A/N: I want to start out by telling you guys how awesome you've been. It been really fun writing this story, but you guys make it even better! I'm sorry it took so long to post this chapter, but I didn't post it earlier out of frustration. I wrote the whole chapter, but then it got lost of my computer, so I had to work up the will to re-write it from scratch. Well, anyway, I'm really thinking you guys will like this chapter. It's main purpose is to set up what's to come, and it starts to really get into the main plot, which is really funny. Oh, and just for the record, I'm not going to try to make Craig too much of an ass. Ellie's being pretty mean to him right now, but there's a reason why—which you will find out in the future. It's so hard for me to make a fanfiction with Craig and Ellie both in it but not together, because I'm actually a huge Crellie fan. Well anyways, I really hope you like it. This chapter is significantly shorter than the last, and for that, I apologize. I think that's because it's just a lot of filler for the main plot. But, it's still an important chapter. Happy reading. Review, as always!
Chapter 3: Guilt-Driven Aneurysm
Things have significantly changed since yesterday. Instead of following me around everywhere, Pretty-Boy is doing his best to avoid me. I try to catch his eye so I gave give him a little smile, but he just pretends that I don't exist. And the weirdest thing about all of this is how much I care. I never care about what other people think about me. Until now, anyway. That little voice in my head just wont seem to shut up. I don't really know why. I mean, Peter isn't even my friend. In fact, he bugs the hell out of me.
Jimmy isn't making me feel much better. I expected him to tell me that he's a jerk anyway, and that it should bother me, but he didn't. He didn't blame me or anything, he just feels bad for him too. I really don't think this kid deserves any more sympathy, I mean really. Ugh, why can't he just go back to annoying me so I can go on with my life?
When I got to my last class, I realized that Peter was the least of my worries. I was just barely catching a glimpse of a piece of paper flying at me out of the corner of my eye before it hit me in the head. I looked around, searching for the culprit. I spotted Craig, staring at me. I gave him an eye roll before he made a gesture for me to open it. I unwrinkled the piece of notebook paper, and read.
Ellie,
What's going on? First I see you getting in the car with that jerk Peter stone, and then Spinner tells me he saw you two hanging out at the dot. I better just be worried over nothing, and it's just me being crazy again. But, what are you doing spending time with him? I admit that I don't know what it was about, but I really think you should stay far away from Peter. I don't need to remind you what he did to Manny. He's bad news Elle, especially for girls like you.
-Craig
I suddenly became kind of ticked off. Girls like me? What the hell did that mean? I don't know who the he thinks he is, constantly patronizing me. Since when did I have a type? He thinks he's such a hero, always looking out for me.
I was practically fuming by the time the class ended. I picked up all of my stuff and headed out the minute the bell rang, with no intention of looking back. Of course, Craig had to follow me, and catch my arm. I pulled away from his grip before turning to face him. "What do you want?" I asked with some venom.
"Why didn't you write back?" He asked me, taking a step back. He tried to speak calmly, as if I'm a ticking time bomb. Maybe I am. "You can't seriously be mad at me."
"Yes, I seriously can." I replied, placing a hand on my hip and glaring at him murderously.
He shook his head and sighed. "So this is just always how it's going to be now?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, already knowing the answer. We both have for a long time, but have never been able to talk about it.
"Are we just, always going to fight?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows. "Ellie, why can't we just get passed this? Why can't we just go back to the way things were? I miss you, Elle."
"I'll bet." I mumbled under my breath.
He scoffed as his temper rose. "I can't even believe how you're acting. Why can't we just go back to being friends?"
A lump was forcing its way in my throat as I became on the verge of tears. I couldn't be in this conversation anymore. "That sure would be convenient—for you. But not me Craig. I'm just—I'm over it."
