possible. "Why aren't you rushing to go see Brooke?"

"We got in a fight about you. She said I texted you more than her. Which was true I guess, but we broke up for distance reasons." He tells me sullenly.

"Well there is no more distance so go get her silly goose!" Ellie playfully winks at him and begins to walk away. Carter doesn't move he just watches Ellie walk away.

Addison runs over to walk back up with Ellie. The smile on Addison's face was priceless as they continued to their floor. "Max is the perfect boyfriend, Elliston. He brings me donuts in the morning. Want one?" She offers and Ellie gladly accepts.

"I wish Aiden had enough money to do that for me. Addison, you are really lucky." Ellie smiles at her. Once they get up stairs Ellie glances nervously at her door. She doesn't want to enter. Then again Brooke deserved to know Carter was back. However Ellie heard Hadley let out some kind of angry noise. "Ehh... she will find out in class later." Ellie mumbles under her breath. "Addison can I chill in your room for a bit?" Addison just smiles and nods.