Everlong

| Twelve: Charlie |

Me and Jack's 'deal' to keep the interactions to a minimum got increasingly difficult as the week went on. Ellie insisted I ate lunch with her, and given that there is no one else on Earth I'd rather share snacks with, I agreed without too much convincing. As expected, Miles and Jack sat across from us, joining in the conversation when necessary.

The tension between Miles and Ellie seemed to have almost completely disappeared. I noticed this when Miles leaned over to show Ellie something on his phone, and she almost leaned against him to see properly. I gave her a playful nudge and grinned at her, to which she just shook her head.

"You guys hear about the Alabama abortion ban?" Ellie asked, carefully peeling a banana.

The boys sighed, Miles shaking his head disapprovingly. "Kind of hard not to. Bold of America to bring back the 1940's."

"More like inhumane," I interjected. "They want to give women the death penalty for getting an abortion. Alabama doesn't even excuse incest. Some state is even changing the criteria for rape, as if that makes any sense."

"Wait, seriously?" Ellie gasped. "What do you mean?"

"Can't say 'no' once the act has started. Basically can't change your mind."

"Yeah," Jack said, disgusted. "And miscarriages are being investigated. Fucking terrible."

"What's worse is that a woman signed the bill," Ellie nodded, sadly. "Can't trust anyone in power to have our backs."

Jack grimaced. "Guess we'll just have to run for Prime Minister, then."

I blurted out a laugh, immediately smacking my hand over my mouth. The three of them looked at me, expectantly. "Sorry. I was just picturing a campaign for free cool mint pods and vending machines for vapes."

Miles laughed. "Yeah, and fines for anyone who hasn't watched Van Helsing."

"Somehow, he'd change the national anthem to The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats."

"A respectable banger," Jack defended with a laugh. "What's with the harassment, anyway?"

"Charlie started it," Ellie reminded everyone.

I winced as Jack's head snapped towards mine. The table fell silent as our eyes met. We both blushed, furiously, as we waited for the moment to end.

But it didn't.

"You still taking Charlie to her game tomorrow?" Ellie inquired, taking a sip from her soft drink.

I hesitated, Jack didn't. "Yeah. I mean, I lost the bet, didn't I?"

"You don't have to," I insisted.

"It's really nothing, Charlie."

Miles looked between us, an eyebrow raised. "Did I miss something? Because it seems like I've missed something." He looked towards Ellie for answers, but she was looking at me.

I directed my head at Jack, but didn't meet his gaze. "Yeah, sounds good. Pick me up at half past eight?"

He half nodded, keeping his eyes trained on table. "No worries."

The rest of the break passed slowly, and painfully. Miles and Ellie chatted about the Two guys, chillin' in a hot tub vine, and debated the quality of Pub Squash until the bell rang.

"What the hell was that?" Ellie asked me on our way to class.

"I forgot how to talk to someone I'm not supposed to be talking to."