Page 26 of Chasing Elliott
“We’re not dating, Cooper,” Elliott practically yelled, taking a threatening step towards me. “You don’t have any type of claim over me, you got it? I don’t give a shit if you’re smitten or like me or whatever. You need to pull your head out of your ass and realize that I have warned you twice now about where that would bring you. So, either quit pursuing me and we can befriends, or leave me the fuck alone.”
Before I could reply, Elliott turned on her heel and stormed off. I watched as she brushed past Kara who was trying to talk to her before she chased her into the house. I sighed, running ahand through my hair in frustration when I heard another set of footsteps approaching.
“So, that went well,” Benjamin said sarcastically, stopping a few feet away. “I know what Johnathan did, what happened, but don’t take it out on Elliott. She’s right, just because you likeher doesn’t mean you can suddenly control her life. Just, take it slow and be friends. But first, you need to fix this.”
“El, will you just wait for a minute,” Kara yelled behind me as I ran up the stairs to find an empty room. It took me a few doors before I was finally successful and burst into one of theboy’s bedrooms.
I ripped off my baseball cap and started to pace around the room with my hands on my hips. Kara came walking in a moment later and took in my distressed state before closing the door behind her. She stood there for a moment as I continued to pace before she released a sigh.
“I know,” I said before she could utter a word. “You told me so.”
“Well, I was actually going to say that you were right to get upset with him,” she told me, taking me by surprise. “But you know, I’m totally okay hearing you say those words to me again.”
I chuckled softly, closing my eyes briefly as I shook my head before my frustration came back. “I just don’t get what his problem is. I mean for fucks sake, it’s been a week. If this is what he’s like after a week, could you imagine what he’ll turn into later?”
I sat down on the bed, resting my elbows on my knees and putting my head in my hands. Kara came over not saying a word as she wrapped an arm around my shoulders. We sat there in silence for a moment, me mulling over my thoughts while she probably thought over what words she should say next.
However, before either of us could utter anything, the door flew open and my eyes shotup in surprise to see Cooper standing in the doorway. I narrowed my eyes at him and slowly sat up as Kara carefully removed her arm from around me.
“I’m going to leave you two alone,” she said softly, hesitantly standing up. “I’ll beoutside with Benji if you need me, okay?”
I nodded, watching as she walked past Cooper without a word. I quickly jumped to my feet, immediately folding my arms over my chest as I debated about whether or not it was worth hanging around to talk.
“If you didn’t want to talk,” he suddenly began to say, pushing away from the door frame. “Then why are you in my room?”
My eyes widened in surprise before I quickly took in my surroundings. Sure enough, on the nightstand was a picture of him with who was presumably his mother and a photo of him and Benjamin. On the wall hung the baseball themed school flag and one of his practice jerseys rested on his desk chair.
“This is purely coincidental,” I told him truthfully, taking a deep breath.
“Whatever you say, Elli,” he started to say, and I found my teeth grinding together involuntarily at the nickname only Kara’s father and my brother had ever called me. “I think subconsciously you knew you wanted to apologize.”
I scoffed loudly in shock, rolling my eyes and resting my hands on my hips. “Are you fucking serious right now? You want me to apologize to you.”
“I mean, yeah,” Cooper replied as if it were obvious. “You jumped to conclusions.”
“You are unbelievable,” I spat, flailing my arms at my side.
Cooper raised a brow at me in confusion, but instead of replying, I began to unbutton hisjersey before turning and tossing it on the bed, leaving me in just a white tank top and my jean shorts. Picking up my cap, I placed it back on my head before I stormed towards him, trying to get out of the room when his hand grabbed my forearm.
“Look, Ben wants me to fix this,” he told me softly and I found myself rolling my eyes once more; this boy has made me do that more than anyone else in my life and I haven’t even known him that long.
“So you just do everything your best friend tells you to do with no consideration of what you actually want?” I pondered, my eyes narrowing slightly as his hand stayed on my forearm.
Cooper took a moment and scanned my face, looking for what I wasn’t exactly sure. “Just because he told me to doesn’t mean it wasn’t what I wanted. Sometimes I just need anudge.”
“You just need a nudge,” I repeated, angling my chin upwards. “Okay, well here’s another one for you. Stop trying to get me to change my mind and just accept the fact that we’rejust friends.”
“And what if I can’t?”
I suddenly felt a lump form in my throat as his expression grew more intense. “Why areyou so insistent on chasing someone who wants something completely different than you do?There are so many girls out there who would be jumping at the opportunity to be your girlfriend.”
“Yeah, there are,” he responded simply before he removed his hand from my forearm and brushed some of my loose hair back behind my shoulder. “But they’re not you.”
“Cooper,” I whispered, closing my eyes for a brief moment as I shook my head. “I’m notworth all of this, okay? You’ll only get hurt because of me.”
Cooper’s hand slowly moved down my neck before he slowly trailed a finger across my collar bone and around my shoulder before sliding down my arm. “Why can’t you see how perfect and amazing you are?”
“Please, don’t,” I mumbled, shaking my head and looking down at the floor. Cooper’s finger cupped my chin, forcing my eyes back up to his.
