High School Romance

@ Kol.
The clicking of the keys filled the quiet office as Alix worked on pairing people up for the semester's first projects. Her bright green eyes looking left and right as she tried to pick the most compatible people and of course putting people with their close friends as well. It was a tough thing to do, but she was sure she did a good job. So, once she was done, Alix hit print and got the copies together to lay neatly on Mr.Fosters desk.

"Alright, Mr.Foster. I'm going to the office, Mr.Rowen said he needed to see me once I was done helping you." Alix said, talking about her stepdad who was the Principle of the school. That was a secret that only her closest friends knew. Alix didn't even tell people her parents were divorced or explain why she was always early. She had started saying she liked being early, but once people started to question her, Mr.Foster rescued her with naming her his assistant.

"Alright Alix, thank you. Have a good rest of your day." Mr.Foster said as he offered her a small wave before turning to his new class.

--

Turning his head, Jake noticed one of Becca's new friends walking towards them. He opened his mouth to say something to her but stopped as she beat him to it. His mouth instantly closing and his lips moving into a frowning motion as he stuck his hand out for the bracelet that he gave Becca on their four-month anniversary. It was a yin yang bracelet that she thought would be cute. Guess not anymore.

"Well then. Shit." Jake said quietly, glancing towards Kaiden with a confused look in his eyes. "What the fuck dude?" Jake was speechless, he really had no idea how he should be reacting right now. Sure, he knew she wasn't the right girl for him but it felt like they were going strong. They haven't fought in a while. So, why?

"I'm just, I'm just going to go to class. I'll see you later dude." Jake said as he glanced at Kaiden before he walked away, his mind not able to concentrate on anything at the moment.

(Time skip?)

[ Time skip Lol ]

Kaiden hadn't expected his first day of senior year to go quite as it had. Honestly, he hadn't expected it go anything as it had. Maybe he was being naive but he'd expected it to go smoothly with no bumps simply because it was the first day of their last year. It had been anything but. Kaiden had actually lost count of how many different couples he'd caught fighting throughout the day, he wasn't sure who was dating who anymore, and he knew he'd spotted at least three girls who'd totally grown into themselves as they looked totally different than he could remember from freshman year.

And after the day he'd had he'd of course headed to the diner right after school because even if Alix did decide not to show up he could still really use a good milkshake and some quiet time right now. Two things he knew he could get at the diner. People were still trying to figure the place out, most of the people his age who hung out there were pretty much classified as the losers which he did hate because this place was amazing and he knew most of the people who hung out there and he wouldn't call them losers. They just didn't run in a different crowd and there was nothing wrong with that.

"Are you getting your usual?" Stacy asked when she walked over to him. "And you're alone today, where's that pretty blonde you had with you the other day?" she asked him as she got her pen ready in case he ordered something different than usual.

"I'm going to have a double chocolate banana shake and an order of tots, please. It's been a long day, and oh Kara? She's at cheer practice this afternoon. Luckily lacrosse practice doesn't start up again until next week," he told her glad that he still had another week of free time right after school. But after this week he'd be back to his busy schedule.

---

Ellie had never spent so much time avoiding people as she had today, the good part was since she'd avoided everyone all day she'd had a little bit of time to try and think of how to handle her current situation. The bad part was she still had no idea. What Ellie did know though was that she couldn't talk to Andrew until she knew what to say to him, and she didn't want to confront Jake about anything but she felt he'd be easier to deal with than Andrew. So when the day was over Ellie had made up her mind to at least try and deal with something, as terrifying as that sounded.

She still couldn't believe that somehow all of her love letters had gotten mailed out and now there were multiple guys who knew about her past feelings for them. They likely all thought they were current feelings though given they'd just received the letters. Even though she'd written all of those letters at least a year or more about other than Andrews. But that was the one she was still most worried about.

How did one even go about something like this? She wondered to herself as she finished up at her locker then looked around the hall to see if she even saw the person she was looking for. Ellie had no idea what she was actually going to say to him, or how he'd react to what she did end up saying, she didn't even know if he'd want to deal with her at all after what all Ellie had heard went on today. But either way she did think she should at least try and explain everything.

