Chapter 8 - Stood Up
It remained painfully awkward for quite some time for Eleanor and DJ after she finished telling DJ what happened that night at college. But the tension in the air somehow tightened even more when they looked into each other's eyes, but while DJ's eyes were filled with content, Eleanor's was filled with confusion.
"No 'sorry, I can't make it.' No, phone call to whish me luck. Not even a text. So why, DJ? Why weren't you there for me?" Eleanor finally asked, and her tone was rather demanding.
"W-what do you mean? You left me!" DJ protested in defense.
"Don't lie, DJ. YOU left first," Eleanor argued back with a deeper growl than she anticipated, which started an even more heated argument between the old best friends.
"I swear to God, YOU left me!"
"What makes you think I left you?!"
"You stood me up!"
"How?!"
3 years earlier…
DJ was pretty excited, and not just because of the fact that he was graduating, but also because he wanted to take his relationship with Eleanor to the next level…no, they weren't REALLY in a relationship to begin with, but that was going to change tonight.
But first, he was going to have to wait until after tonight's graduation party, especially after Eleanor and Sadie's show, in which he also couldn't wait for because in his opinion, Eleanor had the most beautiful voice, and he could listen to her sing all day, everyday.
"You're never gonna accomplish anything by just thinkin' about her, man!" DJ was abruptly pulled from his deep thinking when he heard the sound of his roommate's snarky voice.
"W-what?" DJ called, barely pushing the bathroom door open slightly so he could hear better, as he had been looking over himself in the mirror for a while to make sure he would look his best for the graduation ceremony.
"You heard me! If you REALLY want the girl, ya gotta get outta the bathroom, and go tell her how ya feel!"
"How do YOU know it's about Eleanor?" DJ scoffed.
"I didn't! So, who's Eleanor, anyway?!" DJ could only grumble and roll his eyes, as he clearly heard his roommate laugh away at how gullible he was.
"That's not funny!"
"Oh, c'mon, man! I'm tryin' ta help ya, here! Look, my advice to you is this: Don't force her into it, ok? Just play it cool, and don't get upset if she doesn't know what ta say at first."
"Really?" DJ questioned sarcastically.
"Hey, trust me, I know from personal experience. And don't worry, you've still got your bros if she rejects you!"
"Gee, thanks."
"No problem!" DJ's roommate obviously couldn't tell he was being sarcastic, and as funny as it was, it was no surprise to DJ since he wasn't the brightest car he'd ever met…which begged the question as to how he even made it to college.
Oh, well. That's not important right now.
Suddenly, the sound of DJ's iPhone range, and it nearly made him jump, especially since the vibration was louder when the device was laid flat on the sink.
DJ rolled his eyes in embarrassment at being startled at the vibration, and he soon picked it up and read the notification. It was a text, a text from Eleanor in particular.
After you get your diploma, come to my room
-Ellie
What? But what about your show?
Don't worry about it. Tonight, it's about you and me;)
-Ellie
DJ couldn't tell whether to be extremely confused or over-excited! This doesn't sound like something Ellie would ever say, but on the other hand, what if she wants to take their relationship to the next level too?
He really didn't want to let his best friend down, so he complied.
That night at the ceremony, DJ never saw Eleanor once, even after he received his diploma, which really started to worry him. But he couldn't stick around for too much longer because he couldn't keep Eleanor waiting, so shortly after getting his diploma, DJ did as her text said and he drove alone to her sorority house and soon to her own room.
But entire building was completely empty at the time, obviously because everyone else was at the ceremony; even those who weren't graduating would just go for the party, so it would make sense that every sorority and frat house was totally empty.
But eventually, a full half hour went by, and Eleanor never came by, raising DJ's worries even higher.
Suddenly, the sound of another engine approaching could be heard down the hall, and DJ immediately dove out in hopes of it being Eleanor…but it was just some female orange Toyota Subaru.
"Hey!" DJ called while anxiously approaching the Subaru, "is Eleanor coming back here?"
"Are you kidding? She's long gone, her and Sadie," the orange female scoffed with a smirk.
"What?!"
"Yeah, they left, like, twenty minutes ago; said they were going on some, like, journey to make their band famous, or something."
DJ's engine practically died from all the shock…he just couldn't believe it. Why would Eleanor stand him up like this? She was his best friend…or, so he thought.
Present day...
"I never saw you again after that, Ellie," DJ began meekly after he finished telling his back story, and Eleanor swore he heard him choke down a sob, and she also swore she saw him on the brink of tears when they stared directly into each other's eyes once more.
But this time, she didn't stare back in anger, but rather in shame and sorrow.
"DJ, I…I'm so sorry, I truly am…but I'm telling you the truth when I say I never sent you any text that day," Eleanor began softly, and she wiped away a single tear that just managed to spill.
"Well, then who did?" DJ asked while reluctantly sniffling.
"I really don't know." Surprisingly, Eleanor slowly turned around and slowly drove back towards Radiator Springs, but in her attempt to head back, DJ quickly followed her in pursuit.
"Wait, Ellie!" The said Toyota Innova suddenly stopped at hearing her name called, and DJ soon pulled up by her side.
"We're still friends, right?" DJ questioned with high hopes, and Eleanor's eyes slightly widened in wonderment to his question. She truly thought she loved him all those years ago, but now she wasn't so sure…then again, she wasn't so sure she could just say goodbye to her best friend in the whole world either.
"Well, we're certainly not enemies, and I forgive you for what happened that night," Eleanor began softly, and then she smiled, "and, DJ?"
"Yeah?"
"Meet me tonight at ten thirty at the diner—I promise, you will not get stood up this time."
With that, the white Toyota Innova drove off, and this time, DJ didn't follow her; instead, he just stood in the same exact spot in silence for a few moments.
That wasn't a no! DJ thought with hope, and he couldn't help but smile in the direction his friend drove off in.
Later that night, Wingo stood alone in front of the Impound Lot, awaiting a rather important date for nearly fifteen minutes. And it wasn't helping that it was already pitch black out. If he and Angel were going to make it for the best spots at the place he picked for their date, they would have to leave now.
"You haven't actually been waiting for me for a while, have you?" a familiar voice chuckled, and Wingo turned and grinned when he saw Angel approaching with a grin to match his own.
"Fifteen after ten, right on the dot. Aren't you just a goody little two shoes?" Wingo mocked.
"It's my job as the town deputy to have everything in working order—including you and the others. You're just lucky Uncle Sheriff turned in early for the night, or else you'd all be in the Impound Lot by now."
"Aww, even me? But that would mean we'd have missed our date."
"Hey, it's NOT a date!" Angel hissed.
"Call it whatever you want, Copper, we're still goin' somewhere special tonight," Wingo protested nonchalantly, and he then turned and drove into town.
"So, where are we going? It better not be any place dumb," Angel questioned while following the neon green car.
"It's a surprise, but I'm sure you'll recognize it when we get there," Wingo replied with a smirk, making Angel roll her eyes.
Anyone catch the Lion King reference? Hint: it's close to the end of this chapter.
So, where is Wingo planning to take Angel, anyway? And what is Eleanor planning for DJ? We may just find out in the next chapter.
Until the next chapter, I'm TRikiD, bye-bye!