downpour / mileven au.

nine.

CHAPTER NINE;
FAMILY VALUES.

today marked el and mike's one month anniversary of their fake relationship.

it also happened to mark the end of shelly and troy's.

just about everywhere you went, students were whispering about the break-up. yet, no one actually knew what exactly transpired between the two that caused them to split, but that sure didn't stop them from speculating. 

el had even heard her own name thrown in the mix a few times. she couldn't help but laugh at how pathetic her peers were. she dreamt of a world where everyone would just mind their own business, but it seemed more unobtainable than ever. 

she, for one, didn't really care that the couple had broken up. this shocked her. shouldn't she be sort of happy that the people who had betrayed her and broke her heart would no longer be making out in the halls? but for some reason, she couldn't find it within herself to feel any sort of way about it. 

it was when she was routinely switching her books in her lockers that she felt a presence approach. she couldn't help but smile, still not drawing her gaze away from her locker. "mike," she acknowledges.

unfortunately, her smile was short-lived when the lingering body replied, "try again, ellie."

the girl reluctantly shut her locker to find none other than troy harrington awaiting her with a coy expression. "what is it you want?"

he smirks, propping his palm against the metal row of lockers beside them. her eyes rolled at how arrogant the sight was. "i want to talk," he started.

"about?"

he took a small step closer, causing her brows to lift. "us."

for a moment, she had gone completely sill -- that was until she busted into a fit of laughter. "that was funny. have you always been that funny? because i never thought your jokes were funny when we dated, but that one? hilarious! comedic gold, actually." she was rather amused. 

"hey, i'm serious," he mused, attempting to take another step closer, but her hand pressed against his chest and halted his movement.

she shook her head. "if you're serious, then you're out of your freaking mind. i mean, did you honestly think when shelly dumped you, that i would what? just be waiting idly for you to come back to me?"

"shelly didn't dump me, i dumped her," her eyes widened slightly. she had only assumed that her ex-best friend had been the one to end it. after all, she never stayed with one guy for too long. the cheerleader got bored easily, especially with boys. "i broke up with her because i realized how much i miss you, el."

now she couldn't even laugh. she was past laughing, she wanted to scream. "yeah, you're out of your fucking mind. that's the only logical explanation," she concludes before inhaling deeply, trying to keep herself from losing her shit.

"you know i hate when you swear, doll. you're too pretty," again, he tries to eliminate some of the distance between them. this time she steps back. "el, c'mon. let's go talk."

she saw him reach a hand out to grasp her waist which quickly resulted with her slapping it away. "don't touch me, dick."

he chuckles at the slap, probably to play it off in front of everyone. it was only natural for the exes to attract a few eyes with their conversation. he adjusts his letterman, growing frustrated. "would you just calm down, so we can talk? how about i give you a ride home today?"

el crossed her arms over her chest. "i can't, sorry. see, i'm going home with mike -- my boyfriend."

now troy rolled his eyes. "are you serious? forget about that punk, el. good girls like you don't end up with guys like that."