@ Kol.
Ugh, she couldn't believe she was doing this. All day Alix had been thinking about rather or not she should go and meet up with Kaiden at their spot. It was weird to call it their spot still, but still. The cafe was the place to be, and no matter what. She couldn't turn down a milkshake. An what was why she was going, she was going to have a milkshake and tots while she gave Kaiden the cold shoulder. Not really though.

Walking into the cafe, Alix could feel her stomach twisting as she saw the familiar blonde. Sitting at the booth that they always sat at growing up. The place that they deemed theirs and refused to sit anywhere else. So many memories were in this place, so much history. It was like this place was part of her.

"Hey," Alix said quietly as she walked over to the blue booth. She offered Stacy a small smile as she sat opposite of Kaiden. "Can I have a vanilla shake and some tots?" Stacy nodded to what Alix ordered and went to put their order in. Turning her attention to Kaiden, she couldn't help but frown as she leaned back in the booth a little. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" She asked as she took the shoulder strap of her bad off and had it rest against the window.

--

The familiar smell of perspiration filled the halls as Jake walked out of his English class. The smell reminding him that some of the freshmen still hadn't learned to use deodorant and that he'd be hearing kids being mocked for it in the next coming days till they got the hint that they needed to shower and protect themselves from their own BO. Glancing up, Jake had to do a double take because it was like Deja vu.

Standing by her locker, looking as innocent as ever was Ellie. She looked like a deer in headlights with how she was looking around. What she was looking for, he had no idea, but it was amusing to see her looking around so panicked. He was a sick fuck for thinking that, but it was a cute look on her. It made him want to come and protect her.

"Hey." Jake said as he got close enough to Ellie that she could actually hear him over the loud sound of the crowded hallway. Then, he moved to rest a shoulder on the locker next to hers as he looked down at her. His arms crossing over his chest as he waited for her to greet him back, or possibly chasing after her as he tries to talk to her more. This morning was interesting, and he wanted to know what was going on and if the feelings were real. Because right now, he could kinda use a rebound.

Kaiden leaned back into the booth himself glad that Alix had decided to come, even if she did look confused and maybe a little unhappy with him. He had been a total ass the last few years totally abandoning her after everything they'd been through together all because he'd started to play sports which forced him to surround himself with a different group of people. "I just wanted to apologize for the last few years," he said flat out not about to lie to her. She'd always been the one person he couldn't lie to. "I know it's kind of out of the blue, and well overdue. But I saw you here the other day and just realized how much I've missed us hanging out. I mean we always had so much fun growing up and it's stupid that we entered high school, I joined a couple of sports teams and all of a sudden we're not friends anymore. Which I know isn't your fault, and I'm not saying it is," he told her. If anything Kaiden knew their friendship ending was mostly his fault for not finding a way to make time for his best friend until it got to a point when they had just drifted apart.

"I guess seeing you the other day, and then again today without your glasses and with your hair how it is now I just realized that we've both gone through some pretty major changes since freshman year and I hate that we're missing out on each other's lives. Because I'm pretty sure we made a promise in like first grade to always be there for each other no matter what," he added trying not to laugh at how corny it probably sounded to bring up a promise made in first grade, but they had promised.

---

Ellie let out a small breath and turned to face Jake when he'd approached her, at least she didn't have to go looking for him she supposed. "Hey," she said tucking her hair behind her ear, Jake likely wanted to talk to her also about a few things, like the letter he'd gotten claiming that Ellie found him to be one of the most attractive guys in school thought he had the prettiest and thought his arms would be nice to be held in while they cuddled, and about the fact that she'd flat out kissed him herself this morning. These things all pointed to Jake assuming that Ellie liked him. And while Ellie did still find all of those things to be true she'd also written the letter to him over a year ago never expecting him to see it. And she'd only kissed him as a way to avoid dealing with a much bigger issue. She felt like telling him that was a bit brutal, but it was the truth.

"What can I help you with?" She asked him wanting to at least get a conversation started, and slightly hoping that maybe she was wrong and this morning had all been a dream. Maybe Jake really wanted to tell her something totally unrelated to her kissing him and or a letter she wrote. "Actually if you want to talk to me about what I think you want to talk to me about then we should go somewhere else," she finally said not wanting there to be any prying eyes or ears around them when they had a conversation like this. Because the last thing Ellie wanted right now was for people to see this and get the wrong impression, making things a little weirder for her than things already were.

