The Day I Met Diane

Chapter 8 - Eat, Sleep, Go to School, Repeat

It was almost the second class of the morning and no one had seen or heard anything from Diane and James. In a way, this made Ella actually want to see them. She feared for them. What if something had happened. Margot had gone to the teachers room to argue, or as she put it, discuss, over a small detail that had stopped her from having the score she thought she deserved. Steve, Ella and Connor stood on top of the stairs, looking around the grounds, searching for their disappeared friends.

Nothing.

The anxiety of not knowing anything drove Ella mad. In an attempt to rescue herself from her nervous state, Ella stepped back and simply leaned against a white wall that rapidly made her clothes turn the same colour. Steve was too deep in his own thoughts to notice this.

Connor looked back to see a concerned Ella. Without saying a word, he leaned back onto the same wall. He put his hand on her crossed arms. They nodded to each other and resumed their watch of the school yard. Words weren't necessary or wanted in that situation. The silence was what kept everybody from loosing their shit in a way. The sheer fact that Connor had bothered to keep it meant a lot to Ella.

Margot arrived, proud that she had gotten her way. In a certain way, resembling a cave man coming back from a hunt, waving his prey, proudly showing off his victory.

"What the fuck guys, this place looks like a damn funeral. Whats with the sad faces?"

"I don't know Margot, maybe the fact that two of our friends haven't appeared at school today!" said Connor, salty.

"Maybe they are sick..."

"Both of them? The day after they went on a date together at night? Don't bullshit me Margot" Steve snapped. He was clearly very worried about James.

"Oh my god, can you please be a little less pessimistic!? They are my friends as well!" Margot was hurt as well. Humour was one of her ways of dealing with the situation.

After all the classes, the school day ended. No sign of Diane or James. Everybody went straight back home.

On her way back, Ella thought about Diane and James. She decided to visit Diane on her way home.

She rung the bell and a short and chubby lady answered it.

"Hi, I'm Ella, I am one of Diane's friends. Is she home?"

"Oh hi Ella, I'm Diane's mother. She is in her room yes. Just at the end of that corridor." Mrs. Jones said, pointing the direction to Ella.

Ella nervously walked on. The sheer idea of seeing Diane already made her feel nervous but the idea of seeing her after she had gone on a date with someone else. That was a whole other deal.

She knocked on the door and heard Diane's voice tell her to come in. She entered the room and immediately froze on the spot. In front of a tv screen, sitting on a grey sofa with yellow pillows, Diane and James. Both pale and looking like crap.

"Hey Ells, thanks for the visit!" Said Diane, trying to get up to hug her friend but quickly falling back on the sofa due to lack of strength.

"What the hell is up with you two!?" Ella said, half outraged for seeing them there, together, half concerned.

"Long story short, last night we went to eat dinner after the movie. Problem, we both caught food poisoning. We came back to Di's house and Mrs. Jones wouldn't let me leave so she called my mom and I stayed over." James said, surprisingly happy, considering the fact he had food poisoning.

"Well, that's bad luck..." Said Ella, still standing, uncomfortable.

"Is it though?" James said, looking at Diane in the eyes. It was clear what was going on there. There was officially a new couple in the group.

"Congrats you two!" Ella said, faking excitement for the two.

"Thanks, hey James, could you please go get me a glass of water?"

"Yes, my lady"

James exited the room. Diane made a gesture to Ella telling her to sit.

"I want to tell you all the details of last night!" Diane exploded.

"I bet it is quite the story indeed. I have a feeling you won't be quite as short and fast as James." Ella said, forcing a giggle.

"Still I am too tired for that now. Will you hand me that blanket?"

Ella carefully laid the blanket over her friend and made sure she was comfortable.

"I think I have now figured you out, Ella Carter."

"Oh really!? And what have you to say about me?" Ella suddenly felt utterly nauseated.

"God, so posh!"

"Sorry, been reading a lot of Pride and Prejudice."

"Love that book. Anyway, you Ella Carter, are only of the single most kind and sweet people I have met. You care immensely about your friends and are genuinely happy around them. You never hesitate to help them and are always there for a kind word."

"Only good stuff huh?" Ella sarcastically remarked.

"You joined me with one of the best guys in the world, Ella. There is no way I could think of you in a bad light."

The two friends hugged and Ella went home.

She sat on her bed and reported back to Margot who delivered the message to the guys. She only felt like talking to Margot. Margot was ht only thing that fully made sense in that moment.

And right there and then, Ella felt her whole world explode, felt like falling from the sky with no parachute, felt like swimming in shark infested waters.

She felt like she might never be happy again.

"What now? What the fuck am I supposed to do, how am I supposed to act? How will I be able to forget her? Will I ever forget her?"

She shared all her worries with her friend who most patiently read her testament long texts. After a long conversation which extended after midnight.

Margot Watson

- What is gonna happen now Margot?

- Honestly, Ells, I have no idea.

- Seriously, fuck my life.

- Don't be like that. All you can do now is wait. I guess, only time will tell what comes next.

- What if I don't like what comes next?

- Well, life is a bitch and then you die. I find you not liking it quite likely.

- What will i do?

- Sleep, eat, go to school and repeat.