A New Beginning

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

At school the next day, I saw Tony as soon as I walked through the doors.

"Hey, I was hoping I'd run into you." He smiled. I continued walking to my locker.

"Yeah, same here." I smiled back to him as I placed my back against my locker to talk to him. "I have to get to Math, so I'll talk to you later."

""K." he said as he walked away.

I didn't want to lead Tony on because I already had deep feelings for Elliot, but it was hard not to. I walked to Math and sat behind Elliot.

The bell rang as soon as I sat down, so I didn't have time to talk to Elliot. I tried to pay attention to what Mr. Millar was teaching, but it was so boring. He wrote the problems on the board, and I began to solve them with ease. I finished quickly, and I stuck my earphones into my ears. I went to the music section on my phone and chose a song.

I started to stare out at the window, and I began drawing the snow-covered city in my journal. It wasn't a journal where I kept my words, but my drawings. I was in a daze, and I didn't know someone was calling me until I felt their hand rest on my shoulder. I turned to see Elliot.

"Nice sketch." He said as he glanced at my paper. I quickly closed the book. I was self-conscious of my art.

"Thanks." I blushed.

"So when are you going on your date with Tony?" he asked dryly. I laughed.

"I'm not actually. Like I said, I don't really like him." I said. "Seriously dude, you need to relax."

"I know, I'm sorry." He mumbled.

"You better be." I teased.

"This Saturday." He beamed.

"I know, I can't wait. Did you pack yet?" I asked curiously. He laughed.

"Hell no. I was going to start Friday night." He laughed at my shocked expression. I could feel my jaw hanging open.

"I packed as soon as my mom told me I was going." I screeched.

"Well you're a girl; it's different." He stated.

"Whatever, but when you are not prepared, don't come crying to me." I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Fine, come over tomorrow night and help me pack then, Miss Smarty-Pants" he teased.

"I will." I laughed.

"Good." He said as the bell rang.

It was last hour, and my hands were shaking. I gripped my notecards fiercely. I looked at Elliot.

"It's going to be ok. We practiced this a million times." He said as he rubbed my back.

"I know, this happens every time I present in front of a number of people." I said.

"You play basketball in front of hundreds of people." He stated.

"That's different." I quickly added. "You don't talk, you just do."

"Well, you'll do great." He said as he gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. Nobody saw it because we were in the hall prepping ourselves.

"Let's do this." I said as I collected myself.

The whole presentation went perfectly. We got a 100, plus the extra fifty points from the extra credit.

"Told you." Elliot said once it was over.

"Yeah, yeah." I rolled my eyes and gave him a hug. "Thank you." I mumbled into his chest.

"Did I just here a thank you?" he laughed.

"No." I joked.

"I think I did." He smiled.

"Fine, thank you." I said.

"Much better." He laughed.

I started to walk home, when someone pulled me aside. I was about to flirt more with Elliot, when I saw it was Tony.

"Oh, hey. I thought you were someone else." I smiled. I could see Elliot behind Tony, and he didn't look happy.

"I'll walk you home." Tony said.

"No, I will." Elliot said as he came between Tony and me.

"It's cool dude, I got it." He told Elliot. I could tell this wasn't going to end well.

"Um Tony, thanks, but Elliot has to go to my house anyways, so he can help me with some things." I gave my best smile towards Tony. "Maybe another time though."

"Ok." Tony said as he shot daggers at Elliot.

Elliot and I walked out of the school.

"Exactly what am I supposed to help you with?" Elliot teased once we got to my house. I gave him my very own death glare.

"You can't keep doing that." I told him.

"I'm just trying to protect you." He said while holding my eyes.

"I know, and I'm grateful, but I need to do some things on my own; plus I already told you that I didn't like him." I told him.

"Ok, I will try my best to leave you two alone then." His eyes filled with an emotion that I could not decipher.

"Thank you." I said and kissed him on the cheek. "I will come over tomorrow to help your lazy ass pack." I teased.

"Good, it'll take you awhile though." He smiled.

"I don't care 'cause you are going to help me." I said.

"Oh, am I?" he played.

"Yes, you are." I said as I pecked him on the lips. "Goodbye."