@ Kol.
She didn't mean for it to happen, it just kinda did. As Alix listened to Kaiden's little speel, her lips slowly sank into an unhappy frown. Followed by her arms slowly crossing over her chest as she arched an eyebrow at him. She couldn't believe it took him so many years to realize they had drifted apart because of his stupid non-ability to make time to hang out with the person who knew him best.

"Kaiden," Alix said quietly, the first word she'd spoken to him after giving him nothing but silence while she listened to him. "You're an idiot." Was all she managed to let out before rolling her eyes. Then, she slowly closed her green orbs and rested her head back as she tried to think of what else to say to the kid in front of her. She wanted to scream at him, call him out on his stupidity, on abandoning her, on just being a bad friend in general. She couldn't though, because that's not who she is.

"That's really sad on your part that it took you til now to realize that you've left me in the dirt." Alix finally said after a while. Her eyes opening as she sat up and looked at her old best friend. She didn't think they were on best friends anymore, but she'd take him as a friend. At least that way it wouldn't hurt as much when he ignores her in school from now on.

--

It surprised Jake that Ellie wanted to just jump into the conversation, Becca had always talked his ear off before he could say anything. He opened his mouth to bring up the letter and kiss but stopped as Ellie seemed to have beat him to the punchline. "Alright, but no kissing. I'm not an easy guy Ellie." Jake teased and gave her a wink before he stood up straight and motioned for her to follow after him.

Being one of the schools top athletes really had its advantages at times. People just looked at him in amazement as he walked down the hall. Parting so that he could walk and not accidentally be in his way. Then again, it could also just be because of his six something height and his well developed muscular body. Glancing over his shoulder, Jake made sure that Ellie was following him before he continued to walk. A small smirk playing along with his lips as they made it to the back of the school.

"Alright, how does this look?" He asked as he looked around and saw no one outside. Jake then slowly turned so that he was looking at Ellie as he moved to lean against the brick wall of the school. "So, do you care to tell me what's going on?" He asked, wanting Ellie to explain herself first before he allowed himself to decide if he wanted to chase her or not.

What could Kaiden say, she wasn't wrong. He had been an idiot for taking so long to realize that he'd messed up. But at least he was finally realizing it. "I know it was, and I'm not saying that it's not. I'm simply hoping that you can find it in yourself to give me a chance to make it up to you. Because I would really like to be friends again. And I'm not asking for things to go back to how they were because I understand if you don't think they could or don't want them to even. But I do hope that you'd at least like to have me around again," he said shrugging his shoulders lightly.

"Here are those shakes for you guys," Stacy said as she sat the shakes and tots down in front of the pair. "It's nice to see you both here together again," she told them with a smile before walking away so she didn't disrupt any important conversation.

Kaiden simply smiled in return glad to have his shake and tots, and happy to know that without even telling her Stacy still remembered that he liked cheese and chili on the side of his for the days when he was feeling like spicing things up some.

---

Ellie rolled her eyes at Jake she had no intention of kissing him again. And she followed him down the hall and towards the back of the building until they'd finally arrived at a nice little area where no one really came. She took a seat at the small little table they had since it was mostly used by teachers if they had a chance to break away for lunch so they wouldn't be surrounded by students. "This is good," she told him with a nod before turning to face him more clearly.

"So this is a bit of a mess, I'm aware of that. But well you weren't supposed to ever see that letter so I was a little shocked when I saw you holding it, and then I saw Andrew also holding his letter that he shouldn't have had I kind of panicked and kissed you to throw him off. Which I know sounds so stupid, it was stupid actually, but I was very put on the spot this morning by more than one person and I clearly don't react well when under pressure," Ellie said running her fingers through her hair again.

She knew that this probably looked really bad on her part, not only had she kissed someone with a boyfriend but it was all to avoid another boy she didn't want to confront. The whole thing was an actual mess. "I totally understand if you're upset or don't want to even look at me because I'm so awful, and I'm sure you can understand why I didn't want to have this conversation in the hallway where everyone could and probably would be listening to us,"

@ Kol.
This was the side of Kaiden that Alix missed the most. The one who always made the most sense. He always kept them in line when they wanted to do something stupid as a little kid. "Thank you, Stacy," Alix said quietly as she offered the older woman a small smile and then went back to looking towards Kaiden.

