Chapter eight: Nostalgia (Zach's POV)

I was sitting in the principal's office, hearing him ramble on about how inappropriate my actions were, which I admit, they were. But it's not like I actually did anything, all I did was run my mouth. 

I'll never admit that I shouldn't have agreed to her bet, even though I just admitted it. 

My elbow was propped up on the armrest of the chair, my chin was in the palm of my hand and I was staring at the clock above his head. 

I've only been here for five minutes? Are you kidding? 

He stopped his rambling, thank God when there was some chaos outside. I glanced outside from the small window and saw Ellie talking to the lady sitting at the desk. She seemed to be arguing, waving her arms around to emphasize her point. She was standing on her toes, leaning over the desk trying to convince the lady of something I'm guessing. 

I watched and so did principal Withers. She rolled her eyes before running her hand through her hair and then standing still. She looked around before walking over to the door to the principal's office and opening it, rushing inside, closing it behind her. She turned to us and stared. "Hi," she said before walking and sitting in the seat beside mine. 

"Can I help you?" principal Withers asked in confusion. 

"Oh, by all means, continue," she shrugged. I watched her in confusion, my brows creasing and my lips pursing slightly. 

"I'm sorry, were you called to my office?" he asked her. 

"No, but I was involved in the whole Zach and Mrs. George um- situation?" she explained but she seemed to be confused herself. 

"Is that so?" he questioned. 

"No." 

"Yes." We said at the same time. 

"No," I said. 

"Yes," she repeated. 

"No, she wasn't," I huffed, turning to principal Withers. 

"Yes, I was." She kicked my leg under the table. "I told him to do it." 

Is she stupid? 

First of all, she didn't tell me to do it, she seriously didn't, second of all, she wasn't even remotely near getting in trouble, why would she be dumb enough to walk in here and rat herself out for something that she didn't even do. 

"Elaborate, Ms. Hart," he sighed, sitting in his chair. 

"It was a stupid dare, a bet if you will, I didn't think he would actually do it but clearly," she glared at me, "Someone is just too stupid. I'm sorry, I didn't think he would go through with it, and I didn't think a teacher would take him seriously enough to well- slap him," she rambled on and on. 

"Which isn't allowed," I added. 

"Neither is approaching a teacher inappropriately." He gave me a pointed look. 

"It was a bet though, nobody meant any harm," Ellie groaned. This is going to take a while. 

He let me go with a warning. After using up an hour of my time, he let me go with just a warning. If he had me in there for an hour, the least he could do is give me detention or something. That was such a waste of my time.

I even suggested he gave me detention just so the lecture would end but he was determined that what I learned coming out of this situation is what counts, not the consequences. And Ellie? Oh, my God. 

She was determined to convince him that I didn't deserve a punishment. I didn't care about it but she was dead set on making sure that I didn't get in trouble for this and I don't know if it was guilt or something else. I don't know what else it could be that led her to fight so dramatically for justice, if you will. 

So dramatic. 

We walked out of the office and I spoke my mind. "You're such an idiot," I scoffed. 

"Excuse me? I'm the reason you're not staying back in detention for the next three months or so. And what the hell were you doing? You were telling him to give you detention or do something else, you are such an idiot," she huffed. 

"I was being smart and trying to get us out of there, that was a complete waste of my time," I sighed. 

She looked at me before shaking her head, "There's no hope for you," she said before leaving. 

There was only one thing on my mind: 

I can't wait to get home and sleep. 

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

It was now the next morning and I haven't got out of bed all freaking day. We're supposed to head out for bowling by noon. It's eleven-thirty. 

There was a knock at my door before it swung open and revealed my mom. "Come on, Zach. You have to get out of bed. Brett called while you were asleep, you're supposed to bring Ellie with you so make sure you give her a ride, okay?" 

Just in case you're wondering how Ellie's going to stay here for an entire month while my parents are in the house, here's how it's gonna work. My parents won't be here for a month next week onwards, so that's how long I've got, a week. 

