The New Separation (Book 2)

Chapter 9

Elliot

"Quit brooding, man," Jared said, jolting me out of my thoughts. "I hope the whole year's not like this since you don't have your boyfriend around. I miss my best friend, dude."

I shook my head. "Sorry. I'm just worried about him."

Colton did eventually text me back Saturday night. It wasn't much, saying he was really busy and that he was sorry and he loves me. I've gotten the occasional 'I love you' and 'I miss you' texts Sunday and yesterday too, but not much else. It made me even more eager to visit him on Friday, which he had no clue about, just to make sure he really was okay.

"Can you believe we don't have any classes together?" Jared asked, like I was really in the mood to have a conversation right now. "It sucks. Who am I going to be ignored by all day? Only at lunch, I guess, you know, the most social of all the periods in this stupid high school."

"What are you ranting about now?" Emily asked, setting her tray of food down and taking the seat on the other side of Jared. "I have a feeling I probably don't want to listen to this."

"I'm not trying to ignore you, Jare," I said, not bothering to answer Emily. She'd figure it out. "I just have a lot on my mind today, that's it."

He scoffed. "Yeah, your precious boyfriend no longer being here to sit with you at lunch. No offense to Colton or anything - he's great - but you gotta get over him. He left you behind and yeah, maybe he has a reason he's not talking to you as much, but get over it. It's not like you'd make it through this year anyway."

I stared at him with my mouth open. He didn't actually just say that, did he? Emily, apparently being on my side of this, smacked his arm.

Then it was Jared's turn to gape at her. "What was that for?"

"For being an idiot and trying to crush your best friend's feelings."

"We didn't break up," I added sternly, feeling the need to clarify. "And we aren't going to. I'm going there on Friday to surprise him for our anniversary and it'll be great, and we'll be perfectly fine."

Jared seemed to give up the fight, slumping back in his chair and slowly stirring his tomato soup with a spoon. It wasn't like him to get this moody, but then again, he recently ended whatever he had with Kaity this summer. Maybe that was it.

"You convinced your moms to take the car on Friday?" Emily asked, deciding to ignore Jared's sulking.

I shook my head. "Unfortunately not. They both need their cars. But..." I smiled, "Alyssa is coming home Thursday night for something or other and I'm taking her car on Friday."

Her face lit up. "That's great! I'm so glad you're doing this, El. I think it'll be good for you guys. I know how much you miss him."

She then winked and I could feel my face heat up. I was definitely not thinking about that when I decided to surprise Colton. I mean, sure, I wouldn't be against it if it happened, but going there to have sex is not my plan. All I really wanted was to hold him again. To kiss him. To hear him say he loves me not over technology. To make sure we were okay.

Jared stood up suddenly, making some of his soup that he had barely touched spill over the side of the bowl. "I'll see you later guys," he said, grabbing his stuff. "I just remembered I have to do something right now."

I watched him leave, not realizing until after the cafeteria doors had closed behind him that he had left his notebook behind. I'll get it to him later, if he even wanted to talk to me. Was his bad mood about me? What did I ever do to him?

"He'll get over himself, I'm sure," Emily said, turning back to her food. "He's not actually mad at you."

I sighed. "Feels like it, though. I didn't do anything to him. He's just upset because I'm actually dating someone, or that Colton and I have been together so long while he can't seem to keep a girlfriend. That's not my fault."

"I know that, Elliot. He knows it's not your fault either." She put down her fork and looked at me. "How about we go out tonight, you and me? Didn't you say this morning that you still needed to look for an anniversary gift?"

That made me smile. I learned this summer that shopping with Emily was actually fun. She was also really good at picking out gifts for people. I could definitely use her help with this. "Yeah," I said. "That sounds great."

She went back to eating and a thought suddenly occurred to me. "Hey Em?" She looked at me again. "If any one of us should be complaining about not dating, it's you. Why don't you have a boyfriend yet? Any guy would be lucky to have you."

She blushed a little, glancing down at the table with a shrug. "I don't know. I just haven't thought about it at all."

I nudged her shoulder. "That's a lie. You have a crush, don't you? Come on, you can tell me. Who is he?"

"No. Elliot, stop, will you?"

I didn't. This was actually really fun. "If I guess right, will you tell me?" She didn't object, so I started. "Dan. Mike. Anthony. Jake. Matt R. Ooh, Matt D."

"Elliot! You can't just list all the hottest guys in our grade!"

I laughed. "Why not? I can't have them, might as well be you."

The glare she sent me made me laugh even harder. At least, until someone spoke behind me.

"What's so funny?"

I looked up at Jared. I decided telling him about our conversation on dating probably wasn't the best idea with the way he's been acting lately, so I avoided his question. "You're back. That was quick."

"Yeah, no. Forgot this." He reached around me to grab his notebook. Then he was gone again, just as quickly as he left the first time.

I went to say something to Emily, but the words never left my mouth once I looked at her. She was blushing a lot harder than she was a minute ago. That's when the pieces fell together.

"It's him," I stated. She didn't answer, just bit her lip a little bit. "Really? You like Jared? Of all people?"

Her eyes snapped to mine. "Don't say anything, especially not to him, please, Elliot."

I nodded. "I won't. But just tell me something. Why him? You do know his track record with girls, right? I mean, he's my best friend, but he's not that great of a person."

"I don't know. I just do. Why did you like Colton when you first met him?"

So many reasons. But she basically knew it all, and I didn't want to think about all those good times we had together when right now all I wanted to know was if he still loved me the same way I do.

The bell rang, saving me from having to answer the question. Emily seemed to understand too, because, as we were leaving the cafeteria, she nudged my arm to get my attention.

"We still on for shopping later?" she asked. I nodded. "Great! I'll pick you up after school, then we're going to find the best gift to make him love you for the next hundred years!"

I smiled. If only a gift like that existed. But if it did, I knew Emily would be able to find it.