Chapter 8 ! woop woop!
So, before you start reading, just let me say; I am absolutely winging it. I really can't decided what direction to take so I'm just going to write and hope the ending becomes clear!
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It had been three long weeks since that day in Ella's drive way. Tyler hadn't kissed her since, nor mentioned it. It was now early december, and the all anyone would talk about was winter formal. Apparently dances were a huge deal at Spencer, and it became a compitition amoung the girls, to get the hottest guys to ask them to the formal. It was still two days away, but girls were still panicking all over.
It was all very tiring, and Ella doubted she would even go to the stupid dance anyway. She had semester finals to study for anyway.
"Go to winter formal with me." Reid said, folowing her down the school corridor one day before class. He slung an arm across her shoulder. By now she had grown exhausted with his attemtps and pushing him away.
"How about no." she muttered, ducking away from him. "Besides. I heard from a girl in my study block, that you already have three dates." she told him, but still he followed her down the hallway.
"Please?" he begged, following her into their math class, and sitting down. "I didn't want to play this card, but Tyler already has a date." he said matter of factly. She went rigid. She had thought maybe, just maybe he would of asked her. She guessed he just didn't feel the same way.
"Is that so?" was all she said. Reid continued, he knew he had her.
"Yeah some chick his mom set him up with. I'm surprised he didn't say anything to you, what with you two being so close the last few weeks." he said. Ella glared straight down at her notebook.
"Yeah well, it's not like I staked a claim on him. He's allowed to go out with other girls." she answered with a shrug, ignoring the hurt slowly creeping its way into her heart.
"So, will you go to the formal with me?" he asked again, this time already knowing her answer.
"Yeah. Fine. Just stop talking about it." she told him quietly, as he whooped in happiness.
"Stop talking about what?" Tyler's voice broke through her thoughts. He took his place in the seat in front of Reid.
"Ella's going to the winter formal with me." Reid said, signature smirk planted mockingly on his face.
"Oh is she." Tyler said, his voice wavering slightly. She looked up to meet his gaze.
"Yeah, well, one doesn't want to show up to a winter formal dateless." she said bluntly, looking back down.
"Yeah. I guess not." was all he said.
Her next classes flew by, and by then it was the end of the day. She walked side by side with Kate, utterly confused at all of the glares she was getting from the female population.
"Why are they staring?" she asked Kate, smoothing down her sweater, and pulling nervously at her hair.
"Well you're going to the winter formal with Spencer's resident bachelor. They all thought they had a chance." Kate said with a shrug.
"They're mad because I'm going with Reid? I don't even like him..well at least not in the way they all do. And he's fucking annoying. They need to relax." she growled, leaving Kate and her locker and leaving the school.
She saw Tyler's hummer, and climbed in, to be greeted by silene.
"About the formal.." he started, pulling away from the school. "I wanted to ask you, I really did. But my mom has this friend, who's daughter, Macy, is a freshman at Spencer, and she asked me to ask her to the formal." he said waiting for her to answer. "I'm sorry." he added.
"Tyler why are you apologizing?" she asked. "We aren't dating, we aren't anything. You were under no obligation to ask me to the dance, and I understand that. Which is why I said yes to Reid." she explained, looking away from the pained expression that flashed across his face. "Not a big deal." she reassured him.
"Are we really nothing?" he asked quietly, eyes still on the road.
"Well that's the idea I got when you avoided physical contact with me for three weeks. When you make up your mind, call me. But until then I can't deal with this. And don't bother picking me up in the morning." she said, climbing out of his hummer when he pulled up to her house, and shutting the door without a word.
"How was your day at school?" Jessica asked, as she entered the house.
"Long. Exhausting. Uneventful. Take your pick." Ella muttered, dropping her bag on the couch and walking to the kitchen to eat her sorrows away.
"Hold up. Whats the matter?" Jessica asked, as Ella bit into a chuck of leftover chicken from dinner the previous night.
"I'm going to Winter formal with Reid." Ella told her with a shrug, and Jessica smiled.
"That's awesome. But what about Tyler..didn't he ask you?" she asked knowing full well of the feelings Ella had for him.
"No. His mom force him into some bogus date with a freshman." Ella said, finnishing her chicken and grabbing a bottled water to wash it down with.
"Well thats not really his fault now, is it? He can't just say no to his mother. Did he say anything else?" Jessica asked her.
"He apologized and said he really wanted to take me." she shrugged. Jessica laughed.
"Then why the hell are you all mopey? So his mom forced him into something. If he apologized, he probably still likes you!" Jessica exclaimed.
"Well he hasn't done a very good job showing it, the last couple of weeks." Ella said, and then groaned. "And I probably just ruined any chance of ever being with him."
