“Okay. So. Anthony, you stay on this side of the apartment, and Ellie and I will stay on this side,” Julius started, drawing an imaginary line across the living room of Anthony’s apartment, dividing it into two sections.

            Anthony stared at him, not the slightest bit amused. “How do you expect to use the bathroom if it’s on my side?”

            “The sink,” Julius deadpanned.

            “Julius, you’re crazy,” I sighed, stepping over his nonexistent boundary. “I’m not using the sink as a toilet.”

            He grumbled at me. “No stepping over the line…”

            “It’s fine,” Anthony assured him, slinging an arm over my shoulder. “We’re all adults here, aren’t we?”

            “But Ellie—”

            “Is an adult too,” I said sharply. My stomach was twisting on the inside. With Julius here, it would be impossible to keep my secret. I had to tell Anthony as soon as possible…

            Anthony chuckled, deliberating ignoring Julius’s pointed gaze at his arm around me. “If you feel so strongly about it though, you’re more than welcome to stay on your side. Ellie and I will enjoy ourselves on my side.”

            Julius crossed his arms. “I don’t think so. How can I trust her around you when you lied to her face and kept her trapped in that Walmart?”

            “Julius, buddy, you gotta let that go…”

            “No!”

            “You’re acting more like the lover of a cheater than the best friend of the brother,” Anthony said casually, examining the ends of his fingernails. “Kind of suspicious if you asked me…”

            Julius scowled at him. “Anthony. Should we have another talk?”

            “Should we?” Anthony challenged him. “Your last one didn’t seem to do much, did it?”

            “I think we do need to have another chat,” he decided. “If you’d excuse us, Ellie…”

            As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. Embarrassed, I covered it, offering a sheepish grin to my neighbor. “Er…”

            His hard expression dropped. “You’re hungry? Did you guys eat well while you were stuck? Did you eat any of the hospital food? It always makes me sick. Are you feeling well?”

            “Julius, I’m fine,” I told him, smiling. “Stop worrying so much.”

            “Easy for you to say. I’ve been worried sick these past few days, not knowing if you were okay or not.”

            Anthony gave him a wary look. “Don’t worry, the feeling’s mutual. She actually almost cried—”

            “Anthony!” I cried, my eyes widening. “S-shut up!”

            “Ellie!” Julius sang, throwing himself at me. “Don’t worry! I’m okay! See? I’m alive and smiling!”

            Struggling to shove him off me, I pushed on his shoulders with all my strength. “I get it! I see! Now get offa me!”

            With some extra help from Anthony, we both managed to push Julius away with me. He was wiping away fake tears, sniffling dramatically. “You know what your brother said to me when I called him?”

            “No, what?”

            “‘Oh, so you didn’t die’. He’s so cold!”

            I grinned. Mason would definitely say that.

            Anthony cleared his throat. “Look, as we can see, we’re all safe. But Ellie is hungry, so if you two don’t mind, I’ll just run to the convenience store I saw was open down the street. But I bet you won’t mind.”

            “We won’t,” Julius responded smugly.

            I pressed my lips into a line. He was definitely doing that on purpose. That was another thing about Julius— he loved to grin people’s gears. Apparently Anthony was no exception. “I’ll come with you,” I offered, hoping to be alone with Anthony for a moment.

            “Stay here, it’s dangerous outside,” Anthony ordered, brushing my offer off. “I’ll get us some sandwiches or something. Don’t eat anything in my fridge. The power went out so everything is probably spoiled.”

            My face fell a tiny bit, but I tried not to show it. Was Julius annoying Anthony? If he was already annoyed, I didn’t want to tell him my secret. What if he had a worse reaction than normal? Hopefully the walk would cool him off…

            As soon as Anthony was out of the apartment, I turned on Julius. “Julius—”

            “You’re not going to call me Juju?” he inquired, a grin crossing his face.

            “I haven’t called you that since I was like, seven!”

            “Try ten, and you do sometimes call me it when you’re irritated with me, remember? That’s why I figured you’d say it now.”

            Folding my arms over my chest, I frowned at the blonde. “Are you trying to make Anthony angry?”

            “Me? No!” he denied, gasping exaggeratedly.

            “You are!”

            “What of it?”

            “Stop it!”

            “Then stop lying to him.”

            My next words caught in my throat. Julius narrowed his eyes at me, taking a few menacing steps forward. I stumbled backward, intimidated by his physique and gaze. “How did you know?”

            “Well you cutting me off didn’t help you in any way…”

            “Please don’t tell him,” I begged at once. “I’m going to tell him tonight! I promise!”

            He gave me a disapproving look. “What did you tell him exactly?”

            “That I was in your grade…”

            “At what school?”

