A/N
This is the second to last chapter before the incident! Yippee!
So, enjoy!
"Ugh. I'm tired," I yawn. Adam and I had stayed the night so we could pack up this morning. A few other people were passed out across the sand.
"Where's Drake when you need him?" Adam complains.
"Someone called?" Drake walks over, rubbing his eyes. "Ugh, I'm exhausted." I glance at Adam. Then I slap my hand to my mouth.
"Uh, Ella? You okay?" He asks.
"The latest news! You haven't heard!"
"What latest news?" Drake and Adam ask in sync.
"Drake's new girlfriend," I say smugly.
"For the last time, Da-"
"I don't mean Daniela," I interrupt. "I mean Avril."
"You, uh, saw that, huh?" Drake asks, scratching his neck.
"What the heck are you talking about?" Adam demands.
"I didn't ask her out," Drake says.
"Just a kiss and ditch sorta thing, then?" I question.
"No, it's..." Drake trails off.
"Complicated?" I finish.
"Yeah," he mumbles.
"Congrats man," Adam says.
"Adam, say dibs not," I say quickly.
"Dibs not," he says. "Why?"
"You're telling Daniela," I say to Drake.
"Why would she care?" He asks harshly.
"Avril's her second cousin. Really rude to her, apparently. You dating means her sitting at our table, and yeah," I explain.
"Well she can suck it up and deal with it," Drake says irritably.
"Dude, you gotta tell her. She went off at everyone on Friday cause of you," Adam says.
"What happened then? You said you'd tell me," Drake asks.
"People were saying...stuff after you walked out, and one comment just got to her, about you two being a couple. So she told everyone how you weren't dating and you were the last person she'd ever date. Then she stormed out too," I finish.
"She really did that?"
"Yeah. She was beyond pissed," Adam puts in.
"Well, she can get used to it. I'm not living my life around her," Drake says firmly.
"You keep telling yourself that," Adam says, unsure.
It was the Thursday after the party. I was currently in math class. Drake was working with Avril, of course, leaving me to fend for myself. I watch as he throws something at her. Like he did with me. I'd barely seen or heard from Drake since the party, which was odd. Ms Carpin sent them to detention. Just like she had with us. Oh God, this is becoming too much. Way too much.
"I need to go to the bathroom," I say, standing up. Ms Carpin looks at me, and I think I see...understanding in her eyes. Sympathy.
"Here's a pass," she hands me a slip. I thank her, and walk out, students gaping at Ms Carpin's niceness. I lean over the sink. I feel...sick, sort of. I hear the door open.
"Hey," Marina says. I haven't talked to her in ages!
"How are you feeling?" She asks gently.
"Like crap," I say, smiling weakly.
"I saw you. You feel like he's replacing you," she says. I nod.
"She's his girlfriend. Or will be soon, anyway. Most likely. You're his best friend. Avril can't replace that."
"I know. It's just...he's been sitting with her since the party, and has barely talked to me, and its kinda scary that I might be losing him," I sob. The tears are falling now. I know I shouldn't cry, but I do. It feels...good, in a way.
"Well, look on the bright side. You've gotten pretty close with Nolan and the twins," she smiles. "Maybe even closer?"
"Marina!" I groan. Even though I hadn't gotten over my weird crush on Stanley, Marina still thinks somethings going on with the others.
"So, is it true?"
"No!" I protest. She simply winks. My phone buzzes. Message from David. Where'd you go? And why the hell was Ms Catnip nice to you? I smile. Marina leans over my shoulder. I reply. 'In the bathroom. Not feeling great. And I have no idea'.
"Well, see you at lunch. Make the most of what you've got now. Don't dwell on the past. If he really is your friend, he'll make an effort and come back."
I stride into the cafeteria. The groups are more spread out now. I pretty much sit with everyone. I place my tray beside Matt and Nolan.
"Hey! What was that in class before?" David asks.
"I seriously have no idea. Ms Carpin, nice? I musta been dreaming," I reply.
"I saw it too. It was creepy," he says. Damien nods.
