ELYSE WOKE UP to the sound of a blaring fire alarm. she got up, rubbed her eyes, and covered her ears as she walked downstairs, following the noise of a panicked voice.

she ran into the kitchen to see smoke coming from the pan that caine was holding under running water.

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!" elyse yelled over the alarm, voice still raspy.

once the alarm stopped, she walked over to the sink and turned off the water.

"i was trying to make pancakes" caine disappointedly told her, holding in his laugh.

she took the pan and discarded the burnt blob of 'pancake' in the trash can.

"please never cook again" elyse said running up the stairs to get ready.

as she was getting ready, she got a text from nelson.

nelson🤞

nelson🤞
Good morning Elle
What time should I pick you up today?

the good morning messages always made elyse's face red and stomach full of butterfiles. the auto caps though...

elyse👸🏻
morningg nels
maybe before 12 so we can get lunch😋

nelson🤞
👍
Bye cya later

elyse👸🏻
bye!!

after texting nelson, she called trista nervously.

"help! what do i wear? im so nervous right now"

"calm down this isn't the first time you've hung out with him."

"this time is different though! we finally confessed to each other so now theres gonna be some awkward tension between us." elyse said pacing back and forth in her room.

"well isn't that why you guys are hanging out; to talk about it? just wear something simple you'd wear to the mall."

"alright" elyse sighed. "i'll call you after."

ELYSE FINISHED getting ready and slipped on a pink fitted top and denim jeans. she sprayed her perfume on and put on her converse before grabbing her purse which contained of her phone, her pink sugar summer fridays lip balm, sunglasses, her wallet, hand sanitizer, gum, and her airpods.

nelson texted he was outside and she ran down the stairs and fixed her hair in the mirror before opening the door.

"hi!" elyse smiled opening the door as nelson was about to ring the doorbell.

"hey" nelson blushed as he pulled her into a hug. "my dad is taking us to the mall."

"oh alright" elyse responded as they walked to backseats of the car.

nelson opened the door for her and awkwardly tried to pose like an old-timey knight?

"thanks?" she laughed climbing into the car.

the car ride over to the mall wasn't very eventful, but it was a bit awkward since they didn't know what to talk about with his dad sitting in the front seat. they just small-talked the whole drive.

"have fun you guys!" spencer (nelson's dad) said waving to them from the car window.

"bye pa" nelson waved back as his dad drove away.

the two walked into the mall, awkward tension lingering in between them. as they strolled past the stores, they would steal glances of each other or would catch each other staring. though they were in a comfortable silence, they still needed to discuss what happened over the phone yesterday.

"okay," nelson sighed. "we should probably talk about it now"

as he spoke they walked by a frozen yogurt store.

"wanna get some froyo?"

isa says!

this chapter was so boring like why did i feel the need to write everything she had in her purse

sorry for not writing more😓
i changed the title!

also i hope i actually get more time to write soon because basketball and school are so time consuming😭