Chapter Eight

       “Elle, you’re going to that benefit on Saturday night with me,” Nick stated, sliding into the passenger seat of my car.

       “Excuse me, would you like to rephrase that?” I offered, trying to keep a straight face.

       “No, but I’m sure you want me to rephrase it, so, I will.”

       “Thank you.”

       “Would you, Elle Paterson, like to go with me, Nick Ross, as my date to the benefit on Saturday night?” he asked again, as I put my keys in the ignition and started to drive off.

       “John already asked me,” I said seriously.

       “You better be kidding, because if he did, I will kill him... without hesitation,” Nick said, the level of graveness matching my own.

       “What do you think?” I rolled my eyes.

       “Well, I know you’re kidding, so, what’s your answer?”

       “I, Elle Paterson, would love to go with you, Nick Ross, to the benefit on Saturday night,” I smiled.

       On Saturday night there’s a benefit for something sad that our parents care enough about to give a lot of money towards, and we have to go. Most of the people in my school will be there, because their parents are part of the same organization. Actually, now that I think about it, it may be the country club benefit- or maybe not. I never know, I just show up, and impress whomever my parents need me to.

       “Good, because you didn’t really have a choice. Oh, and I updated my relationship status- never got so many dislikes before,” he smirked cockily.

       “Thanks?” I said, unsure of how to respond to a comment like that.

       “You should update yours too,” he informed me.

       “No, I’m good. Remember, not really into the whole ‘drama’ thing,” I reminded him.

       “Yeah, but it would make me feel good,” he pouted, placing one of his hands on my thighs as I drove. 

       “That’s never been my top priority,” I swatted away his hand, hoping that my one-handed driving wouldn’t cause an accident.

       “Fine; if you won’t update your relationship status, you can go make me a sandwich,” he laughed.

       “I’m not responding to that,” I said as I heard, “I’m through accepting limits; ’Cuz someone-” before picking up my phone.

       “Hello?” I answered.

       “Hey, Elle, it’s John,” the voice on the other end said.

       “Oh, hey, John!” I said, putting my phone on my lap, and pressing the speaker button so that Nick could hear too.

       “I was wondering…” he trailed off.

       “Yeah?”

       “Do you have a date for the benefit? Are you going with anyone?” he asked. Nick opened his mouth to laugh, but I put my hand over it before he had the chance to.

       “Um… actually someone already asked me! Sorry!” I apologized, finding it somewhat strange that John would ask me.

       “Oh... Who?” I looked at Nick and he shook his head, indicating not to share with John.

       “It’s a surprise,” I gulped.

       “It is?”

       “Yeah.”

       “Do I know the guy?”

       “Yes, which is why it’s a surprise.”

       “Well, I hope you have an awesome time with him. He’s a lucky dude,” John said sincerely.

       “Thanks, John. There are plenty of girls dying to go out with you, make one of them happy!” I encouraged, ignoring the gagging sounds that Nick was making.

       “Yeah, sure. I just have to ask, are you going with Phillip?”

       “Not that I know of,” I smiled.

       “See ya later,” he said, hanging up before I had a change to respond. 

       “I was so close to accepting that wonderful invitation!” I told Nick.

       “I bet you were. Now update your status. Actually, never mind; I’ll do it for you,” he said, taking my phone and going onto Facebook.

       “No!” I cried, trying to keep both eyes on the road.

       “Yes!” he said, quickly changing something on my profile.

       “What’d you do?” I groaned.

       “You, Elle Paterson, are now ‘in a relationship’. It’s official, congrats!” he cried happily.

       “Thanks.”

       “Don’t mention it!” he smirked.

       “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

       “Oh, I never worry, Elle,” he told me cockily.

       “Nick, does your brother know I’m coming over?” I questioned as we pulled up to his driveway.

       “No.”

       “Should he?”

       “No,” he reiterated.

       “I’m trusting you,” I sighed.

       “Good choice, I’d trust me too,” he said as I stopped the car. We got out and my heart started racing.

       Interacting with Nick’s brother, Evan, is a scary thing for me. Evan is only a year older than us, like my brother, but he’s an intimidating asshole who I hate. My brother, Phillip’s brother, Jake, and Evan went to school for a while together, until Evan took a wrong turn somewhere, and jumped ship to public school for high school. Evan had one more year left at our old private school, when Nick left, so he just sucked it up and stayed. He’s cute, cocky, and a jerk; just like his brother. The main difference between the two is that Evan has blonde hair, while Nick has a light chocolate hair.

