Can't Compete

fifteen

ELLA WALKED INTO the school's cafeteria for lunch break per usual. She stopped walking as soon as she saw Ashton and the new girl sitting and laughing away at the Elite's table.

Lily skipped behind her and stopped to see why Ella had stopped walking. "Hey— Oh."

She turned to Lily, seeing her eyes were distant and mouth curved to the side. This was a look Ella was familiar with, meaning Lily's fast brain was plotting something.

"Come on," she insisted, linking her arms with Ella's and guided them towards the table.

Ashton looked up and his smirk slightly dropped from looking at Ella. "You guys are back?"

"Christian and I went to Miami." Lily cheesed, taking her usual seat.

Ella followed, sitting as well in her usual seat, which was the one beside Lily, right next to Ashton's usual seat where he currently sat. The Elite's cafeteria circular table only seated four people, compared to all the other cafeteria tables that seating six and eight people.

Christian not a second later, standing beside Lily with his arm crossed. "You in my seat, girl."

The new girl looked up at him with her big brown doe eyes and quietly spoke, "I— I'm sorry,"

"Yeah? Then move."

Ashton glared at Christian. "Are you serious, G?"

Ella was astounded that he was sticking up for the brunette and he did it without his customary smirk.

"Well, where do you want me to sit? On the fucking floor?"

Ashton didn't have any food so he picked up her fruit salad. "Come on, we'll go out in the courts."

Lily gaped at Ashton, shocked that he was leaving them. She narrowed her eyes at Christian, then looked at Ella with her lips bitten. She was clearly confused on what she would do: tell Christian off for shooing Ashton and his new pet away or leave it alone since Ella didn't want to sit with them anyways.

Christian took his seat and laid his head on his arms down on the table. Lily ran her fingers down his braided hair and sighed. "I didn't know they were that close,"

Ella frowned, then moved her face to its stone look. She didn't know they were that close either. They were only gone for two school days and with Christian and Lily absent, she assumed Ashton made a new friend to keep him company.

She felt something bubbling in her stomach. It didn't feel right.

"He likes her," Christian's voice muffled from having his head still down on his arms, plainly as if it wasn't a big deal.

From Lily's body language, her whole attention was on Christian. "Really, why do you think so?"

"Look how he looked at her and how they left together. Put two and two together, babe."

Lily bit her lips again and looked at Ella nervously. Ella shrugged her shoulder nonchalantly. "It's not my business,"

She was lying through her teeth but neither of them could tell.

"I haven't found my debutante dress yet," Lily pouted. "Have you?"

Ella shook her head.

"What are you doing after school?"

"Nothing,"

"Wanna go shopping?"

"Ok." Ella said, despite not in the mood to do anything after Ashton ditching the Elites for the poor girl.