My boyfriend’s sitting right next to me.

Oh wait, did I say boyfriend? I meant friend.

Friend.

Friend.

“What’s wrong with you?” Eli asks, snapping his fingers in front of my face.

“Nothing.” I reply, refocusing. Eli shakes his head.

"Oops, I forgot; there’s always something wrong with you.” he tells me, sighing. I kick him in the shin.

“THERE IS NOT!,” I screech. Everyone else seated in the restaurant stares at us. I duck down my head under the table, my cheeks turning red.

“Sheesh, calm down,” Eli whispers. I narrow my eyes at him.

It’s been a month since Eli and Kevin have come back from South Korea. Tanya and Kevin are acting all lovey dovey and all, going on romantic walks in the moonlight and practically living together. Even though I’m happy for them, it’s a little annoying when the guy you’ve liked since high school hasn’t given the slightest indication that he returns your feelings.

In fact, the only thing he does is make fun of you.

When I first saw Eli at the airport last month, I will admit- my heart stopped. I literally felt like I was bouncing up and down on a trampoline. It was the first time I had seen him in years.

I thought things between us would change; I thought he would tease me less. 

Unfortunately, I was dead wrong. When we were driving back home from the airport, Eli immediately started cracking jokes about the fact that I have a TV show about fashion and beauty. "You? Fashion and beauty?" he snorted between cackles.

Needless to say, I punched him in the face. 

“So where are Tanya and Kevin anyway?” Eli wonders, interrupting my thoughts. 

"I don’t know. They were supposed to be here half an hour ago.” I dig into my bright pink handbag and pull out my iPhone. No new text messages or calls. 

“Are they trying to set us up again?” Eli groans exasperatedly, shaking his head. I shrug.

Inside, I feel slightly giddy. Tanya, if you did set us up, thanks. It's better to ask Eli when we're alone, as opposed to being in front of other people.

That way if he rejects me, no one I know will witness my slow, painful death.

I take a deep breath. “Hey, Eli, I was invited to this formal party thing, and I was wondering if you wanted to come with me…?”

I cross my fingers under the table. Please say yes, please say yes-

“When is it?” Eli asks.

“Tomorrow,” I reply.

Eli thinks about it for a little bit, and then says, “Sure. I’ll pick you up at 7. If you’re late getting ready, I’m leaving without you.”

“I’m never late!” I scoff.

Eli rolls his eyes. “Sure you aren’t, Chels-Chels.”

I huff. “Stop calling me Chels-Chels! Where did you even get that name from?”

Eli doesn’t reply. Instead, he smirks.

Sometimes I don’t understand this guy.  

A/N: So how was it? Please tell me what you think! :)