A/N: Ahh, I've been having major writers' block for this story...but I forced myself to sit down and get this chapter out. Thank you all though, for the awesome reviews! Hope you like.

Chapter Sixteen- Butterflies

"That's so cool of you, Hazel," Paige said sarcastically to her friend as they entered fifth period class, "threatening Ellie Nash because you're so jealous."

Hazel gave her a look as if she had no idea what she was talking about. "What?" she asked.

Paige rolled her eyes and took her seat, which did happen to right next to Hazel's. "Just drop it, okay? She hasn't done anything to you."

"Since when did you become such great friends with the vampire anyways?" she snapped back.

"Since I stopped judging people, Hazel. Try it some time," Paige barked and ignored her the rest of the day.

Ellie Nash was freaking out. With only a half an hour left before the school day ended, she was going crazy. Because in thirty minutes she'd be on her way to –where?—oh that's right, Jimmy's house. She wouldn't have Paige there for moral support or anything. No, it would just be her and Jimmy. Alone. It was a nerve-wracking thought, because when had Ellie Nash ever been alone with a guy she liked before? What if she did something completely stupid or—

She told herself to snap out of it. This wasn't like her at all. He was just a guy...that was it, just a guy. She never cared what anyone thought about her; not her friends, not her family...so why was this so different?

She sighed and took a deep breath, attempting to pay attention to whatever it was they were learning about in math today and shake all thoughts of Jimmy out of her head...at least for the next half hour. She was obviously still too distracted, because she nearly jumped out of her seat when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder. Paige's perfectly manicured hands slung over her right shoulder, handing her a note. Ellie took the folded piece of paper and began to carefully open it.

Excited about your date with Jimmy?

Ellie rolled her eyes and scribbled back, it's not a date, and tossed the note over her shoulder and onto Paige's desk. She didn't even have to turn around to know that Paige was probably rolling her eyes with that little smirk on her face as if she knew everything and Ellie was an innocent little girl who knew nothing about life.

Seconds later that same hand was over Ellie's shoulder again passing her the paper back.

Hon, it's definitely a date. Sure, he's not taking you out to some gorgeous restaurant, but it will have to do.

She sighed and wrote back:

Whatever. Who would want to go to a fancy restaurant anyways?

She tossed it back to Paige and she handed it back to her with a reply that read:

Try every girl in the whole school...well, except for you, obviously.

Ellie turned around to glare at Paige. She just smiled and waved her fingers and went back to taking educational notes written on the board.

She was startled when the final bell of the day rang. She was practically shaking underneath all of the dark clothes she wore. The students filed out of the classroom and headed for their lockers.

Ellie slowly walked to the location of her locker, when Ashley stopped her.

"Hey, El," she said.

"Um, hey, Ash," she replied.

"What are you doing today? I was thinking that maybe you could come over and we could watch movies and pig out on ice cream?" Ashley said. This was her new method of trying to get over Craig. She had been mopey and depressed ever since Craig had told her it was finally over between them. And even if Ellie didn't have plans, she wasn't sure she wanted to be a part of Ashley's.

"Well, actually, Ash, I sort of have other plans," she replied.

Ashley frowned. "What other plans?"

Did she have to be so nosey? Ellie thought. "Well, Jimmy invited me over and I..."

"Jimmy?" she asked, looking disgusted. "You're going to go run off with Jimmy instead of..."

Ellie didn't want to hear her rant. She was going to try to make her feel guilty for wanting to spend time with some boy instead of her so- called "best friend" in time of need. But when had Ashley ever been there for her?

"Yes, Ashley, I am. I'm not going to stop everything I'm doing because you got your poor little heart broken again. I'm not going to drop everything. I do have a life, you know? You can't always expect me to be around whenever you need me," Ellie snapped and walked off.

She found her locker and began furiously twirling the combination. She grabbed her bag and threw all the books she needed in there, when Jimmy came up to her followed by Paige and Spinner.

"Ready to go?" Jimmy asked.

Ellie's heart started to race and she began to get panicky again. Breathe, she told herself, just breathe.

"Well, you two have fun," Paige said and winked at Ellie. "Come on, Honeybee." She dragged him along with her, leaving Ellie and Jimmy alone.

They reached his house in minutes.

"Nice place," Ellie commented.

"Yeah, it is," Jimmy agreed and headed over to the kitchen counter where he noticed a box of pizza lying there untouched. "Ooh, pizza," he said happily and opened the box.

Ellie followed him over and saw a note attached to the counter next to the pizza box.

"Jimmy, not going to be home until late. We ordered you pizza for dinner. Love, mom and dad," Ellie read to him. She watched as his face fell and felt bad. She didn't know what to say though, because she knew what it was like being in that situation and wouldn't want anyone to feel sorry for her.