            “Umass,” I continued in a small voice.

            Julius sighed. “Ellie, you’re an idiot.”

            “Hey—”

            “But so is he.”

            “He’s going to be angry, I know it,” I mumbled. “I’m afraid to tell him.”

            “He doesn’t like to be lied to,” Julius told me, his brown eyes darkening. “He’ll definitely be angry.”

            I gaped at him. “You’re supposed to reassure me, Julius!”

            “How can I? I’m just being honest.”

            “Then lie!”

            He laughed. “I wouldn’t lie to you, Ellie. Lying is bad.”

            My stomach flip-flopped. “I know… Oh!” With a sudden shock of realization, I realized there was still an unanswered question having to deal with the man in front of me. “Anthony mentioned something about you telling him he’s a bad influence on me. Since you don’t like, mind telling me what that was about?”

            “The truth,” he replied honestly, straightening out his back. “It’s a bad idea to hang around him—”

            “I doubt that,” I cut him off, frowning. “Anthony is a straight A student and is really nice.”

            “To your face.”

            “Julius.”

            “You’re cute face,” he added, pinching my cheeks. “Don’t worry about it. As long as you two don’t date, I don’t really mind.”

            My cheeks tinged. “But…”

            He groaned. “Ellie, I know you like him but—”

            “But what?” I demanded. “Once he knows how old I am, it doesn’t matter, right? Stop being a bother, Julius.”

            “I’m just looking out for you. He’s two years older than you, Ellie.”

            “Yeah and when I was a freshman and you were a junior, you’re girlfriend was in her first year of college! That’s almost three years older!”

            “That’s different.”

            “It’s not!”

            Julius narrowed his eyes at me. “It’s different when it’s the guy who’s the older one. If I wasn’t here, what do you think Anthony would try?”

            “Nothing because he hasn’t the past two nights in Walmart. In fact, he comforted me when I was scared and held my hand.”

            “Baby.”

            “Julius!” I said angrily. “Stop talking! You’re making me irritated!”

            “Same can be said for me.”

            “Then butt out.”

            “Listen, El, I’m just watching out for you.”

            I softened my gaze. “I’m eighteen now. I don’t know why you think Anthony is a bad influence in me, but I think he’s a good person, so I’m going to trust him.”

            His lips curved down into a deep frown. “But, El—”

            “No buts.”

            “Fine, then when you regret it later I don’t want to hear about it.”

            I rolled my eyes. “You won’t scare me off.”

            “What if I said he was a play boy?”

            “I’d make him change his ways.”

            “What if I said he was violent?”

            “I’d make him gentler.”

            “What if he is actually really dumb and lies about getting straight As?”

            “I’d tutor him,” I responded defiantly. “I like Anthony, Julius. A lot. You know I’ve had a crush on him for the past two months too.”

            Julius placed his hands on his hips. “I was hoping it was just a brief infatuation.”

            “You sound like my brother,” I sighed. “He said the same thing when I had a crush on you back in freshman year.”

            His ears perked up. “What? What? You had a crush on me?”

            “Who wouldn’t? You’re… Well, you know,” I muttered, dropping my gaze. It was kind of embarrassing to admit you liked someone in the past. Especially when that someone was Julius. “Sporty, older, good-looking. Of course I’d like you.”

            “Aren’t I still sporty, older, and good-looking?”

            “Yeah, but you’re also more like my brother than a normal friend,” I pointed out. “Which I didn’t mind, until now. I’m sure Mason wouldn’t care if I started dating Anthony, Julius.”

            Julius shrugged. “It’s not that I care…”

            “Good. Then that settles it. When Anthony gets back, I’m going to tell him my age. You stay in here.”

            “Where are you two going?”

            “Outside,” I responded, narrowing my eyes at him. “So we don’t have any unwanted interruptions.”

            He batted his eyelashes at me innocently. “I would never!”

            “You definitely would.”

            “I just don’t like the idea of you two dating,” he repeated for the hundredth time. “It’s just…”

            I poked him in the side. “Are you afraid I might not hang around you as much? I won’t ignore you, Juju.”

            He smirked a little bit and ruffled my hair. “That’s good to know. But actually, that’s not the reason why I don’t like the idea.”

            “What is?”

            As he opened his mouth to respond, the sound of the door unlatching met my ears. Suddenly, he pulled me to his chest, hugging me tightly. “It’s because I’m in love with you, Ellie.”

            Embarrassed, I tried to push him away. “Julius, cut it out. Let me go!”

            “Only if you take my feelings seriously.”

            “I’ll take your feelings seriously when you’re not lying,” I told him, my voice muffled by his chest.

            Someone, I assumed Anthony, cleared his throat. After another brief moment, Julius let me go, his mouth pressed into a straight line. “The devil’s back.”