"Alright, we can be friends again," Alix said quietly as she reached over and grabbed a tot and dipped it in the vanilla shake before popping it into her mouth. "Just don't expect me to be hanging out with those other sports heads that you hang out with." She told him after she chewed and swallowed her food. "Are they even going to be alright with you hanging out with a loser like me?"

--

It took Jake a few moments to process everything that was going on. His head nodded ever so slightly as he took in the new information. Then slowly, he couldn't help but frown."Wait, so other guys got letters as well?" He asked, that being the only part that he was even a little bit upset about.

Slowly, Jake ran his tongue over his lips as he rested his head back. He really wasn't upset. If anything he was just jealous that other guys also got a letter from Ellie in the first place. "Yeah, I can see why." He said as he finally lowered his head to look down at her. "You've really gotten yourself into a mess." He couldn't help but say to tease her. "Well, what are you going to do now that people have your letters?"

(I'm sorry it's so short!)

Kaiden smiled across the table at Alix thrilled that she was going to give him another chance. "I didn't expect anything less," he told her knowing full well that Alix would never want to willingly hang out with those people. Though sometimes even Kaiden didn't enjoy hanging out with them himself so he got it. Plus he knew that a lot of the kids he associated with could be total assholes to people like Alix. "Who cares what they think? Honestly, I think it's about time that someone stood up to them anyway and put people in their place. Someone should make it known that making people feel like they're not important because they don't fit into a standard they didn't even create it stupid. I don't even understand why there are popular kids and nonpopular kids. Or what exactly qualifies you to be one or the other," he said shrugging his shoulders.

One thing Kaiden really didn't understand was what made someone popular or not. Because if Kaiden were to be asked where he felt like he belonged it wouldn't have been with the popular kids. He hadn't lived quite the same life everyone else he hung around had. His parents always had always made time for him, even with his dad being sick the last year the man still made Kaiden a priority. Kaiden also hadn't grown up in a lot of money. His family did well, and they made it work out well but they were by no standard rich. And they sure as hell didn't flaunt around money like a lot of kids he hung out with seemed to do.

---

Ellie sighed and nodded her head, "yes other boys got a letter as well. Though no one was supposed to get one at all," she said still a little upset they'd somehow gotten up. "I wrote five altogether. One to you, one to Andrew, one to Johnathan Ashby, one to Christopher Parker, and one to Clayton Pierce. And I know it sounds stupid but I wrote them to the five boys I've had major crushes on in my life when I had a crush on them just to kind of get my feelings out and on paper. But that was all it was ever supposed to be. And now apparently they're all out there and I can't take it back." She told not sure what she was going to do now. Though she'd admit she wasn't worried about Johnathan, Christoper, or Clayton. She knew now that Jonathan was gay, Christoper had moved out of state the year before, and Clayton was just a boy she'd met at a summer camp summer before freshman year in another state and she didn't even know where he lived but she knew it wasn't around the area they were in now. Which just left Andrew.

"Honestly I'm not very worried about most of them. I mean one guy moved so I'm sure his letter was probably returned to me, one I met at a summer camp four years ago and have no idea where he lives, and one is gay so I'm not worried about them. But I really don't know what to do about Andrew," she said before she pushed her fingers through her hair. That was a tough one because it wasn't like she could just go up to him and talk this out without it being the most awkward conversation in the world.

@ Kol.
Grabbing onto her milkshake, Alix brought the straw to her lips and slowly drank the ice cream mixture as she relaxed against the booth. Her eyes slowly narrowing as she listened to Kaiden. Doing her best to resist the urge to roll her eyes at his comment. "Have you not looked in the mirror lately?" She asked calmly as she set the cold drink on the table once more before tucking her hair behind her ear. "You have the appearance and build that people strive for," Alix told him, doing her best to not let it be known that she still thought he was hot.

