Dedicated to doiknowyoutho  for making me the beautiful cover above! Though I didn't exactly use it, it's still very gorgeous! Thanks a bunch! ❤️

Again, thanks a lot for every single read! I love you all to the moon and back. :')

Enjoy Reading! =)

|Chapter 8|

I am terrified.

No, I am not standing in front of a wild, hungry tiger. No, I am not writing a test, unprepared. No, I am not going to go bungee jumping or skydiving for the first time.

Today, I am going to Eleanor's house.

It is now the last period of the day and my legs are currently jello, breathing is fast, and palms, forehead, and basically whole body is sweaty. All of that is a result of the terror I'm feeling of me entering a house and communicating with people I do not know.

Why? Because of a freaking stupid bee.

Never in my life have I thought that I would once actually want a Pre-Calculus lesson to never end. However, here I am, sitting in class and fidgeting with my fingers, praying to God that time would go slowly like it does when I do not want it to be. But is my prayer granted?

Hell to the no.

The bell rang and the teacher dismissed the class. Everyone cheered happily, and I groaned in agony. My feet betrayed me and started shaking in fear. I could literally feel the heat burning the tip of my ears and my chubby cheeks. I held my bag closer to my chest and made my way towards my locker to pick up the books I needed to take home.

Earlier today, in Biology class, Eleanor told me to meet her at the school gates. However, I heard my name being called by Eleanor herself as I made my way towards the destination.

"Elizabeth! Wait up!" I turned around and saw her running towards me with a creepy, wide smile plastered on her overly cheerful face. People started glancing my way, shocked at the public stunt Eleanor made. I glared at everyone looking at me and yelled, "Mind your own freaking business!"

"Easy there, tiger," Eleanor teased, smirking.

"Let's get this over and done with," I said through gritted teeth.

"Hey, El! Jacob's driving me home after practice, so you go on," a deep voice spoke from behind Eleanor, and when she turned around, the green-eyed beauty appeared.

"Oh, okay!" Eleanor hugged him.

"Hey there, feisty one." He winked at me and walked the other way. My eyes glared holes at his back before glancing at Eleanor.

"Come on," I urged. She smirked, nodding.

Together, we made our way towards the parking lot. I entered the black Mazda and a minute later, we were on the road.

"So, I see you've met Justin," Eleanor spoke up, taking a quick glance at me and then back at the road. I nodded quietly and looked out the window.

It's going to be okay. Just breathe. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale, I chanted in my head.

It is just going to be an hour or two. We are just going to search for a few things and get stuff sorted out and then I will go back home. It is no big deal.

Five minutes later, the car parked in front of an average sized, white house. I opened the passenger door and got out of the car, wiping the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand.

"You look pale. Did you catch the flu?" Eleanor asked me, her voice full of concern.

Genuine concern.

   My eyes softened at her sweet tone before they darkened once again.

Do not fall for the act, Elizabeth. No one actually cares except family.

I nodded my head, lying like it is my second language.

"Come on inside, I've got some medicine you could swallow," she said, making her way towards the front door.

"No, I'm fine," I protested, following her footsteps. She opened the front door and stepped in.

"Mom! Dad! I'm home!" she yelled at the top of her voice and I cringed. A middle aged, beautiful looking woman emerged from my right and smiled widely at Eleanor, hugging her and kissing her cheek.

"Hello, honey. How're you?"

"Great! This is my friend, Elizabeth," Eleanor introduced me, smiling. I slightly winced at the word "friend".

"Hi, darling. It's great seeing you here!" She pulled me in for a hug and I pretended to feel welcomed by it. However, my mind was screaming the opposite.

No, no, no! No touchy.

"Yes, you too," I awkwardly replied after pulling away.

"Well, we have a project to research on, so later!" Eleanor ran up the stairs and I slowly did the same.

God, help me.

We entered Eleanor's room, which had beige painted walls and many photo frames of nature, people, and animals hanging on them. Eleanor kicked off her shoes and made her way towards a blue box beside her bed. Her hands shuffled inside before pulling out a white capsule and fetching a bottle of water. She gave them to me and I whispered a quick and barely noticeable "thank you" before shoving the capsule into my jean pocket and drinking a sip of water, pretending to swallow the medicine. Eleanor then plopped on her bed and turned on her laptop.

"Hey, do me a favor and fetch Bary B. Benson from the desk behind you," she told me.

"Sorry, who?" My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Bary, our bee."

I turned around, and indeed, I found our bee in a jar, sitting on the wooden desk. I carefully took the jar and placed it on the bed next to Eleanor before carrying a chair and putting it on the carpeted floor to the bed's left. I sat on the chair and hesitantly asked the question that's been killing to get out there.

"W-why is it called Bary B. B-Benson?"

"Because of the film Bee Movie, silly." She laughed at me. I blushed in embarrassment and said no more.

We spent the next hour researching about bees, how they live, what they eat, and such things. However, just as we were finished, I was bombarded with questions I didn't like one bit.

"So, tell me more about yourself?" Eleanor looked at me ever so innocently that I almost regretted snapping rudely at her.

"No."

"Come on, tell me anything! You can trust me! Like, what's your favorite color? Do you have other siblings other than Sophia? Do you have a boyfriend? Any deep, dark secrets? Do you like it here? What was your life like back where you-"

"Shut up! There's nothing to be told!" I stood up and packed my things before shoving them in my bag. Just as I was about to storm out of the room, someone beat me to it and opened the door.

I was met by Justin, the green-eyed beauty.

Stop calling him that!

"Hey, feisty one. You wanna stay for dinner?" He smiled cheekily at me. I glared at him and replied ever so meanly.

"No!" I shoved him out of my way and trudged down the stairs. Before anyone was able to speak to me, I ran out of the front door.

I ran and ran, going left, right, and foreword, heading towards the only place where I belong. The only place that will accept me for who I am. The only place that will not make me feel like a worthless piece of trash.

Home.