Blair, Boys and Butterflies

20.

     I stop in my tracks and turn around just to see him with his head hanging low, being embarrassed. Elliot is embarrassed? Woah, that's a first.
     "Alright then. You can come" I say going out. "But-" I exclaim and point a finger at him "-if you do something fishy, I'm killing you on the spot. Got it?"
    "Yes ma'am" he salutes me and chuckles.
     I roll my eyes. I really hate him.     

    "So she was behind the TV?" I ask Edie in disbelief. She really just made us march the entire neighborhood just to tell me she didn't even look properly in the house. This day is filled with searching for things that were right in front of our noses. Sigh.
     "Yes?" she says stroking the cat that's in her arms.
     I tightly close my eyes and press my lips together to calm down. This is nothing to get riled up for.
     "Okay" I let out a deep breath "At least she's fine." I pet her.
     "Yeah" she looks down "I'm sorry"
     "It's okay" I smile.
     "I'm curious about something tho." she puts on an amused smile.
     "What?" I ask.
     "What are you two doing together, huh?" she points at me and then at Elliot.
     "The dirty" he grins. He really pisses me off.
     I slap his shoulder "How old are you? Five?" I turn to Edie "I lost my keys at the party yesterday and went to his house to find them"
     "But he says something else.. hmmm... Blair? Are you hiding something from me?" she says.
     I swear to god it's like they've teamed against me.
     "Are you both five or what? Did I go back in time? I am seriously going to murder you and hide the body so no one will find it ever" I say through gritted teeth "I'm telling the truth and he's lying. Goodbye now" I say.
     Elliot and Edie both start laughing. They love seeing me angry, don't they?

     "When will this torture end?" I put my hand on my forehead and sighing dramatically.
      "In a few months probably. If you don't fail anything" Abby says, closing her locker with a bang. I felt that bang in my head. It was like someone was banging pots in it.
     "Hey guys, wanna come with me to Maddie's house?" Edie shows up out of nowhere.
     "I can't. I need to help my mom with something." Abby answers.
     "My head is about to explode so imma pass" I head towards the bathroom to splash some water on my face. Hopefully, it helps with my headache.
     "You know, Maddie just got herself a new dog. I know you like dogs. Maybe you can rest a little and play with it?" Edie follows me smirking.
     I stop my tracks and turn around.
     "Hmmm, maybe I can reconsider?" I raise my eyebrows and smile. 

     "Where's the dog?" I ask Maddie, looking around.
     "In the backyard" she chuckles "She's impatient, isn't she" she chuckles turning to Edie.
     Edie just smiles in return, putting her hair behind her ear.
     I dart towards the back door, almost bumping into the kitchen island. Great job.
     As I open the door an unexpected scene unravels before me. Eliot playing with the puppy.
     He's tugging on some material and swinging it lightly while the pup is softly growling and happily wiggling its tail. Eliot looks like he's genuinely having fun. That brings a smile to my face.
     "Well hello there Mr. I-almost-stole-your-dog" I slap on a fake smile while strutting towards them.
     "Oh, hello Miss I'm-so-forgettable" he shoots back with a smirk while standing up. Oof.
     It was only once. I lost my keys ONCE.
    I widen my fake smile, turning my attention to the dog.
    "Who's a cute puppy wuppy?" I squat down and trap its face in my arms. Its face squishes making it 10 times more adorable.
     "Puppy wuppy? Really?" Elliot scrunches up his face, putting his hands in his pockets.
     I turn my head towards him in annoyance, still holding the pupper "Yes."
    "Cute" he nonchalantly says.
     "Of course it's cute. All dogs are cute"
     "No, I meant you"
     I freeze in my spot but regain my concentration on the dog in a second. Who now?
     "Uh, yeah, sure. Let's go with that. Anyway, what's his name?" I ask after I found out that it was a he.
     "Lionel. But we call him Leo for short" he says, crouching down beside me.
     "I assume you gave him that name" I chuckle.
     "Of course. Who else would've come up with a name that suits him so much? Leo, like a lion"
     I squint my eyes "Leo yes but Lionel sounds like some petty middle-aged man that bathes in money and uses poor people for his dirty work"
     "That's really specific. Are you okay? Are you somehow associated with some middle-aged man that bathes in money and uses poor people for his dirty work named Lionel?" he gasps and puts an arm on my shoulder.
     "Oh my god. How did you know? I can't tell anyone this" I look around and whisper getting closer to him "He'll kill me"
     "Don't worry. I'll protect you" he whispers too, looking straight into my eyes with his deep green ones making me go wild under his intense gaze.
     The tension rises and the butterflies are there at their cue as always.
     "Guys, do you want something to drink?" Maddie shouts from the door.
     Elliot and I spring away from each other in a millisecond.
     "Oh, did I interrupt something? Sorry" she chuckles, retreating back to the house.
     Thank you, lord and savior, Maddie. She did interrupt something. But it's a good thing that she interrupted because I would've been a bad friend to Abby.