Not Thinkin' Bout You

Chapter 40

PREVIOUSLY: Just as Ellody was pulling her phone out to call her, the door swung open, and the last person Ellody wanted to see was standing right there, a smirk on her face.

"Ellie! What are you doing here?" Kay asked, looking her up and down. Ellody remembered she was wearing her favourite black ripped jeans and the autumn sweater Sienna gave her, so she didn't mind that Kay was judging her appearance.

"It's Ellody. I'm here to..." she trailed off, wondering why she was there. She was there to see them, because she felt bad for being with Jonah while having feelings for Zach... she was there to fix herself.

"Go on, you can tell me," Kay smiled. Ellody took a deep breath as Christina appeared at Kay's side.

"Ellody, what the hell? Oh my God!" Christina shouted, pushing her way out to hug Ellody. Kay hung back, a slight smile on her face. Ellody was so glad that Christina was there and had jumped in between her and Kay.

"Hey, how have you been? I feel like it's been so long," Ellody smiled, hugging her back.

"Yo, Ellody, what?" Corbyn laughed, joining the hug. Corbyn's warm body wrapped around Ellody's, and she felt safe in his arms. Then Jack appeared and said hi before taking her suitcase to who knew where.

"Come inside, it's getting cold," Jack called over his shoulder. Corbyn walked in first and thanked Kay for holding the door for them, and Christina pulled Ellody inside. There was a moment between Kay and Ellody where Kay gave her a look that Ellody didn't understand, but it passed so quickly that Christina had pulled her away before she could make sense of it.

"So that's why you asked me if I was going to be up at midnight," Christina grinned. Ellody nodded as they walked into the large living area, where Corbyn had made himself comfortable on the couch and pressed play on Grown Ups.

"Guys, shush," he said, putting a finger to his lips. Christina held up her middle finger at him before walking into the kitchen and making hot chocolate.

"Who wants a choc?" she called.

"I'll have one," Ellody smiled, glancing around the downstairs area. Jonah, Zach and Daniel were nowhere to be seen.

"Yes please," Jack and Corbyn shouted back over the movie. Christina made herself busy with the milk frother as Ellody took a seat on a bar stool.

"So, what the hell are you doing in LA? Other than to see me, obviously," Christina asked, turning away from the little machine.

"Long story, I'll explain later," Ellody sighed, rubbing her eyes. She still felt drowsy from the flight and she needed some sleep. Christina nodded and yawned, glancing at the time.

"Why am I so tired? It's, like, only midnight," she laughed. Ellody shrugged, wondering if Jonah had already gone to bed.

The milk frother beeped, and Christina turned around to pour two mugs of hot chocolate. Ellody took them from her and walked into the living room, handing one to each boy.

"Thanks Ellody, looks good," Corbyn smiled.

"Thank your girlfriend for the drink, I just watched," Ellody replied as she gave the second mug to Jack.

"Mm, thank goodness for hot chocolate," Jack mumbled, taking a small sip and pulling a face as he nearly burnt his tongue. Ellody walked back into the kitchen as Christina set down two mugs.

"Thank you," Ellody smiled and held the mug, blowing into the drink and not making the same choice as Jack.

"OK, spill the tea. What's going on with you?" Christina pressed. Ellody sighed and stared into her drink, trying to think of the shortest way to express her thoughts.

"I feel guilty for liking Zach and dating Jonah at the same time, so I'm here to fix things. I'm not really sure how yet," Ellody explained quietly.

"So... you're going to break up with Jonah? Or you're going to somehow lose feelings for Zach overnight? I think the first option is possible, not so much the second," Christina said bluntly, taking a sip and raising an eyebrow at her. Ellody's heart dropped, realising she was right.

What else would I do?

I came here without a plan.

How did I picture myself leaving? With Jonah as a boyfriend? What was I expecting to get out of this?

"I... don't know. I'll sleep on it... and decide in the morning. Right now, I'm so tired I can't see myself staying up much longer," Ellody frowned, taking another sip. Christina tipped her mug to the roof, finishing her drink and ditching the mug in the sink.

"Whatever you decide, let me know, OK? Come watch Grown Ups with us," Christina offered, walking over to the couch and sitting in Corbyn's lap. Ellody watched Corbyn move his drink to the small table in front of him so he didn't spill it on his girlfriend before leaning back, allowing Christina to make herself comfortable lying on him. Ellody wished she had that confidence. She wished she had that kind of relationship, where they'd been together for years and everyone guessed they were going to end up marrying each other.

She finished her drink and put her mug next to Christina's before saying goodnight to Jack, Corbyn and Christina. Ellody walked slowly upstairs, wondering which room was Jonah's. She knew which room was Zach's, and she walked quickly past in case Kay was in there. Ellody glanced down the hallway, debating going back downstairs and asking Jack, when a door on her right opened and Jonah appeared, shirtless and half asleep.

"Ellody?" he mumbled. Her eyes widened as she realised he was standing right in front of her.

"Um... surprise?" Ellody shrugged. He grinned and pulled her into his room, shutting the door and hugging her. He almost lifted her off the ground, making Ellody laugh. Guilt bubbled away in her stomach as they hugged, and she expected him to kiss her, but he didn't.

"I'm so glad you're here! Jack brought your bags upstairs earlier and left them outside my door, and I thought..." he trailed off, glancing at her stuff on a spare bed in the corner of the room. Ellody wondered whose stuff he thought it was, if he pulled out a spare bed.

"Who did you think I was?" she frowned, unable to take her eyes off the spare bed. Oh my God, did he think I was Tate? Is he expecting Tate, so he set up a spare bed for her because they're not dating?

"Oh, I don't know..." he frowned. Ellody slowly walked over to the bed and sat on it, pulling out her phone to let her mum know she was alright. "Anyways, are you going straight to bed? I'm really tired," Jonah said slowly, stretching his arms above his bed. Ellody frowned at her phone, wondering if this meant she would be sleeping on the spare bed and not in his.

If we start distancing ourselves from each other, it won't be too hard to break up...

"Yeah, me too. I don't even have the effort to shower right now," Ellody mumbled, pulling off her jeans and changing into sweatpants. Jonah hovered by the light switch as she got changed, and as she pulled the covers of the spare bed over her body, he flicked the switch.

Ellody listened as Jonah climbed into bed. He pulled his sheets up, found a comfy spot and became still.

I wonder what Zach's doing.

Probably sleeping next to Kay. God. What an awful thought.

I wish that was me right now. I miss him more than I can put into words.

As Ellody tossed and turned, trying to get to sleep, she couldn't stop thinking about how she was physically closer to Zach than she had been in a really long time, but in that time, everything had changed. She'd developed feelings for Jonah. Zach had gotten back with Kay, and Ellody had become official with Jonah. Everything was different, and for once, Ellody wished she was still at the airport hugging Zach goodbye.