Chapter two: Chasing you (Ellie's POV)

I walked into my last class of the day. Business Studies. It's Economics, just less mathematical. 

I sat down with a huff, propping my elbows on the table, holding my head in my hands. I do not want to speak to him, I do not want to see him, I want to forget that he even came back. On the other hand, I want to ask him why he didn't reach back out to us, why he didn't tell us he was leaving and what changed. 

I kept my head down as people began filing into class. I had Brett in this class, but he has soccer tryouts at the moment for the existing members of the soccer team and after school for potential new members. 

Our teacher, Mrs. Cole walked in and started by taking attendance. She's not too good with names. 

I was in my world until she called my name, the door opening simultaneously. 

"Ellie?" she called out. 

"Here," I said while looking up, watching as he walked through the door. I squirmed in my seat, realizing that the two seats beside me were empty. Those were the only two empty. One was Brett's and the other was a spare. 

"I'm Zach Rivers," he said to Mrs. Cole, not even sparing anybody else a glance. She added his name to the attendance register before he turned around, observing the class before his eyes settled on me. A smirk danced on his lips before he walked up to me and sat down in the seat beside mine. 

I put my head down, staring at my notebook, counting the lines to distract myself. 

"Hey," he whispered while class finally began. I resisted a groan and looked up to the front of the class where Mrs. Cole began explaining via her presentation and some diagrams and mind maps on the board. 

The spider web kind. We may not be in middle school but they sure as hell still help. 

"Hey," he repeated. I continued ignoring him for as long as I could. Which wasn't very long considering that he didn't care whether he disturbed the class and landed us in trouble or not, whereas I very much did. 

"Is something bothering you Mr. Rivers?" Mrs. Cole finally snapped. She had told him to be quiet numerous times. 

"I've been asking Ellie here for a pencil since the beginning of the class but she just won't give me one," he shrugged nonchalantly. 

She turned to me with a glare.

He wasn't even fazed about it, whereas I was flustered from the stares and whispers. Everyone knew him, and everyone knew we were friends, now thanks to him, everyone would know I was ignoring him. 

I grabbed one pencil and handed it to him, still not uttering a word or sparing him a glance. 

"Fucking hell," he sighed to himself while class resumed. 

I kept my eyes trained on the clock, my foot tapping against the floor with each tick of the second. When there was one minute left, I shoved everything in my bag, ready to bolt out of there. As the sound of the bell echoed throughout the building, I ran out of there. I headed right to my locker, shoved my homework into my bag, and started heading to my car. 

"Fucking asshole," I mumbled under my breath. I know he finds this amusing. I was marching on over to my car when someone grabbed my wrist, spinning me around. I turned around and came face to face with Brett. 

"Hey," he panted slightly. 

"Hey," I replied. 

"Do you have somewhere to be?" he questioned. 

"No, why?" I answered. 

"Then you're coming with me," he began dragging me towards the field. 

"Why are we going to the field?" I asked. 

"Because they're telling us if we made it to the team or not, and Zach is trying out!" he exclaimed. 

"You know you're getting in, it's not like we have to wait for them to tell us," I scoffed, feigning my composure. 

"Yeah we do," he chuckled. He walked us over to the bleachers where some students were preparing to try out for the first time and existing members were cleaning themselves up. I sat down on one of the seats while Brett sat beside me. 

"When do they announce the results?" I questioned, eager to get out of there. 

"After the newbies try out," he answered. 

Great, I have to face Zach, again. Speak of the devil and he shall appear. "Wish me luck," he winked at me before jogging over to the rest of the members who were now ready. 

"Have you spoken to him?" Brett asked in between his gulps of water. 

"No, and I don't want to," I sighed. 

"Elle, you have to forgive him at some point. We all should just be glad he's back," Brett said. We fell into a short silence until he broke it. "He reached out to me after he left." I looked up at him. "Occasionally, he'd call. He always asked about you," he huffed. 

"He could have asked me himself," I mumbled. 

"Ellie, come on. This whole time, we all have known our little group was incomplete. Now he's back, let's just move on," he shrugged. 

I can't move on. 

I must have zoned out because I snapped out of my thoughts when Brett's sweaty jersey landed in my lap. "Wash it for me?" he grinned at me cheekily. I sighed in defeat before nodding. 

Brett and I are, of course, really close. He, Zach, and I were the first three and we sort of remained a trio even within the group. Brett was also the only person I actually told about my little crush on Zach and he didn't utter a word about it to anyone. I love the boy with my whole heart, he's the best person ever. 

"Ellie, you know that if you don't talk to him, he will keep chasing you. We all know once he wants something he stops at nothing to get it. Whether that be something he can buy or a person." 

It's true. Zach stops at nothing when he wants something. 

"I can't just forget everything, Brett. You know why." I gave him a pointed look. 

"Take your time then," he sighed while draping his arm around my shoulder. 

"You're sweaty, get away from me," I pushed him off. He laughed and we sat side by side, watching the people play. 

There was no doubt Zach was amazing. He's always been amazing at soccer, it's his sport. He was captain while he was here and then apparently he continued it at his boarding school but I wouldn't know. He didn't bother telling me. 

I do have a right to be bitter, right? I'm not just making an unnecessary issue, am I? 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Brett was waiting with me, he had showered and we were waiting for the results and supposedly, Zach. He came out with his towel over his shoulder and his hair wet. I stared ahead of me and ignored his existence until Coach Adams began announcing the names of people who were part of this year's team. 

"Isaac Carrington, Liam Peterson, Tyler Harris, Brett Collins, and lastly, Zach Rivers. Newbies welcome to the team, the others, you already know it." He waved his hand dismissively before walking away. 

Brett and Zach fell into conversation about the sport and I thought I could slip away but apparently not. "Are you heading home?" Brett called out. 

I gritted my teeth before turning around, "Yeah, I have stuff to do," I lied.

"What stuff?" he questioned. 

I wasn't even looking at Brett. My eyes were trained on Zach's like they were drawn to them. 

His eyes are a whole different type. They're not brown, or hazel, or green, or blue, they are a stunning silver-steel grey. I used to be obsessed with the color of his eyes. Now, it's a hazard looking into them for too long, I tend to lose myself and zone out. 

Exhibit A. 

"Hello? What stuff?" Brett laughed, waving his hand in front of my face. 

"Some Creative Writing homework, just stuff, I'll see you tomorrow," I replied with a huff before heading over to my car, driving myself home. I forgot that my torture doesn't end there. 

Zach lives next to me, his window is in front of mine, which was great when we were friends but now? 

No thanks. 

I got into my room, grabbed my pajamas, and went to shower. I can't believe he's back. Everything has shifted. Nothing will be the same. He's different himself, I don't know how Brett and the others can't see it. He's changed. 

For worse or better? Probably for worse. Something is just off. 

I stepped back out into my room, halting when I had a very clear and disturbing view of Zach and a girl sucking each other's faces off. I groaned, closing my blinds before going downstairs for a snack.

He's changed, and it's definitely for worse.

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Chapter two

Next Chapter: Hurt