Elly Watterson, A-class Superhero

Chapter 3

Elly gets asked out.

Someone placed some snacks on the countertop, ready to be checked out. Elly heaved a sigh. “How can I–” Her eyes widened as she looked up to see Amaya.

She straightened up in a flurry, panicked. “Oh. Hi! It's good. I mean, good to see you! Here!” Oh gosh, what was wrong with her?

Her wound didn't like her flailing and Elly had to bend over to catch her breath for a second. She shot a quick breathless smile at Amaya. She couldn't believe Amaya was actually here.

Amaya also looked surprised but pleased at seeing her here. “Elly. I didn't know you worked here.” “Yup, I do.” Elly gestured to her name tag and immediately cringed; Amaya already knew she worked here.

“I don't mean to sound rude but why are you here?” Elly had to ask. Amaya’s parents, the Robbins, were one of the richest couples in town. Their family didn't come to the local drugstore.

There were some rumors going around that the Robbins were involved in shady business—they grew their money too fast— but Elly wasn't going to discuss it with Amaya.

Amaya looked a little embarrassed but Elky hadn't meant to make her feel this way. She was just curious.

“I'm getting my hair done close by. I wanted to get some snacks.” “Oh.” Elly started ringing up her stuff. “Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable.” Elly apologized but Amaya waved her off.

“It's true, I don't usually come here. My parents can be stuck-up but I'm not like that. Promise.” “Of course I know that.” Elly smiled at her and handed her the snacks in a bag.

Amaya took it. “Alright then. Bye.” She headed to the door, hesitated and marched back to Elly. Amaya stood still before blurting out, “Do you want to go out sometime?”

Pause. Elly.exe has crashed.

This must be a dream or a hallucination, because Amaya was asking Elly out. Amaya took Elly's silence as rejection and flushed, turning to leave. “Sorry, that was dumb. Forgot it.”

Elly leaned over the counter and grabbed her hand before she could flee. “Yes!” Elly backtracked. “I mean, no!” Elly backtracked again. “No, I mean…” Elly gave up. “I want to go out with you. I like you too.”

Amaya smiled hopefully. “Yeah?” “Yeah. Sorry, I was just caught off-guard.” Elly sounded breathless. God, she was so pathetic but it wasn't like she could hide it. Maybe she won't have to hide it again.

They grinned at each other. Amaya stepped back and Elly let her go. “I have to do my hair but maybe after? Next Saturday?” Amaya offered and Elly nodded. “I'll be waiting.”

Amaya gave her a bar of chocolate from her pile. “Here. Something to remember me by.” She left immediately after because she was already running late for her hair appointment.

Elly bit into her chocolate bar. Maybe she was biased but it tasted of sunshine.

The weekend couldn't come quickly enough but then, it finally did and Elly panicked. “Oh, I can't do this.”

“Mm, no, you can't.” Laurie Watterson, her older brother, said while scrolling through his phone. He sounded completely bored, but Elly had said this almost ten times today so he couldn't really be blamed.

Laurie had raised Elly when their parents mysteriously disappeared. Elly suspected Laurie might have killed them and covered it up but she didn't really want to know so they didn't talk about it. Their parents were awful anyway.

“Don't listen Elly, you can.” Faith said, her head on Laurie's lap. Faith was their next door neighbor and Laurie's best friend, even though he was too cool to call it that.

There wasn't a flicker of attraction between them but they were always stuck together, like they were trying to mesh their bodies together.

Elly thought it was because Laurie was very touch-starved and Faith was Faith.

Elly groaned. “But what I'm too much? What if she decides not to talk to me anymore?” “Come on, you're dressed cute, she'll like you.”

Elly was in baggy jeans, a tank top and a big red jacket, in case Amaya got cold. It was also one of her favorites and she needed all the confidence she could get. But wait, what if Amaya hated it? This was terrible, she should change.

“Don't change.” Laurie stopped her before she could even speak. “You'll do great. Now hurry up and leave, you're making me nervous.” “But what if I embarrass myself?” “Then you flee to another country.”

“Laurie!” Faith whacked his arm and sat up. “Elly, you're fine. Everything will be alright. Where are you guys going?”

“The amusement park.” Elly wondered if it was too late to cancel or leave the country, like Laurie said. She knew Faith wouldn't let her, though.

Faith nodded in approval. “You can't really go wrong with amusement parks. Just don't eat before you go on rides, hold her hand, it will all be fine.” “Okay.” Elly tried to calm down. Everything would be fine.

“You could also die in a freak accident, like in ‘Ride the Cyclone’.” Laurie added and Elly rolled her eyes. Now, she wasn't nervous, just annoyed. “Must you be a d**k all the time.” “Absolutely.”

Elly walked to the door. “Wish me luck.” “Goodluck.” Faith said obligingly while Laurie only snorted. Asshole.

Elly got to the amusement park and saw Amaya waiting at the entrance. There was nothing to worry about, they had been friends for a while.

At least the date wouldn't go horribly, at the very least.

Amaya saw her and smiled, waving. “Elly. Over here.” Elly grinned, unable to help it. “Hey. Have you waiting long?”

The time was 5 minutes after 9. They had agreed to meet at 9 but Elly was too busy freaking out to get here early.

Amaya shakes her head, to Elly's relief. “No, I just got here.” “That's good. Uh, you look really nice.”

That was the truth. Amaya had on a cute dress with knee high boots. Her purse matched her dress and her hair was in Marley twists, half of which was in a top bun and the rest flowed down her back down to her waist.

Amaya always dressed well but it was obvious she put in more effort in her clothes and makeup.

“I like your hair too.” Elly continued and Amaya preened at the compliments. “Thanks, you look good too. I like your jacket.”

Elly plucks at her jacket hem, mumbling a thank you. “Let's go in.” Amaya takes her hand, intertwining their fingers in and Elly straight up melts.

Amaya looks at her. “Is this okay?” Elly squeezes her hand. “Just perfect.”