[ CHAPTER SIX ]

The clock seemed to defy the laws of the universe. A small buzzing sound came from her backpack's front pocket, and she gave it a side glance. Her teacher was droning on about the perfect tenses in Spanish, something she'd been hearing about for years and years and years. It could just be a college spam email, or . . .

Leo: yep, it's broken

There was an image attached, but it was too far away for her to see it. Her teacher was scribbling on the chalkboard. Elle quickly brought the phone to her lap, her foot tap, tap, tapping on the floor.

His finger was pointing at his crooked nose, a look of disgust on his face. His hair was sticking up all over the place and he was sitting in an all-white room.

Elle: I feel terrible, oh no :(

Leo: don't worry about it, it doesn't hurt too bad

Elle: It looks pretty bad, though...

Leo: gee, thanks

Elle: No! I mean, it just looks a little Snape-like, that's all

Leo: i still look good though, right?

"Elle, please bring your phone up to the front, I'm adding your name to the list."

As her stomach began digging a pit within itself as she took her first-ever walk of shame to a teacher's desk. With a trembling hand, she placed her phone delicately on the desk and avoided the eyes of her classmates. Jordan gave her a wide-eyed look, and Elle had to look away.

She had never gotten a detention before. The most she'd ever gotten yelled at was in the third grade, when she accidentally pushed a kid during tag.

The entire class, she kept wiping her sweaty palms on her black leggings, keeping her breath nice and steady. Was she actually going to be written up for this, or was it an unofficial thing? Were the colleges she applied to going to find out? Would this mess with her reputation? What were her parents going to say? Oh God, she was going to be late for jazz band.

The bell rang, and she once again began the trek up to her teacher's front desk. She held back until everyone left the room except for Elle and her teacher.

"I'm — I'm sorry I used my phone," Elle mumbled, grabbing her phone from her teacher.

"I'm sorry, I know you're a good kid but I had to write you up. It's just fair."

"Alright, I'll — I'll be here after school."

Elle sped out of the classroom, her blood feeling hot beneath her skin. She texts someone once and gets a detention, but she can name at least three people who are on their phone every day, and nothing.

Her fingers were frantically flying on the keyboard of her phone.

Elle: I JUST GOT A DETENTION. I can't believe it.

Leo: you, a detention?

Elle: YES. Because I texted you!!!

Leo: i'm a bad influence i guess

Elle: This is no time for jokes!! Apparently it's going to be thirty minutes in a room with hooligans!

Leo: you did not just say hooligans over text.

Elle: Shut up. I shouldn't be texting you At this point, I'm going to get another detention, probably

She bit her lip, feeling a blush fall onto her cheeks as she headed to her last class of the day.

Elle couldn't pay attention the entire class. She kept reaching for her phone, her fingertips brushing the plastic case, her fingers jolting away at it's touch as if it had burned them. She walked in a daze, back to the classroom she had been dreading.

Reluctantly passing in her phone, she headed to one of the front seats, crossing her arms against her chest. Elle was the first one there, and nearly fifteen minutes later, realized that she was the only one there.

"I'm going to make some copies," her teacher announced, holding up a stack of worksheets and heading out.

Alone.

Elle wondered what Leo was doing right then. They had been texting ever since the "date" they had, and she couldn't help but actually, genuinely like him. Probably the first time in her life she'd let herself get that close to a guy in that way before. The first time she'd prioritized anyone over school. And they weren't even technically dating! Was that a thing? Did people become girlfriend and boyfriend after just one date? Was it even an official date? The two had kissed. Was that a normal thing on a first date? They'd barely even met! I mean, they had texted a lot, but that was more of like an online relationship than anything. Oh no, what if he didn't like her like that and was just texting her out of sympathy?

Elle took a deep breath.

Thinking back to the diner, seeing him move his left hand all around while keeping his right hand on the steering wheel, watching his head bop while listening to the jukebox at the diner, feeling his warm hand slipped in hers. And the kiss. She didn't know how she managed to nod after he asked her. It was like her brain couldn't brain and her subconscious took over, slowly nodded, and was gravitationally pulled to him like a tug of war.

"Alright, you're good to go, Elle," her teacher said, interrupting her mind cramp.