He looked taken back, but he still wouldn't leave me alone. This became a battle, and both of us were much too stubborn to surrender. "You don't mean that. You're angry, and I get that, but—"
I took in a sharp breath of air as I looked around at the crowded halls of Degrassi. A couple people were watching us from each direction, making me want to just die right there. Don't they have better things to be doing? Tears were now forming in the back of my eyes, threatening to drop. Suddenly, I spotted Peter squeezing through the crowd. This was the first time he's looked at me all day. My eyes widened as I realized that this—he, was my ticket out. I caught him by the back of his shirt before he walked away. "Peter," I called.
He turned around to face me. "Ellie, hey." He looked from me to Craig awkwardly. "What's up?"
"You know that offer you had for me?" I asked him. He nodded, letting me continue. "Well, I'm in." The words were out before I could control them, but I figured that I could always take them back when Craig was gone. I felt pretty bad for using Pretty-Boy like this, but this was urgent. I would just have to make it up to him later. I know my scheme had done its job when I looked to Craig. His right eye twitched comically as fury inflamed his cheeks.
"Oh, wow Ellie—that's awesome!" Peter made the situation even better as he threw his arms around me in an excited embrace. I narrowed my eyes before patting him on the back uncomfortably. As he pulled away from his spontaneous bear-hug, he cleared his throat awkwardly. "Um, sorry." He scratched the back of his head.
"Don't worry about it," I replied looking around. Craig was obviously pissed off enough not to stick around, because I didn't see him anywhere. I sighed with relief as I focused my attention back on Pretty-Boy, about to break the bad news. Before I could say anything, he chimed in eagerly.
"This is so awesome of you, Elle." He stated, almost out of breath. I guess we're back on the nickname thing. I felt so guilty as his eyes glimmered in enthusiasm. "I've got to tell you—I was getting worried. There's a deadline for this film, and I haven't been able to find anyone for this part. All I need is someone to play you're hot-tempered boyfriend and I have my whole cast! If you hadn't decided to do this for me, there's no way I would have been able to finish this movie in time for the film festival. Not a chance."
Oh. My. God.
What was he trying to do to me? I'm just one step away from dire sympathy pains—like an aneurysm. Or just a pretend little, guilt-driven aneurysm. But the point is—I can't do this to him. As much as some people who may think otherwise, I'm not a monster. Why did I have to get him involved in my fight with Craig? I don't know how I could just play Peter like that. I guess, with everything that was going on, I was desperate. Desperate and obsessed. As far as Craig is concerned I always seem to be desperate and obsessed these days...
So, like I said, I'm in. For real. As horrible as it will be, I can't just ruin Peter's movie. I can see just how much it means to him. But that's when I realize—this is exactly what he wanted. He was making me feel guilty on purpose by freezing me out so I'd come around. It has to be true. I haven't felt such a chill since—ever. Well, what ever that little devil's plan was, it worked.
But god knows I'm not doing it alone.
So how did you guys like it? I know that I was pretty short. The next chapter will be longer, I promise. Anyways, I would love to hear your comments. If you have and thoughts, leave it in a review! I love hearing things.
I can't wait to post the next chapter so you guys can read it. It has quite a bit more of Jimmy in it, and finally gets into some more detail with this movie. Peter's movie plot is totally cliche and just sucks in general, but he's just a high school boy, so it doesn't matter so much. And when I say it sucks, it sucks. That's all.
Oh, and here's the preview for the next chapter...
"No," He declined forcefully.
"Come on. Please?" I begged. I was down on my knees, clenching my hands together as I groveled. Jimmy seemed to enjoy rejecting me. I was trying to get him to be in that stupid movie with me for the past day. I thought for sure he would have agreed to do it with me quicker than this.
"Absolutely not." He replied, shaking his head. Jimmy wasn't nearly as stubborn as I was, so I knew I could wear him down eventually.
I groaned and stood only to find my chair. "You heard what happened. I was forced to accept! It was either that or burn in hell, and I gotta say—I'm no Cali Girl." He snickered at me, but continued to shake his head no.
"Maybe you had to make that decision," Jimmy began, wheeling to sit across from me. "But that decision was for you, not me. I'm not morally obligated whatsoever to appear in this disaster of a movie."
"For god sake Jimmy, would you please just play my badass boyfriend?" I shouted.