"Not to mention you're skilled at multiple sports, do you not realize how many girls freaking fawn over you at school." Alix sighed and finally allowed herself to roll her eyes before shaking her head. "I know you're blonde, but come on Kai." Alix let out another huff before she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself. It was time to change subjects or Kaiden would be wearing her milkshake as a hat. "How're your parents?"

--

The whole time Ellie spoke, Jake stayed quiet. His head slowly nodding as a way to show that he was paying attention and not spacing out. He found her little habit kinda cute, who knew that the quiet girl Ellie could be cute? "When did you write my letter then?" He asked once she was done explaining everything to him. Slowly, Jake stood up straight and moved to the table. He turned and sat on top of it instead of taking a seat. His right foot living slightly to rest on the chair that was next to Ellie. His right arm resting on his knee as he waited for a reply.

"Well, how about this," Jake said, after a few moments of thinking about everything. "Date me." He blurted out. "It won't be real, it'll just to show that Andrew kid that you're not interested and it'll keep the rest of the school off of our backs." He explained to her. "Plus in return, it'll show Becca that I don't really feel bad for her shitty way of dumping me." He gave Ellie one of his famous smirks. "Well?"

“I wish I could tell you they were fine, they miss you, and everything at home is great. But that would be a lie,” Kaide told Alix before taking a sip of his milkshake. “We found out about a year ago that my dad has this incurable disease with a rather high mortality rate. Most people who end up with it die within about five years. Some live a longer or shorter depending on differnt factors. So it’s been very hard, he’s doing okay right now but it’s also still early. In the coming future though we’ve been warned that he’ll probably get kind of aggressive, he won’t be able to do as much physically work without straining.” He said running his fingers through his hair and sighing. It was hard for him to talk about this right now because we’ll he hadn’t told anyone about his dad yet.

“What about your parents? How are they?” He asked needing to hear a hopefully happier story. Or at least hear someone else talk about something less depressing and from what Kaiden remembered about Alix and her family was that her parents loved each other and we’re totally lasting forever.

---

Ellie was taken by surprise honestly when Jake blurted out the words date me. And as he kept talking she became confused. “What?” She finally replied pushing her fingers through her hair. “You’re solution to our current predicament is to fate date each other. Because it will get people off our backs and make your ex girlfriend jealous. So essentially you want to use me to get back Becca for dumping you?” She asked just wanting to make sure they were on the same page. Even if it was a rather weird way to go about things.

“If we do this there have to be rules,” she told him not wanting to go into something this out there and not have a plan. After all, they were talking about her fake dating on of the most popular boys in school. And well while Ellie didn’t have low self esteem, she was actually very comfortable with herself she wasn’t popular. She was awkward and didn’t usually let people in to be her friend because of past experiences. She by definition of her socal status in school her and Jake were not compatible. Even if it was all fake.

@ Kol.
It felt like her heart had just dropped into her stomach as Alix listened to Kaiden. Her eyes staring at the boy in front of her with her mouth hung open slightly. She could not believe what she had just heard. It was like someone had just ripped open a large wound in her chest. "Oh god." She breathed out quietly, her hand moving to cover her mouth as her gaze shifted down to the table as she tried to hold in her sobs. Kaiden's parents were like family to her. They were the kindest people ever. "I'm so so sorry." She said quietly after a few moments, raising her head to look at the boy in front of her. she'll have to go visit them soon.

"My parents are fine," Alix said quietly, thinking about her mom and stepdad. The two married when she was two and all Alix could really remember is them always being all cute together. "Still relationship goals as ever. Oh, mom finally learned to cook. So we're not forced to have taken out every night anymore." The memory of them always ordering pizza or having her stepdad cook while her mom asks to help and being told no running through her head.

--

"Hey, don't forget that it'll also get that Andrew kid off of your back as well," Jake said as he looked down at Ellie. Grinning a little as she didn't just outright blow his idea away and tell him that he was an idiot. Becca would have done that, so it was nice to not be told that his ideas were stupid for a change.
Sitting up straighter Jake couldn't help but arch an eyebrow as he listened to Ellie. "Rules?" He repeated, making sure that he had heard her correctly. "You want us to have rules?" He couldn't help it as a few chuckles escaped past his lips.