"I heard. So Ella-" A high pitched squeal cuts Nolan off. I see Avril scowling at her friend, who was obviously the one who squealed.
"Now everyone will know," she grumbles.
"I'm sorry, I'm just so excited!"
"I should be the excited one, B," she replies. Feeling everyone's eyes on her, she calls, "Go back to talking. Nothings happened!" Her friend huffs.
"Nothing happened? No, only I find out that you've been dating Drake for days and you haven't told me!" And that's when it goes silent.
"And this is why I didn't tell you," Avril mutters.
"Shite," Nolan mutters under his breath.
"You can say that again," I murmur. So it's official. Drake and Avril are dating. Hell is gonna go down. I lock eyes with Adam, who's sitting on the other side of Drake. He waves. I wave back. He leans over to Drake. I can barely hear what he's saying, but I do. I guess I gave good hearing.
"You remember that pact we made? Mates before dates?"
"Yeah. Why?" Drake says.
"I was just wondering why Avril sitting right there beside you, and Ella all the way over there," he points to where I'm sitting. I turn my gaze to Nolan. I look up when I feel him looking at me. I give a small smile before looking back down.
"Well, I sorta have to sit with Avril now," Drake says uncertainly.
"Yeah, well you can sit with both of them," Adam reasons.
"Why is he doing this?" I groan. The others look up.
"Who's doing what?" They ask in unison. My eyebrows raise.
"Adam's trying to guilt trip Drake," I answer.
"Just text him, then," David offers. I pull out my phone and bring up my contact list. I type out a text: 'I know what your doing, stop it!' He sends back: 'I thought you wanted to be friends again?'
"This isn't helping. I'll be right back, guys," I say, standing up. I walk across the cafeteria, latch my hand around Adam's arm, and drag him to an empty table.
"Are you saying we aren't friends anymore?" I question.
"No. I'm saying that he hasn't really been talking to you. Or me either, really, but at least I still sit with him," Adam replies.
"I'm fine sitting with them," I point over to the twins, Damien and Nolan. "Or I can sit with Marina, or Myra, or Sarah and John. I have other friends, too."
"I know. I heard you left class today. Went to the bathroom. Nolan said it was a bit after Drake and Avril got detention. Anyone else? They wouldn't figure it out. Me being one of your best friends? I know better. What happened, El?" He asks.
"Well, him and I got detention once, in the same class, for talking and throwing stuff at each other. And that's what they got sent there for, and it kinda felt like he was replacing me," I tell him. He nods.
"Go back to tour table. I'm sorting this out," he says, striding over to Drake's table. I take my seat next to Matt again.
"What was that all about?" He asks.
"I dunno, but I'm pretty sure it's about to become worse." I watch as Adam pulls Drake over to the table I was previously at. Only a whole lot more rough. I hear them talking quietly. They occasionally send glances at me.
"She's only got them because you aren't there for her!" Adam yells. Well, not really yells, more like loud talking. But it was enough to make most of the cafeteria hear. Adam storms out. Drake just sits there, looking confused. I rest my head in my hands.
"Crap. Crap crap crap," I mutter.
"You know what that was?" Nolan asks. I know he knows I do.
"You know I do," I say miserably. He raises a questioning eyebrow.
"Adam went off at him cause he's sorta not talking to us," I explain.
"Well, we can't have ickle Els being sad. Group hug!" Damien exclaims. We just stare at him.
"Oh come on, you guys," he whines. We laugh at him, but oblige. We sort of have to reach over awkwardly, since Damien and David are on the other side of the table. But we manage it.
"Thanks, guys," I murmur.
"Oh, but were not done yet," Matt bounces on his chair.
"We're skipping next class," Nolan clarifies.
"What? No, we're not," I say.
"You two, right. Matt, you and me take the left," he orders. Whaaa?
"Now!" They come at me, and grab my arms. They start to pull me out of the cafeteria.
"You cant force me to leave school," I say. "That's unethical."
"I don't know what that means, but no, its not," Damien replies.
"Fine. Whatever. Where are we going?" I ask. They grin.
"To have fun."
