17 - You Stink, Eli

Sunday morning, I went for a hike with my parents, and we took family pictures at the top of the mountain. My mom had made us lunch, and we basked in the early afternoon sun as we enjoyed the view. We joked and enjoyed the day together for the first time in what felt like a long time.

In the past few months, there had been a slight air of stress and resentment in my household. Even if I was super happy for my parents, I was having a hard time about the move, but none of that was there today. I was pleased that none of us brought it up, and we were just able to have a great day together.

I fell asleep in the car on the short drive home. I had been out late last night and had gotten up early with my parents, so I wanted to nap before I went out tonight.

My mom shook my shoulder gently before leaving the car, letting me know that we were home. You know when you were a kid, and you would fall asleep in the car and wake up just before you pulled into your driveway because your body knew you were home? Mine didn't do that yet.

I sighed, looking up at my house.

I am starting to get comfortable here, but it doesn't exactly feel like my real home. Not yet.

After a shower, I ended up falling asleep for a few hours. I was smart enough to set the alarm. I didn't want Taylor to burst into my room and me not be ready to go.

I looked at my phone to check the temperature and saw that Brodie had DM'd me. I opened the DM and saw him and the girl he had been so excited about on Thursday. They had gone on their first date last night. I smiled, wow, that boy moved quickly. They looked happy. I sighed.

I wasn't even really sure if last night was a date or not. I wish Eli could be as forthcoming as his brother. Sure, we had said it was a date, but Jackson had ruined it once again.

I shook my head. I couldn't blame him for everything. I think I was just upset because after all that it just felt too friendly. Taking things slow was what I wanted because I was so... unexperienced. However, I was scared that it would just turn into a friendship if I didn't personally pick up the pace.

But Eli had been so kind to me. So charming, so maybe this is just the way he was going to act. I don't really know, and it is not like I have anything to compare it to.

I sighed, Taylor was going to be here to pick me up in half an hour, so I have to get ready. I brushed out my now almost dry hair and threw it into a ponytail before wandering over to my closet. Taylor had reminded me that I need to dress a little warm and bring a blanket to sit on as the metal bleachers tend to get a bit chilly.

I pulled out a pair of black yoga pants and a large sweater to wear over the top. I decided to forgo any other hats or gloves - it still is warm at night, even if it can get a little brisk. I grabbed the same blanket I used last night and stuffed my phone and wallet into my sweater pocket before wandering downstairs.

In the kitchen, I quickly popped some popcorn and melted some butter to pour over the popcorn. I hope that Taylor liked her popcorn extra buttery. I assumed there would be no snack stands, but I am a snacking master, and I wouldn't want to watch a soccer game without at least something to eat.

When Taylor pulled up and saw I had a massive bag of buttered popcorn, she squealed. "Okay, you are the BEST, girl! I am bringing you to every game," I grinned and jumped in the front seat.

We stopped at a house just down the block from me and picked up the two blondes I had met at the party the other week. They got in the back giggling. I am glad I made a lot of popcorn.

"Hi, Betty!" One of them said cheerily.

"H," I said back, feeling a little shy that I had yet to memorize their names.

I noticed they were both wearing soccer jerseys from the team. One of them was number 34, and the other was 28. I guess they saw me staring because one of them explained the situation.

"Our boyfriends are on the team, so we wear their extra jerseys." I smiled, and my jealousy that I felt the other day melted away.

Taylor said, "didn't you see what I was wearing?" I looked over and noticed she was wearing number 6.

"Owen?" I asked.

She nodded, "Yeah. Since Owen doesn't have a boyfriend to wear his jersey, I support my dorky twin."

I smiled, that was so nice of her, even if she did just call him dorky.

"No boyfriend, then?"

She shook her head, "Never, he's too focused on soccer, and anyways, I think the only guy who has ever liked to even think about a date was on an opposing team so he wouldn't be wearing his jersey anyways."

I laughed, "makes sense."

