Training Wheels {Zerkaa}

{Chapter Eight}

Monday Morning, 10:47am

I sit up in bed and look around, seeing that I'm in Simons room. I squint my eyes as I adjust the bright light shining through the white curtains. My mouth feels numb. My head is pounding. My legs made a poor effort to stay up straight as I pick up my bag to find fresh clothes.

"Morning." Simon yawns.

"Morning Si. Can I borrow one of your shirts?" I ask.

"Yeah, sure." Simon smiles, closing his eyes again to rub them gently.

I smile in a thankful way. I grab a shirt from Simon draw and make my way to the bathroom. I undress lazily and pull Simon shirt over my head, it looking way too big for me. I just slip on some black shorts.

"Morning Ellie!" JJ shouts in my face as I enter the kitchen.

I see Josh in the distance but I ignore him. I really don't want to have an argument.

"JJ, it's early. Please don't shout." I whine.

"Sorry!" JJ yells as he exits the room, leaving me and Josh alone.

"Ellie, can we talk about this?" Josh asks politely with a sigh.

"There's nothing to talk about." I say emotionless.

"Please. I don't want to argue, I just want my best friend back." Josh begs.

I look up at him coldly.

"How about I take you out today? We can sort it all out, yeah?" Josh suggests.

I smile. "I like it!"

"Good, be ready by 12." Josh runs off with a grin on his face.

//12:00\\

I check myself out in the mirror to see if I look okay. What am I trying to do anyway? Impress him? I sigh and grab my bag.

"Going somewhere?" Simon smirks.

I jump a little and press my hand on my chest.

"Jesus fuck." I laugh. "And yes, I am going out."

"Ahh, who with?" Simon asks as he sits on the bed.

"Josh, he invited me out so we could sort this out." I explain.

"Finally!" Simon smiles cheerfully. "Well, good luck. And please, take it easy on him."

I nod and hug Simon. I scurry downstairs. Josh, standing at bottom of the stairs, looks hot. I mean, he always does.

"Hey." Josh smiles.

"You ready?" I asks.

Josh nods and we walk to the car.

The car ride is silent and uncomfortable. I'm still angry at him. He humiliated me, he told everyone my secret I held for years. Well, it is kinda my fault too for telling him but I didn't mean to. He wasn't supposed to know.

"Are we going to let it carry on being this awkward?" Josh sighs.

"No." I mumble.

"Be honest, do you still like me?" Josh questions, looking at me for a quick second.

"No, Josh. It was years ago." I lie.

"Then why were you crying the other night?" He asks.

"Because I was sick of hearing the same thing. When I came back, the first thing you spoke to me about was her. Did you really think I'd want to know?" I explain myself.

"You asked me about it!" Josh yells.

"I didn't expect you to tell me in detail!" I exclaim.

"So you were jealous?" Josh snorts.

"You know what, fuck you. I didn't come out to argue once again!" I shout.

Josh looks at me once he parks the car safely.

"I asked you to come out with me so we can settle things. So now I know you don't like me in that way anymore, we can move on." Josh says.

I sigh in agreement. We both get out the car and walk into Nandos to get a table and eat.

After ten minutes of settling and sorting things out, I decided to change the subject.

"Remember when Simon and Coraline were dating?" I laugh.

"Yeah, it was like they were made for each other. It's sad that they broke up. They were so cute." Josh adds.

"What actually happened though?" I ask, taking a sip from my drink.

"Oh, didn't Simon tell you?" Josh asks confusedly.

"Tell me what?" I question.

"Oh.." Josh trails off.

"What is it?" I ask impatiently.

"I think Simon should tell you himself." Josh coughs.

"Josh, what's going on?" I ask, wanting to know what's wrong with Simon. "Is he okay?"

"Ellie, Simon is gay."