Chapter 2

Sexting

"eli wtf is goin on here youve been ignoring my calls n texts all day…"

"eli…answer me damnit."

"ELI GOLDSWORTHY I AM GOIN TO KICK UR ASS"

Every text I sent and message I left was a plea for his attention but he wasn't in a giving mood. I hated sitting around waiting for a response, but what else was I going to do? Go out with my friends? They never invited me out anymore. I think I am too fat to be near them now. They are all slim and muscular and I am weak and chubby. My hair is also blonde and they are all brunettes or ravenheads. I feel like I've been left out of some skinny dark-haired girl club, and that made me want to cry.

But most of all, I wanted to cry because I screwed up with an adorable boy who had an interest in me, which is the first time that has ever happened to me. I want to cry because here I am, sitting on my bed, ignoring everything so I might be able to hear from Eli.

Suddenly, I got a call. I snapped my eyes to my phone. Leia Chang. Fabulous. I had dumped her like a hot potato years ago, but she never really got the message- I'm not your friend. I never will be. I picked up the phone anyway. "Hey Leia," I groaned.

"Oh. My. God. Are you dating Eli? Is it true? You guys make a great couple. I mean like, REALLY cute, because you're so different, yet the same attitude," she rambled. I imagined her in a pool fire. I laughed and she quickly said, "What? Is this not true? Are you paying attention to me?"

"Oh yeah, um, I'm paying attention Leia. Hold on a sec," I said. I grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil and began to draw her in Hell, drowning in the lava, while a larger caricature of her dressed up as the devil laughs. "Okay, back. We're not dating. I mean, we went out on a date. But I made him like, really mad and I don't know why." I added a picture of Eli dressed up as a sexy devil. I giggled again.

"Bozzy," she almost screamed. I cringed. My old nickname was cute, but I really didn't care for her usage of it. Her voice was high-pitched and like a never-ending shriek, I didn't want her referencing my childhood with it. "Oh my god, you ruined it? But why? I mean you like, like him right? I can tell. You two should go out again. Here, I'll call him and get the deal, mkay?"

"No, Leia, stop-"

"Sh, just a second," she bossed, right before hanging up. "UGH!" I screamed. Sometimes, the people at my school drove me through a wall. I left my phone behind, hoping Leia didn't know my home phone and wouldn't call it, too, but I quickly retrieved it again, just in case Eli called while I was gone. It was time for a visit to my neighbor, Haley. I didn't hang out with her much because her schedule was crazy, along with her personality, but I skipped outside anyway to meet her. It was chilly, but sunny, and the clouds looked gorgeous. I snapped a picture for editing later.

She was swinging when I got to her house. I was pleasantly surprised to see Alli Bhandari on MY tire swing. I reserve it every time I come over, but there she was. "Hey, Haley! What's Alli doing here?"

"Swinging," Alli bitched. I didn't know why she was hanging out with Haley. Haley was a gangly blonde, but she was quite plain-looking and obsessive. She was a total nerd, in love with anime and manga. She would twitch sometimes. I didn't mind because we were close, but Alli was dating the quarterback and had gone from Haley's position to very, very popular. She could be hanging out with pregnant Jenna and getting hot gossip instead of bothering Haley. Haley didn't mind, of course. Usually Haley would hang out by herself, or with me, or one of her nerd friends I didn't know. A disruption like Alli was rare.

"Well, you're on my swing," I said, crossing my arms. I knew I sounded like a bitchy toddler, but I didn't care. I was upset and I could do whatever I wanted, damnit. I didn't bother to sulk over to the weakest swing, which was never used. I expected her to get up, and she did, but not for what I wanted.

"I don't see your name on it," she lamely retorted, standing up and trying to intimidate me. Blood rushed through my head. My temper had stayed awfully cool for two days while I waited for Eli to call me, but I couldn't stand it. I needed to take a risk. I needed to change my image. It'll make me instantly cool and then Eli will like me. I needed to let it out. I had to, or I was going to burst.

Without thinking, I laid my knuckles across Alli's face. It smashed into the bridge of her nose. She collapsed on the grass with a piercing scream. I looked at Haley. She was shocked and horrified. She rushed to Alli's help. Perfect. I ran home. How could I have done that? No one will forgive me. Hopefully Eli will, but I really don't think he likes raging, abusive women.

I checked my phone again. I enjoyed making myself laugh, so I thought of the absurdity of me sexting Eli. Better, Eli sexting me. Soon enough, I was smiling.

I waited for four hours for some news. I skipped lunch and rewarded myself with a cough drop and a piece of mint gum. I called Leia, but she didn't answer. I also texted all of my 'best friends' but they didn't respond either. Then, suddenly, my phone and my life as I knew it blew up.

"omg bos did u punch alli b? What the hell were u thinkin?"

"Dudee nice job on alli haha heres a pic hale sent me"

"bitch don't hurt alli again or next time it will be your face, my fist"

"what the **** is your problem"

"dayum! Are you and eli together now? ;)"

The picture, by the way, was stupid. Alli didn't look injured, and it was very blurry. I added her into my pit of hell picture, which made me laugh. I hated myself, but sometimes I was quite funny.

Then, what I had waited for all day and all last night popped up on screen. Eli 3 Goldsworthy, the screen read. My heart stopped and I picked up the phone. My hand was shaking, my voice was nervous, but I couldn't drop this call. Not in my life.