She’s quiet now, and I wonder if she’s hung up the phone.
“Hello?” I say.
“I’m still here,” Ellie says. I look at the clock on the wall. It’s getting too late for Murphy’s walk.
“Why won’t you come, Flynn? Why can’t you just try?” Ellie asks and I frown. She’s mad. Why is she mad?
“I can’t go there because it makes me sick to my stomach. My head hurts and I don’t like that,” I tell her.
“Don’t you want to see me?” Ellie asks.
“Yes I want to see you. I miss you. Why can’t you come here to see me?” I ask, thinking that makes more sense.
“Because Flynn, I don’twantto go there! I left Wellston because I hate it there! I can’t go back!” she yells louder.
“Stop yelling!” I yell back. I’m starting to feel angry. I don’t like how Ellie is talking to me. But I also feel sad. I don’t like her being mad at me. It hurts.
“I’ve got to go,” Ellie says, her voice sounding funny.
“Why?” I ask.
“Because I don’t want to argue,” she says. I don’t want to argue either. I didn’t understand why we had to fight. Why couldn’t we just talk to each other?
“I don’t like this,” I say.
“I don’t either, Flynn,” Ellie says and then is quiet.
I look at the clock on the wall again but now I don’t want to take Murphy on a walk. I don’t want Ellie to get off the phone. Not when she’s upset. Not when she’s mad at me because I won’t come to see her.
I really want to see her. More than anything. But I hate driving long distances. It makes my head hurt and then I feel sick to my stomach. I get mad and then I hit stuff and yell. I don’t want to do that at Ellie’s school. I know she hates it when I do that and I don’t want her to feel bad when she sees me.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Ellie says.
“What time?” I ask her.
“I don’t know, Flynn! God, just for once, stop needing to plan everything out!” she yells again.
“I don’t want to talk to you if you’re going to yell at me!” I tell her.
“Fine, I’ll talk to you later.”
Then Ellie isn’t on the phone anymore.
“Hello?” I say but she’s gone.
I take Murphy on his walk. Then I watch Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Then I go to bed.
But I’m sad.
I miss Ellie.
But I don’t think she misses me.
Chapter Ten
-Ellie-
“God, what a freak!” Dania remarked, pointing at a guy walking with who I guessed was his mom, towards the front of the school. I didn’t recognize him so I assumed he was a new kid.
