Later that evening, Starr was getting dressed for her date with Michael. She was in the bathroom working on her makeup. However, at the current moment, she was worried about Ellie. She knew that Ellie didn't always like to talk about her diabetes in a serious way, but Starr always worried when Ellie started acting funny. She was glad that she had never seen Ellie pass out because she probably would freak out every time Ellie's blood sugar started to lower.
"Hey Starr," Michael called from outside the bathroom. "Are you almost ready?" Starr shook her nervous thoughts away and checked herself in the mirror one last time before opening the door to the bathroom. Michael was leaning against the wall, wearing a white button up shirt, a black suit jacket, black pants, and black shoes.
"Well hey there handsome," Starr said, smiling at him. "You clean up nicely."
"I don't think I can quite compare to my gorgeous girlfriend," Michael said. Starr was wearing a blue dress that gently flowed out at her mid-thigh and connected around her neck. She had on black heels that made her almost reach the bottom of Michael's shoulder. Her hair was pinned back in the front and she had curled some of it very lightly.
"Well thank you," Starr said.
"Shall we?" Michael asked, offering her his arm.
"We shall," Starr said, wrapping her hand around it. They walked from the bathroom and through the bedroom. Starr was suddenly aware how dark it was in the apartment. "Why are the lights off?" But Michael didn't say anything, he just smiled and kept walking. When they reached the living room Starr gasped.
"Oh my gosh," She said quietly. There were candles all around the room and a table set up in the center of the room. "Did you do this?"
"Well I thought since tonight was just going to be me and you," Michael said. "That I would make it a special night."
"But what about the reservation?" Starr asked.
"Well the food's still from the Metro Court," Michael explained. "But I just told my mom we couldn't make it. She's probably already filled the table."
"You're amazing," Starr said, before kissing him. Michael smiled as he pulled away. He walked over to the table and pulled out Starr's chair. Starr smiled at him before sitting. Michael made sure her chair was pushed in before rounding the table and sitting down. Starr eyed the glass in front of her. "Is this champagne?"
"Like I said," Michael said, smirking. "I wanted to make this special." Starr smiled brightly before raising her glass. Michael followed suit.
"To us," Starr said. They clinked glasses before taking a sip. Starr put her cup down and looked at Michael. She was so lucky to have him in her life. "Have I mentioned that you are the best boyfriend in the world?"
"Well it's only because of my amazing, wonderful, and gorgeous girlfriend," Michael said. Starr leaned towards him and wiggled her finger, indicating he do the same. Michael did so and they met in the middle with a kiss. Then they both pulled away and began to enjoy their dinner.
Ellie paced around her apartment nervously. Josh was coming over soon and it was safe to assume that Ellie was freaking out. She couldn't live with the guilt but at the same time she knew she was really going to hurt Josh by telling him the truth. There was a knock on her door and Ellie sighed before walking over to the door. She opened it and there was Josh.
"Hey," Josh said, smiling. "So I thought we were doing a double date tonight."
"Yeah about that," Ellie said, walking away from the door. Josh walked in before shutting the door behind him. Ellie sat down on the couch and sighed.
"Is everything alright?" Josh asked, walking over to her. Ellie was looking down at her hands. "Come on, whatever it is you can tell me."
"What I'm about to tell you," Ellie said. "I am so sorry for but you deserve to know." Josh gave her a wary look, not sure where this was going. "I can't do this anymore, us."
"What?" Josh asked. "What do you mean?"
"I can't do this whole couple thing Josh," Ellie said, getting up.
"You're breaking up with me?" Josh asked incredulously. "But Ellie we're great together. We've got so much chemistry and we're clearly attracted to each other, and," Josh would have continued but Ellie cut him off.
"I cheated on you," Ellie said bluntly. Josh's eyes widened after she said it. Ellie put her hand on her head and sighed. "I'm sorry Josh, I really am."
"Like hell you are, you bitch!" Josh shouted, getting up. "I cared about you Ellie and I thought you did too! Who was it? I think I have a right to know."
