CHAPTER TWO
❀ ✿ one percent ✿ ❀

WHEN ANTHONY CALLED the next day Eloise was shocked, to say the least. He explained how he'd hurt his leg during the meet and had to use crutches for a few weeks. She could here the disappointment in his voice so she quickly made her way to his house. She'd seen him before he left and she promised he would get first place, Eloise couldn't help but feel she'd jinxed him.

She quickly unlocked the door, shouting to let him know she was there. "I've got a bunch of stuff from Olive. I stopped at Walmart for ice cream, because I figured you're mom didn't get any since yesterday." She placed the items on the table and got two spoons from the drawers. She continued to exclaim what she was doing as she made her way to his room.

"Since your parents are home, I've gotta take care of you." She dumped the bags of items on the bed where he was laying. Anthony had a frown on his face but he couldn't help but smile slightly at the sight of his worried best friend.

Anthony didn't say anything. He tried to get up but was then lightly pushed back down by Eloise.

"Oh, no you don't. You need to give your leg a break." He rolled his eyes as she placed a pillow to elevate her leg.

"You know I can't do that, Ellie."

"Yeah, well, unless you never want to run again I suggest you sit down relax and let me take care of you." He didn't say anything else. She was worried about him. Usually he'd make a remark about how she was being paranoid, or tease her about how much he loved her worrying about him. Instead, he just sat there.

After a few moments of silence, Eloise sighed sitting beside the boy. She placed her hand on his crossed arm, "It'll be okay, Ant, I promise."

He scoffed, "That's what you said about the meet and look where that got me." She looked at the boy, a jury expression written across her face. She'd thought about it and she left terrible, but when it came from Anthony's mouth it made her hurt even more. "I don't need you're help, so why don't you just leave?"

She pursed her lips, "Look, Anthony, you can either sit around alone and be a dick to your best friend who's trying to help you, or you can sit around with company and eat ice cream with your best friend who's trying to help you. Because I'm not going to stay here and listen to you bitch about how this is my fault or whatever it is you're doing."

She got up to leave after he didn't respond. She scoffed, "God, Anthony."

"You don't get it, do you?" He asked, but it didn't seem like he wanted an answer.

Eloise paused at the door, "What?"

"My parents expect me to be the best all the time, and I'm sick of it. How am I supposed to tell them I didn't get first place because of a stupid accident?" Eloise stayed quiet. "They're at the retreat thinking that their son is currently at a victory party at Denny's after winning 1st place. But, in reality he's sitting on his ass, in his room, lashing out at his best friend." He avoided eye contact as she slowly sat back down.

Eloise didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything. She rested her head on his shoulder, "I'm not very good at this whole comforting thing," she chuckled lightly which made her smile. "You're parents are proud of you no matter what your do, Ant. They're, like, annoyingly supportive." She joked. "My point is, you don't need to put so much pressure on yourself."

Anthony didn't reply. Instead he simply grabbed the spoons and handed her one. "What's you bring?" He asked. She understood he didn't want to talk about it anymore so she left it alone.

"Cookie dough for me and cookies and cream for you." She handed him a small tub of ice cream and pulled out her computer. "And I've decided we're watching Teen Wolf because you promised."

He took a spoonful of ice cream, "I thought the hurt ones supposed to pick the show."

"Mhmm, not with Dr. Eloise."

The two spent the rest of the afternoon eating ice cream until Javier called Anthony while the two were downstairs cooking an early dinner.

Anthony picked up the phone leaning on the kitchen table as Eloise placed the food in the oven. "Thank god one of us knows how to cook." She mumbled to herself. As she waiting for the food to cook she kept herself busy by washroom the dirty dishes and putting them away.

"Dude, party tonight." Eloise overheard Javier saying.

"Dude, I can barely walk." Anthony said.

"That's why we're coming to you."

Eloise looked over surprised at what the boy was saying,

You can't just invite yourself over for a party that you planned at someone else house! She thought to herself.

"We want to cheer you up for biffing out there today. Aren't your parents away on their woo-woo retreat thing?"

"Thanks man but I'm already cheered up." Anthony said glancing over to the girl, her back was turned so neither of them noticed the smiles on each other's faces as he said that. "I don't know, man."

"Can I come make your boo-boo better?" A girls voice replaced Javier's. Eloise recognized it as Miranda making her roll her eyes.

"Yeah, okay, it's on." Anthony quickly switched up. Eloise put the washcloth down (rather harshly) and made her way towards the fridge to get a snack. Anthony hung up the phone and turned towards the girl who had a scowl on her face.

"Can I come make your boo-boo better?" She mocked, rapidly blinked her eyes at the boy.

"What you don't like Miranda now?" He asked stealing a piece of fruit from her bowl.

"She's nice and all but she just annoys me." She said as she shielded her fruit from Anthony who was about to take another.

He had a shit eating grin as leaned against the fridge, his arm on the side blocking Eloise from exiting that way. They were abnormally close and she could feel his breath on her skin. "Is someone jealous? I know you find me attractive, Ellie, but I'm off limits." He joked.

He watched as the girl tried to hide her blush by looking down at the floor.

Composing herself, she ducked underneath his arm and made her way to the table. "Nope." She popped a strawberry in her mouth.

She knew she was lying but she refused to believe it. Anthony Foster was nothing more then a friend and that's all he'd ever be, or at least that's what she told herself. Anthony on the other hand was disappointed in her response. What Eloise didn't noticed, and hadn't for sometime, was that Anthony Foster was completely and utterly in love with his best friend but he knew he had no chance. So, he tried to forget about her and used Miranda Seals as an escape. But no matter how hard he tried Eloise Diaz would always be the one he loved.

INEZ SPEAKS

So I switched the part of the movie where Javier calls Anthony because I thought it fit better. Let me know what you think about the book so far.

I'm praying this book is at least 8 chapters before the movie ends and I'll make a few after the movie/their relationship chapters. So maybe 10 chapters of this book?

I'll see you on Tuesday!