"Ellie, come on. Open up." Marco said, knocking on her bedroom door. "I'm sorry."
"Can't hear you, too busy being bitter and unforgiving." She shot back sarcastically.
"Come on. I didn't mean it. Just open the door, please." Marco begged. With a regretful sigh, Ellie hopped from her desk chair and opened the door.
"What's the point in apologizing if I'm not gonna forgive you?" she said in a feisty manner as she folded her arms.
"Ellie you know my foot lives in my mouth sometimes, I'm sorry."
"Yeah I know you're sorry, and I also know you think I'm bitter. So, I gave it thought. I'm gonna call Craig, tell him I'll go as his friend date, remain calm and collective the whole night and not once will I mention the catastrophe last year. I will be as professional as Eleanor Nash can be. Clear?"
"Clear." Marco saluted her.
"Now, if I wanna pass Carrington's class, I'll have to get some work done. Please let me read in peace." With that, she closed the door.
Marco couldn't help but smile. His plan worked perfectly. Not only could Ellie Nash be bitter, but she could also be easily manipulated. Times like this made Marco feel like a bad friend…but he knew the outcome was for the greater good…of relationships anyways. He walked on to his room.
…
"Alright. Cool! I'll swing by and pick you up tomorrow at five then. Bye." Craig disconnected with Ellie. A wide smile sat on his face. Things were finally coming together for him. His first album would soon be released, he was coming home to be with friends, and most importantly, the girl he'd hurt…the girl he'd loved was willing to take him up on a proposition that nearly made his stomach do loops when he'd first asked her. He wouldn't mess up this time…he'd be sure to…
His thoughts came to a mentality crushing stop. There'd be no chance he could take with Ellie. He couldn't risk it, he couldn't risk hurting her…not again. The date would have to be just what he said, friendly…professional. He'd have to be her honest to god friend.
The smile on Craig's face was beginning to fade.
…
Ellie didn't put much consideration into what she was going to wear that night. She'd just slip into a simple dress she'd found in her closet. Marco kept insisting they head out and find something "new and sexy" for her to wear; Ellie merely thought it to be a waste of time. She wasn't trying to impress Craig, she just wanted to present herself as classy and well mannered as possible. So, after taking her selected dress to the dry cleaners, she returned home and hit the books. Ellie had brewed a nice cup of coffee and took refuge at the small table in the kitchen, three books spread out in front of her, her filled coffee mug at her side. She still hadn't found anyone interesting to do her paper on.
"Elle are you sure you don't wanna head out and get a dress? I have at least 2 hours to spare before my next class!" Marco called from the living room .
"Marco, for hundredth time, I don't need a new dress!"
Paige, who'd been refilling her own mug of coffee, came to Ellie, looking her up and down with disbelief.
"Hun, you need a new wardrobe altogether." Paige smirked to herself. Her obnoxious, mean-girl comment was said for the day. She continued out the kitchen. Ellie simply delivered a fake and a sarcastic chuckle. She didn't have time for a comeback.
"But don't you wanna look good on your man's arm?" Marco joked, coming into view from the living room. Ellie didn't laugh.
"It is not a date, and Craig's not my man. He's an…acquaintance if you will." She said. Yeah right, Nash, she thought to herself.
"Hmm, you didn't see him as that in high school." Marco said, raising a brow as he took the seat across from her.
"Yeah… but that was before he became a cokehead and lied to me about it."
"There you go again, mentioning last year."
"Oh please…and you're the last person to call anyone bitter. Remember that little spat you had with Dylan? Oh I'm so over him, he cheated, he broke my heart!" Ellie said, giving her best over dramatized Marco impression. "That didn't last long."
"Hey, that was different. He cheated… and I forgave him."
"Hmm, smart choice." She mumbled. "By the way…how's Switzerland I wonder?" It was a bit of a bitchy thing to say, seeing as Marco had just recently ended things with Dylan because of the whole Switzerland hockey gig…but hey, he'd been giving her an unnecessarily rough time about Craig.
"I have no interest to know…and plus, when a guy, i.e. Craig, confesses his love for you, you don't just blow him off. I understand you being mad at him and all, but let it go. Give 'em a second chance tonight… he may surprise you."
Ellie hesitated for a moment for a moment before answer. Was she being a little too harsh?
"Look, the best I can do is try; I'll be nice, I'll smile and giggle, but I'm not lifting up my dress and yelling come get it. I'm his friend date, I don't feel the same about him anymore."
"You sure about?" Marco asked. Ellie gave him a look that suggested she may just pour her hot coffee in his lap. "Fine, fine, I'll leave you alone." he threw his hands up, surrendering.
"Thank you," Ellie turned her attention back to her book. Marco kept his eyes on her.
"And if you wanna do impersonations… Oh Marco, he's my best friend's boyfriend. I don't know if I should follow these feelings I'm having, they're sooo wrong!" Marco did his best Ellie impression, batting his lashes like a little girl.
"Yah know there's still half a pot of steaming hot coffee I could dispense into your lap?" Ellie said, holding up her mug and gesturing to the coffee pot on the counter. Marco smiled and threw his hands up in defensive. He left the kitchen. Ellie couldn't help but shake her head and smile to herself.
