CHAPTER THREE
❀ ✿ one percent ✿ ❀

BY THE TIME IT WAS 10'OLOCK the foster household was packed with drunk and/or stoned teenagers, either dancing or making out. Eloise didn't enjoy doing any of those things, she'd rather sit around and observe the many people in the crowded room. She'd insisted on getting out of her comfortable sweats that she'd been wearing previously and was instead in something a little more party-ish.

She wore bellbottom jeans that had white stars on it, a pinkish top, a red leather jacket (which she'd taken off after the party became more and more packed) and her sisters doc martens. To say the least Eloise Diaz looked hot.

She leaned on the railing by the stairs watching each of the teenagers who passed her.

First she saw Teagan Kane, head cheerleader, who had her tongue shoved down Nellie Ross', robotics leader, throat. They were a cute couple. Second she saw Joey Parker, the schools hothead, flirting with one of the stoners (she did not look interested). Third she saw Marley Chapman, who was pretty much the in between popular and loner girl. The Chapman girl held two drinks which seemed to be filled with vodka and she began to walk over to the Diaz girl.

Marley and Eloise weren't friends, they were hardly acquaintances, but she was happy to see a familiar face. Anthony seemed to be busy with Miranda at the top of the steps so she left him alone. Eloise would be lying if she said she wasn't feeling the tiniest bit jealous.

"You look like you could use a drink." Marley said handing her a cup.

"Oh, I don't drink." She kindly refused.

"I know," Marley smiled, "mine's vodka, yours is lemonade."

"Oh." Eloise took the cup that was handed to her and took a sip. It was in fact lemonade.

"So, where's your friend?" She asked leaning against the railing beside her.

"Anthony? He's upstairs talking with Miranda Seals." She said with distaste.

"Ahh, I see." She took a sip. "You like him." The brunette said bluntly looking back at the crowd.

Eloise snapped her head towards the girl, "I do not like, Anthony. He's my best friend, and he has been for years."

Marley looked at the girl, "And that's the best way to start a relationship." She sighed, "Look, Eloise, I don't know you or Anthony that much but from what I've seen you both are head over heels in love with each other but you're blinded by friendship."

"I don't know, Marley. I mean even if I did have feelings for Anthony, I'm 99% sure he's in love with Miranda."

"And what about that 1%?"

Eloise was caught off guard. What about the 1% she repeated in her head. It wasn't like the idea was completely off the table but she never imagined it to be on the table either. "I-" she was cut off by someone twisting her around.

She spun around to see Anthony with a frantic look on his face, "We need to go now."

"Anthony, we can't just leave, it's you're house. Wait, why do we need to leave." He didn't say a word, instead he showed her his phone with a tiktok opened. "What is this?"

"Just watch." And so she did.

It was a tiktok from New York City in Times Square there were a bunch of people crowding a young boy who was singing. It took a second but she finally realized who the boy was and why Anthony looked so frantic. "Holy shit, that's Nate. What the hell is Nate doing in New York City?" She exclaimed.

"Wait, I'm confused, who's Nate?" Marley asked.

"It's his little brother. Oh, my god we need to go...now!" She turned to the girl she'd just been talking to. "Marley, I need you to do me a favour."

Marley nodded, "Yeah, sure, whatever you need."

Eloise instructed Anthony to start the car as she explained to Marley what to do. She handed the girl a key to Anthony's place (with his permission) and told her to do whatever she could to get everyone out in the next 10 minutes. Then, after she's done place the key under the blue rock in the front and text her when everything's done. Marley left to do as she was told but not before telling her to confess her feelings before it was too late. Which Eloise was never going to do as she was too scared of the outcome.

Eloise quickly made her way to Anthony's car as she heard Marley scream, "Parties over people! The parents will be here in less then 20 minutes and unless you want to spend the rest of the night in jail for underaged drinking I suggest you move your sorry asses out the door!"

And with that Eloise and Anthony made their way out of the parking lot and to New York but not before making a quick stop.

❀ ✿ ✿ ❀

"Yes, Riley, I'm fine." Eloise spoke into the phone as Anthony got out of the car. He'd drove toLibby Renée's, Nate's best friend, house as he figured she'd have something to do with why Nate was in NYC. She decided to call Riley instead of Olive because she knew it'd be easier to convince the blonde rather than the brunette. "It's just Anthony hurt his leg really bad and I'm scared that if I leave him alone tonight something may happen."

"Oh, poor guy, okay I guess that's alright. Olive's not home yet but ill let her know what happened ok?"

"Okay, thank you, Riles."

"You're welcome. Ill see you tomorrow, love you."

"Love you too." She hung up just as Libby and Anthony got into the car. "Hey, Libby!" Eloise said with a fake smile (which was meant to be noticeable) as she was clearly upset with the girl.

"You're mad at me too?" Libby asked putting her seatbelt on.

"Not mad, just disappointed."

"That's even worse!"

Anthony cut their conversation off, "Libby, just explain to us why my little brother is in New York."

"Well, it's kind of a long story." She said twisting her hands nervously.

"Well, we've got about 6 hours so I think you'll have time." Eloise said.

"Okay, okay." She began explaining how when Nate didn't get a role in the schools musical he was feeling down, so Libby decided to give him good news. And that news being, that Lilo & Stitch was going on Broadway and it was an open casting call. Nate was sceptical about the whole thing but soon agreed after hearing no one would be home that weekend. They set up a plan for him to post selfies of him around the house at certain times of the day (which he did but it kinda backfired when Anthony got home early).

They snuck away on a bus to New York City that night. But when they got to the auditions they found out they needed a parent/guardians signature. The Fosters Aunt Heidi happened to be there and helps them out. Nate was planing on leaving New York with Libby but learned he got a callback. Libby decided to go back home however and Nate stayed. That was all they knew as they made their way to get Nate back from New York to Pittsburg before his parents found out.

After about two hours of driving Libby was already asleep. Eloise tried to stay awake but Anthony reassured her he'd be okay and that she should sleep.

She didn't argue as she rested her head on her hand.

She looked over to the girl who was now fast asleep. He admired the way her lips were slightly open, how a faint smile stayed on her face and how her hair looked perfect even when she was asleep. He smiled knowing he was the luckiest guy in the world to have a best friend like Eloise and how he'd be even luckier if she wasn't just his best friend.

He returned his gaze back to the road, the thought of Eloise Diaz never leaving his mind. Little did he know Eloise was thinking of him too.

INEZ SPEAKS

I literally have less than 30 minutes of the movie left...this is hard to make long! Im trying to put as much detail into the chapters to make it longer without using to much of the movie at once.

Almost forgot to post this today.