"Okay, what sort of rules do you have in mind Princess?" He asked, tilting his head as he moved his hands to rest on the table as he looked at Ellie, his head tilting to the side as he waited for her to go further into detail about these so-called rules that she wanted to make for them to follow. "I am going to be able to hold your hand at least, right?"

"What that's awesome! I'll have to come over and try some of this food your mom is now making," Kaiden told her happy that she'd finally learned how to cook. After all, he could explicitly remember going over to Alix's house for dinner only to have them order take out. At least that's how it was when her stepdad was out of town. If he was home well then he usually made them dinner and it was always really good. "No more takeout for you guys," he said really glad that her parents were still together and happy. At least there was still some hope left in the world.

Kaiden shrugged his shoulders, "I appreciate that a lot," he told her knowing that his parents had always meant a lot to her just like her own had always meant a lot to him. "You totally don't have to but I'm sure he'd be happy to see you again," he told her knowing how much it would mean to his dad to see the two of them talking again. Though Kaiden totally understood if she didn't want to visit his parents. They had only just started talking again, and sadly who knew where this would all end up. Hopefully, it would last and things would feel normal between them again, but Kaiden didn't want to get his hopes up too high in case it just didn't work for some reason.

---

Ellie sighed, "yes there have to be rules," she said raising an eyebrow of her own towards Jake. "We can't just fake date and not have any guidelines. Like for example, you're welcome to kiss my cheek or be affectionate and like hold my hand but no like crazy kissing sessions or anything. I know that sounds crazy considering earlier today but I really don't want to be that girl even if this is fake. And you know maybe you can just put your hand in my back pocket ya know. That's like a huge romantic staple in most 80's movies," she told him just wanting to make sure they covered the rules before entering anything unprepared for what was to come.

"Also you're welcome to call me princess if you want, I like that nickname a lot. It's actually what Bender calls Claire in The Breakfast club, mostly because that's what her social status portrays her as but still, plus they also have such a good dynamic in that movie and I just love it," she said before she realized she was rambling on about things that didn't portray to them.

She tried to think if there were any other stipulations that she was for sure she wanted them to stick with, but at the moment she was drawing a blank, but who knew maybe Jake would have some of his own now that he'd heard her own and then she could think of some more.

@ Kol.
A small laugh escaped from Alix at how impressed Kaiden was. "Don't show such high praise yet. She's only mastered making spaghetti." She told him, laughing a little bit. Her mom still burnt the meat for it every now and again, but at least it was edible. Plus, she didn't somehow burn the noodles as well anymore. Another huge plus.

"Well I mean, I can at least come over and bring those cookies that your dad likes over," Alix said quietly. Remembering that his dad was a fan of sweets and he'd be her guinea pig whenever Alix wanted to practice her baking skills. "Do you mind if I just come over and drop them over one day next week?" She asked, wanting to make sure it was alright with Kaiden.

--

Slowly, Jake's lips pursed into a thin like as he listened to Ellie. He was surprised that she had actually thought about this. His head shook a little bit in disbelief as he sat back in his spot on the table a little bit. What in the world had he gotten himself into with all of this fake dating? He didn't want to follow more rules, he just wanted to have some fun and see where it'd take them. Then again, this was fake, not real.

"I want you to attend my games and go to parties with me." Jake blurted out as she asked him if he had anything for her to follow. "Or at least a few parties, I know you're not much of a partier but I do have a status to uphold." He joked, giving her a small wink. He wasn't a crazy partier, but he did like to have a drink every once in a while.

"Hey, that's better than it used to be though! And I mean who doesn't love spaghetti?" Kaiden said with a huge smile. Sure Alix's mom still wasn't the best cook around, but she could at least finally make something which was a huge deal and Kaiden was all for that. He also would love to support his friends' mom, as he knew this had been a long journey for her. He couldn't help but hold his smile a little longer when she mentioned dropping by to give his dad some of the cookies he always liked.

Kaiden chuckled softly, and mostly to himself when she asked if it was okay for her to stop by. "I don't mind at all, really. Come over whenever. I'm sure my parents would be happy to see you anytime even if I'm not there. And especially if you have those cookies. The man is still obsessed. You know he actually askes me all the time when he's going to get more. Once he even told me that he should just come to visit you himself so he could get some without having to wait around," he said shaking his head. Being like this did make Kaiden realize just how big of an ass he'd been to her the last few years. And it made him feel just awful, but he couldn't change the past, just the future, which from here on out he planned to do a lot better.

