Play the Game

Chapter One

                                   *Two months later*

 

  “Ellie!" No answer. “El! Eleanor!" I ran down the stairs and jumped, landing right in front of my mother with a big, bright smile on my face. “Good morning, Mother, dear," I said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. She smiled, relieved. “Good thing you're awake and ready. I was beginning to think I'd have to climb the stairs and drag you out of bed."

   I went to the kitchen and began fixing myself some breakfast. “Would you like a bagel?" I asked my mother. I handed her a cream cheese -covered bagel and took mine in my hand. “Thank you, sweets. Now, let's get you to school."

  Mom drove an old yellow buggy, which I helped pick out when I was younger. “Yellow," I had told her. “To match my shoes."

  I was sitting at my desk in class, calmly doing my work, when a rolled up paper ball hit me in the back of the head.

  “Psst! Ellie!" came a whisper behind me. I knew it was Frank.

  “Frank, was it really necessary to throw something at me?"

  He nodded matter-of-factly. “It was. I'd been trying to get your attention for the past two minutes." I sighed. So what's on your mind, Frankie?"

   The words came flooding out of him. “Guess who I saw here this morning. Actually, you would never guess in a million years. So I'll tell you. Mark." I gasped slightly and turned back around, just thinking.

  “Mark? Are you sure?"

“Definitely. But the real problem is, he thinks you're going out with Nate Cross." This made me turn around so fast, I whipped him with my hair.

  “He what?" I hissed. Frank had this pained expression on his face that made me feel so, so sorry for him. “I'm so sorry, Ellie. I wanted to get back at him, so I made it look like you were having no trouble at all with the break-up."

  I sighed yet again. “But Frank, I wasn't." He looked down. “I know. I'm sorry. I just don't know what to do. If Mark finds out, I'm toast." The worried look on his face made me melt. With a sigh, I gave in. “Alright, Frank, what would you like me to do?"

  He instantly straightened up and put his hands together once. “So. The only way to not get caught in a lie is to make it the truth, you know." He raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes while I shut mine. “I hope I don't see where you're going with this."

  He nodded his head. “Oh, honey, I think you do. Clearly, our only option is for you to go out with The Bad Apple himself, Nate Cross. What do you say, El?" I just nodded slowly. “Fine. But how do you plan on getting the one guy who couldn't care less to help us?"

  He waved his hand in the air. “Oh, that. See, all he needs is a little persuasion. And by that, I mean I'll pay him. And you."

                                         *        *         *

    We cornered Nate at the end of the school day, at the tree where he usually was.

  He only acknowledged us when Frank spoke up. “Hi, er, Nate. I'm Frank, I went to primary school with you. And this is Ellie." Nate looked up and nodded, waiting for Frank to finish and leave. “We were wondering if you could do us a favor."

  Nate laughed, as if he thought we were joking. “Like what?"

  Frank looked at me, but I was taken a little of guard. I hadn't expected Nate to talk, much less laugh. But Frank kept talking.

  “Well, we need you," he pointed at Nate,  “To pretend, just pretend, to go out with her," and he pointed at me. I waved.

  He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. “Oh really? And why's that?" Frank wasn't getting us anywhere, so I stepped in.

   “Because it would be a nice thing to do." Unfazed, he raised his other eyebrow. I sighed. “And 'cause we'll pay you."

  The slightest smile formed on his full lips. Then Frank stepped in again.

  “Yeah, I will. And you two only have to be seen together in public, Particularly in front of Mark Davis. I won't make you PDA or anything either. Just be a normal couple."

  We both looked at Nate with pleading eyes. Finally, he mumbled, “When do we start?" Excitedly, Frank said, “Tomorrow." 

  I said, “So you'll do it?" He grunted and walked away.

                                           *      *       *  

     “Ellie! Come here please!" I followed my dad's yell to our garage. “Yes, dad?" He wiped the sweat of his forehead with the tiny spot on his hand that was still clean. “I could really use your help, if you don't mind, kiddo. Your brother claims to be loaded with home work."

  I stood next to him. “Of course I'll help you."

  I had helped him many times before, and o

knew exactly what to do. This time, Dad was fixing an old coffee table that had fallen apart yet again.

  “So, kiddo. How was your day?" I sighed. Should I tell him? He was my father, but he probably wouldn't be too proud of the whole Nate mess. I told him, “It was alright. But you'll never guess who was there." “Oprah?" I laughed despite my guilt. “No, Dad. Oprah did not pay us delinquents a visit. Remember Mark, the one with whom I went out a few times? He and his dad moved away with his job, but I guess now they're back."

  My dad dropped the screw driver angrily. “Well, I don't want you anywhere near that boy, you here me?"

“Boy?" I asked.

“Yes," he said. “Boy, not man, or even guy. He is an immature potato-headed-butt-face, so stay away."

  I chuckled. “Okay, dad. And I went back to work.

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A/N
That's it! Sorry it was so short, though. The next chapters will be longer as the story progresses, trust me. Just give me time to make it...juicy:) Don't forget to comment or vote!

  love, tuppenceabag