Chapter 26

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Eli

No matter how much I don't want to be here—again—I'm here, at Ben's house, just like I was last night after our football game. Hanging out at Ben's barn is just what we've always done. I've never minded it until now.

All I want to do is go hang out with Liza, and knowing I can't is fucking torture. Being here is just a notch better than being alone, so here I am, putting the truck in park, right next to Ashley's car, who just arrived as well.

Sundays are normally just for Dalton, Maya, Ben, and me, but Marcus, our team running back, has joined our crew lately as well. Seeing that he's here with Ashley means he finally got off his scared ass and made a move.

Proud of my guy.

We all exit our vehicles, and I walk straight up to Marcus, holding my hand up to him. "What's up?"

We slap hands, and then I nod my hello to Ashley as well, not asking about her being here. If I know anything about Ben or Dalton, they will absolutely give him shit when we enter, so I'll let him think he's being sly for a few more minutes.

We walk into the barn to see Ben and Maya cuddled up on one couch, watching a football game, while Dalton is lying on the other.

"Well, Ashley, good to see you," Dalton says way louder than he should have, just like I expected. They didn't make it two steps in the door without being called out.

She turns bright red, and Marcus closes his eyes with a chuckle as he slaps Dalton's hand hello.

"Way to be subtle, bro."

Ben and Dalton laugh.

"You know we have to give you shit. Your flirting ass was taking way too long," Ben says.

"Yeah, well"—Marcus grabs her and brings her closer with a quick kiss—"she'll be hanging out with us more often now."

"Yay! More girls." Maya slides her legs up under her from where she's lying with Ben on the couch. "Take a seat."

Ashley and Marcus sit on the end of the couch as I take my normal spot on the chair beside them, instantly taking out my phone to see if Liza texted me.

"And you, Eli? How's that phone?" Dalton asks.

I sigh and put it away. "Sup."

Ben and Dalton eye each other, putting me on edge. They know something's up, which means I've made it pretty freaking obvious by being on my phone too much so I make a mental note to chill with it while I'm here.

After a while, Dalton grabs the guitar sitting in the corner of the room, which he does often when we're all hanging out like this.

"Are you working on anything new?" Maya asks.

"Yeah, there's a few that I've been playing around with, but one is really sticking with me right now that I heard on the way here, and I want to learn it." He grabs his phone to play it for us. "Have you heard the song ‘Pretty Little Poison' by Warren Zeiders?"

"Fuck yeah," Ben says. "That song's fire. Kiss on her lips just like cyanide ." He sings out the lyrics, making even Maya raise her eyes at him since we've never really heard him sing out loud like that.

Dalton strums along with the song, trying to figure out the chords, which I know he'll have down by the end of the day. It's a sad song about wanting someone who doesn't want you back and knowing you'll just get hurt in the end.

I don't relate because zero part of me feels that way about Liza. We're meant to be. Every aspect of our being together screams so, and I know we will be together after all of this high school bullshit is over.

I'm familiar with the song Dalton mentioned, but there's another Warren Zeiders song I like better, and if I can't wrap my arms around Liza the way I want to, I'll show her how I feel with this song.

Even though I told myself I'd stay off my phone while I was here, I pull up the song and send it to her, singing in my head the lyrics I'm addicted to you, you're addicted to me as I do so.

I hit Send and quickly put my phone back away so I don't get lost in talking to her while I'm here.

Liza

My phone dings with a text message from Eli. There are no words, just a link to a YouTube video for a song called "Sin So Sweet" by Warren Zeiders. I click on it and lie back on my bed, where I was going through some papers to prepare for tomorrow's lesson.

The song has a rock-country vibe as it starts off, but when I hear the lyrics say, If holding you's wrong, don't call me right , I know exactly why he sent this to me.

That's the problem I'm struggling with the most. If being together feels so right, how could it be so wrong? The pain inside me screams that being apart is wrong, but there's no way to make it right.

Tears fill my eyes at the thought of what we would be doing right now if we could be together. I can just imagine him sitting beside me, watching a football game, being lazy for the afternoon, and not caring one bit as long as we're together.

Then, I remember that he's at Ben's house with Dalton, another student of mine in his same class. Who knows what other students are there with him? The thought turns my stomach, and I put down my phone.

What am I doing?

Eli

Liza barely spoke to me last night once I got home. Here I thought, I was being romantic, sending her that song, but I feel like it backfired on me. I just don't know why. I looked in her classroom this morning, and she wasn't there, so I head to our couches, not paying attention to anyone around me, and type out a message to her.

Good morning, beautiful.

I'm startled when I feel someone kick my leg.

"Who are you always texting? Every time I see you, you're off in your own world—more than usual, I mean," Dalton asks.

Maya perks up from his comment and faces me. "You know, he's right. I do see you texting on that a lot. And since we're all here, we know you aren't texting one of us. So, who are you texting?"

I raise my eyebrows as my only response, not having a clue of what else to say.

"Well?" Dalton asks again.

I hit Send on the message, then place the phone in my pocket. "Don't worry about it."

Ben walks up right then, slapping my shoulder. "Yeah, he's got new pussy. God forbid we know who though."

He picks up Maya, sits down, and places her on his lap.

She slaps his chest. "Don't be so crude."

He shrugs. "Just stating facts. It's Eli. You know that's all it will be."

Maya looks at me with a sad expression. If she only knew just how sad this entire situation really was …

It's not until I walk into her classroom that I get to see her for the first time since Friday. I don't waste another moment when I pick up my phone and text her again.

Are we good?

I put my phone away in my bag, knowing she's not going to respond during class anyway.

As I exit the classroom once the bell rings, I make sure to lock eyes with her, only to wish I hadn't. The pain is written all over her face, and not being able to hold her is killing me.

I'm racking my brain to figure out a way to talk to her when my phone dings with a message from her.

We're good. Just sucks some days more than others.

Sometimes, I wonder if it would be easier if I didn't get to see her every day. Having her so close yet seemingly in a completely different world is absolute torture. We need to figure out a way to see each other, or we'll both go insane.

I respond before I get to the couches so my friends don't give me more shit than they already have.

We'll figure something out to get to see each other, I promise.

When she doesn't respond right away, I head to the couches, plop down, and vaguely register Dalton talking about having to do a school project with Natalie Spencer, his archnemesis.

Have I really been in my own world that much that I've missed something as big as that? Wait, is that why I had to step in between Dalton and Natalie's brother to stop them from getting in a fight after practice the other day?