The Bad Boy

chapter eighteen

As soon as I came home, I took a shower and got into my comfy clothes, which is just a tank top and some sweat pants, and iced my bruises. Focusing mainly on the ones on my face.

Gracie came home after school and demanded to know what happened but I faked sleep. Thankfully, Grayson was home and stopped her from "waking me up". 

I knew Gracie only meant well but Hailee is her captain. She can kick her off the squad whenever she wants, I think, and I don't want to be the reason for it. Cheering is important to Gracie, nearly as important as money.

And that girl loves her money. 

I've gotten a few texts from Kelly saying Mariana left her at school and she had to ride the bus home, she hopes I'm okay, and she hopes the "pole" gets what it deserves. 

It's sad how I'm beginning to feel closer to Kelly than I am to Mariana.

Not once did I get a text, call or anything from Mariana. She can't tell me that she didn't know because the entire school knows from that "cafeteria scene". 

I was really hoping that our friendship wouldn't fall apart, but seeing as how I got beat up because of her, I think it might be.

I groaned softly while opening my eyes and sitting up, looking at all of the ice packs that's laying on my bed.

Earlier after my shower, I had fell asleep and was just waking back up.

I reached over and grabbed my phone, seeing yet another message from Kelly. 

"She didn't come of course. Ig she was too busy with her "friends." 

I sent back a reply.

"I'm sorry. How about you and I do something tomorrow or Sunday?"

I put my phone back down and stood up, wanting to look at my face again. I went to the mirror that was on the wall between the door to my closet and the door to my bathroom. The bruises had darkened and were definitely visible and would be Satan to cover up. My nose had some dried blood underneath it, telling me that it must've bled when I was asleep. My lip was busted and still red. My pale face looked paler with all the bruises and redness on it. 

After washing my face and putting my hair into a messy bun with loose strands, I was collecting the ice packs from my bed with my fuzzy bunny slippers on my feet. I slipped my phone into my pocket and left out of my room, quietly headed downstairs. 

I heard the tv on and laughing which let me know we had company.

Oh yeah, some of the team was coming over.

I got to the bottom of the steps which got the attention of Jonah, one of the players. 

"Hey, Ella." He said.

Some of the other players turned my way and the others kept their eyes on the tv.

"Ella, how are you feeling?" Grayson asked from the couch.

"I'm fine, I guess." I said, quickly heading into the kitchen.

I was never the one for attention. In fact, I hated when more than four people (strangers basically) had their eyes on me at a time. 

I sighed and put the ice packs in the freezer. I then went to the cabinets looking for something to eat since I was hungry.

"You won't find anything in there, I already checked." 

I jumped, spinning around quickly as I heard the voice of Blake.

"Why-What-When did you get there?" I quickly asked, sounding stupid.

"A few seconds ago." He said, shrugging and chuckling.

"You went through my cabinets?" I asked, backtracking to when he said he already checked.

"Yeah, I was hungry." He shrugged.

"You didn't find anything, huh." I stated more than than asked. 

"Nah."

It went silent between us as we just stood there; me against the counter and he against the doorway. He dug around in his pocket and grabbed a blunt and a lighter.

"Join me?" He asked.

"I'm not smoking with you."

"I didn't ask you to." He smirked.

"Oh. Well okay." 

I followed him to the back yard and we sat on the steps. 

The night was pretty. The stars were bright in the sky and the sky was dark. The moon was smiling down at us. 

"Blake?"

"Yeah." He said, looking down at me. 

"Earlier today on the rooftop, you said that you don't really apologize, so why did you?" 

He took a long puff from his blunt before speaking.

"Because." 

I waited for him to continue but he never did.

"Because what?"

Blake wasn't really apologetic, so I've heard. So I was really confused as to why he apologized to me when he said it himself that he doesn't know how to apologize, that he doesn't do it much. So why would he apologize to me.

Besides I'm a nerd. He's way out of my social clique, so why would he even take the time to apologize to a nerd like me?

"I don't need to explain s**t to you." He snapped, causing me to flinch by his harsh tone.

"But I'm curious." I said softly.

"And I don't give a fuck." He said harshly.

He looked down at me and his eyes were bloodshot red. 

Why is that?

"Okay." 

It was awkward between us and I can't stand awkwardness, so I stood up.

"Um goodnight, Blake." 

I headed inside the house, not hearing a peep behind me.

"Ells, what's for dinner?" Grayson asked me.

"I might order a pizza or something. I'll go grocery shopping tomorrow." 

"Alright."

I quickly dashed upstairs and into my room.

Blake is so freaking confusing. How are you going to be nice one minute, then moody the next? It's crazy.

I was laying on my bed with my door closed and on my laptop. I was trying to debate on what to have for dinner, Dominoes, Pizza Hut or Papa Johns. 

As soon as I clicked on the website for Dominoes, there was a knock on my door.

"Come in." I said softly, thinking it was Grayson.

To my complete and utter shock, it wasn't Grayson but Blake instead. 

"Uh...hi?" I basically asked instead of stating. 

Idiot.

"Uh hey..." He trailed off, making it awkward.

"Did you need something?" I asked, not meaning for it to come out in a rude way.

"Uh yeah, well sort of. Can I come in?" 

I took a quick glance around my clean room then back at the confusing bad boy that was in my bedroom doorway.

"Uh yeah sure." I spoke, closing my laptop.

He fully came inside of my room and glanced around it.

My room wasn't fancy or special but it was really cute and simple, which is what I loved.

"Uh, I apologize." He paused. "Again." He quickly added.

"This is your second sucky apology." I said, smiling.

He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. 

"That's what I'm good at." 

His eye caught the mirror that was facing my bed and a small chuckle left his lips.

"What?" I asked.

"You have a mirror by your bed. You like to watch yourself, huh." He had this glint in his eyes with a smirk on his lips.

At first I didn't get what he was saying but when it finally clicked, my mouth dropped open and I knew my face was getting red, which caused him to chuckle.

"I-I-B-" I sighed. "You're sick." 

I reopened my laptop as he went and sat on bench that was at the foot of my bed.

"What're you ordering?" He asked.

"Pizza, you want one?"

"Only if I get to pay for it." 

My eyes shot to his to expect a smirk on his face but there was nothing there but a serious expression.

"You do know that you would end up paying for mine too, right?"

"Well I'm not stupid, so yeah."

"Are you sure?"

"Otherwise, I wouldn't be asking."