"I don't know what happened, and I don't want to. But Tyler seems like the second chance type." Jessica said, hugging Ella. "You're young. There's room for mistakes."
"Gosh I have such a smart, beautiful, amazing sister!" Ella cried, throwing her arms around her sister dramatically.
"Okay, other than my awesome advice. What do you want now?" Jessica asked her, prying Ella's hands off her.
"A dress for winter formal?" Ella asked with a smile, earning an eyeroll from her sister.
"Fine. We'll go tomorrow after school. Now let me go get ready for work!" Jessica demanded, heading to the bathroom to shower.
Ella went to the living room, and collapsed on the couch. She was just getting comfy with the remote when she heard her phone vibrate from inside her bag. She sat up and crawled across the floor to get her bag. Being at home did nothing for her natural laziness.
She climbed back on the couch, phone in hand. One new message from Reid Garwin. He had stolen her phone one day in math and added himself to her contact list.
Hey winter formal date! Was the message displayed across the screen. Not a second after, and second text came through, from Reid as well. Make sure your dress is sexy. You don't wanna be upstaged by all the girls who DIDN'T get a date with me. She laughed out loud at his obvious ego problem.
Who said I'm wearing a dress? She texted back, grinning. I was thinking a turtle neck and some overalls. It didn't take long to get a reply.
You better fucking not. You've got killer legs. I intend for you to show them off. She laughed again.
Relax, Pretty boy. I'm going dress shopping tomorrow. She replied with an inward eyeroll. Reid was too much.
Okay good. Ttyl. She put her phone down and sighed in content. The soft sound of the t.v lulling her to sleep.
She awoke the next morning still on the couch. She woke before her alarm, and realised with a start, she had slept right through the evening. She showered and got ready for school, wearing a pair of jeans and a baggy hoodie. She piled her hair on top of her head in a messy bun, and slipped on a pair of ugg boots. She then went a waited for the bus, instantly regretting being so aweful to Tyler the day before.
In history, Reid didn't add to her mood. "I sure hope you clean yourself up tomorrow." he said, taking in her frumpy attire.
"Shutup Reid. I'm not having such a great morning." she snapped, opening her notebook and realising she didn't do any homework.
"Woah. Is this because of your fight with baby boy?" he asked her, sounding genuinley concerned.
"No, it's because I'm not having a great morning." she growled, hiding her head in her arms. He patted her back.
"It's okay. You'll have a good time tomorrow night to make up for your shitty day today." he said matter of factly. She shook her head.
"I sure hope so. What time will you be picking me up tomorrow night?" she asked him.
"Well before dances the we all usually meet up at Nicky's for a bite to eat. So how about seven?" he asked her and she sighed.
"Okay. Seven it is." she answered with a smile.
The rest of the day went by rather quickly, and Jessica picked her up. They drove into town, and went into a small botique, where apparently all of the girls at Spencer were getting their dresses.
"What about this one?" Jessica asked her, holding up a long sleeved fushia ball gown.
"Yes. Let's find a matching boa while we're at it." Ella said, making a gagging motion. They were in there for what felt like hours, before Ella found what she thought was the perfect dress. It was a form fitting cocktail dress, the top was pleated and a shimmery pale pink. The skirt was black and went to mid thigh.
She held it up for Jessica to see. "Isn't that a tad revealing?" Jessica questioned, eyebrow raised.
"Please, you should see some of the dresses the other girls have. Sheer lace. It's going to be an interesting night." she said with a shrug. She tried it on and it fit like a glove.
"Reid won't be able to keep his eyes off of you," Jessica laughed as they took the dress to the till. The smiling woman at the counter took the dress from her.
"Are you Ella?" she asked "Ella Alexander?" Ella shared a look with Jessica and nodded.
"Yes, thats me." she said, slightly weirded out. The lady smiled.
"I have specific instructions from Mr. Garwin to charge whatever dress you picked to his card, so you're free to go." she said, ringing it up. Ella and Jessica stood there.
"That's a two hundred dollar dress. I can't let someone else buy that for her." Jessica said quickly, pulling out her wallet.
"Trust me dear, the Garwin's can afford it. And a million more." The elder lady said with a smile. "Don't beat yourself up over it."
Jessica and Ella left the little shop in shock. "Well that was nice of him." Ella said with a shrug. She was well aware of how much money Reid's family had. It shouldn't have surprised her.
"I'm just scared he might have alterior motives." Jessica murmured, "You don't owe him anything, remember that."
Ella laughed. "Reid might be a playboy, but he's not an idiot." she reassured her sister, who had worry lines across her forhead. "I'll be fine." she said, patting her sisters leg as they drove home.
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