Chapter twenty-two: One way or another (Ellie's POV)

It was the next morning, we had the whole Saturday morning vibe going and then the two idiots I live with ruined it. They both came out of their rooms, acknowledged me, were very nice to me, but completely ignored each other. That's not very fun to watch and live with, I don't want to be the mediator. But of course, I am. 

Currently, we were all sitting on the couch, as expected, me cushioned in between. 

"So you guys just aren't gonna talk?" I asked. 

"Nope," they answered in sync. 

"Cool," I nodded before standing up only to be pulled back down, both of them grabbing my wrists. "Okay, either you talk, or I go. So come on, get talking now," I encouraged. 

Nothing. 

"Maybe I'll just go then," I shrugged and stood up. 

"No," they said in sync. 

"Guys, come on let me go. You guys need alone time to rekindle your bromance, me being here isn't gonna help. I'm not gonna be the homewrecker, let me go!" I exclaimed while they kept trying to sit me down. I huffed while they managed to seat me once again and I just sat there, staring off into space like they had been doing. "Okay, can I just ask, which one of you is better at Business Studies, cause I need help with that homework," I sighed. 

"Him," they both said. This is just getting weird, I'm only getting one-word answers and they both are talking in sync. 

I looked between both of them. "Forget it, I'll just do it myself," I rolled my eyes. 

"No, seriously though. He can help you if you want," Brett shrugged while pointing at Zach. 

I bit back a smile and continued. "Why is that?" I asked. 

"Because he actually knows what he's doing and doesn't just memorize stuff as I do." He rolled his eyes. 

"Yeah but you know everything because you memorize it, you never skip anything," Zach replied. 

Once that conversation started, I was able to slip out of there unnoticed. 

One way or another, I was going to make them talk. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The bell rang and I went to answer it while the guys got the food. We're having a little game night/bring-in because we've got nothing better to do and nowhere better to go. 

"Ellie, we burnt the popcorn again!" Brett whined. 

"You're supposed to put it in the microwave for two minutes, how are you doing that wrong?" I asked while walking into the kitchen where Zach was sitting and watching Brett ruin perfect packets of popcorn. 

"I did what you said, I put it in the microwave for two minutes," he shrugged. 

I opened the microwave, sure enough, it was all burnt, but the entire plastic packaging was still on it. I turned to Zach who was watching with an amused smile. "You guys had one job," I huffed before tossing the burnt packet and grabbing another one, taking the plastic off and dangling it in Brett's face. 

"He didn't tell me you have to take that off," Brett shrugged innocently. 

"You're telling me you don't know how to make popcorn, are you serious?" I asked while starting the microwave. 

Brett and I turned to Zach and he simply shrugged. "He didn't ask." 

"Does he have to? When you see him doing that? Anyway, what are we watching?" I asked while taking a seat on the couch with the others. 

"No idea," everyone sighed in sync. 

This is gonna be a long night. 

I stood up while rubbing my eyes, going to leave the empty bowl in the sink. I leaned against the counter, letting out a sigh. We've watched three movies. It's some part of the middle of the night, probably around one am. I wasn't sleepy, per se, but I wanted to lie down because I was tired. 

I turned around to head back to the couch only to run into Zach. "Sorry," I mumbled. 

"Are you okay? You're stumbling around the place." He grabbed onto my arm and steadied me. 

"I'm just tired," I whined, resting my head on his shoulder. 

"Go to sleep," he replied. 

"But everyone else is still here." I don't want to be the first one asleep, what the heck. 

"So? Just go to sleep, I'm about to sleep," he shrugged. He lifted my head off his shoulder and pushed me to the room. 

I went in, already half asleep, changed in the bathroom, and then came back out, falling right onto the bed. I closed my eyes and within minutes, I was drifting. 

I woke up the next morning to utter silence in the house. You could hear a pin drop, I'm not kidding. I opened my eyes slowly and almost fell off the bed when I looked over. Zach was fast asleep, once again shirtless which I was getting used to now. He was lying on his stomach, one hand tucked under the pillow, and the other holding mine. 

