Falling Into Whatever This Is

I'm Ellie and I am a teenage girl. Obviously being a teenage girl in the last grade of middle school, things get a little complicated. It all started in January when I met him. Levi.

My friends and I were performing in an acting competition that Levi also happened to be participating in...

***

"Dude! Dude what the hell?!" Levi yelled at Hudson after screwing up the line.

"I'm sorry!-" Hudson broke off, laughing, "I'm sorry...I'm sorry, I forgot." They both stopped and doubled over in laughter.

Addy and I were watching from the side, trying to go over our lines, but continued to get distracted by them and eventually just joined in laughing.

"Hush up will you! We're TRYING to learn!" Addy said in a sarcastic voice, while laughing.

"Fine, then lets add you to the scene and try it," Levi had suggested while grabbing my wrist and dragging me over. He bowed sarcastically towards me as if to ask me to dance.

"My dear Helena, would you have me?" He asked, smiling. Before I could answer, Addy shoved me aside violently.

"No! Demetrius have me instead!" She flung herself forward dramatically as Levi jumps out of the way and laughs next to me.

"Okay guys, seriously we should actually practice now," Hudson suggested in between laughs.

"Fine, fine. Whatever you wish, master," said Addy with a smirk.

"Thank you, fair Adalyn," he mocked her with his eyebrows raised.

I caught Levi staring at me and looked over to meet his gaze. He smiled and I laughed in return. I was really happy in that moment, and I think he was too. I think we all were, in our own way. I felt really connected to each one of them and that was just the beginning.

***

Our team had met up for rehearsal almost everyday last period and Levi, Hudson, and I had become closer friends, as Adalyn and I had already been. I really enjoyed those rehearsal days when nothing else mattered except for the words we were saying and the friendships we were making. I was just thinking about this when Hudson came up to me in the hallway in between 3rd and 4th period, asking me if we were still on for 10th period, to which I responded with yes.

4th period was the class I had with Levi. Originally, I knew no one in that class because I don't have a particularly large group of friends. Levi had his own friends and had basically paid me no mind until the performing arts competition.

At first it was a little awkward because we really didn't know each other, but Levi is very easy to talk to and accepting so we became friends quickly. He had originally only talked to Nat and Alec, but now he takes time to ask about different math problems and work together with me. It made things a whole lot easier.

"Hey Ellie!" Levi had said when he walked into 4th period algebra. Levi and Nat sat across the aisle from me and Alec sat in front of them.

"Hi Levi," I replied. I loved how he always had a smile on his face; it was so easy to make him smile or laugh.

"OH ELEANOR!" I heard and turned my head to face the door. It was Alec of course. I hated when peopled called me Eleanor and he did it just to annoy me.

"Hello again, Alexander," I said sarcastically and continue to organize my things for the day. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Levi giving Alec and dirty look and wondered what it was about. "He's just a great friend," I thought to myself.

That's another thing I liked about Levi; he'll remember little details. Like how I only want to be called Ellie, led pencils are the only pencils I can use, and I can't keep a pass code on my phone because it bothers me. He knew how much I dislike "Eleanor".

Alec always greeted me with Eleanor, no matter how many times I tell him not to and I thought it had finally been enough for Levi since that day he moved his chair and desk over to work we me.

"Damn it," (Levi swore a lot) Levi exclaimed, "I forgot my math book. Could I please use yours?" He asked as if I'd say no.

"Of course! Why do you question our friendship?" I asked laughing.

He hesitated a little before answering, but only so little I would notice. "I wouldn't," he said smiling, close-lipped, "I just wanted to make sure."

Levi was probably the nicest boy I had ever talked to, besides Hudson. He had dark, milk chocolate, hair with light brown eyes that looked gold in the sunlight. His Italian skin was a dark tan that was a shade lighter than his hair.

Most girls thought he was the most attractive thing, but I hadn't thought much of it at the time.

***

10th period arrived and we met in the "gifted" wing. I had 9th period with Addy so we walked leisurely and waited for Mrs. Wood outside the door.

Addy looked around as if to make sure no one was watching us before speaking.

"So dude you know how I like Hudson, right?..." she asked, questioningly. I, in fact, did not know how she liked Hudson.

"WHAT?! No! Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded.

"I don't know...I just didn't." She said, sort of laughing.

"Well please elaborate!"

"I dunno, I sort of just started to find him attractive. Is it stupid?"

"Why would you ever question if a crush is stupid?! Of course it isn't!"

Hudson had fair skin and freckles, but not too many that made it overkill. He had bright blue eyes that were the color of aquamarine and soft auburn hair that was longer than the standard "boy" haircut. I didn't like him, but I could tell why Addy did.

"Okay because I really REALLY like him...it's becoming obsessive," she said worriedly.

"Don't worry! It happens to the best of us," I was interrupted by the thunder of footsteps on the tile and the laughter of teenage boys as Levi and Hudson come around the corner.

"Tie--it was definitely a tie," Levi said between breaths. At this point, I realized how immature boys truly were.

"Fine, fine," said Hudson as I glanced at Addy who was keeping her cool. I smiled at the thought of it.

"What?" Levi asked, tilting his head. He did that a lot, tilted his head when he wanted to know something.

"Oh nothing," I said. I thought it was always good to make strong eye contact with people, it shows good character. Levi is so easy to approach that eye contact with him is even easier.

He gave me a questioning look and smiled. Levi didn't have an in-between smile. It was either open mouth or none at all. I liked that.

"Okay, anyway, let's practice," Hudson suggested. I kept looking at Levi. He kept looking at me.

"Yeah," I said, never breaking eye contact, "let's practice."