Chapter 3 ELI'S CRUSH.

It was Thursday; students were closer to their final examinations already. Lucy and Monti had been reading in the school library, but it seemed it hadn't been easier for them both. Monti realized her friend had been misbehaving ever since she came back from Eli's party, while Lucy had been thinking about her fate with Eli.

Sitting beside her friend, she thought of all the possibilities that could make her friend react negatively. Then she remembered the first day they talked about Eli.

'Lucy, I want to tell you something,' she said to her friend as she played with the pink bear her friend gifted her.

'I met Eli yesterday, and he invited me to his birthday party this week on Wednesday.'

'Wow, that sounds great, but it's the week we are starting our examinations, remember?'

'Yes, I know. I will still go regardless.'

'He is a big guy, you know; everyone likes him,' Lucy stated.

'I am not interested in him; I am just interested in what the party looks like. I haven't attended any party ever since I was born except the day I was born.'She laughed.

That's ridiculous! You didn't tell me, and we have been friends for two years! Lydia said.

"That isn't my fault. I just don't like party things; it reminds me of my mom's."

"Ohhh, no wonder you are a book addict, trying so hard to be the exact opposite of your mother's life, huh?"

"Yeah."

"So what about Eli?"

"I don't know; you asked me earlier. I am not interested in him."

"He is handsome, don't you think so?"

"Very well," Monti replied.

"Well, I will follow you to the party and see what happens."

"Thanks, Lucy. That's why you are always my friend," she said.

Monti snapped back and realized that it could be possible Lucy liked Eli, but she didn't understand because it wasn't clear to her the first time they both talked about him until the day of the party.

They had both dressed well for the party. It was a short party on a Wednesday, so they had to leave as soon as the party was over because of their exams.

Monti didn't expect there to be that many people when they got to Eli's.

She saw Clara, the seventh-grade student she caught with a guy in the same grade as Eli's. Clara shyly turned her face away while running quirkily with her thin legs.

Monti's gaze met Eli; he was very handsome. What she didn't like was his tiny voice. He was too handsome to have a birdy voice.

Lucy quickly rushed towards him, abandoning her friend. Monti became embarrassed.

"Hi," Lydia said.

"Hi Lucy, hello Monti," Eli greeted.

"How are you guys doing?" He asked.

"We are doing fine, thank you," Lydia replied.

"I didn't know you guys would come; I mean, I didn't expect Monti. I knew she invited you though,' He paused looking agitated.

How did you get the address to my place, Monti?" He asked.

"Well, I saw your post on Facebook. You have many likes on your post, Eli; how did you do that?"she proposed.

"Maybe I just did it."

"Don't tell me that; you just did what? You could be a magician, you know," she said laughing to his reply.

"I would love to offer you guys a drink.

Would you like one too, Lucy?" he asked.

"I prefer Pepsi," Lucy replied.

He admiring her dress and shoes. He seemed to love her even in her robust figure, yet it embarrassed Monti once more. Lucy seemed confused.

'Did you see that, Lydia? He stared at me. That's so harsh,' she said.

It irritated her; she knew she was fat; it wasn't very appealing for someone to look at her that way.

'He looked at me like I have a juicy burger in my hand and was ready to eat it until he was done,' she said.

Lucy stared at Monti; she wanted to know what exactly she was staring at in Monti's body. Her dress was beautiful, but it didn't bring out any shape except that she was a little bit busty. She wore a free-flowing sleeveless gown.

Eli came back with two glasses in his hands. Monti realized that she didn't ask what he wanted and was curious to know what he had brought for her.

Monti's gaze met Lydia's; she was surprised to see her there. Lydia looked away as if nothing happened; she was talking with a guy. Monti looked keenly at his back; he was that same guy ,her classmate . She didn't even know his name .

'What's that guy's name?' she asked Lucy.

'you dont know his name ,Monti? .Lucy replied.

'Yes, Lucy. I can't know all of their names, you know,' she insinuated.

'Who is that guy with Lydia, and what is his name, Lucy?'

'Andrew,' Eli replied, his voice breaking, feeling envious.

'What happened to your voice just now? Are you okay?' she asked.

'Yeah, sure,' he answered.

'Excuse me, then,' Monti said as she walked towards the guy in the black hoodie and white shorts. It looked somewhat ridiculous to her; it could have been a white hoodie with black shorts. Lucy stared in surprise as she saw her friend walk off, leaving her with Eli. She thought she might have deliberately done that. She moved closer to Eli, apparently to start a discussion, but it didn't work out as she had proposed. Eli looked slightly jealous, staring at Monti, who was walking towards Andrew's side.

Lucy's eyes were filled with tears, but she couldn't cry because shemight embarrass herself. She didn't just understand why she liked him .yet, she is always restless whenever she is with Eli and it all started few months ago .

That was the first time Eli joined the school; he was in the tenth grade then. He joined the art class. Lucy had been struggling with drawing a mermaid. She didn't perfectly get the tails, and her friend seemed too concentrated on her drawings.

Eli had studied her from the back and knew what was wrong. He walked towards her and asked if he could help her.

'You are really struggling with the tails,' he said. 'Bring me a pencil; I'll draw it for you. Afterwards, you can clean it up and trace it on your own. Is that okay?'

'Absolutely, thanks!'

Lucy watched him draw the tail so beautifully; he chose a golden color, which was her favorite color. She thought he must have liked her to have helped her draw. It didn't end there. One day, Eli bumped into her; he fell down hard and wounded his wrist.

She remembered that she treated the wound. That particular incident grew her affection for him. She never knew it was all a mere coincidence, maybe a misunderstanding.

Eli noticed Lydia left Monti's side looking agitated ,he didn't understand the meaning of the fear in her eyes .

He noticed her joining her friends ; Rachel and Mia ,he also walked towards them.