Elio skipped the dance. It wasn’t like he had a date, that he liked. Yeah, he stood this other girl up but they had met at another school’s party and had only texted a handful of tomes. He was drunk when he asked her, and she looked like Lenora. Instead of at the dance, he found himself in the gym the whole time. He didn’t mean to though, really. He was just trying to get a workout in and then it was like he didn’t remember how long he had been in their home gym. He didn’t even hear his sister head out. It’s not like it mattered anyways. It was just a dumb school dance, none of this would matter in the next few months anyways. He would be gone and living his dream. BUT the afterparty should be going on now and that was not as hard to get ready for. He threw on a pair of grey joggers and a plain back t-shirt; it was nothing special and he was okay with that. His tux was still hanging on the closet door, untouched and unused. Tags are still on it. His hair was still wet as he pulled his car out of the garage and turned down the road.
It was at a usual big house and there was music playing loudly already. Everyone was dressed up much nicer than him, but he didn’t care. He had to be honest, some looked a little overdone. He passed by a drink station and poured himself a drink into his red cup. It wasn’t cold so it went down harder, but it did the job. Soon enough he saw blonde locks ahead of him. Familiar ones that made his cheeks hot. Or was that the alcohol? Either way, he smiled as he shouted her name over the crowd, getting a few raised eyebrows and annoyed looks. He got over to her and could tell she wasn’t excited to see him by her expression, but let it go. Why would she be? It’s been months since they had an actual conversation…. in person. There had been DM’s and texts now and then. He grabbed her hand and led her quickly to a closet. It was full of cleaning items and empty boxes. Just enough room for two people to be shoulder to shoulder and no room to turn around.
[color= Palevioletred] Ah, so this is why you wanted to come to the afterparty? [/color]
It was dark in the closet for the most part. There was a faint glow coming from the cracks under the door. He raised his eyebrow a little taken aback. He wasn’t even trying to make a move and that is what she thought. She moved her hands to his shoulder and pushed him back a bit. His body is against the wall of the small closet. He shook his head and grabbed his phone quickly out of his pants pocket and immediately pulled up Instagram to a picture of Len. He didn’t say anything just showed her the post. He wasn’t really accusing her of anything, but then she made a joke out of it and that made him upset.
"Is that not like, 20 too many? You cheated, you have before and so you must have cheated like 20 times, everyone sees, and everyone knows, and I know too. " He regretted getting so upset but he could never handle his anger. He always said things he didn’t mean. He felt her hands find his face. He shook his head. The words kept spilling out of his mouth. He had horrible jealousy, only when it came to Lenora. He couldn’t understand it. He had other exes and girls he was hooking up with, but they never affected him as she did. She always said these boys were just friends. Look at her though, she was gorgeous, and any guy would be stupid to look at her and not think that. He didn’t care about the Ricky stuff and didn’t understand why she was bringing him up. All he ever did was say horrible things about her since and who was always there to stand up for her. Whether they were good at the time or not. He would take the punches and throw them. He was always defending her. For what?
“then you think of me as just as much of a slvt as what this whole town does. And I can’t date someone like that anymore, I won’t,”
"I have never called you that and have never thought of you that way! " He shook his head again. The words coming out this time in more of a pleading tone. " Lenora, but I love you." He said in the same tone. He never said this. He never let those words leave his mouth to her ever over these many years. He meant it and wanted to say it before but couldn’t muster pushing away his pride. She left and he didn’t even know if she had heard him. He wasn’t the best at showing his emotions. She and Mateo were the only ones, aside from family, that had seemed him even a little weak. But this cut was deep. What was he to do now? Stay at this party and just pretend he was okay. No. He slammed the door of the closet behind him. Letting the cup fall from his hand. He hadn’t even taken more than 4 drinks of the cheap alcohol. He walked back down the street to where he parked his car to leave. He walked past drunk students, stumbling and singing in mumbles.
It had been about a week. A week that Elio hadn’t spoken to anyone. He would check his phone, there were messages. None from her. This time felt different. He felt hurt. Broken. It never hurt this way before. He didn’t care about the cheating, whether it was true or not. He cared about how she thought he thought of her. He never thought down on her. Why would she think that? Is it is wrong if he texts, her and asks to come over? Is it wrong if he asks if she is moving on already? He couldn’t stop thinking though. He was running on the beach. Miles away from where anyone he knew could possibly be. The weather was nice. It was hot but cloudy. Humid. Her words danced through his head as he ran faster. Harder.
Until he came to a stop in front of a face he knew. “Phoebe?”
Again, he had thought he was far enough away from where his classmates usually went. Clearly, not. "What are you doing here? " That sounded so stupid coming out of his mouth. She was alone too. Which made him wonder. For the first time in a week, he wasn’t thinking about Lenora and he was okay with that.
IDK why i cant get my color to work!!