Chapter 15- New Friends

Ellie's P.O.V.

"Hey Ellie great you are here." Caitlin said as I walked in.

"Craig is the dark room he has all the pictures taken." She said. I wasn't surprised ever since the project got assigned he has been taking pictures like crazy.

"I will go help him." I said and knocked on the door to the dark room.

"Come on in." Craig yelled.

"Hey you finished the roll already." I said looking at a bunch of pictures hanging up.

"Yeah well I figured I couldn't wait to get them done, and with the weather being so nice the lighting was perfect for outside pictures." Craig said.

"Wow these look really good." There was pictures of Spinner and Paige and some of Spinner and Marco playing basketball.

"I like this one of Jimmy and Hazel." I said holding it up.

"Yeah that one came out really good." Craig said.

"So can I look at some of your negatives." I asked.

Craig handed them to me and I held them up against the light.

"Wow these came out really good Craig I am impressed." I said.

"Yeah thanks Ellie." He said.

I was going through them and I looked at a whole roll of Ashley pictures gosh she made me so mad but what can I say.

"So have you talked to Ashley yet?" I asked.

"No I don't think it would be fair to Tanya or her maybe Ashley and I were just not meant to be, relationship wise or friend wise." Craig said.

"Yeah well Ash and I still haven't talked either but she can do this whiney thing all she wants I am not buying into it." I said.

"Well when we are done with these pictures what are we going to do?" Craig asked.

"We are going to cut them down mat them and give them to Caitlin for the article and then I need to do some filming for the lecture she is going to be giving at different middle schools." I said.

"What are you going to be filming?" Craig asked.

"Well lets see, Ashley hates me so I wont get any time in with Paige or Hazel she will hog them." "So I guess I have Alex, Jay, Sean, Marco and you." "Wow what a social life." I said.

"I am sure I can steal some time with Paige and Hazel for you if you want." Craig said.

"Thanks I am probably just going to bring it to lunch tomorrow and do most of it then." I said.

Craig and me started to dry off the prints that he got to finish and went back to my office. Then we started cutting them out with funky scissors, when that was done I noticed that I was here a half hour later then I should be.

"Well I should get going, I have to go eat dinner with mommy and her boyfriend." I said sarcastically.

"See you tomorrow Ellie." Craig said, and I nodded to him.

I walked outside and looked for Charlie, I barley remember what he looked like but there was no one out there at all. I waited for five minuets and then I picked up my phone and got out Jay's number.

"Hey Jay its Ellie are you busy right now?" I asked.

"No why?" He asked.

"I need a ride home can you pick me up?" I asked.

"Yeah what happened to your mom's boyfriend?" He asked,

"Didn't show, not that disappointed though." I said.

"I will be right there." Jay said.

This newfound friend-ship with Jay and Alex is weird. I mean I just lost my best friend of 4 years and now I am hanging out with the school criminals. What was with this I just met them today but its like they understand me more then Ashley ever did. It was weird how this thing was working out with Sean and me.

Jay honked his horn as he pulled up. "So do you want me to take you back home or to Sean's?" He asked.

"Well I guess I have some time to go to Sean's but I need to stop home first." I said.

I gave him directions but that was all we talked about the whole way to my house.

"I will wait here." Jay said unlocking the car.

"Good idea." I said closing the door, I walked into my house and screamed to my mom. "Hey mom I am home but I cant stay long."

"Eleanor where were you Charlie waited a half hour for you." My mom said I wanted to laugh because that was such bull he probably only waited 5 minuets at the most.

"Work ran late." I said

"You could have come out and told me I looked like an idiot waiting out there." Charlie's voice was so aggravating.

"Okay whatever I am going out." I said putting my books down.

"I made dinner you are not going anywhere." Charlie said standing up.

"You are not my dad don't tell me what to do." I said. I looked over at Charlie and he picked up a knife trying to intimidate me.

"I am your moms boyfriend, you will do as I say." Charlie said, walking towards me holding out the knife it was getting kind of scary now.

"Don't come near me!" I screamed

"Sit with us." He said getting an inch away from me with the knife.

"Fine." I said and he backed away.

Just then I could feel tears forming in my eyes and I ran out the door when he wasn't looking and jumped into Jay's car.

"Hey are you okay?" Jay asked me when I got in.

"Yeah I am great, ready to go to Sean's?" I asked as I wiped my eyes so I wouldn't cry.