"No you don't," Ellie said. "Because that's not the point. Josh, I'm breaking up with you because I cheated on you without thinking twice. It was only after it happened that I realized what I had done and I felt guilty."
"So you're breaking up with me because I was an after-thought?" Josh asked angrily. "Because you didn't care enough about me to stop yourself from becoming a two-timing skank?"
"I'm sorry," Ellie said. "But you deserve someone better."
"Maybe you're right," Josh said. "But I thought you were that someone." Ellie sighed. "My fault for assuming so." He walked over to her and got right in her face. "You are a horrible person Ellie Parker." Then Josh turned and stormed out of her apartment. Ellie flinched as the door slammed. She sat down on the couch and sighed. An odd feeling had settled over her. She had just broken up with Josh, but she didn't feel upset, or miserable, or any other stupid cliché. She just felt bad for Josh. A knock on the door brought Ellie out of her thoughts. She walked over, not sure who was there. She opened the door and was pretty surprised to see Johnny there.
"Did I just see your boyfriend driving off angrily?" Johnny asked.
"How do you know where I live?" Ellie asked.
"I'm your boss," Johnny reminded her. "I have your information."
"Right," Ellie said.
"You gonna let me in?" Johnny asked. Ellie sighed and stepped away from the doorway. Johnny walked in and then shut the door. "So what was wrong with that punk boyfriend of yours?"
"Well he's not my boyfriend anymore," Ellie said.
"Wait, what?" Johnny asked, clearly confused. "What do you mean he's not your boyfriend anymore?"
"I broke up with him," Ellie explained. "That's why he was driving off angry. He's mad at me."
"Because you broke up with him," Johnny said. "So he's hurt, he'll get over it."
"No it's not just that," Ellie said. "He didn't understand why I was breaking up with him so I told him that I cheated on him."
"You didn't tell him who did you?" Johnny asked.
"No you idiot," Ellie said. "And I'm not going to tell anyone else. But I couldn't keep dating him when clearly I didn't care enough about him to stop myself from cheating on him."
"Well I'm sorry about that," Johnny said.
"Whatever," Ellie said. "So why are you here?"
"I wanted to check on you," Johnny said. "You know, make sure that you're feeling okay. You kind of ran out earlier."
"Well I'm fine," Ellie said. "So you can go."
"You don't have to be so dismissive," Johnny said. "I just wanted to make sure you were feeling better."
"I'm not some little weakling," Ellie said. "I can take care of myself."
"Yeah that's why your blood sugar got so low earlier," Johnny fired back.
"I told you it happens because of stress!" Ellie shouted at him. She sighed and put her hand on her head.
"Geez calm down," Johnny said.
"I can't calm down," Ellie said. "I can't calm down because there is a guilt grinding in my gut telling me that I am a terrible person for what I've done. I hurt Josh, someone who actually cared about me. And for what?" That comment stung Johnny a little.
"So you think what happened between us was just nothing?" Johnny asked. "Because it doesn't really seem like it."
"That doesn't matter," Ellie said. "Because you're still someone else's boyfriend and I'm a bad person for having sex with you."
"Look," Johnny said walking towards her. "I know that you feel guilty about what happened. I do too. But that doesn't mean that there's not something going on here."
"Johnny," Ellie said. Johnny ran his thumb along Ellie's jaw before cupping her chin with one hand.
"There's something undeniable going on between us," Johnny said. "And maybe it's wrong but I can't stop thinking about you Ellie." Ellie looked up into Johnny's eyes. Maybe he was right. Johnny gently pressed his lips against Ellie's. It started out sweet but then Johnny pulled Ellie closer. Ellie wanted more than anything to pull away from him, but she just couldn't make herself do it. She wrapped her arms around Johnny's neck and pressed her body against his. Johnny made quick work of Ellie's shirt, pulling it over her head in one quick move. Ellie grabbed a handful of Johnny's shirt and pulled him towards her bedroom.