Chapter thirty-four: Over and over again (Ellie's POV)

"Coffee, coffee, coffee!" he whined, kicking his legs around like a little kid. 

"Zach, I'm making your coffee, Brett's coffee and my tea as well as breakfast for everyone here, have some patience or..." I paused turning to him, "Make your own damn coffee!" I snapped. 

"Relax, my lady. All you had to do was ask," he smirked while getting up and walking over to me, helping me with breakfast and making his own as well as Brett's coffee. "See, I can help," he winked before going and handing Brett his food while we all took a seat on the couch and ate. 

After we had our breakfast, we all headed out and for school. 

"Let's take a detour," I said as he turned off our street. 

"What?" he chuckled. 

"Let's skip," I shrugged. 

He's not stupid. He knows that I would never skip, I was just hoping he wouldn't figure out that I suggested we skip so we could avoid James. It was stupid and of course couldn't happen but I had to try. "You want to skip?" he looked at me, shocked. 

I nodded in response, feigning my composure because, in reality, I was nervous and anxious down to my core. He eyed me for a moment suspiciously before it clicked. 

"Ellie, I'm not actually going to murder him. It's not like we can avoid him forever anyway, better sooner than later," he said while holding my hand and resting our held hands on my thigh. 

"Just please don't do something that will land you in trouble. That's the last thing I want," I sighed. 

"I'll try my best," he glanced at me. 

After a while, we reached the school and he parked before we got out and gathered our bags. "Ellie," he huffed while leaning against his car and grabbing my waist, pulling me against his chest. 

"Yeah?" I asked, my gaze wandering around curiously, hoping James wouldn't show up. 

He grabbed my face and turned it to face him. "Stop. I will not do anything, okay? I promise you that," he said pleadingly while tucking my hair behind my ear. 

"I know but-" I wasn't worried about him doing anything, I was concerned about James provoking him. 

Before I could ramble on, he kissed me. Like really kissed me. My arms went around his neck while I felt him slip his hands into my back pockets before pulling away later. 

"I promise," he whispered. 

"I trust you," I said, almost breathless. 

"Shall we?" he smirked. 

I rolled my eyes with a smile stretching across my face while he locked my hand in his and led us inside. It felt weird because everything moved so fast and everything was out in the open for everyone to see. Not that it bothered me, but yes, people were staring, some were whispering. Some guys nodded at Zach, some girls offered me smiles, others shot me daggers. 

When we reached my locker, I halted. James stood there, leaning against the locker beside me, waiting for someone as he looked around. I take it that someone is me. "I still think we should skip," I murmured while Zach continued pulling me to my locker. 

"I think it's time to face the music." He gave me a pointed look before giving me nudge over to my locker, standing on my left while James stood on my right. 

I opened my locker, acting like James wasn't just standing there and his presence wasn't bothering me until he finally decided to speak up and just ruined everything as if his existence didn't already do that for me. "I need to talk to you," he said. 

"Like you have been wanting to every day since last week. What is it?" I huffed, refusing to meet his eyes and keeping my focus on my things while Zach watched in silence. 

"You didn't come to the party," he stated. 

"And? What about it?" I asked. 

"You were supposed to be there," he huffed. 

"You can't tell me what I'm supposed to do." I shrugged nonchalantly. Frankly speaking, I was fed up with his bullshit. 

"Why didn't you come?" he questioned. 

"It's none of your business," I said while Zach mumbled the same thing under his breath. 

"Ellie, I-" he grabbed my wrist, and as soon as his skin touched mine, Zach threw his hand off. 

"Mm-mm, hands-off," he shook his head at James. 

"Shut up, I'm just trying to talk to her, what is your problem with it?" James rolled his eyes. 

"The problem is, she doesn't want to talk to you. Rather than forcing her, you should just respect what she says and fuck off. If she wanted to talk to you, she would. If she wanted to attend your party, she would. If she wanted to get back together with you, she would." He shrugged nonchalantly as the words poured out of his mouth but I could see him getting angry. 