Owen was very focused on his soccer dream. I found out that he was not at school on Friday because he was at a soccer camp for university hopefuls. Owen still wasn't sure which school he wanted to commit to yet, and a few top universities were fighting over him. He would have to make his decision soon, though.

"You should wear Eli's jersey!" One of the girls said from the back.

"Oh yeah, totally! He would probably love that! I don't think he has ever had anyone wear one of his jerseys before!"

The other girl started to giggle, "Except for Cassie in freshman year, but he shot that down real quick."

They began giggling about all of the girls that had asked to wear his numbers, which he shot down. Although maybe I should feel flattered that he had taken me on a date when he shot everyone down, it made me nervous about how many girls I was competing with for his attention.

Taylor shot me a look, and I just played on my phone, trying to ignore their conversation.

When we got to the field, the boys were warming up. Owen looked serious, stretching on his own, but Eli was wasting time with a few of his teammates at the end of the field.

Taylors two friends, Abigail and Savannah (which Taylor reminded me of in a text, thank goodness for her), were just as excited as Taylor was about the popcorn, and I was happy to share. And now that they had moved on from their previous conversation, I was starting to warm up to them.

"I don't know why we have never brought popcorn before!" Said Abigail.

---

Eli was on defence for the majority of the game. He didn't score or anything, but he did not let anything get near their goalie during the game. Owen, on the other hand, was the center and the captain, and I understand why he had scouts fawning all over him. He carried the team throughout the game. Every goal was scored by him or because of him, and he worked well with what he had as teammates. Some of the boys were better than the others.

Halfway through the game, I saw that Taylor was staring intently at her phone. She was not even paying attention to the game in front of her. I glanced at her screen and saw that she was texting Jones. She glared at me when she saw me staring and pulled her phone away from my viewpoint, but she smiled, and I knew it was fine.

"Did you invite him to bowl yet?" I asked her.

She shook her head, "Not yet."

"Now or never girly," I said. Taylor's eyes widened, and she went back to texting.

At the end of the game, the entire team and half of the bleachers were chanting Owen's name. Eli and another teammate picked him up on their shoulders and only put him down when he whacked Eli in the head. I guess it was exciting to win their first game of the season, but from what I understand, they seem to win every game.

It was almost unfair that Owen was on a high school soccer team at this point. He was just too good.

Losing him at the end of the year is going to be bad for school morale, I can already see that.

We moved down to the fence, where Abigail and Savanah were making out with their boyfriends. I laughed. They seemed like they were having a lot of fun. I laughed when I heard Savannah tell her boyfriend how good he was because he was probably the worst one on the team. Nowhere near as bad as Kyle, though.

Eli and Owen eventually ran their way over to us.

"Hey, you guys did great!" I said sincerely.

"Thanks!" said Eli, with a big grin on his face. "I like playing but Owen... jeez, you're the star."

Owen smirked. "Yes, I am." he winked at me, and I laughed.

The boys walked out from behind the fence, and Taylor put her phone away. I gave her a look; she couldn't hide this from her brother forever. Eli tried to put his arm around me, but I dodged it.

"Ew gross, you stink."

He looked at me, shocked, "I thought girls like the musty thing?"

Owen stuck up his nose. "Eli, even guys can't stand your musty thing."

We all laughed.

"Haha, okay guys, let's get going." said Taylor, "Owen, I'm assuming you're coming with us?"

He nodded, and I started following the two of them back to Taylor's car.

"Hey, I can drive you, Betty," Eli said before I got too far. I looked at Taylor, and she smirked at me. I guess it was okay with her if I ditched her.

I turned back around, "If you don't mind?"

"Of course, it's all good." I smiled and followed Eli off in the other direction, waving goodbye to the twins.

He unlocked his car and threw his soccer bag in his trunk as I got into the passenger side.

"Thanks for the ride," I said, grinning at him. I am very giddy that he wanted to drive me home when I already had a ride.

He smirked, "It's no problem, Betty. But I also wanted to talk to you about yesterday. I am just really sorry I got frustrated at the end of the night. I shouldn't have, and I feel like I ruined the night."