       We went into the house and there, at his kitchen table, was not only Evan, but also his parents.

       “Nick!” his mom, Danni, exclaimed.

       “Mom,” Nick nodded.

       “Who’s with you?” his dad, Dean, asked.

       “Elle Paterson,” I said, smiling at the middle-aged man.

       “Oh, Elle, I haven’t seen you in forever! How are you, girlfriend?” Danni inquired, coming over to hug me.

       Danni Ross is and has been my idol since I was in kindergarten. She always looks so put together and funky. She has her own style, which I absolutely adore. Danni’s an interior designer, which is one of the coolest jobs to have, in my opinion. When I was little, I used to play with Barbies. My favorite part about playing with them was setting up the dollhouse, so it was perfect. Danni gets to set up dollhouses, on a larger scale, all day. How fun does that sound?

       “Good Ms. R,” I said a little shaken up.

       “Elle! It’s Danni. None of that Mrs. or Ms. crap,” she laughed.

       “Okay, Danni,” I corrected.

       “Elle Paterson... Have I met you?” Dean asked, coming over.

       “Yeah, a couple times,” I admited, not surprised that he didn’t have any recollection of me.

       “Weren’t you that smart kid?” Evan questioned, as his eyes raked over my body.

       “Still am,” I said, pursing my lips.

       “So, Elle, what brings you here?” Danni asked. Nick looked at me, silently asking if revealing the fact that we were together would be appropriate at a time like this, and I shook my head, indicating it wasn’t the right time.

       “We’re friends,” Nick said.

       “Wait... Paterson? Isn’t your brother Jordan?” Evan asked, putting together the puzzle pieces almost as well as Nancy Drew.

       “Yup,” I rolled my eyes.

       “Wow, I truly feel for you. Living with Jordan Paterson. Geez... It’s a miracle you’re still alive. That kid is fucked up!” he laughed, as I clenched my jaw, feeling a need to defend my older brother.

       “Evan!” Danni scolded.

       “No, no. It’s fine, Jordan is pretty difficult,” I said, still wanting to punch Evan in the face.

       “Aren’t they all?” Danni laughed sweetly.

       “We’ll be in my room,” Nick said.

       “With Evan,” Dean added sternly.

       “What?” Nick said, confused.

       “No way am I letting you go to your room by yourself, with a girl,” Dean said.

       “Oh, Dean! Elle’s a good girl, what were you two planning on doing, studying?” Danni asked. I tried to hide my smirk, as the only studying I was planning on doing was on Nick’s lips.

       “Yeah,” Nick said, thinking it over.

       “Evan can help you,” Dean frowned.

       “Dean!” his wife said, unhappy with the decision being made.

       “Danni!” he mocked.

       “What am I doing?” Evan asked, finally coming back into this lovely conversation.

       “Going up to Nick’s room with them,” Dean said firmly.

       “No thanks.” 

       “Evan, now,” Dean crossed his arms over his broad chest.

       “Fine,” Evan sighed.

       The three of us awkwardly went up to Nick’s room in complete silence, and I could feel Evan staring at me, trying to figure something out as we went.

       “You two are going out?” Evan accused, after we got to Nick’s room and closed the door.

       “Yes we are. Good detective work Scooby Doo,” Nick said, flopping onto his bed.

       “If you’re trying to hide it, come up with better excuses,” his brother mumbled.

       “Please don’t tell anyone, we’ve been trying so hard to avoid drama,” I begged.

       “Why the fuck would I care enough to tell anyone?”

       “Look, Danni and Dean will find out at the benefit thing on Saturday anyways, so it’s not a big deal,” Nick shrugged.

       “We’re telling everyone then,” I declared.

       “Whatever makes you happy, Elle,” Nick said.

       “Saturday,” I said.

       “Saturday,” he agreed, coming over to where I was to hold my hand.

       “That’s so sweet!” Evan mocked, ruining the moment.

       “I know, aren’t I?” Nick laughed.

       “Psh, no,” Evan scoffed. Nick threw a football at him, and Evan, who had unsurprisingly good reflexes, caught it.

       On Saturday, everyone was either going to be really pissed at us, surprised, or- actually no everyone would pretty much be mad or surprised. Most likely, no one is really going to care, I’m only interested in how my friends are going to react.