(Un)Fortunate

Chapter 15

Caleb must have sensed my fumes when I violently opened my locker and then slammed it again.

"Ell! What's wrong? Your like a herd of bulls except one bull instead of 100."

"I know, I'm sorry. It's just that this reporter lady keeps showing up," I re-open my locker and grab out my history book.

"Ellie, I was waiting to tell you something, but I think you should hear it now instead," He looks a little nervous to tell me this. He bites his lip and I can hear someone across the hall sigh with pleasure.

~~~

"Now, you can't tell anyone yet. My manager is arranging a press conference to announce the news. Then, at the awards show this weekend, I am making a speech," He says, the bell has rung already, but we linger a bit longer.

"Alright, when is the press conference? I go tonight to get my cast off."

"Tomorrow, and then the awards show is on Sunday."

"Okay, I'll be there."

And with that, I take a deep breath and walk away.

~~~

At lunch, all the people in my grade got to eat together today.

I sit down at my usual table next to Caleb, Jen, Cameron, Logan, and Jessica- who insisted on sitting at our table. We made it a point to sit right next to Caleb to save him the annoyance.

Logan sits next to me, his leg is touching mine because of the amount of people at our table.

"So, are we invited to the awards show or after party?" Cameron asks, taking a bite of his healthy salad. Cam's mom is one of those health nuts that eats nothing but healthy food.

"Sure, I can talk to my dad! It would be so great having all of you there to support Caleb," Jessica says, and we all turn to stare at her blankly.

"I meant Caleb, but okay," Cam says awkwardly.

"So prom is next week! Who's excited?" Jen says, trying to un-awkwardize the mood.

"Me!" Logan says, looking right at me. I feel myself blush, and look down at my uneaten BLT.

"Ooohhhhhhh," Caleb teases.

"What about you and Brooke?" I tease, sticking my tounge out at him.

"Wait, Brooke from the last movie you were in?" Jessica says, her face is tomato red.

Caleb nods awkwardly, giving me an I-told-you-not-to-say-anything-glare. I shrug my shoulders to say "I'm sorry".

Everyone else at our table looks at me awkwardly, and I feel myself blush a tomato red. Jessica looks like her whole world is ruined.

"Um Ellie, can I speak to you in private?" Caleb says, nodding violently towards the door.

I nod and follow him into the foyer of the school.

"Ellie, me and Brooke were never a thing. It was all an act for publicity. Mom wouldn't let me tell you because of just this," He sighs.

Oh. My. God. Was he kidding? So, he wasn't in a relationship with Brooke?

"So. If You don't like Brooke? Who do you like?" I ask. He figets around a little bit, before looking straight at me.

"Well, um. I-um-" He mumbles.

"What? Who is it?" I push.

"Ken," He mumbles.

"Ken? As in Barbies boyfriend?" I tease.

He sighs.

"No. Jen," He nearly whispers.

"WHAT?!" I nearly choke on my own saliva.

"Yeah," he mumbles, shrugging his shoulders.

"So that's why you always act so nice around her. I always knew you had an alterior motive..."

"Please don't tell her, I want to ask her to prom," He said nervously.

"You do?!" I say, jumping up and down a little.

"I was planning on asking her tomorrow," He says, rubbing his hands together. "And that's where you come in."

And I literally jumped for joy.