Dream or Reality

Chapter Five

I was on my way to the lunch hall when I heard my phone go off, I quickly checked it hoping it was Ellie finally replying from yesterday but unfortunately it wasn't and instead it was a text from Cameron saying the group was sat in the cafeteria. When I got to the cafeteria, I looked around and spotted the whole group sat around a table in the far corner of the hall. I made my way over and sat down. Cameron was chatting our friend, Josh, about the game they were playing this evening and Melissa and Nicole were chatting to the other girls about a party Melissa was having. "Oh, hey Jamie" Nicole said,

"Hey guys," I replied as I stuffed my face with a handful of wotsits.

"I'm having a party tomorrow night and you have to come. Please."

"Um..."

"Melissa's and Matt's parties are legendary mate," Cameron stated.

"Fine I'll come."

"Yay!" Melissa shouted as she hugged me. I wasn't the biggest fan of parties and have only been to a few, but I did need a good night out to have some fun. "You should join the football team Jamie" Josh said,

"I'm not really into sports or very good at playing them but I will definitely be coming to the game tonight to cheer you guys on." I never really went to any sports games at my old school and instead spent most of my time at the skate park but then again no one in my school really went to any because our teams sucked, and it was extremely rare they would actually win. Maybe it was the lack of school spirit and support that made the teams so bad. "She's here," I heard Nicole whisper to Melissa. Who are they going on about? I scanned the cafeteria and noticed Ellie walking in carrying her sketch book and a pasta pot. "My brother sent me this last night and I think Eggy Ellie might like to see it." Melissa passed around her phone, there was a picture of Ellie covered in what looks like honey and feathers. "Why do you pick on her?" I asked, "like have you ever actually tried to get to know her?"

"She's a freak." Nicole snapped.

"No. Jamie is right so let's give her a chance. Hey Ellie, why don't you come sit with us?" Melissa said as Ellie was walking past our table and everyone looked at Melissa as if she had just suddenly been replaced with an alien clone.

"What? Me?" Ellie looked shocked, confused and scared all at the same time.

"You can sit opposite me and in between Jamie and Nicole." I looked at Ellie and slowly nodded my head. She slowly sat down. I'm hoping that if Melissa and the others get to know Ellie then they can see that she's not a freak and in fact really nice and funny and maybe the bullying could stop and maybe even be friends. "So eg...I mean Ellie, you going to the game tonight?" Melissa asked.

"Um...no, football isn't my type of sport."

"So, what is your type of sport then?" It was Cameron this time.

"Motorbike racing, formula one, that type of thing." They all started talking and I took the opportunity to do Ellie a favour. I still had Melissa's phone open on the embarrassing photo of Ellie and I quickly deleted it whilst everyone was distracted. The bell started ringing which scared the living day lights out of me. I slipped the phone into Melissa's designer handbag, which probably cost a fortune, and started to gather my things to head to my next lesson which was unfortunately maths with Miss Ackerman. Ellie was about to leave when Melissa stopped her and said, "I have a quick question before you go."

"Sure..."

"Where did you get your top? I really like it, but I think it could use a splash of colour." Nicole came up behind Ellie and before I had a chance to stop her, she poured her pink milkshake all over Ellie's head. "Pink really suits you." They all walked off laughing and Ellie ran off. "You coming mate?" Cameron asked,

"yeah but Ellie picked up my phone instead of her" I lied.

"Want me to go snatch it off her?" I shook my head and went off to find her. I needed to make sure she was okay, and I didn't care about missing maths plus I don't think the teacher will even notice.

Half an hour later, I finally found Ellie sat under the staircase in the corner crying. It seemed like she had managed to get rid of most of the milkshake. "Hey El?"

"Go away."

"I'm sorry about what they did to you."

"You were probably in on it."

"I wasn't. I pink promise. I only got Melissa to start talking to you so that maybe you two could get to know each other and I could try to stop the bullying. Also, I deleted the photo of you from last night from Melissa's phone."

"Why would you do that?

"Because I don't agree with what they are doing to you,"

"thanks."

"I have a question, why do you where those sleeves?" Every single time I've seen her she's wearing then but there has been a few times I've seen her wear different coloured and patterned ones. She does pull it off really well though. "I need them." She replied in a sad tone.

"For what?"

"To hide the pain." She grabbed a hold of her arms and I knew exactly what she was hiding. I don't want to ever think about her doing that and I can guess the reason behind it. She shouldn't be doing something like that. "Ellie please promise me you will never do that that again?" She didn't answer and instead just looked away. "Ellie please?"

"Okay Jamie. I promise." I smiled and she smiled back. She has such a beautiful smile. Suddenly, out the corner of my eye, I saw a blonde boy coming towards us. "Ellie!" The boy shouted.

"What Alex?" I think someone had mentioned that Alex was Ellie's older brother.

"I thought I told you about this." Alex continued, "Jamie get lost. Of you go. Bye."

"It's okay Jamie, I'll see you around." I didn't want to go and leave her with this jerk but if Ellie says it's okay then I'm going to trust her. I wandered off to my next lesson.