Ella's Twisted Senior Year(28)



Ella appears at my side, her hot pink backpack slung over one shoulder. “Ready?”

I nod and we say goodbye to Ms. Cleary, quickly falling into step with each other as we walk out to the now nearly empty parking lot.

“So I think we’ll have to rethink our escape plan,” I say, digging in my pocket for my keys. “Kennedy cornered me outside of the locker room just now.”

My phone goes off again, and once again, Kennedy’s name flashes across the screen. I deleted her picture days ago so at least I don’t have to see it when she’s blowing up my phone. “I’m going to have to block her number,” I mutter.

Ella’s looking up at me as we walk. She’s so short and cute I want to rest my elbow on top of her head but I’m sure she’ll kick my ass for it. “So, you didn’t tell me what she said,” Ella says, kicking at a pebble on the concrete.

“She wanted to bitch at me for not answering her millions of texts and calls,” I say, pointing to one finger. I point to the next one. “And then she wanted to berate me about prom some more.”

“So you’re broken up but you’re still going to prom together,” Ella says, shaking her head. “And I can’t even get a date at all. You popular people have all the luck.”

We reach my truck and I’ve absentmindedly walked over to the passenger side with her. I open the door for her and watch her climb inside. “I’m not going to prom with Kennedy. She may think I will, but it won’t happen.”

She makes this mock look of surprise. “But then what will happen to the royal couple? You can’t show up with separate dates and get crowned together, that’s a prom blasphemy.”

I stand in front of her, the door still open. I should probably close it and get in on my side, but she smells like the flowers and I’m much closer to her here than I would be behind the steering wheel.

“Maybe I won’t win,” I say.

She snorts. “I’m not voting for you.”

Her grin matches mine and I close the freaking truck door because if I don’t, I’ll lean in and kiss her again. I just won this girl’s friendship back and even my dumbass knows it wouldn’t be smart to push the limits right now.

Ella flips channels on the radio while we drive home. It’s such a dumb thing, but I love that she feels comfortable enough to mess with my radio without asking. The first couple of days of riding to school were awkward, but now we have a routine and it’s finally comfortable.

“Fries?” I say when we roll up on the McDonald’s.

“Do you even have to ask?” She gives me that grin that makes my knees weak.

Splitting a large order of fries on the drive home is just as important of a routine as our morning donut stop. It’s our way of enjoying good food before getting home to where my mom has cooked some healthy paleo/keto meal or whatever type of diet the internet has convinced her to try out this week. Mom’s cooking is good, but when you never know how many tons of baked vegetables you’ll have to eat each day, it’s nice to enjoy a bucket of hot fried potatoes.

I look over at her while we pull out of the drive thru line. “Do you have any plans tonight?”

She shakes her head. “April has to babysit and I’m kind of over being around her little brothers, so no.”

“I don’t have plans either.” My heart speeds up. The question was so simple when I thought of it a moment ago but now getting the words out is proving to be as hard as mentally calculating quantum physics.

“We should hang out,” I say all in one quick breath. “Rent a movie or something.”

She reaches for a fry. “Sure, sounds fun.”

Those three words send fireworks shooting through my chest. After a week of football practice, dodging Kennedy’s calls, and trying to pretend the most amazing girl in the world isn’t sleeping in the next room over, Ella’s simple agreement to watch a movie feels like an epic advancement in our friendship.

Not that I’m trying to do things to propel us back into the make out zone or anything—but if it happens to lead there, I’ll be more than happy to grab the opportunity and hold on tight.





Chapter 16





I give Ethan a serious look. “Okay, we have a problem.”

He stops at the stop sign by the playground in our neighborhood and looks over at me. “What is it?”

I almost giggle because the seriousness in his eyes says he’s actually concerned. I hold up the carton of fries, keeping my expression hard.

“There’s only one fry left,” I say with a deep sorrow in my voice. “I think we’ll have to fight each other for it.”

He smirks and lets off the brake, steering us toward his house. “Should we suit up and make a wrestling ring in the back yard? Or just duel it out in the driveway?”

“Oh, Ethan you adorable idiot,” I say lightly as I hold the fry carton in the air like it’s a prized trophy. “We can’t duel over the fry at your house. Your mom will totally find out and then bust us for eating food from the dark side.

He slows down as he maneuvers around cars parked on the side of the road. “Looks like the showdown begins now.” His elbows lift and he leans down, giving me a fake evil glare.

“Looks like I have the advantage since I’m holding the fry cup,” I say, poking my nose in the air.

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