---

Ellie nodded her head, "of course because you're Mr. Popularity and we can't have the student body view you differently because you don't go to a few parties," she said knowing it was the least she could do to on her end since it was her idea to have rules. Though she had to admit she was glad nothing had been brought up about the annual weekend-long senior trip the school went on every year. Of course, Ellie wasn't even sure how long this whole thing was going to last. After all, it wasn't real. "Oh and because I hate driving, for a multitude of reasons I'd like you to drive me and my younger sister to school every day," she added with a smile hoping he wouldn't mind, though it wasn't like they lived that far from Jake, or like it was a long drive to her sister's school from their own.

"Should we set a timeline? I know that's a weird question but I mean if this is going to be a fake relationship that we're using to make Becca jealous or whatever then we'll have fake break up at some point right? Should we know when that is or just play things by ear? I've never really done this before so I don't know how it all should work really," she told him not even really sure if what they were doing currently would be considered right. Though Ellie had also never had a boyfriend and wasn't sure how that would work either.

@ Kol.
Just listening to Kaiden brought a small smile to form on Alix's lips. It was nice to be able to just talk like this. It was like old times before everything happened and they drifted apart. "He's welcome over anytime," Alix said quietly and let out a small giggle before she took a few sips of her milkshake.

Then, hearing the bell above the door chime, the small smile that was on Alix's lips slowly fell. Standing at the door, was one of the guys that Alix always saw Kaiden hanging around. Lance Joffrey. "Oh, uh, maybe I should go," Alix said quietly, not wanting to get caught hanging with Kaiden like this.

--

Ignoring the little sarcastic reply about going to the parties, Jake shrugs his shoulders. He couldn't really argue with it. He was mister popularity and he liked being on top of the food chain. "Yeah, sure." He said, not angry about taking her sister to school. "Where does your sister go?" He asked, curious as he has to take his younger brother to school as well.

"Timeline?" Jake asked, then snorted as he listened to Ellie and shook his head a little bit. "Nah, I think just going with the flow is fine with me." He told her, offering a small smile in return. "We never know how things are going to go anyways." He told her.

Kaiden couldn't help but be happy in the current moment because this was how things should've been all along. Though all of that was brought to a pause when he also heard the bell chime above the door and in walk Lance Joffrey. "You don't have to you," he said shaking his head, "I'm sure that Lance will be in and out of here in no time. And there's no way he'll give you or me a hard time," he said biting his lip. Honestly, Lance was by far one of the harder people in his circle of friends to impress but at the same time, Kaiden had never felt the need to impress him.

"Unless you don't want him to see us hanging out, in which case you're free to leave I won't stop you," he said not wanting to sound rude but also not wanting her to feel like he was trying to trap her because he wasn't trying to do either one. Kaiden truly did want things to go back to how they use to be, or at least as much as it could and in order for that to happen they had to take things really slow.

---

Ellie nodded her head, "going with the flow it is then," she said planning to ignore the fact that they had no idea how long they were going to fake date. It wasn't a big deal or anything, though she did suppose this was kind of how real relationships worked so it did make sense. "She goes to Highland Middle School right down the street," she told him knowing there was no way it could be a big deal to take her given they had to pass the middle school every day to get to the high school.

"So is there anything else we need to talk about then?" She asked just wondering if they'd covered all their bases because if so then she supposed they could finally leave school and go about the rest of their days. Not that Ellie had anything planned, she never really had much planned honestly. Though it was Tuesday night and that meant that their dad would be working late so she and Hailey would be ordering in and watching movies together as they had ever Tuesday for a really long time now. Which Ellie really liked, she knew it wasn't normal for siblings their age difference apart to get along very well but well Ellie, Hailey, and Lauren had all always been super close and then grew closer once their mom had died and that wasn't something she ever wanted to take for granted. Even though she did feel a little weirded out thinking about talking to Lauren right now. After all, if Lauren and Josh were still talking at all and her sister knew about the letter she sent him Ellie felt like everything could crumble and that was the last thing she wanted.