Page 64 of Hypothetical Heart
Eloise may put on the front that she’s a hardcore, no-feelings type of girl, but if anyone knew her the way we do, they would know this is likely tearing her apart. She needs her friends right now.
I call Eloise as we walk out of the room, and she answers on the second ring. “El, where are you?”
“I’m in the bathroom on the second floor.” Her voice cracks.
“Okay, we’re on our way,” I tell her. “Stay where you are.”
We make our way through the halls, avoiding the questions people are asking, and by the time we get to the bathroom, the bell has rung.
Eloise is smart, though, and chooses to hide out in one of the bathrooms not many people use in the corner of the school.
With no care for the rules, Logan bursts through the door before Genevieve or I can.
Eloise is leaning against the counter, staring at herselfwith tears in her eyes. I turn, locking the door so no one else walks in on the scene.
“What the fuck happened?” Logan bellows.
“Logan.” Genevieve puts a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back. “Not the time.”
“No, I’m pissed,” he says. “Who would think it’s okay to post something like that?”
Eloise turns, and against all our expectations, tears are running down her face. We all fall silent.
“I—” She can’t even get the words out before Logan’s hugging her. Genevieve and I come up behind her, completely stunned.
“It’s okay,” Genevieve tells her, placing a hand on her back.
“I mean, what the fuck?” She pulls back, wiping her eyes. “That’s such an invasion of privacy. I don’t deserve that.”
“You’re right, you didn’t deserve for that to happen,” I say.
“They’re assholes,” Genevieve sneers. Logan gives her a look, and she shrugs. “There’s no other way of putting it.”
I set my backpack down, unzipping the front pocket to grab a travel pack of tissues. “Here.” I hand them to Eloise.
She nods in thanks, pulling one out to wipe her eyes. “I hate that this affects me so much.” She sniffs.
“It would affect any of us, El,” Genevieve tells her. “The only thing you can do once it happens is move forward, but sometimes you need to hit the brakes for a second.”
Genevieve is the best person for this conversation because she’s been through it. When her now boyfriend, Jameson, went back to London, Genevieve broke down just like Eloise is now. I think it’s easy for her to relate, which makes her sympathetic.
“I don’t want to go home, but I don’t want to stay here,” Eloise admits. “I can’t see my mom right now.”
“Why?” Logan asks. “This isn’t your fault, E. It’s not something you should be ashamed of.”
Eloise smooths her hands down the quilts of her skirt; the same skirt that Genevieve and I are wearing as part of our Fairwood Prep uniform.
“I know, and my mom wouldn’t react badly to it or anything. I just really can’t deal with her coddling right now. She doesn’t even know the girl. I can’t explain it to her right now.”
During this time of day, Chrissi would normally be running the diner she owns in town, but knowing her, if she heard about what was posted on Fairwood Locals, she would want to leave early to make sure Eloise was okay.
“We can go to my house,” Logan suggests. “My parents are gone, and Mae is still in school.”
We all agree on the idea, and Genevieve texts Luke and Jameson, telling them to meet us there.
“So, who exactly is this girl?” Luke asks as he takes his shoes off at the door.
Normally, he and I are the most diplomatic and composed when broaching topics like this one, but Luke is the closest with Eloise out of all of us, so at the moment, I think he’s feeling a bit betrayed.
