A/N: Last chapter! YAY! I hope you guys enjoy it! :)

Hopeless, the Sad Fate of Nate Black: A Dumb Diary

June 18th, 2010

I know I'm supposed to be above this but I'm about to write out my frustration:

UGGGHHHH GRRRRRRR WHY?

I DID NOT GET A CHANCE TO TALK TO ELLA TODAY.

I swear if I could, and the guy wasn't one third of my damn band, I would MURDER Shane.

Here's what happened:

This morning Jason let it slip to Shane that Taylor has a crush on Mitchie, and guess where Mitchie was at that moment?

With Taylor. Where else?

So Shane goes storming around Camp looking for Taylor (so he could attempt to rip the guys throat out). And I, because I'm an idiot who feels like he has to maintain order, followed him.

And somehow Shane found them. The guy tracked them down. He asked everyone he saw if they'd seen either one of them until he found out where they were.

Rehearsal Cabin A.

The idiot almost kicked the door down (He would have if I hadn't been there).

There was yelling back and forth as Mitchie gave him a glare almost as terrifying as Ella's (it didn't quite scare me as much as it scared Shane). Finally she stomped off and took Taylor with her. I was surprised Shane didn't chase after her. He just stood where he was and shouted things at her retreating back.

Am I really friends with this guy?

I spent most of the day assuring Shane that Mitchie had no idea Taylor had any feelings for her. I only got a reprieve from that because Mitchie suddenly came running into our cabin. I snuck out while she was hastily mumbling apologies, but by that point it was nearly lights out.

I came back in after Mitchie left and was briefed on what had happened. Taylor made a move on Mitchie. Mitchie was venting to him about Shane when Taylor decided THAT was the appropriate time to express his feelings. Mitchie freaked out, tried to calmly explain she wasn't interested, and then ran to our cabin.

Shane intends to shun Taylor for the rest of the summer. Jason thought we should have all been shunning him since that mess went down with Caitlyn.

I've never actually met Taylor…but the dude is an idiot. That's all I'm going to say about that.

That's all the drama for today, but…TOMORROW I WILL TALK TO ELLA. I don't care what I have to do to make time to talk to her…I'll do it. If I have to let Shane beat the crap out of Taylor, I will.

I have to tell her, and I can't put it off any longer. I can't.

June 19th, 2010

Nate,

You left your diary on the pier when you ran off to break up the fight. Wait. I'm sorry, journal…you like to call it a journal, right? Anyway, I didn't read it. Don't worry. I'm going to leave it on your bed in your cabin. Just letting you know where you left it and who found it. I guess, you'll tell me what you wanted to tell me later?

xoxo

Ella

…Ella brought back my journal. First of all…I CAN'T BELIEVE I LEFT IT. Second of all, IT'S 9 PM AND I STILL HAVEN'T TALKED TO HER. I just got out of Brown's office after spending an afternoon being yelled at…FOR A FIGHT I TRIED TO STOP.

And now I'm going to run off and find Ella before lights out.

11:00 PM

My life is awesome right now.

Just saying.

I'm back from talking to Ella, and my day is instantly better.

The day actually wasn't that bad…until the fight. You know how I joked about Shane beating up Taylor? Well, Shane didn't…JASON DID. JASON. I did not see that coming. I had finally found a moment to talk to Ella and we were sitting on the pier when I heard shouting behind me. Caitlyn came running to us and commanded that I follow her. We ran the whole way until I saw…

Jason beating the snot out of Taylor.

Shane was gaping like an idiot, so of course I had to step in. I got a little banged up in the process (Taylor's fist hit my right cheek. It hurt, but not as much as Jason's fist would have). Brown broke it up, and called me, Jason, and Taylor into his office to tell us how disappointed he was (mostly in Jason and myself since we're technically instructors). That made the day go down hill very rapidly.

Once I got away from Brown I frantically searched the pier for my dia—JOURNAL. I didn't find it so I came back here and there it was on my bed. I FREAKED, but then I read Ella's note. Which made me look at the clock and then rush off to find her.

She was sitting out on the cabin's porch when I arrived. She smiled when she saw me and then winced. She fretted (yes, I said "fretted") over the goose egg sprouting from my cheek (which was nice), and then I sat down and we finally got a chance to talk.

Ella: Are you sure you're okay? Do you need some ice or something?

Should I enjoy her worrying over me so much?

Me: Really, I'm fine. It's sore and a little swollen, but I'll be fine. But I'd really like to finally get to talk to you.

Ella: About what you started to say on the pier?

Me: Yes, that.

It took me a minute to figure out how to start. Ella grinned at me.

Ella: Is this us talking about what you wanted talk about?

Me: Funny.

Ella's grin faltered and she put a hand on my arm.

Ella: Nate, just say what you need to say. I'm listening.

Me: Ella…I've really enjoyed getting to know you.

Ella smiled at me and my stomach did a fluttering thing.

Ella: I've enjoyed getting to know you too.

Me: When this summer started I didn't expect…well, I never saw you coming.

Her hand was still on my arm. I was extremely aware of the contact while she spoke.

Ella: You weren't the only one blindsided.

Me: The more I learned about you the more time I wanted to spend with you. A lot of arguments came from my own selfish need to be around you.

I heard Ella take in a sharp breath, and I kept going.

Me: Do you know how much I've learned about myself just by being around you? How much you've forced me to…relax? I just—I really care about you, Ella. More than what probably should be possible for just a couple of weeks. I care about you like no other girl I've ever known.

Ella's hand slid down my arm and her fingers laced with mine.

Ella: Nate…I—I've learned a lot from you too. I've also become a lot more sarcastic since I've started talking to you.

I laughed nervously and waited for her to continue.

Ella: But you've helped me become so much more confident in myself. Whether you intended to or not. You make me feel like I'm not…just an extra.

Me: You're not—

Ella: I know.

She laughed, and huffed.

Ella: Will you let me finish? I didn't interrupt you, did I?

I nodded and motioned for her to continue.

Ella: Everything about you intrigues me. You're just so…different than any guy I've ever even been friends with. I've had people dismiss me and dumb things down for me a lot, and you never did that. Even when you were a rude jerk you never once dumbed things down. And I…I care a lot about you too. I've never been this far gone before…for anyone. It's scary and exciting…and addicting.

Me: So?

Ella: So…I'm definitely head over heels for you, Nate Black.

I felt myself smiling and I knew it was one of the biggest smiles that had ever been on my face.

Me: Really?

Ella: No, I'm lying to you because torturing you is fun. OF COURSE, really.

Me: Wow, you really have become a lot more sarcastic.

Ella: Your fault.

She sighed happily and rested her head on my shoulder. We sat quietly for a while, just enjoying each other.

Ella: How long have you…

Me: Had feelings for you? Since that day in my class when you played that song. I didn't realize it at the time, but that was definitely the moment. You?

Ella: The night I won the jam. You were trying so hard to get my attention…it was cute.

Me: It was torture. You tortured me.

Ella laughed.

Ella: And as much as I enjoyed it…I am sorry. You deserved it, but I'm still sorry.

I couldn't help but laugh at her tone.

Me: Yeah, thanks for those insincere apologies. I appreciate it.

She pulled her head away from my shoulder and I turned to look at her. It struck me just how beautiful she was. And I couldn't help what I did next.

Yes, you know what I did. I don't have to say it.

But I will anyway.

I kissed her.

And it was everything I thought it would be.

I have a feeling the rest of the summer is going to be amazing.