Down In Flames ✢

✢ THREE.

i ; kendrick lamar ✢ recognize ; partynextdoor ft. drake ✢ all eyez ; the game ft. jeremih ✢ company ; tinashe ✢ i know ; big sean ft. jhene aiko

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⟨ ELIS ⟩

(2) IMESSAGES FROM — NATALIE MERRITT:
↳ not really sure if i'm here cause you give terrible directions
↳ but i'm like 99% sure i'm here so come out

Bright headlights had flashed through my curtains a few minutes before the text popped up on my screen, telling me that it was Natalie sitting in the white car on the side of the street. I reached for one of the jackets hanging off my chair and shoved the phone in my pocket before heading downstairs.

The steps I took were slow and steady as I did my best to avoid any confrontation while leaving. My aunt and uncle had made it easy on me, since they were afraid of coming off as unreasonable or overbearing, and told me that they didn't mind me going out as long as I came home at a reasonable time. However, Layla didn't exactly agree with their method of parenting since her rules were much more restrictive than mine. For the first time ever, I had actually concurred with her on this particular topic, but I obviously kept my mouth shut in an effort to preserve the pity-freedom they granted me.

It was hard living in a house with people that were essentially strangers, but watching them try to give me rules without overstepping boundaries was just painfully awkward to endure. They must have thought so too, because the foyer was completely devoid of their faces or any indication that they were near — thankfully. I opened the front door without hesitation and made a beeline for Natalie's car, not slowing my movements until I was securely sitting in the passenger seat with no sign authority figure following me out.

"Whoa. Getting a little exercise in before the party?" She laughed, inspecting my outfit with a watchful eye as I buckled myself in. "You're not showing any midriff, so I really don't think you should worry too much about burning those extra calories we ate at lunch."

"First of all, I will never regret ordering a large side of fries." I stated unapologetically. "And secondly, I wanted to avoid getting the third degree from my aunt and uncle. Laugh at my tactics all you want but they were successful."

"Elis, the master of finesse. That kinda rhymes, doesn't it?" She asked while pulling away from the curb. We sped down the residential area as she periodically glanced at her phone propped on the dashboard, following the directions given by the maps application. "Wait, so why did you and Nolan act like you guys didn't know each other earlier today?"

I felt her eyes abandon the road and shift onto me but I was too caught off guard to return the gesture. Her question made me form my own inquiries, leaving me to wonder how she knew the reality of the situation and if I should deny the allegation or own up to it.

"What do you mean?" I forced out, doing my best to sound genuinely confused.

"It was pretty obvious. I may be blonde but I'm not an idiot." She defended indignantly. "Fill me in. Did he hit on you when you registered? Or was it when you were on your way to class?"

"He didn't hit on me at all." I spoke truthfully, though she probably didn't believe the honesty that came with my statement.

"Doubt it." She exaggeratedly threw her head back cackling. "But if you say so, then how do you two know each other?"

"It's true. He's a friend of my cousin so we just ran into each other the other day." My mouth blurted out before I could even register what I was saying, yet I was surprisingly okay with my answer. It was honest but subtle and delivered information without giving too much away. Go, me.