Chapter 8- Not really Ella

"Shut up, Joe." Nick glared at my best friend's boyfriend. Oh, he is the one who gets to be mad? He then looked at me, "Look Donny, I'm sorry. You know I was only joking, right?"

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever, you're forgiven." I told him, waving it off, but honestly what he said did affect me a little. Of course I knew I looked awful when I had only slept for like three hours and had a full day of school ahead of me. He didn't have to put that fact on display by stating it like that, though.

"See? It's all good. She doesn't take it seriously, guys." The said dumbass informed them, before taking another cookie. I just sighed, nodding my head in agreement.

After that, we fell silent for a second, before Grace spoke up. "Uh-oh. Looks like your prince charming's in trouble." She stated, making me take a glance in the direction she was looking at. And of course, not just me, but all of the people at the table.

The sight ahead of us was quite amusing. From what it looked like, Ariel was throwing a huge fit, yelling at Collin, who was calmly listening to every word - which I bet weren't the most appropriate for school grounds.

After she finished yelling whatever she was yelling, he said no more than a few words to her, stroke her arm lightly then casually walked away, grabbing his tray and heading to the area where we retrieve them. Which happens to be just right next to our table. Isn't that great?

After he put the tray on top of the pile of used ones, he strolled away nonchalantly, going the same way he had come. We were all watching him, quite blatantly to be honest, and I was about to look away when he suddenly looked to his side and took notice of how the whole table was staring at his every move.

Well that's awkward.

I quickly turned my gaze down to my empty tray and pretended to be occupied by counting the tiny dents on its surface. And let me tell you, there were many.

I wonder if there's something underneath it too. Maybe some chewed piece of gum...

I began lifting my tray to look under it, and was already squinting by the time a familiar voice stopped me.

"Hey there. Ella who's not really Ella."

I looked up to see a smile on Collin's face, as he nodded his head in what was sure to be my direction.

Was he talking to me? Why?

I discretely looked to my right, then left, then behind me, but everyone looked engrossed in a conversation or their food. And my friends were just staring at me, then back at him. Like idiots.

Should I answer? What if he's not talking to me?

He did say Ella, though.

Ugh. Okay, I got this.

I shyly lifted my hand up and did the minimum, tiniest gesture of a wave, which could totally go unnoticed or even mistaken by something else, like shooing off a fly or something. That way no one would think I was waving at Collin, if he wasn't in fact talking to me. Genius, isn't it?

"What are you doing?" He asked chuckling, then came closer to the table. "Do you have a cramp on your arm or something?" He tilted his head to the side, a small smile playing on his lips. He looked cute like that.

"Well, are you going to answer me?" He demanded quirking an eyebrow, after waiting for an answer that never came out of my mouth.

"Oh, sorry." I choked out, "I wasn't sure if you were talking to me." I could feel my body temperature slowly rising, a consequence of my uneasiness at this situation. The fact that Avery was by my side staring at me agape wasn't much of a help either. I quickly glanced at her, 'Stop it!' I tried to say with my eyes and thankfully, she obliged.

"Uh-huh." Collin said, seemingly amused by my stupidness. And I say that because he was smirking at me. He probably thinks I have some kind of brain issue.

"Yeah." I splurted, trying to make this less awkward for myself.

"Okay, then." He replied stuffing his hands in his front pockets, the smirk still on his not so unenjoyable face.

"Okay." I repeated, hoping he would leave already.

"See you in class, Carson." He shook his head, letting another chuckle resound in the air.

"Mhm, bye." I bid him farewell with a hum, a three lettered word and a tight smile. Really? What is wrong with me?

Then he finally left. I looked up in relief, but it was soon cut short.

"Ha! I told you so!" Kathy had to state her excitement, pointing a finger at my face. "I told you, I told you..." My mind blocked the rest of her little song, which was really annoying, and I started to wonder if she would be doing any ridiculous dance moves out of happiness for being 'right'. In her head, of course.

"Ahem. Care to explain?" Avery demanded, making me tear my gaze from the crazy girl. Her eyebrows almost reached her hairline from how high they were raised.

"I'll do it for you." Kathy paused her cheering to say, "Collin loves Donny." She said grinning, resting her chin on her palms before, not surprisingly, wiggling her brows.

"Huh?" My best friend questioned, frowning at me confused.

I face palmed.

Here we go again.

After explaining the situation to her on the way to our lockers, (because I didn't want to discuss it in front of other males) Avery took my side on the discussion, jokingly saying that the girls were paranoid.

Even though I laughed with her and agreed, part of me felt a tinge of disappointment and maybe even some sadness. Deep down, I wished she would say that she too thought someone like Collin could have taken a liking for me.

That thought accompanied me for the rest of the day.