"Oh well, not like it's anything new," he replied. "Pizza?" he offered, handing her a slice.

"What? No plates?" she asked with a smirk, taking the pizza.

"Nah, make a mess. I really don't think my parents will care much," he said, as he took a seat at the kitchen table.

Ellie bit her lip for a moment and then took a seat as well.

"So what was up with Ashley? She ran into me in the hall and stared me down," he said, sounding slightly amused.

"Oh, she was just pissed off because she wanted me to wallow in self- pity with her instead of come here," Ellie said, taking a bite of her pizza. "Told her it wasn't my thing and she got mad. She thinks I'm abandoning her or something."

"Like you've never wallowed in self-pity before," Jimmy commented.

"I don't," she replied simply.

"Really," he said. She noticed his eyes glance down at her arms. She knew what he had meant.

"That's not the same thing," she told him seriously.

"Tearing up your skin because you hate your life isn't pitying yourself?" he questioned.

Ellie took a deep breath. This wasn't going the way she had planned. Not at all.

"You don't understand," she told him.

"I think you're the one who doesn't understand," he spoke softly. "When's the last time you did it?"

"I don't think that's any of your business," she answered, tugging at her black sleeve as if Jimmy would grab her arm and force her to show him the cuts.

"When, Ellie?" he demanded. She didn't look at him. She kept her eyes focused on the table.

"Three days ago," she mumbled softly.

"Three days ago?!" he exclaimed, looking angry. "How can you do that to yourself, Ellie? It doesn't make sense."

"Not to you. But to me it feels right," she said. She didn't like that he was making her feel like the dumbest person to walk to face of earth. Maybe she really was...

She felt like she was on the verge of tears, when Jimmy said, "I'm sorry for shouting. The only reason Paige and I and everyone else interrogates you is because we care. And we want to understand, but we can't."

Ellie looked up at him. He cared? About her?

"I don't want to make you guys worry. It's just that...it's so hard to stop. I want to, I really do, but once I get really upset, it's just so hard to control myself and I..." her voice trailed off. She felt stupid talking about this. She was sick of people looking down on her.

"Well if you want to stop, get help. Is it really that hard?" Jimmy asked her.

"Yes, it is. Because...I don't think I can."

"You can do whatever you want to, Ellie. And if you ever need help you can always talk to me, or Paige or Spinner," he said and then froze. "Okay, on second thought maybe talking to Spinner is a bad idea..."

Ellie laughed. "Thanks, Jimmy," she said sincerely.

"Anytime," he said and stood up to go get some more pizza. "Want some more?" he offered.

"Yeah, sure," she replied.

He held it in his hand as if he were about to throw it at her.

"You wouldn't," she said warningly.

"I would. Think fast," he said quickly, hurling the piece of pizza at her. She didn't think fast enough because the pizza fell into her lap, staining her skirt with sauce. Her jaw dropped open and she stood up and whacked Jimmy on the shoulder.

"You suck," she muttered, grabbing paper towels to wipe off her skirt. Jimmy just laughed.

"Don't worry, it'll come out," he said as he noticed her scrubbing away at her skirt.

"It better. Or you owe me thirty bucks," she snapped, trying to be appear angry, but her eyes were glittering with amusement.

A second later they heard the door open. Both of them froze.

"Knock, knock," came an awfully familiar voice. Ellie and Jimmy let out a sigh of relief.

"Spinner, man, what are you doing here?" Jimmy demanded as he entered the kitchen with Paige at his side.

"Just checking in," he replied. "Hey, is that pizza?" he added, going over to grab a slice.

"Hey, guys," Paige greeted with a smile.

Ellie felt a twinge of anger towards Paige and Spinner. This was supposed to be her and Jimmy's time...

"Sorry," Paige said to Jimmy, "I told Spin we should've knocked, but he has no manners."

"Uh, sure, no problem," he said.

"So what have you two been up to?" she asked.

"Nothing," Ellie replied.

Paige raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh." She then began going off about something or another, when Ellie heard her cell phone ring. She grabbed her phone out of her bag, motioning for everyone to be quiet.

"Hello?" she greeted.

She listened to the person on the other end of the line for a moment. Ellie's eyes widened and she nearly dropped the phone.
End chapter. Muaha. Who's on the other end of the line? Will Ellie and Jimmy ever have some alone time? And don't forget about the JT/Manny/Liberty-ness! But to find out you must review.

I know it took me forever to get this chapter out, but I was having some issues. The next chapter should be out soon...I've been hit with inspiration after writing this one. And plus, I don't want to leave you all hanging...