Page 2 of When Ellie Falls in Love

But Ellie couldn’t take her eyes off of her.

Not until Dylan playfully bumped her shoulder against Ellie’s.

“Can I get a ride home?”

“Yeah,” Ellie shook her head, forcing her gaze away from Sadie, “sure.”

Although the high school was centrally located in the small town, Ellie and Brayden had to drive home, as it was too far to walk home from the school. And because of their different after-school activities, Brayden and Ellie rarely carpooled. Ellie’s friends often took advantage of that, not that she minded. Her parents always taught her to take care of others anytime she could.

“Who are you staring at?”

“Nothing.”

“Mhmm,” Dylan rolled her eyes and walked down the last few steps of the stands. Ellie followed behind, taking one more glance in Sadie’s direction.

But this time, Sadie was staring back. She was stuffing her book into her backpack and offered Ellie a quick smile. Ellie waved at her, smiling back.

“Eleanor,” Dylan snapped her fingers to get Ellie’s attention.

“Sorry.”

“Geez, is someone naked or something?” Dylan looked in the direction where Ellie had been looking. Her eyes went wide and playful, and Ellie knew her well enough to know that she was about to say something snarky.

“Come on.”

Grabbing Dylan’s elbow, she led her out of the gym and through the door to the senior parking lot. She didn’t have to look at Dylan to know she was smirking. It happened every time Dylan caught her looking at someone.

Especially Sadie.

Because as much as Ellie would like to deny it, today wasn’t the first time she found herself looking at Sadie. There was just something about her icy blue eyes that pulled Ellie in each time their eyes met. Not that it happened often, but it happened enough to have been caught by Dylan more than once.

“Stop,” Ellie snapped as she unlocked the hand-me-down car her parents let her drive. They put their bags into the back before getting into their seats. Ellie buckled her seatbelt and started the car, determined not to look over at Dylan.

“You can ignore me all you want, but I know the truth.”

“You know nothing.”

Selecting her Taylor Swift playlist on her phone, Ellie turned up the music to not-so-subtly tell Dylan to stop talking.

Dylan did not get the hint.

“You could just ask her out.”

Ellie snorted a laugh. “Oh, I could, huh?”

“Yup. You’re a catch. Anyone would be lucky to date you. And Sadie is pretty.”

Gripping the steering wheel, Ellie left the parking lot and headed for Dylan’s house.

“Regardless, I’m not asking her out. I don’t have time to date anyone.”

“Blah, blah, blah.”

“Well, I don’t.” Ellie turned down the road that led to their houses. “We have the spring musical coming up, and then graduation, summer break, and college.”

While starting college with no idea what she wanted to major in still scared Ellie, she was determined to make the most of the next chapter in her life. Even if all her friends, including Brayden, were heading to colleges far away from the Cove while Ellie was going to attend the Moonflower Cove branch of the University of Maine. There was no need to head off to a fancy school where she would take the same classes, anyway. And this way, she could still live at home.

I need to ask them if I can move into the garage now.

---