"I'm sorry, good to . . ." Elle glanced at the clock. Good Lord, was she really thinking-slash-worrying about him for fifteen minutes? "Oh! Alright, thank you. Actually, I was wondering, if this is going on my transcript or anything?"

"No, don't worry about it, this was your first time, so I'm not making it very official. I know that it's hard to stay focused as a senior in your last few months, but from now on, just try to stay off the cell phone, please."

Elle gave a quick nod and sprinted out of the classroom, making sure to grab her phone and check her text messages on the way.

It was too late to head to band rehearsal, so Elle began to make her way down the wide hallway and out the front doors. She needed to start practicing what she'd say to her parents. Or maybe she didn't need to tell them, if it wasn't official? She could just say she was at band . . .

"Elle!"

She whipped around, having sworn she heard her name. Looking right, and then she noticed a beat up a little car with the passenger window rolled down, a familiar face peering out of it.

"What are you doing here?" she anxiously whispered, practically leaping down the steps of the school. "You should be resting, or — or — I don't know, you just found out your nose is broken, for God's sake!"

"You said a little while ago that you walk home from school every day. My school ends earlier, I can just drive you home, if you want."

She felt her cheeks grow hot. "No, you — you don't need to do that, I've been walking home for years, it's not that far. Besides, it gets me my steps, y'know?"

Leo reached over the passenger seat and pushed open the door for her.  She gave him a small smile and tentatively gripped the handle, pulling herself into the car.

Buckling in, Elle finally took a deep breath, for the first time that day, it felt like. The storms in her mind had collapsed, and all that was left was the light drizzle. The past few times she had been in contact or face-to-face with Leo, the knot of wires and laces and cords inside her brain would untangle, and she was at ease.

"How's your nose doing?" she mumbled, locking and unlocking her door, her toes tapping in her boots.

"It's alright. I can't really touch it, it's too sore, but I think I just need to ice it."

He was met with a familiar four way stop. "You can take a right here," she informed him, pointing to the apartment-ridden street. "It's the fastest."

"I know," he replied, taking a left.

They talked for minutes turned hours in his car, sometimes just sitting in silence, other times just listening to the radio.

• • •

Days turned into weeks, some days of silence, others where they would talk for hours. Sometimes he'd hand her the aux cord and she'd play him something he'd never heard before. Other times they'd play the license plate game, trying to find as many different states before they reached her house.

Sometimes he'd stop by and have a snack, she'd help him with some of his homework and he'd try to destress her. He'd even stayed over for dinner a few nights, shoveling down pizza and guzzling down sprite. It was one of the fastest growing friendships she'd ever had.

They hadn't talked about the kiss.

Weeks later, he once again approached her street. Leo put the car in park.

Silence.

"Thanks again for the ride, I appreciate it," Elle murmured, reaching for the door handle. "You really don't have to be doing this."

"I want to do it," he replied, matter-of-factly. She felt something warm around her wrist. She looked down to see his rough fingers spanning over her soft skin. Elle twisted her torso to see his wide eyes staring back at her, and he dropped his hand, his hands snaking back into his lap. "I, uh, I haven't . . . This is too soon, I don't know if—"

"Do you want to go out with me?" Elle asked in a whisper, a grin growing on her face. "Officially, I mean. I'm assuming that's what you were going to say. And yeah, maybe it is too soon, but I think it feels right."

Leo blinked, and for a second Elle was petrified she'd jumped the gun. Put the cart before the horse. Was that not what he was going to say? She was striking out in all different ways today.

"You think so too?" he said with a grin.  He glanced back at the road in front of him, his hands back on ten and two. "I really like you, Elle. You're something else."

a/n

dedicated to @chocolateandromance who said: "Okay I seriously can't stop thinking about this book. I desperately need more"

I HOPE THIS DIDN'T DISAPPOINT!

is this what you were expecting whatsoever? the book has already taken a turn... do you like it, or are you skeptical? what do you think of elle and leo?

so sorry i wasn't able to post chapters these last few weeks. life has been crazy — i took my first ap test, took the sats, got my license, and had my school's last chorus concert of the year all within that time frame. i'm a little frazzled right now, but at least i can finally share this with you all!!

thanks for reading, and don't forget to share, vote, and comment!!

goals:
753 reads in total
50 votes
40 comments

edit: i added a little something towards the middle so now i feel better about this chapter. next chapter should be coming tomorrow (?)