Chapter 6: Persistence is key

Chapter six: Persistence is key (Ellie's POV)

That's funny.

I would never have left.

Yet he did.

Without freaking telling me.

I don't blame him for leaving, that did break my heart but I knew that wasn't his fault, there was nothing he could do about it, but telling me was something that was in his control.

"So you have to leave, completely understandable," I nodded, "But why didn't you tell any of us?" I asked.

"Because it's not a piece of cake to say goodbye to the people you've been with your whole life. And you-" he stopped himself and took a breath.

"I what?" I huffed.

"You were different."

I was?

"Because of the stupid crush, we had on each other?" Someone stop me. "Zach, we were fifteen!" Oh no.

"So? A fifteen-year-old would never want to tell the girl he likes that he's leaving. I didn't either," he shrugged.

"And the others? Would a fifteen-year-old not even tell his friends? Not even say goodbye?" I glanced at him.

"I hate goodbyes and I suck at them. You know that. I didn't have it in me to stand there and see you guys for the last time, with you knowing it's the last. As far as I knew, I wasn't coming back here ever again," he explained.

"Were you just never going to speak to us then? You spoke to Brett, but what about Nathan, Spencer, Ashley? Were you never going to call?" I questioned. I was well-aware of my accusing tone but it is what it is. He left and I was fucking angry.

"I wanted to call you. I tried. I just couldn't do it. Brett told me how angry and upset you were and I chickened out. I hated feeling that guilty, it fucking sucked," he mumbled.

I sighed and just stared off into space.

"You cried," he stated.

"Was I not supposed to?" I arched an eyebrow at him.

He stared at me and I could see the faint smile tugging at his lips and he wasn't putting in a great deal of effort to hide it either. I rolled my eyes and scoffed while shaking my head. "You cried over me," he taunted.

"You're still such an asshole," I sighed.

"An asshole you cried over. Is that how much you liked me?" he smirked.

"We were friends too. One kiss as kids didn't change anything, okay?"

"Why are you so mean? Did something happen while I was gone?" he asked jokingly.

"Didn't Brett tell you?" I played dumb. I had to know if Brett told him.

"Didn't Brett tell me what?" he questioned.

"What happened last year?" He thought for a second but didn't say anything until a minute later.

"No? What are you talking about?"

I couldn't tell if he was being honest or lying. He's a good liar, always has been. He used to have a tell. He used to start scratching the back of his ear or fidgeting with his earlobe as if he were wearing an earring. I used to find it funny. But I'm not sure if he still does that.

"About James?" I prompted.

"Brett didn't tell me anything," he shook his head.

I eyed him suspiciously for a long time, staring at him, waiting for him to crack under my gaze. "Are you lying?" I asked.

"No," he chuckled.

There it is.

The tell. "You are lying! You still have a tell!" I gasped.

"No, I don't," he scoffed.

"You're doing it again." I gave him a blank look.

"I haven't done that in two years, I thought I got good at lying," he mumbled.

"You are good at lying, I just know your tell. Very subtle though, I must say," I chuckled.

"I don't think it happens around other people, actually," he said to himself before turning to me, "He only told me because he had to. Nathan sort of blurted it out and then Brett just vaguely explained because I practically forced him to. Don't get mad at him," he shook his head.

"I'm not mad," I found myself saying. "I'm just confused. Why were you guys talking about me?"

He didn't know what to say which isn't normal. Zach always has something to say. "Cause you're just that special," he smirked.

There he is.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head once again.

"Are we good?" he asked.

"No," I huffed while standing up, dusting off my legs.

"What?" he gaped at me.

"No," I shrugged before beginning to walk away.

We're good.

We'll be talking in no time, I can guarantee that we just have to give it some time. Some time for all this to feel a little more normal. "Ellie," he huffed, getting up and following me inside.

"Ellie." He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back harder than I would have expected, causing me to collide into him. I grabbed a hold of his shirt to steady myself while he gazed down at me. "Come on," he sighed.

"Give it time, Zach." I tried slipping out of his grasp but he wasn't having it.

"Ellie," he sighed.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you're desperate," I chuckled teasingly.

"I am."

Oh. Okay.

I leaned back and stared at him. He's dead serious. "I don't understand," I said, my voice barely coming out as a whisper.

"Look, I need the Ellie that I've known back, all right? I've hated the two years without you and I'm hating it now. Call it desperate if you will," he ranted.

"Why are you trying so hard? Don't you think if it meant that much you would have reached out to me sooner?" I can't help but feel like he's only trying to mend things because now he's here and he has to see me every day and put up with me. I feel like if things were his way, I'd be long gone and out of the picture, out of his life.

I feel like he's only bothering to do this because he has to because we have the same friends, we live in the same neighborhood, our families are close, but not because he wants to.

"You have to be patient," I sighed before taking a step back and he let go this time. "And persistent." I gave him a pointed look. I may or may not be enjoying this more than I should be.

"You're enjoying this too much," he huffed while shaking his head.

"Persistence is key, Zach," I shrugged with a small smirk tugging at my lips.

"Wow. God, do I hate you right now," he scoffed.

"Take it or leave it."

He rolled his eyes, "Take it. I'm definitely taking it," he mumbled while nodding.

"Lunch is almost over, you owe me lunch now," I pointed out before turning around and leaving.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I was walking towards my car when Brett Nathan and Brett came up.

"Hey," I nodded, slightly confused.

Brett nudged Nathan, pushing him in front of me. Nathan turned to Brett with a subtle glare before turning to me after Brett nodded at him with a stern look on his face.

I don't find him stern or intimidating or anything of that sort, don't know how the others do.

"I'm sorry I told Zach about James. I just assumed he'd know. Ellie, I swear I didn't mean to tell him, I wouldn't have if I knew it was a secret, I'm sorry," he sighed.

I bit back a laugh as I observed how Brett stood with his arms folded across his chest, how Nathan's shoulders were slumped. "Nathan, it's okay. I'm not mad, like at all," I laughed.

"Thank you," he sighed of relief before turning to Brett, flipping him the finger and running off.

I laughed while he waved my goodbye before waving him back and then turning to Brett. "You know, he's not the one who outed the whole story," I folded my arms across my chest, arching an eyebrow at him, watching as his arms fell to his sides and all intimidation left his body.

"I couldn't lie to him, you know. I didn't tell him while he wasn't here, I wouldn't do that to you," he explained.

"I know, Brett. I'm messing with you," I chuckled before pulling him into a hug.

"You scared the shit out of me," he exhaled. I pulled away and smirked at him. He shook his head before poking my sides. I let out a squeal and scream before he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.

"Put me down!" I yelled through my laughter.

"I'll drop you," he warned.

"No, no, no!" I grabbed his shirt, trying to keep my head up. I huffed while he walked me to my car before putting me down. "Whoa, dizzy!" I leaned against my car, glaring at him.

"See you tomorrow," he smirked before walking back in for his practice.

I let out a sigh while Zach showed up. He had a duffel bag in his hand so I figured he was going for practice. He wasn't walking, he was storming.

I jogged over to him and walked beside him, facing him while I walked backward. "Practice?" I asked.

He nodded gruffly.

"My, my, look at you!" I teased.

"I have to go," he said before quickly walking away.

Huh? What happened? He was fine at lunch.

.

.

.

.

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Chapter six

Dylan O'Brien is my bae <3

Next Chapter: What is love?

baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more... sorry i had to

sneak peek: I guess curiosity is getting the best of ellie