Chapter 1

Chapter 1 – Good bye to my loveable babies

Ellie

I was still in a bad mood after what happened during lunch. Lila does not seem to notice my depressing aura because she was too busy reading the book that she bought yesterday. Sometimes I just wish she would stop reading those books and at least pay attention to us when we needed it.

We're at the famous milkshake in town, we usually hang out in this place when we needed to grab some smoothies because it cleanses our soul and removes the stress that's piling inside our head. Lila does not still know about the makeover project and I think that Casey is getting hype about it.

Casey places the tray on our table with our favorite smoothies, "Lila,-" Casey gushes, Lila was too busy to even hear her out. My hands are all over on my cheeks, observing Lila and Casey's expression.

"Lila—" Casey shrieks, she manage to gain the attention of Lila and everyone in the store but she does not care of what other people think, that's what I love about her.

"What?!" Lila has her eyebrow raised, she looks irritated but Casey was hyped that she does not care if Lila was in the mood or not, "Guess what!" Casey said, acting like a little girl who just got her favorite present.

"WHAT?!" It was evident that Lila was annoyed with Casey, she does not want to be disturbed during her book time. I was just too depressed to even say anything right now. I'm depressed of what Austin said and depressed that I had to change when I love myself. It's just that, I really want to prove Austin wrong and see his face fall into pieces after seeing the change.

"El wants to change, meaning, we have to do the makeover project that we had been asking her for like one and a half year ago!" Yes, they have been asking me to that thing with them because they want to know what I look like with makeup, with curly hair and wearing a girly clothes that I wouldn't actually wear.

Lila drops her mouth open, "Oh-my-gosh!" She screeches, the people in the store have their eyes on us again. We never fail to gain everyone's attention. "Let's go to El's place right now! Let's do it! C'mon!!!!" Lila was super energetic after finding it out. All the irritation that she felt about being disturbed with her book time was gone in just a second.

I raise my hands, "Wait—what do you mean now? Can't it be next week?"

Casey pouted, "What do you mean next week? When you said you wanted to change, there is no such thing as next week, we'll start right now woman!"

--

Casey has a car of her own, which has been brought for her seventeenth birthday. She's pretty much a decent driver compared to me. It's six twenty in the evening, judging by the time, my parents won't be home until nine. Casey does not have a curfew as long as she's going at my place but Lila needs to go home by eight in the evening because her father is strict.

Casey parks her car behind ours, the door in our house was lock. I'm glad that I have a spare key or I'll be knocking at Austin's house just to get the keys from Elliot. I knew Elliot was at Austin's place because our car is parked at our house and Elliot wouldn't be going out without a car. He could only walk when he will go around the neighborhood which he only goes at Austin's place.

We went straight to my room. My room was clean because I'm actually a neat freak. My queen sized bed is placed in the middle of the room with a study table beside it. The color of my wall is blue because I love blue with the mixed style of a wooden floor. Trophies are placed on the book shelves, which are all awards related to sports and few books are only placed on it because I don't really read book that much. There's nothing much on my room compared to Elliot which is a mess and full of posters of girls who have provocative poses and less clothing. I'm still in doubt why my mother has not asked Elliot to remove them.

I jump on my bed, having the most comfortable position that I ever know which was lying with my body facing the ceiling, "Okay—" Casey interrupts, "We need to do this slowly and by that, we'll only go to the first step, which is, say good bye to your babies."

She opens my closet which was full of my favorite shirts, jeans and leggings. I wore shorts but that's the only shortest thing I could wear rather than skirts. "Good bye to my loveable babies?!" I hurriedly went to my closet and closes it before Casey could grab anything.

"No, you don't need to harm this! These are mine!" I shouted.

"Is there any action happening in there? Can we go and see?" We heard a voice from outside. It was evident that it was from Austin. My room is just aligned to his, that's why I often close my window to prevent myself from hearing his irritating voice and whenever he brings a girl around at his place. I asked Elliot once to change rooms with me but he said that he does not want to be awoken by a girl screaming with lust which is not even on his bed.

I rush on my window to see Austin, Ivan and Elliot on Austin's bedroom window. I showed them my middle finger and close the window and the curtain before I get more irritated. "Someone is having her period." Austin said loudly. I ignored it and when I was about to say something, I saw Casey and Lila looking at my closet. Throwing clothes around the floor which was my favorite ones.

