Ellie was in her last period English class when she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Paige.
"Welcome back to life, hun," she said, rolling her eyes. "But maybe you didn't get the memo. Friends don't date friends' exes. Especially not the assholes."
"And maybe you didn't get the memo," Ellie said, "but last time I checked, we weren't friends. You just assumed you had the right to poke your very blonde head into my life." She turned around and pointedly ignored Paige for the remainder of the class. The other girl caught up to her after they were dismissed. Ellie was grabbing books from her locker.
"Look, Ellie, I'm just concerned. Spin isn't exactly the greatest guy in the world. I mean, he can be sweet but he can also be an idiot. You know how he treated Marco. You don't know how he treated me, but I can assure you that he's not Sean."
"And that," Ellie said, "is the point. Sean and I didn't work out, in fact, we failed miserably. So it's time for something new. I don't know why you're so concerned about me. It's not like we've ever gotten along. So let me do what I'm going to do. I don't need you looking out for me every step of the way. I never have." She slammed the locker door and walked away, completely ignoring Paige's excuses and protests.
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"I can't believe you're going out with him." Ashley screwed up her face in utter revulsion. "He went from idiot to creep in a matter of days. I mean, it was his fault Craig and I didn't get back together sooner. And he treated Paige like his own slave, then got into a fight over Manny while he and Paige were still together. He's not your type, Ellie."
"What is my type, then? Marco, who was so utterly repulsed that he dropped girls entirely?" She knew the statement wasn't fair, but she didn't care. "Or maybe Sean, who would rather live with his alcoholic parents than spend another night with me? Spinner is a step up, Ashley. At least he actually likes me." Ashley rolled her eyes, but didn't bother fighting with her friend.
"Here," she said from inside Ellie's closet. She tossed her some clothing. "Wear this. You'll look fantastic." It was a dress that Ellie had picked up at a second-hand shop some time ago--black, with a ruffled, uneven hemline, and hot pink trim. It was more revealing than her normal selections--in fact, she had planned to wear it over leggings and a gauzy top--but she knew Ashley was right, and that it would be something even Spinner would appreciate; slightly more sophisticated than her normal clothing, but still very her. She quickly pulled it on and twirled around in front of Ashley.
"Okay," she admitted. "So you have decent taste in clothes. Help me with my hair. I'm such a girl." She started yanking at it, trying to twist it into a bun. Ashley just laughed.
"Leave it down," she said. "You're not going to the prom or anything. It's a casual date. Do your regular makeup, maybe slightly more dramatic, and nothing special with your hair, or you'll scare him off entirely." Ellie knew she was right, and was therefore obediant. She added some fuscia eyeshadow to her normal repertoire, but beyond that, left everything the same. As she reached the door, she grabbed her leather coat and yanked on her boots. They made the outfit a little more casual, and brought out a little more of her style.
Spinner was early--something that impressed both Ellie and Ashley. Ellie didn't bother waiting for him to come to the door, instead she met him by his (beaten-up) car, leaving Ashley to get home in her own time. They'd already agreed to that arrangement, so it wasn't a big surprise.
Ellie gave him a quick kiss before hopping in the car. As he drove, she stared out the window and tried desperately to hold back her tears.