            “With food,” Anthony told him, pressing a plastic bag into the blonde’s hands. “Here. If I were you I’d be a little more grateful.”

            “I love you Anthony!” Julius cried loudly, grabbing the smaller boy and squeezing him so hard I thought his back would break.

            While Anthony groaned in pain, Julius started laughing like a madman. I rubbed my head, feeling a headache coming on. Why couldn’t Julius be normal? He had to be the craziest person I knew.

            “Ellie, you should eat,” Anthony gasped, his gaze meeting mine over Julius’s back. “Is chicken salad okay?”

            “Err, can I talk to you before we eat?”

            He stared at me. “Aren’t we talking?”

            “Alone,” I emphasized. “You hear that Julius? Alone.”

            “Fine, fine,” he sighed, releasing Anthony. “You guys go have your talk, or whatever. I’ll stay in here… by myself. Alone. With the chance of a looter breaking in and trying to steal Anthony’s stuff and maybe even try to rape me…”

            Anthony snorted. “No one would try to rape you, Julius.”

            “You never know.”

            “I know.”

            “Then again, if they were to choose between you and me, the rapist would choose you because you’re more girly looking…”

            Scowling, Anthony grabbed my hand and began tugging me out of the apartment. “Let’s go Ellie.”

            “Are you sure you two are best friend?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow. “It seems to me you just argue.”

            He glanced back at me. “Huh? Oh no. This is normal.”

            “That’s definitely not normal.”

            Chuckling, he let go of my hand. I was tempted to snatch his back up. “Julius and I are always joking around.”

            “Guess so,” I responded, stuffing my hands into my pant pockets.

            Anthony led me down the stairs and to the front of the apartment building, holding the door open for me. I stepped outside into the chilly night air, surprised by the sudden temperature drop. Judging by the clouds above, it was going to rain as well. All around was wreckage— broken down trees and branches, knocked over trash cans, dirt corroded from lawns… a little bit of everything.

            “You wanted to talk to me about something?”

            I jumped a little bit, forgetting Anthony was there. “Oh, yeah, sorry.”

            “No problem,” he replied with a grin. “So what do you want to tell me? To make sure Julius doesn’t touch you inappropriately while you sleep?”

            “Wha— no! No!” I said quickly, shaking my head. “He wouldn’t do that. Erg. I don’t even want to think about that…”

            He laughed. “Neither do I. If not that though, why do you want to talk to me?”

            “Um, I have something to tell you,” I started slowly, feeling my heartbeat rising in my chest. Nausea was beginning to make and effect on my body. It couldn’t be too hard to just tell him I was eighteen.

            His playful expression dropped, replaced by a serious one. “What is it?”

            “Um, I… Well, actually… Um…” I continued hesitation, dropping my gaze to the floor. I couldn’t say it! There was no way! It wasn’t going to come out of my mouth! What if Anthony hated me? I had to stay with him here for who knows how long! It would be completely awkward if I told him now!

            “Ellie,” he said urging. “Tell me.”

            “I can’t,” I confessed, my throat constricting. “I’m afraid to tell you.”

            Tsking, he used his right finger and thumb to lift my face up so I was staring into his green eyes. “You can tell me anything.”

            “I…”

            “Go on,” he pressed.

            I swallowed nervously. Just say it, I told myself. “Anthony I lied to you about something.”

            “About what?”

            “Something… big.”

            “What is it?”

            Taking a deep breath, I opened my mouth and tried to speak, but my words got stuck. Surprised, my mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. Anthony cocked and eyebrow and I blushed. “Um…”

            “Tell me, Ellie,” he ordered, tightening his grip on my face. “If you lied to me, I want to know what it’s about. If you don’t tell me, I’ll just assume you lied to me about not liking Julius as more than a friend…”

            “When we first met I was afraid you’d think I was some stupid highschooler so I lied and said I was in college when I’m really just an eighteen year old senior still in high school but I didn’t want to tell you that because I thought you might’ve thought that I was annoying because I was so much younger and I was afraid you wouldn’t want to be friends, so I didn’t tell you,” I blurted out in one long rush. If my English teachers read that sentence, they probably would’ve sent me back to middle school.

            Anthony’s face blanked. “You’re… What?”

            “I’m only eighteen,” I confessed almost inaudibly.

            “You’re only eighteen…?”

            “Yes,” I responded, suddenly feeling desperate. “But what is two years? It’s hardly worth considering!”

            Anthony shook his head. “I can’t believe you Ellie. After all we’ve been through? You lied to my face this entire time?”

            “But—”

            “You’re right. I don’t like high school girls. And this is exactly the reason why,” he said to me, narrowing his eyes. “I trusted you, Ellie.”

