Best In Show

ten

In Ella's twenty years of life, she's never had a boyfriend, but that wasn't her choice. Everybody she's even been interested in is either taken, gay, famous, or shows naked people off in a very weird and strange competition she's never heard of before, but still agreed to do.

Ella stares at Nicholas, stunned at his bold, and blunt, statement, while Nicholas looks back at her, completely unfazed.

"Oh, I didn't know you had a boyfriend," Max the fifth admits. "I assumed you were single."

"We just made it official yesterday," Nicholas quickly adds. "She hasn't told anyone yet. Right, baby?"

Baby? Ella feels that choking feeling again before she quickly nods. "Yeah, and um, you told us not to come into work yesterday, so I couldn't inform anyone about my relationship status. I'm sorry."

Max the fifth's lips thin as he quickly shakes his head. "No, no, it's fine."

Then it goes quiet between the three of them before Nicholas coughs and readjusts where he's sitting. Thankfully Max the fifth gets the hint before telling Ella goodbye and quickly heading back towards his table with his back facing her.

"I'm guessing he's one of the employees at your job?" Nicholas asks.

"Manager," Ella informs.

"He likes you," Nicholas claims.

Ella nods. "Oh, I know."

"But you don't like him back." Ella can't tell whether it's a question or a statement.

"No, I don't."

"Why not?"

Ella looks Nicholas in the eyes as she tries to think of a good answer. "Because he's very... he tries too hard."

"And you don't like that?"

"No, I don't."

"Why?" Nicholas questions.

Ella shrugs. "Oh, I don't know. I guess I just don't like it when someone keeps pushing something on me that I don't want to do."

"Hmm."

"Why do you ask?"

Before Ella can get a reply, the waitress comes back with her food.

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Thirty minutes later, Nicholas takes Ella back home and tells her to go straight to bed when she gets inside her apartment.

"I will, sir," Ella says. "Goodbye."

"Goodbye," he says flatly.

Ella turns on her heels and quickly walks over to her apartment building, scanning her key card to let herself in. When she turns around, Nicholas's car is still waiting outside. She can't tell if he's staring at her, well, he probably is since he's still there, his windows are so tented, it might be illegal.

After going up four flights of stairs, Ella reaches her floor and goes straight to her door labeled 4C. But before going inside, she gently places the salon bag that Ian gave her down on the ground before tugging off her backpack. Ella decides to put everything inside her backpack just in case she runs into Carly when she walks in.

Carly thinks Ella went to study, which she should have done, she still has that essay for Professor Wells to still do.

Carefully and quietly, she unlocks the door and steps inside. It's quiet, which can only mean one thing, Carly isn't home.

Ella sighs with relief as she hurries inside, locks all the locks, kicks off her sneakers, and goes to the living room.

"Hey," she hears.