Chapter 15

     We were sitting in the restaurant, a casual and homey place that was pretty popular. It was called ‘The Crown Cookery,’ run by a woman named Carol and her husband Rob. Dad knew them, as he knew practically everyone around this town.

    “Why are you looking at me so weird?” Ellie asked bluntly in amusement as we sat in a booth to the side.

    “I’m not,” I defended swiftly. She squinted her eyes at me and began to laugh at me, rolling her eyes after. “What?” I asked, cheeks warming.

    “You’re looking at me weird!” She demanded.

    “No, I’m not, I’m-”

    “You are,”

    “I’m-“

    “Hello, ladies, what can I get y’all started with today?” The waitresses voice cut in, ceasing Ellie and I’s bickering.

    “Oh, I’ll take a water,” Ellie said casually.

    “Strawberry lemonade,” I said happily. The woman smiled and nodded, writing down onto her notepad with a nod.

    “Alright, any appetizers?” She asked politely, looking between the both of us. Ellie looked over at me intently.

    “Want anything?” Ellie questioned. I glanced between the waitress and her before shaking my head, sensing that Ellie didnt want one. She gave me a deadpan look before turning to the waitress. “Onion rings.” Ellie told the woman. My favorite. I smirked to myself, subtly biting my lip to hide it.

    The waitress gave a nod, quickly turning to leave, heading to the little set up for orders. I glanced back to Ellie, both of us giving eachother looks.

    “Basketball season?” I questioned regarding the fact that Ellie had ordered a water.

    “No,” she said pointedly with a roll of her eyes. “I’m just trying to stop drink soda…and I’m working out for basketball.” She murmured. I gave an amused roll of my eyes, lips turning up in a soft smirk.

    “Of course,” I said playfully. “Always basketball.” I joked

    “I have other hobbies too,” She defended.

    “Sure,” I said sarcastically. I looked over as the waitress returned with our drinks and the appetizer, setting them down with a kind smile. I looked to the onion rings, almost immediately reaching for the ketchup.

    “Are we ready to order?” She asked politely, reaching for the notepad in her apron. Ellie and I each nodded, folding up the menus and resting them on the end of the table.

    “Yeah, I’ll have the cheeseburger with everything on it with a side of fries…and that’s it,” Ellie nodded.

    “Alrightt…and for you?” The woman asked, scribbling down the orders and turning to me.

    “I just want the chicken noodle soup, with everything.” I said softly, adjusting in my seat. Ellie gave me an incredulous look.

    “You can’t just have soup,” she scoffed.

    “Why not?” I asked with furrowed brows.

    “Thats not filling, Evie,” she said in amusement.

    “But I have onion rings,” I said innocently, gesturing to the basket in front of us.

    “Order something else.” She concluded simply. I rolled my eyes to myself but turned to the waitress with a smile.

    “And a salad, please,” I told her. Ellie gave me another look, but I simply avoided her eyes with a cheeky smile, watching as the waitress headed away.

    “You’re so ridiculous,” Ellie muttered as I turned to her. All I did was giggle, shrugging as I grabbed one of the little plates, putting some ketchup in a simple dollop and grabbing an onion ring.

    “I have onion rings,” I repeated as she gave me a mock glare, shaking her head in faux disappointment. Ellie rolled her eyes at me, reaching for her phone that sat face down on the table. She opened it when suddenly her eyes widened and she covered her mouth, her water spurting from the sides of her hands. I froze mid bite, looking at her with wide eyes.

    “What fthe heck?” I mumbled, voice muffled as I covered my mouth, too. Ellie blinked at me for a moment before she began to laugh, wiping her lips.

    “Were you on my phone…?” She asked in between slight laughs. At her question, my eyes widened, color slowly rising to my cheeks.

    “No…?” I lied, immediately feeling guilty for doing so.

    “You’re sure?” She asked, raising a brow of amusement. I nodded quickly, swallowing the bite in my mouth.

    “I wasn’t on it,” I insisted, shaking my head again. Ellie gave me a smirk, nodding her head slowly.

    “Alright…” She finally said, biting her lip.

    “Here’s the food for you, girls,” The waitress announced when she arrived at the table. She sat down each plate, my soup and salad and Ellie’s burger and fries. Ellie reached for a handful of napkins, drying off her hand of which she had soaked with water. I composed myself, sitting up in my seat and giving thanks as we got settled with the food. Ellie and I of course still teased and cracked jokes, but there was still a tension, and I felt my cheeks, hot and pink practically the entire time.

    After a while, I slumped back in my seat, sighing softly.

    “I’m full,” I complained, reaching forward and taking a drink of my strawberry lemonade.

    “Maybe stop stealing my fries then, Evie,” She joked with a roll of her eyes.

    “No one’s too full for fries,” I murmured as I reached over and snatched another off her plate.

    “You’re going to have an absolute field day when you move out of your parents house,” Ellie murmured with a shake of her head.

    “Why?” I asked innocetly, shoving the fry into my mouth. “I’m full,” I shrugged.

    “Because, you’ve added three sugar packets to a pink lemonade. That is are already sweet, Evie,” she said.

    “Not sweet enough for me,” I shrugged.

    “And also added salt onto fries, soup, and a tomato?” She listed.

    “Not salty enough,” I said simply.

    “How do you eat so healthy and yet…not?” Ellie whispered to herself. “And how are you even full…you ate half a soup and even less of a salad,” She murmured, shaking her head and just sighing.