"why didn't you bloody stop me!?" el shakes mike back and fourth with a groan, "that was so stupid of me and humiliating! why did you let me do that!?" she screams, recalling the events of the party night only because someone filmed it.
"i lost you!" he shouts, "max lost you but i was freaking out upstairs thinking something bad has happened to you but at least i found you!"
she huffs and crosses her arms, "it's so humiliating. the video is humiliating." she whispers and looks down at the ground.
"no, it's not." he says softly, cupping her shoulder, "look around for me, el. those people right now giving you smiles, the ones who are defending you under that comment section of the video."
"they what?" she looks up slowly as he nods with a smile, "yes. i'll send you them because they're defending you, they're helping you."
"but it's not—"
"enough?" he asks as she nods slowly, "it's only a few people, mike. it doesn't matter because..." she trails off, "do you.. of course you know, who am i kidding?" she look away with a scoff.
"if you don't want me to know then," he snaps his fingers, "poof, i forgot everything. who are you? what happened again?"
she giggles quietly, "i.. i don't mind." she murmurs, "everyone knows anyways."
"i believe you, el. i am one of those people that believes you. my friends does, those girls do, those boys over there as well. it might not be much but just know that we believe you." he says softly, "and if i could do anything to make them—the court, the people, i don't know—to believe you, i would. i would, el."
she smiles weakly, her eyes brimming with tears, "thanks mike." she sniffles, "okay now go."
"what?" he asks.
"its your make-up test, mike. we've been studying and practising. now go, i'll meet you outside the classroom in an hour and you can tell me all about it." she pats his shoulder, which by the way, was really hard and she didn't know how he barely budged when she quietly winced.
he grins, "okay then. we can go to starbucks after?" he asks as she nods, "yes, i have art now and we can go later."
he smiles and gives her a nod, "be safe, okay? i'll text if it runs over." he pushes her off a bit as she gasps, "no! don't text during a test!"
he chuckles and shoos her away, "okay, okay."
☁︎
"el, come on, just eat your food." mike pleads as she silences him, "my english paper is due, shush please." she says, "food can wait, everything can wait."
"english doesn't even matter to you." he says as she groans, "yes, it does! it's grades, mike. i— it's.. it's graded."
"okay, okay. but please eat first and i'll let you work later." he folds up her stuff as she whines, "mike, please—"
"shh," he silences her, "please eat your muffin before it gets cold. and drink your drink."
she bites down on her lip in defeat and then huffs, "i was almost done." she pushes her round glasses up making him chuckle.
"what?" she asks as he shakes his head, "nothing. your glasses just make you look cute." he shrugs, "nothing."
she gasps inaudibly and blushes a bit before looking down at her food and eating her muffin to cover her face.
she sways her leg below the table and then tucks her hair away as she eats slowly.
"i have another game tonight.." he trails off as she hums, "oh? are you nervous? i'm not good at calming people down so don't come to me because i can only help with homework." she says.
he smirks, "i was going to ask if you wanted to come watch again."
"oh.." she trails off quietly, "uh.. i don't know." she mutters, "there was a lot of people and um, i barely watched the game anyways."
he nods, "i know, i saw." he smiles softly, "you were marking my work."
she giggles quietly, "it was fun, don't worry. i just might spend time with ella tonight, her parents are working so yeah."
"of course," he smiles and nods, "yeah, i get it."
she sighs out quietly and plays with her muffin before building the courage to ask, "why are you not treating me differently?"
"what do you mean?" he asks in confusion as she shrugs, "for..." she sucks in a sharp breath, "for what i said at the party."
"what did you say?" he asks as she gives him a look, "that troy was the one who handed me the blade in the bathroom." she whispers, "to kill myself because he told me it would release my panic attack and the pain."
his jaw clenches a bit and then his hand fists up before relaxing, "i thought you wouldn't want me to speak of it."
she nods, "yeah but i thought you'd treat me different or something."
he shakes his head, "it doesn't change what i know about you."
"oh.." she trails off, "okay, um, thanks."
he chuckles at her stutter and smiles, "all i know is that my lovely tutor named el is the smartest girl i have ever met and is one of the most beautiful girls i have ever met inside and out."
she looks up, gasping inaudibly as she stares at him for a few seconds, "did you really mean that?" she finally whispers making him nod, "yes, el. i did."
she smiles widely to herself and lets her cheek flush red as she looks away, "thank you. for calling me smart and beautiful.."
he grins. gosh, she was so shy sometimes.
he couldn't believe the girl sat in front of him honestly, she was breathtaking to him.
"that's because you are." he says as she blushes even harder and starts to fan herself, "okay, i think someone turned the heat on during this weather which is bad bad. maybe i should go to the back and file a proper complaint." she stands up and grabs her bag before rushing off making him furrow his eyebrows in confusion but still laugh at her childish actions.
☁︎
"el, el, el." mike tsks, "what are you doing reading on a bench? don't you need to pick up ella?" he sits down next to her on the campus bench as she looks up from her book.
"hey," she smiles softly, "ella has to stay behind for a little something. she called me on the school phone so i have thirty minutes."
"oh, whats wrong?" he asks as she shuts her book to pay more attention to him, "nothing is. she said she needed to talk to the teacher about a project of hers."
he nods, "what are you reading?" he tried to look over her shoulder with his arm draped on the top of the bench but she pulls her book back with a sneaky grin.
"nu-uh, it's my book." she giggles sneakily as he hums, "what's behind those pages, el?"
"nothing!" she laughs, "swearise, mike." she tries to silence her laughs but it doesn't work.
"alright but i will find out..." he tries to look at the title but she squeals and pushes it into her bag, "no, no! it's my book! secret, secret."
he groans and throws his head back as she looks down at her phone to check the time, "i have to go, mike. i'll see you tomorrow, perhaps?"
he nods, "yes, of course. i might need some help on math... if you can help with that."
"i'd be happy too!" she smiles widely, "it'll be so fun! well for me, not much for you but.. you know. okay, i gotta go, bye!" she throws her bag over her shoulder and waves happily making him grin out so widely, he uses his hand to cover his face.
"i'll walk you to your car." he stands up as she nods and shifts on her feet to wait for him.
"are you hot?" mike asks as he sees el play with her sleeves.
"oh, no. i'm fine." she answers, "my sleeve is just so long, look!" she pulls her arm back a bit and spins the end of her sleeve with a laugh.
he chuckles and watches her as she arrives at her car, "okay, go now. you have training i assume, you can leave me here." she says, "i'll be fine." she gives a thumbs up with a grin as he mirrors her grin.
"okay, call me then." he holds the door open for her as she gets into her car.
"i will! tell me if you win, i'll send you pictures of storm storm as a present if you do." she encourages as he gasps and clutches his chest, "i must win now, i gotta see that little cat once more."
she shuts the door and rolls the window down, "storm will be rooting for you then. along with ella bella." she laughs quietly at the nickname, "go now."
he nods, "drive safe, el."
"i will." she waves a bit before driving away.