"NOOOOOO!" I scream, I wasn't expecting it to be like this. I thought it was just supposed to be wearing makeup and wearing girly clothes you bought in the store, which is what I always see in movies. But why do they need to remove my favorite precious clothes out from the closet?

"Wooooohh!" Austin said loudly, "I would love to see a girl to girl in action!"

I open my window and shouted, "Piss off asshole!"

"Woops, someone is getting angry." He teases, he sticks his tongue out before disappearing from the window. He really wants gaining attention.

"El." Casey called my attention, "Everything in here must be eliminated." She speaks so formally as if we're in some kind of game show when you get eliminated for giving the wrong answer.

Lila looks at me lazily, "Fine, we would only throw half of it." She crosses her arms, "If you agreed with the change, you need to give your whole."

"Fine. Half." I protested, "Just half!"

It took us an hour to get rid of the clothes I still want because everything in the closet was all my favorite ones. There is no clothing in there that I hate. I was sobbing non-stop and crying and recovering and crying again when we're debating what to keep and not keep. It was very tiring to be bipolar in a short period of time. Imagine, I'd go crying and later on, I'll be okay.

My closet has a huge space in them, I can't imagine how many clothes they have taken away from me. Thinking about it makes me sad even more. Lila has placed the clothes that need to go on a black garbage bag. I was trying to get it out from her hand but Casey made me think about it twice. Making me realize what I had said earlier about the change.

They had left the house at exactly seven forty two in the evening because Lila has curfew. They even took the clothes with them, to prevent me from getting it from our trash bin. It was really depressing to see my closet this half empty. I think I'm going to have a panic attack.

Tomorrow after classes, Casey had suggested that we're off to go shopping. They decided to help me pick a girly clothes to wear and fill it in my closet. I was beginning to feel the change but there is some part of me that don't even want to. I really don't want to but I have to.

Austin started to call me out from his bedroom window, I maybe sad of what he had gotten me to feel a while ago but right now, I'm already back to my usual happy mood. But even though I'm okay, it does not mean I would cancel the so called project that Casey and Lila had been going through.

"What do you want?!" I raise an eyebrow.

He was leaning on his window frame, "What's the guy's name?"

I sigh loudly, "What guy?!"

"The guy you like." It was interesting to see Austin taking interest of my love life which is one sided.

I started laughing sarcastically, "What does it have to do with you?" I scoff, "Are you going to tell me again that the guy who I'm into won't like me?"

"What's the guy's name?" He pushes the subject, he's being pushy. And I kind of like it. Seeing him like this makes it funny to look at.

"I don't want to." I stick my tongue out.

"Damn it Ella." He was annoyed, I find him cute looking so annoyed and all. If we only manage to get a proper conversation, stops the fight and bickering and he would just be a nice guy even for once, maybe I would come to like or even fall for him.

"Good night Austin." I slowly close the curtain in front of me which made Austin annoyed even more, "Ella! Don't you dare do that!" He shouted. But I had already close the curtain and window in front of me.

I lie down on my precious and comfortable soft bed and stared lazily at my ceiling. What would they react after seeing me change into this girl they wouldn't expect? Some part of me is excited to see them while there is a part of me that is afraid. But what I'm more curious is what would Austin think of me after seeing me change into someone he wouldn't even recognize?

"Ellie." My brother knocks on my bedroom door. It was odd for him to do that when he always barged in when he needs to. I told him to come in and he went inside and looks at me with a serious look, "Who is this guy that Casey is referring to?"

Why is everyone curious about the guy I liked?

"Why?" I eyed him suspiciously, "Are you going to tell him to stay away from me? Because clearly, that guy does not even know I exist."

His eyebrows furrow for a second, "Then he is a douche." My brother and I have a bond that no one can break. He's like my bestfriend because he's always there when I needed him and always there to support and care for me since when we're young. He might just be ten minutes ahead of me when we're born, but he has always been the best older brother I had.

"Your bestfriend next door is a douche." I clarified.

He chuckled softly, "Well he's a douche as well." He sat down on the edge of my bed, "C'mon, tell me what's the name of the guy."

"Promise me, you won't tell it to any of our guy friends, especially Austin." He raises his hand, crossing his finger over his chest, "I won't."

"Matt Cross."

His eyes widen, "The captain of the basketball team!?" What was surprising about that? Does he expect me to like a girl instead of a guy?

I nodded and he sighs, "And I thought you liked Austin."

I burst out of laughter after hearing him say that, is he even serious of what he just said? He knows that I hate Austin, why would he think that I would like someone who I've hated for years?