I shook my head, "It's okay, Eli." I was shocked that he was apologizing to me. He really isn't that lousy kid that everyone seems to think he is.

He has been nothing but kind to me since we've become friends. A real Prince Charming.

He smiled, "you're too forgiving Betty, I still feel bad."

"Well, if you want to make it up to me, drive me home. You stink, Eli."

He chuckled and started the car, and we drove to my house. "Well, I would give you a hug goodbye, but I am going to have to give you a raincheck."

He smiled, "I'll be sure to collect." Which made my cheeks heat up to an embarrassing shade of red.

Waving goodbye, I made my way into the house.

That next week I spent significant time on homework. Because, unfortunately, that is sometimes what high school is. Not every high school can be Riverdale.

Monday, I had a test that I didn't feel fully prepared for, but I was confident coming out of it. At lunch, we goofed off, and I was happy to see that Kyle was in a much better mood.

On Tuesday, one of Jackson's friends, Brock, came up to me at lunchtime. "Hey Betty, I was wondering if you wanted to go with me to the balloon festival? It's next weekend."

I paused, my mouth opening and closing like a clam. Do I say yes? I looked over at Eli. I didn't want to say yes. Would that be mean? I guess I don't have a boyfriend, but we did just go on a date.

"Oh um." was all I managed to get out before Eli stepped in.

"Oh, she's already going with me."

Brock shrugged and started to walk away. "Let me know if you change your mind." He didn't seem too upset about the rejection.

I looked at Eli with one eyebrow raised. "Oh, I am?"

"Well, I mean, it's not till next weekend, so I was going to ask you on Saturday, but I mean, I hope you want to go with me?" He said, almost shyly. I could see that both Owen and Kyle would be trying hard not to laugh. I shot them both a glare.

"Well, I mean, yes, of course, I'll go, but I have no idea what that is," I said honestly.

He smiled at me, ignoring his friends, "It's stunning, and it happens in October. It's not too far from here either. Usually, we all go, but now I am not so sure I want to bring these two idiots."

They both gasped. "Hey! We want to come if were invited!" said Kyle.

Eli glared at him, "I'll have to think about that."

"Well, that sounds amazing," I said. I did feel kind of bad about Eli just shooting down Brock, even if he didn't seem all that upset about it.

He noticed where my state was, and he gulped. "Sorry, I just really didn't want you to say yes."

I smiled at him reassuringly. 'Its okay Eli, I didn't want to go with him."

"Awwww," said Owen from across the table. Eli looked like he was about to kill him, but then he didn't get the chance because Taylor came rushing towards the table.

"I need Betty! Sorry boys!" and she pulled me off.

"Wait, let me grab my bag," I said and went back to grab my stuff. I looked at my lunch tray and went to clean that up as well.

"Don't worry about it, I got it," said Owen. "She is getting that look like she is going to blow something, just go with her."

I laughed, thanking him.

Once we were far enough away from the cafeteria, Taylor pulled me into an empty classroom.

"HE SAID YES!"

I laughed, "I'm sorry, Taylor, context!" I watched her as she jumped around the classroom.

"Jones wants to go bowling with us tomorrow!" I almost started to laugh. Did she really think he was going to say no?

"So am I uninvited then?" I teased.

"No, no, Betty, you have to come! If Owen finds out... I mean, if we start dating, he's going to be so mad, and I didn't ask Jones on a date, just to hang out with the two of us. Please, Betty!"

I laughed, "Of course, I'll still come, but if you want to kick me out at any point, just let me know. I won't get upset."

She pulled me into a hug, "you are the best friend ever!"

I leaned into the hug. It was nice to have her.

It was adorable how nervous she was when she started going on about what she would wear. She had boyfriends before, but I guess Owen had said she couldn't date his friends at one point, and she took it to heart. But she couldn't help herself; she liked Jones.

I don't think Owen would be that upset if he found out about her and Jones, but I guess I didn't know him that well if she was this nervous.

---

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"The more that I know you, the more I want to

Something inside me's changed

I was so much younger yesterday, oh" - Hailee Steinfeld

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