They are going to New York for some work stuff, I have no idea what it is. In that month, I can either stay here or stay with Brett. Brett doesn't live with his parents, he lives alone in a two-bedroom apartment. For now. The apartment is his cousin's but his cousin is traveling in his gap year which is this year. 

I haven't decided whether I'll stay here or with Brett, but either way, she'll be staying. 

I glanced at the time. I have fifteen minutes. I pulled myself out of bed and got dressed and freshened up before going downstairs and getting some cereal. Once I was done, I headed out. I got out of my driveway and stopped in front of Ellie's house, beeping the horn so she would come outside. 

She walked over the car with utter confusion. "What are you doing?" she asked in confusion. 

"Driving you as per Brett's order, let's go," I huffed. She rolled her eyes at me before getting inside and I drove off. 

This is going to be a long ride. 

We finally got there after nonstop arguing of which turns to take, which song to play, who to call. We argued about everything. We both got out and walked inside, seeing the others already in there. 

"What took you guys so long?" Spencer asked as we met them. 

"He took the wrong turn twice even though I told him not to." She offered me the fakest smile possible with those words. 

"Yeah, I didn't listen to her after she already gave me wrong directions," I nodded. 

"Can we just go bowling?" Ashley sighed. 

We all went inside and picked two aisles, getting our names set up, and grabbing our shoes. We were playing aisle vs aisle so the three people in one aisle were one team and the other three were the other, we would add up everyone's scores in the end and pick a winning team, losers pay for lunch. 

"Let's go classic with the teams," Nathan said while tying up his shoes. 

"The infamous trio in one," Ashley shrugged. 

"Fine by me," Brett replied. 

Ellie and I looked at each other. She sighed in defeat and shrugged, "If you want." She turned to me expectantly. 

Brett and I work well together in everything. Bowling included. 

"Sure," I shrugged. 

I should have expected some arguing, but I wasn't expecting us to eat Brett's brains out. 

"I guess the infamous trio isn't so great now," Spencer laughed. 

"Shut up, Spencer!" Ellie and I snapped in sync. We weren't even arguing about something logically, it was as if we were jumping at every chance. 

"I swear to God, guys!" Brett stood up in frustration. "You two will shut the hell up and bowl or I swear, I will murder you both with my bare hands right here, right now. Not one word for the next five minutes, got it?" 

Ellie huffed while I rolled my eyes but we obeyed nonetheless. About twenty minutes later, we were surprisingly calm. We weren't talking, that's probably why. Let's just see where we are by the end. 

Ellie was our last shot. We were pretty much tied, they were up by a few points and Ellie and Nathan were going last. 

Brett got a call from the landlord for the apartment and left the room, so we were waiting for him but Ellie is everything but patient. "Can we just go? The landlord isn't gonna be done any time soon," she whined. 

We looked over at Brett who was in the corner, he saw us and just waved his hand so they took their shots. Nathan had one pin left, Ellie rolled her ball slower, and took everyone by surprise when she got a strike. 

"Oh, my God!" She jumped up and down ecstatically before turning around and throwing her arms around me. 

I stiffened up almost immediately. She was way too far into the moment to process what she was doing. She turned to Nathan and began throwing his loss in his face. 

Ashley and I looked at each other, she was looking at me knowingly. I don't know what she was trying to say but that little moment gave me a hard punch of nostalgia. 

There was a time when hugging her didn't feel so foreign. 

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Chapter eight

I just wanna say thanks for all the comments and votes you guys give, not just on this story but the others too, it literally makes me so happy and I feel so excited to write when I wake up the next day. I legit wake up excited to write and put my chapters out, thank you guys so so SO much <3333

Next Chapter: Truth, dare or drink

Sneak peek: They're all invited to a party and of course, there's drinking games involved let's just say some secrets come out, some crushes, and of course, there's got to be a fight. Right?