"Are you kidding me?" I wipe the tears from my eyes, it was actually tears of joy.

His face was serious, it was evident that what he said was not a joke. I calm down and stare at him, still trying to stop myself from laughing, "Well the famous saying goes, 'the more you hate, the more you love' and so I thought that you hate him so much that you start to like him and that you're fond of the quarrels and little fights that you had because I really thought you like him and you are not that mad when he teases you. I mean, most of the student in our school would like to date him and I wouldn't be surprised if you liked him too." I don't really get what he is trying to point out.

"Elliot." I snapped, "I wouldn't like a guy like him who is so proud of himself being a douche and goes off banging girls and not taking them seriously when they have a heart and it could hurt their feelings too."

"Whatever." He shrugs, "But don't say things that you're not sure of because even Austin is a douche, I'm not siding with him because he is my best friend, he's still a good guy. You just haven't had seen the real him."

"Well yeah, the real him is a major playboy, whore and definitely loves to hang out in detention," I rolled my eyes, "And loves to tease your sister too much."

He laughs at my expression, he didn't push the subject any longer, "I'm not trying to tell you who you are suppose to like or not but I want you to have someone who will accept you as who you are now because that's the person who is worth spending your time with." My brother isn't really the type to give advices like this and it's making it really awkward. I nodded and didn't say a word. What he said was right but I'm still on the verge of changing.

--

I was glad that I didn't need an effort to wake up Elliot because the minute I got off my room, he was already downstairs, eating his breakfast. It was the very first time that he beat me getting early and waking up early in the morning.

"Oh-my-gosh." I screech, Elliot was startled after hearing my voice, "What has gotten into you?" I sits down beside him. Mom has already finished eating breakfast and was waiting for the both of us to finish before she cleans up the table.

Mom started laughing, "I had a talk to Elliot last night and I was kind of glad that he did what I ask for him to do." She sits down across from where we're seated, forming a smile on her lips.

Elliot lazily looks at me, it was evident that he wants to go back in his bed and sleep, "Mom told me last night that if I didn't woke up early, I wouldn't be able to go out to party and even drive the car." He takes a bite from his toast, chewing them very slowly. It looks like he lacks energy.

I raise my hand, asking mom a high five and she slams her hand on mine, "You're a cool mom!"

She giggled, "Of course I am." I was impressed that she was able to do that because I didn't expect Elliot to follow her command.

"It's too late to start the new year's resolution twinsee." I got inside the passenger seat after Elliot unlocks the car. I call him twinsee when I want to annoy him and he usually gets annoyed by it. He said that it sounded so gay that he does not want me to say it in front of our friends.

"Stop calling me that." He annoyingly said, he didn't press on the gas and just stayed in front of our house, "Aren't you supposed to be driving by now?" I suggested.

The door in the back seat had opened and I wouldn't guess who it was because it was already evident, "I'm going to feed your balls to the dogs Elliot."

He gasps, "Oh no, you can't do that, I wouldn't be able to have kids in the future."

"Chill baby, it's not like we're not friends for you to act like that." Austin teases, he sits at the back comfortably, as if he owns the whole car for himself and we're some sort of a driver and nanny.

"Ew." I cringe, "Don't call me baby."

"I could call you my baby if you want, aren't you flattered that a guy like me still treats you a girl despite of your guyish attitude?" He continues to annoy me. Since when does guyish even a word? He should visit the dictionary some time. I just brush it off and completely ignored what he has to say. My mood today is already good enough to be ruined by the lunatic on the back seat.

"So, Ella." Austin opens his mouth after minutes of silence, "Matt huh?"

My eyes widen after hearing him say that. Damn it Elliot. I glared at Elliot's direction and he instantly makes an excuse for himself, "I didn't say a word, I swear!"

"Then why does he know it if it wasn't you who told him," I scolded Elliot. I was acting more like a mother than his own little sister, "I don't know." Elliot shrugs.

Austin laughs sarcastically, "Well obviously, I have my ways of finding out anything I want to know." He snorts, "Why Matt? He can't even play football."

"He plays basketball." I clarified.

"He does not even know how to flirt with girls." He said nonchalantly.

"Well at least he does not bang girls when he just feels like it." I snapped.

"Maybe because his dick is too small to even fit a girl's vagina." I widen my eyes in disgust, I can't believe he said that to me, oh my poor virgin ears.

