Us - Arianna Joseph (best book clubs txt) 📗

looking away.

What the Hell?!

Elie gazed at Ivy for a while and then shrugged off her own frustration. The late bell rung and everyone piled in, Ms. Treddale stood up from the desk and took attendance. Afterwards she looked towards Arelie and said;

“Ms. O’Neil, I’d like to see you after class.” She announced, Elie nodded and pulled out her notebook. When she glanced up she saw most of the girls give her stares, but she was used to it. Elie got those stares ever since she started going out with Trystan. But Trystan was being an ass today, so she didn’t really want a reminder of him.

Her thoughts wandered to the events of last night. How could he say those words and then leave her afterwards? Was he that cold-hearted?

“Ms. O’Neil.” Ms. Treddale’s voice snapped through her hazy thoughts. “Please pay attention.”

Elie nodded. God, Elie thought, this is going to be a long day.

@>------

After class, Elie stayed back a little and waited for students to leave the classroom. She walked over to Ms. Treddale, waiting for her to speak. Ms. Treddale put her glasses down and rubbed her eyes and sighed.

“Arelie,” she started, smiling faintly. “Are you ok? I was concerned about you yesterday, you didn’t show up.”

“I was fine, just personal problems,” that lie was slightly true, since she had to deal with her pedophile father.

“Oh,” Ms. Treddale nodded, as if she knew.

“May I go now?”  Elie muttered, Ms. Treddale held up her hand.

“That’s not the only . . . thing I wanted to talk to you about. Arelie, everyone in this school knows you are going out with Trystan Levi.”

“Probably not for long,” Elie muttered, but the teacher didn’t seem to hear her and went on.

“I just wanted to make sure you know what you’re doing.” Ms. Treddale ended.

“What?” Elie asked, “What am I doing?”

“Well, it’s not what you’re doing; it’s who you’re dating.” Ms. Treddale corrected.

“What’s wrong with the Trystan?” Elie asked.

“We just want you to be careful.” Ms. Treddale replied.

“We?” Arelie questioned.

“Yes, the teachers and I.” Ms. Treddale hesitated slightly, “We just want to make sure you’re safe . . . and know that we’re here for you, should Trystan try anything.”

“Are you intending that my boyfriend is causing me harm?” Elie asked incredulously.

“It’s not that-”

Elie cut her off, “Ms. Treddale, I don’t know where you are hearing this, but I’m telling you now, Trystan has done me no harm, he’s the best boyfriend I could ever have. The person who told you this obviously doesn’t know him like I do. Now, can I go now? I’m late for class.” Elie said, trying to calm herself from her outburst.

Ms. Treddale hesitated again, “Of course.”

Elie left right after, huffing out steam. Trystan was careless and hard-headed, but abusive? Puh-lease! As if! Elie walked away determinedly, with her father hanging around like a crazed-ass and her boyfriend abandoning her, along with hated looks and harsh rumors, she was doing well!

She couldn’t have a normal life, could she?

@>------

After school Elie walked to her car in a hurry, trying to avoid Trystan at all costs! After last night she really didn’t want to face him. It would just be too much. But before she could make it to her car, Tori stopped her.

“El!” she shouted, obviously wanting the whole school to hear her. She kept shouting the name until I finally turned around and waited for her to catch up. “You know,” she panted, “It’s rude to ignore your friend like that!” she scolded.

“I didn’t hear you, though” Elie said innocently. Tori huffed.

“I thought I was loud.” Tori protested; Elie shrugged. “Anywho . . . why were you in a rush? Don’t you usually wait for Trystan?” she asked.

“Yeah,” Elie said slowly.

“Then why-”

Elie cut her, “Do I have to be his dog, where he beckons and calls? I can have my own life.” Elie growled.

“Ok, tiger. Just saying.” Tori said. “You sound as if you’re mad at him.”

“Maybe.” Elie allowed.

“Why, then?”

“You promise not to tell anyone?” Elie turned to her. Tori nodded. “I slept with him.”

“You what?!” she shrieked, “When?”

“Yesterday.” Elie answered with a wince.

“Yester-that’s why you weren’t there?” she asked, Elie nodded again. “Oh . . . El! Was it good?”

Now it was Elie’s turn to yell, “What?! What kind of question is that?”

“I was asking. It was your first time, wasn’t it?” Elie nodded again. “So . . .”

Elie blushed, “It was . . . amazing.” She whispered.

“Awww . . . but why are you mad at him?” she asked.

“Well after . . . after we-he said that he loved me.” Elie said softly.

“What the freak! Seriously? You’re kidding me, Trystan Levi? This is the same Trystan, right? You’re not whoring around now, are you, Elie?” Tori asked. Elie gave her a shocked expression.

“What? No! Yes, it was Trystan. I . . . I told him I loved him too,” Elie said shyly.

“Shoot, this is like one of those foreign romances.” Tori laughed.

“It’s not funny.” Elie growled.

“Calm down, tiger, I never said it was. If he said the L word, then why are you mad at him?” Tori asked.

“This morning . . . he,” Elie paused. “He was gone the next morning, no note, no goodbye, no nothing!” Tori snorted.

“Notes? Like love letters? C’mon El, this is Levi! He doesn’t leave notes!” Tori made a face.

“He does for me.” Elie protested.

“Wow. He’s got it bad then.” Tori chuckled.

“Tori!”

“Sorry, continue in your sorrowful story.” Elie gave her a glare.

“What? You get bratty because your gang member boyfriend doesn’t tell you where he’s going. So what? Get over it.”

“But last night-”

“Forget that for a minute. Trystan said he loves you, God help us, and like you said today, your not Trystan’s dog and Trystan isn’t yours, just give him space, I’m sure he’ll explain everything.”

Elie stopped at Tori’s house, seeing a few cars in the parking lot.

“You wanna come in?” she asked, Elie shook her head.

“No. I have homework, and things to take care of.” Elie said; Tori nodded hopping out of the car and heading for the front door. Elie stopped her. “Thanks, Tori. For listening to my sorrows.”

Tori grinned. “That’s what friends are for.” Elie smiled. Watching Tori enter her house. Elie sighed.

She started on the road to where she lived. Her phone started buzzing and she looked down at it.

Unknown

There was no way she going to answer that. All of a sudden there was honking. Elie looked up and her face blanched. She looked to the side to see a moving truck slam into her car, she opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out her head hit the window as it bounced.

Then she saw blackness.

Imprint

Publication Date: 05-05-2013

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
I'd like to dedicate this to my family first, for definitely supporting me in what I do, they have been my rock through the good and bad times and honestly, I couldn't have gotten far without them. This is also dedicated to my friends who've stuck with me to the end and decided that my work was worth something, so thank you to them to. The last is always the best - isn't that a saying? Or some type of phrase? Well, it's true, because I'd also like to dedicate it to my readers who've been absolutely AMAZING! I mean, I still recall going back and forth and checking my numerous websites to see if I got a single read, vote, or like. Ah, those were the days! I'm so glad I have everyone that I have, because I can't imagine life without them!