didn’t have snow very often where I was in Texas, and I’m not
very good at driving in it yet.”
“Oh.” Adelaide
bit her lip, clearly disappointed. But Ellie had a plan. She couldn’t invite
them to her house; Griffin needed to stay off their radar for as long as
possible. Plus, she’d have to explain about having no parents. While she and
Griffin already had their story prepared, Ellie didn’t want to lie to her new
friends. But there were other places they could study.
A little
hesitantly she asked, “Would your parents be okay with you staying in town and
studying at the library with me?”
Adelaide
perked up. “Yeah! At least, I think they’d be fine with that.”
“We could
study after school, and maybe get some pizza for dinner before you go home?”
“Sounds
great! I’ll ask my parents tonight. Is tomorrow still okay?”
“Sure.”
As the two
girls exchanged hugs, a car horn sounded close by. Adelaide turned, raised her
hand and waved. “There’s Alex.” Turning back to Ellie she explained, “He had to
borrow the car today so he’s picking us up. Gotta go, see you tomorrow.” She skipped
away to join Lila and Nate.
Ellie fought
with herself for a moment. She wasn’t quite sure what to think about the fact
that her friends didn’t appear to know about her morning runs with their
brother. Not wanting to turn around and see him and unable to resist it at the
same time, she lost the battle and glanced over her shoulder, her gaze
immediately colliding with Alex’s.
She had no
idea why, but a blush crept slowly up her face. Annoyed with her lack of
self-control on so many levels, she moved to get into her own car, only to be
stopped by Jill. They’d become friends over the last few months. Jill was a
sweet girl, but a little boy-crazy.
“Did you see
Alex Jenner?” Jill gave a dramatic sigh. “He is just so gorgeous!”
Ellie grinned
her mutual appreciation. “Do you know him?”
“No.” Jill’s
expression was hilariously tragic. “He graduated a few years ago. Before I was
in high school. I think he’s a sophomore in college now.”
“Oh…” Ellie was
at a loss for words. “Well, I’d better get home. See ya, Jill!” And with a
wave, she hopped in her car and drove away.
The following
day as she was pulling into the school parking lot, Ellie saw Adelaide’s car pull
in behind her. Once again, Alex was driving his siblings to school. He parked
in the spot next to hers and came over to her door.
“Hi, Ellie.”
“Hi, Alex,”
she replied, mimicking his casual attitude. Ellie looked around, unable to
think of anything else to say since she’d just seen him earlier that morning,
and became aware of the three pairs of curious eyes watching them.
“Hi, guys!”
She gave Lila and Adelaide quick hugs, as always making sure she was careful
not to touch their skin.
“Bye, Alex,” Lila
called over her shoulder. They turned in tandem to walk into the school.
“Bye,” he
called back. “See you later, Ellie…”
Ellie turned
to smile back at him, and found him watching her with an oddly intent look. And
the blush, the one that she was beginning to truly hate, flamed up her face
again and she turned away as quickly as she could. She thought she heard his
soft chuckle as she continued to hurry away. She just barely suppressed a hum
of frustration.
Chapter 12
I must’ve
looked like a blithering idiot, Ellie thought. She couldn’t believe how she
could be so awkward with Alex now, but so comfortable with him when they met in
the mornings. Lila linked an arm through Ellie’s, pulling her away from her inward
contemplation.
“If it’s okay,”
Lila started, “Can we get a ride with you to the library after school?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks! Alex
is using the car again today. He’ll pick us up when we’re done with dinner.”
“Sounds like a
plan,” Ellie said.
The day
dragged on. Ellie found that even her favorite classes, English and
very good at driving in it yet.”
“Oh.” Adelaide
bit her lip, clearly disappointed. But Ellie had a plan. She couldn’t invite
them to her house; Griffin needed to stay off their radar for as long as
possible. Plus, she’d have to explain about having no parents. While she and
Griffin already had their story prepared, Ellie didn’t want to lie to her new
friends. But there were other places they could study.
A little
hesitantly she asked, “Would your parents be okay with you staying in town and
studying at the library with me?”
Adelaide
perked up. “Yeah! At least, I think they’d be fine with that.”
“We could
study after school, and maybe get some pizza for dinner before you go home?”
“Sounds
great! I’ll ask my parents tonight. Is tomorrow still okay?”
“Sure.”
As the two
girls exchanged hugs, a car horn sounded close by. Adelaide turned, raised her
hand and waved. “There’s Alex.” Turning back to Ellie she explained, “He had to
borrow the car today so he’s picking us up. Gotta go, see you tomorrow.” She skipped
away to join Lila and Nate.
Ellie fought
with herself for a moment. She wasn’t quite sure what to think about the fact
that her friends didn’t appear to know about her morning runs with their
brother. Not wanting to turn around and see him and unable to resist it at the
same time, she lost the battle and glanced over her shoulder, her gaze
immediately colliding with Alex’s.
She had no
idea why, but a blush crept slowly up her face. Annoyed with her lack of
self-control on so many levels, she moved to get into her own car, only to be
stopped by Jill. They’d become friends over the last few months. Jill was a
sweet girl, but a little boy-crazy.
“Did you see
Alex Jenner?” Jill gave a dramatic sigh. “He is just so gorgeous!”
Ellie grinned
her mutual appreciation. “Do you know him?”
“No.” Jill’s
expression was hilariously tragic. “He graduated a few years ago. Before I was
in high school. I think he’s a sophomore in college now.”
“Oh…” Ellie was
at a loss for words. “Well, I’d better get home. See ya, Jill!” And with a
wave, she hopped in her car and drove away.
The following
day as she was pulling into the school parking lot, Ellie saw Adelaide’s car pull
in behind her. Once again, Alex was driving his siblings to school. He parked
in the spot next to hers and came over to her door.
“Hi, Ellie.”
“Hi, Alex,”
she replied, mimicking his casual attitude. Ellie looked around, unable to
think of anything else to say since she’d just seen him earlier that morning,
and became aware of the three pairs of curious eyes watching them.
“Hi, guys!”
She gave Lila and Adelaide quick hugs, as always making sure she was careful
not to touch their skin.
“Bye, Alex,” Lila
called over her shoulder. They turned in tandem to walk into the school.
“Bye,” he
called back. “See you later, Ellie…”
Ellie turned
to smile back at him, and found him watching her with an oddly intent look. And
the blush, the one that she was beginning to truly hate, flamed up her face
again and she turned away as quickly as she could. She thought she heard his
soft chuckle as she continued to hurry away. She just barely suppressed a hum
of frustration.
Chapter 12
I must’ve
looked like a blithering idiot, Ellie thought. She couldn’t believe how she
could be so awkward with Alex now, but so comfortable with him when they met in
the mornings. Lila linked an arm through Ellie’s, pulling her away from her inward
contemplation.
“If it’s okay,”
Lila started, “Can we get a ride with you to the library after school?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks! Alex
is using the car again today. He’ll pick us up when we’re done with dinner.”
“Sounds like a
plan,” Ellie said.
The day
dragged on. Ellie found that even her favorite classes, English and
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