I rolled my eyes, thinking the others must have messed around after we fell asleep but then he stirred and tightened his grip, locking our fingers together. I stayed very still and watched while he slept soundlessly, his hand glued to mine. 

What time is it? 

Since I was also lying on my stomach I was able to use my other hand to grab my phone and check. It's six in the morning. Why the hell am I awake? I stared at our held hands, my mind wandering off to my date where Isaac told me something I don't think he was supposed to. 

Apparently, he asked Zach if he was attracted to me, and Zach said no, which is why he asked me out because now he knew nothing was going on between me and Zach. Then Zach came and told me that I'm wasting my time with Isaac, then Spencer started with the teasing and now I'm thinking of impossible scenarios. i.e Zach actually liking me. 

Which I doubt is what's going on but who's to say it isn't? 

I think I should go back to sleep before I start thinking of other impossible things. 

I woke up after that at around eleven. Zach was now awake and on his phone, still in bed. "Finally, you're up. I was tired of sitting quietly," he sighed. 

"Go talk to Brett," I mumbled, hugging my pillow. 

"He's not here, he went out," he replied. 

"Out where?" I asked. 

"I don't know, somewhere," he said in response. 

I groaned before propping myself up on my elbows, staring at the headboard. "Can I kick you off the bed?" I asked randomly. 

"What the hell? No," he laughed, "Personal space is a thing," he said. 

"That's funny coming from you," I snickered. 

"Why? What did I do?" he questioned. 

"Nothing," I replied. 

"Ellie." 

Now I have to tell him, I would have told him anyway, it's a great opportunity to tease him. 

"You were um-" I laughed, "You were holding my hand in your sleep," I stated. 

"No, I wasn't," he scoffed. 

"Yes, you were," I nodded, "I woke up at about six in the morning and you were holding my hand, which if you were holding onto after that, then you must have seen it when you woke up, am I right?" I asked knowingly. 

"I didn't see anything when I woke up," he shrugged, his eyes glued to his phone. 

"You didn't see anything?" I asked. 

"No," he said while scratching his ear. 

"Ha! You lied!" I exclaimed. 

"No, I didn't," he rolled his eyes. 

"You still have a tell, I don't know why you bother acting like you don't," I shrugged while getting out of bed, pulling my shirt down when it started riding up a little bit. 

"I'm not lying, I didn't hold your hand... intentionally at least," he mumbled the last bit and I doubt I was supposed to hear that. 

"Unintentionally then?" I asked while grabbing my clothes from my bag. 

"I didn't hold your hand," he persisted. 

"Intentionally? Maybe not. Unintentionally? You sure did," I chuckled before going into the bathroom where I grabbed my toothbrush and began brushing my teeth. 

"I didn't hold your hand." He came and stood in the doorframe, leaning his shoulder against it. 

"You did," I argued. 

"No, I didn't." I rolled my eyes and ignored him. "I didn't," he said through gritted teeth, his voice low. 

"Okay," I shrugged. 

He narrowed his eyes at me and began heading back to the bed. 

Well, if I'm already taking this time to annoy him, I can just be more annoying, can't I? 

"Can I ask you something?" I asked, the toothbrush still in my mouth. 

"What?" he huffed. 

I spat it out and went outside. "Why don't you find me attractive?" I asked blatantly. 

"What?" he asked. 

"Or well- why aren't you attracted to me?" 

He seemed so confused, it's amusing. "Who told you that?" he asked. 

"Nobody, answer the question. Why aren't you attracted to me? Unless you lied," I smirked. 

"I have a tell, remember?" He lifted a brow at me. 

"Yeah, in front of me you do. But in front of Isaac? I doubt it."

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Chapter twenty-two

Next Chapter: Back again

Uh oh.... back again!

Sneak peek: Steven, freaking asshat, is back for the worse and it isn't looking too pretty for Zach, Brett, Isaac, Steven, and Ellie. Anyone up for another fight? It looks like it's another visit to Principal Withers.