"Well I could live with that as long as he's not a manwhore!" I retorted.

"He's a nerd." He clarifies.

"I don't care. Don't call him a nerd just because he's smart."

"I don't think you could trust a guy like that who couldn't even notice you." He spat out. Why is he even trying to push this conversation? Why does he need to interfere with my love life?

"Well at least he's not a guy who notices me just to treat me like shit and talks to me like I'm some kind of bitch." I snapped. I was mad this time. Why is he even being a jerk?

He snorts, "Well at least I noticed you unlike that brat who does not even know your name."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I glared at him, "I don't care if you notice me, it's not like you like me! Shut your mouth if you don't have anything good to say about him!"

"Fine!" He shouted back.

"Fine then!" I replied angrily.

"Fucking drama queen." He said softly.

"Asshole." I murmur.

Elliot didn't seem to break the fight and just pretended that he didn't hear anything. Why does Austin need to interfere? Why does he need to interfere with everything that I do? It's not like he likes me and it's not like I'm his girlfriend. He's acting really strange after finding out about Matt.

--

"What seems to be the problem?" Alex opens his mouth after minutes of silence. We are all seated in our usual spot in the cafeteria. Everyone is in the table and everyone seems to be bothered about why Austin and I are quiet. I think it was awkward and odd for them because I and Austin should be fighting like little kids by now but neither one of us spoke a word.

I focused my attention to my food and Austin did the same. He wasn't looking at me and I tried to avoid looking at his direction. I was seated across Elliot and Austin was seated beside him. My gal friends couldn't even talk to me because I was in a foul mood since this morning.

Austin stands up from the table and went out of the cafeteria. Why is he even pissed off when I should be the only one who should be mad at him?

"Seems serious." Ivan said.

"They fought this morning—" Elliot started, "Apparently, Austin was being a teaser as always but he had been pushing it too far that made Ellie mad and they gone off to shouting out at each other at the car."

"What did they fight about? Because if it's just a tease, Ellie wouldn't be mad at it." Ace inquires.

"About Ellie's love interest." Elliot didn't say the name which he made a promise last night.

Carl snaps his fingers, "I think Austin is jealous."

"Heck, why would he get jealous? It's not like he likes Ellie." Ace corrects.

"I'm just right here." I said, trying to make myself noticeable. They can't just talk about me when clearly, I'm just in front of them.

--

The shopping thing that I and the gals had talked about was cancelled because I had a very sour mood and they thought that it's best to do that when everyone is a good mood in order to enjoy ourselves. Austin didn't join us to go home, he was also in a sour mood. I don't really get it why is he even acting this way.

It bothers me. It bothers me as to why Austin is acting that way. He does not usually get mad, I'm the one who usually got mad when we have this some sort of small fights but it passes by in a instant but this time, it was different.

I was just staring at my laptop, with music filling up my ears. I was lost in thought that I forgot what I need to do in my laptop. Do we even have an assignment to pass tomorrow?

I heard a very loud voice, coming from the outside, it was really irritating because I knew what kind of shout was that. It was unpleasing for my ears to hear. He was mad a while ago and now he's banging someone. He could have at least brought her to a hotel rather than disturb his next door neighbor.

I turn on the volume louder, blasting the music all over my room. Still, the voice of the girl was still heard and it's making me irritated. I was so irritated that it's my first time doing this, "HEY!" I shouted, I was staring right at his window.

The moaning continued and it was getting me annoyed instantly, "Austin Prince!"

The voice died down, after seconds, Austin had shown himself on his window, half-naked. He has his boxers on but his upper part of the body was exposed. Oh my gosh, those abs. What? I'm still a girl. I tried to keep myself compose and direct my attention to his face rather than those pretty abs that felt like it was staring at me, "Can you keep it down?"

"Why? Can't stand it?"

I rolled my eyes in irritation, "Isn't it not obvious?"

"Do you want to join us instead?"

I scoff, "I rather grow old alone than join you in there."

He laughs sarcastically, "Keep saying that princess, I'll make you take back all the words that you said to me." He smirks at me. This time, the aura was different. What does he mean by that?

"Whatever."

"I would make sure that you wouldn't end up with Matt." His face was cold and serious. What is happening to him? What does my love life, one sided love- have to do with him? Why is he even doing this to me? What did I do to deserve this? He's been acting different and it started to scare the shit out of me. Before I could say anything, he had disappeared from my sight. It's not like he likes me to be acting this way. I'm not even his type.