I just had to see if he could control it or not. 

"And who the hell are you to decide what she wants?" James challenged him. 

"I'm nobody, but she can decide for herself, and I think if she's told you to leave her alone, that states her decision pretty clearly," he explained calmly. So calmly, that it was kind of scary. 

"I'm not leaving here until she says the words," James huffed, standing his ground. 

"What words will that be? Get the fuck out of here, or leave me alone? Just curious," Zach shrugged, poking the bear back. 

I kept my eyes focused on my belongings that rested in my locker and grabbed my things for the first period before closing my locker. "Both. I'll just play it safe and say both," I sighed while turning James. "James, please get the fuck out of here, and leave me alone." I said the words slowly, maybe he'll understand it better than way. 

"But Ellie, I-" 

I rolled my eyes, "Read my lips, no. I'm sick of having the same argument over and over again. Stop." With that, I grabbed Zach's arm and pulled him with me for class. We sat in our seats for business with Brett missing. He could be skipping, it's not a big deal. As class began, I took my notes while feeling Zach staring at me. 

He's going to get in trouble. 

"Stop staring," I whispered. 

"I'm trying," he mumbled. 

"Mr. Rivers!" Everyone stared as he got called out. "I suggest you pay attention to the board rather than staring at Ms. Hart. Eyes to the front please." 

He should just nod and keep quiet, but knowing him... 

"I'm trying, but can you blame me?" he asked. I facepalmed and put my head down, mumbling a prayer or two. 

"Excuse me?" she asked, putting her whiteboard marker down. 

"I said, I'm trying. But can you blame me, Miss?" he smirked. 

"Well, perhaps you can stare at her outside of my classroom." She couldn't kick me out, I didn't even do anything.

"Or in here, wherever you like," Zach shrugged. 

"Stop," I whispered while turning to him, "Please," I bit back a smile. 

"I suggest you listen to her, back to class, please." And then the lesson went on. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

We were sitting at lunch and I was about to go and get Zach. As usual, he was behind the school. I've been meaning to ask him to quit. I know I said I don't want him to quit for me, but I can't bear to watch him do that to himself while I just stand by and watch. 

"Ellie," Ashley spoke up, snapping me back to reality. I turned to her in anticipation. "What are you going to do on Friday?" she asked. 

"What do you-" I stopped talking when the chair in front of me, Zach's spot, was pulled and someone took a seat. 

"Hey," he nodded. Everyone looked at each other before turning to him. 

"Wow," Spencer said, seeming surprised. 

"What?" he asked in confusion. 

"She didn't even have to come grab you today, what's the matter? Couldn't last twenty minutes without her?" Brett taunted Zach. 

He shook his head with a laugh before his eyes settled on me. I looked at him questioningly. It was weird. I would normally have to go call him and ask him to join us at lunch and pay us some more attention. More than his cigarettes. 

"No smoking today?" Nathan questioned, looking at him knowingly.

"Nope," Zach sighed. 

"How come?" Ashley asked. 

"Somebody doesn't like it," he shrugged while smirking at me. 

I grinned at him before everyone fell back into the conversation. "You were saying?" I turned to Ashley, tearing my eyes away from Zach's. 

"I was asking what you're planning to do this Friday," she repeated. 

"What do you mean?" I asked in confusion. 

Was there anything special? Something I'm missing out on or forgetting. 

"I mean, it's been a month, Ellie. The bet is over."

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Chapter thirty-four

Uh oh... Bet is over... what now?

Next Chapter: Boyfriend meets parents

Sneak peek: From the title, I'm sure it's no secret, Zach's going to make Ellie his girlfriend, but that doesn't explain what's going to happen now that the bet is over. Who won? Who lost? Did anyone really lose or win? And... Will she leave?

Q: What's your favorite song of all time or at the moment??

A: Mine's low key probably Golden by Harry Styles. I said it once, I'll say it again. UNDERRATED.