            “Anthony—”

            Shaking his head, he turned his back to me, walking back inside of the apartment. I stared after him for a moment, my mouth hanging. That was not how I expected this to go. He wasn’t supposed to get angry! It was only a two year difference! It couldn’t matter that much!

            I swallowed forcefully, blinking back the wetness at my eyes. I wasn’t going to cry over this… Maybe he’d blow off some steam. Maybe I could explain to him more. I wasn’t going to just leave it like this! Bursting through the door, I called out to him. “Anthony— oof!”

            “Careful Ellie,” Anthony warned, holding me up until I regained my balance. “Don’t rush through doors like that—”

            “Anthony, I’m sorry,” I apologized, grabbing the front of his jacket. “I really didn’t mean to lie! But I just wanted to be your friend and I really thought the age thing would turn you off! I’m sorry!” My eyes were starting to water again, but I still retained my tears. I didn’t want Anthony to accept my apology out of pity.

            After a few moments of silence and a heavy sigh from Anthony, his face suddenly broke out into a grin. “I can’t believe you’re going to cry over this.”

            I blinked at him. “What?”

            Laughing, he pulled my head under his arm and gave me a noogie. “That’s what you get for lying to me!”

            “Hey! Stop it!” I called, trying to get him to release me. “Stop! I thought you were angry!”

            “Ellie, you must be stupid. Julius and I are best friends,” he told me, allowing me to liberate myself from his arm. “Remember when I told you we talked about you?”

            Confused, I nodded. “Yeah…?”

            “Don’t you think he would’ve mentioned your age?”

            “Oh,” I responded dumbly. That was right. What was I thinking. Suddenly I gasped, staring at him accusingly. “You knew!”

            He nodded, smirking. “I did know.”

            “Then why did you give me a heart attack by pretending to get mad!”

            “To teach you a lesion,” he informed me, sticking out his tongue. “Lying is no good Ellie. And you’re bad at it. There’s no way you and your brother could only be months apart. You’d have to at least be a year or so.”

            I glowered at him. “You’re a jerk!”

            “What?”

            “Jerk!” I said, hitting him on the chest with my fist. “Big, fat, stupid, idiotic, jerk! Go die!”

            As I turned to walk away from him, he grabbed my wrist. “Ellie, wait. Why are you angry?”

            “I really thought you were angry!” I snapped at him, my cheeks burning in embarrassment and my eyes watery again. “Anthony, I was scared you’d hate me for lying to you.”

            His expression softened. “I’m sorry, Ellie. I just wanted to joke around with you. I’d be a hypocrite if I got angry because I lied to you about being trapped.”

            “Oh, yeah! That’s right! So you couldn’t be angry anyways, even if you didn’t know!”

            “Um, I still could—”

            “Don’t try that again, Anthony!”

            He smiled wryly at me. “Very well, Master.”

            Letting out a deep breath of relief, I fell back against the wall of the hallway. “I have to say it was nice to get that out of my system… Even though you already knew.”

            “How about we don’t lie to each other anymore?”

            I nodded. “Okay. Sounds good.”

            “Good,” he said. “Julius was right when he said lies were not a good fundament to build relationships on. So let’s start over again, okay?”

            “Okay,” I agreed, nodding my head. When his words caught up to me, my eyes widened. “R-relationship?”

            “Ah!” Anthony abruptly cried, his eyes widening. “I forgot about the food!”

            “Wait, Anthony—”

            “I’m hungry! Food, food, food, food, food, food, food!” he chanted, twisting on his heel and jogging down the hallway. “Keep up, Ellie!”

            Glowering, I chased after him. “Wait! What do you mean by relationship?”

            “I mean the secret thing you have with Julius!”

            “We’re not dating!”

            “Ha!”

            “Anthony!”

            “Julius and Ellie, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!”

            “Anthony, stop it!”

            “First comes love, second comes marriage! Then comes Anthony in a baby carriage!”

             I yelled after him again, but slowly began to give up. He was impossible. Coming to the end of the hall, he paused, facing me. “What?” I demanded.

            “Nothing. You’re just cute when you’re angry.”

            Surprised by his words, all I could do was gape at him as he laughed and started running again. This guy was really hard to figure out.

________________________________

Yay! Next chapter! I love writing Julius. What do you guys think about him? Why doesn't he want Anthony and Ellie to date? Could Anthony have a secret? Or maybe Julius likes Ellie :ooo

Anyway. Check out the link in the external link! It's my interview with Wattpad! :) I was sick during it, so I sound a little bit congested, but yeah, go listen! And you can download it from iTunes too!

Today's song is If I'm James Dean, You're Aubrey Hepburn by Sleeping With Sirens! I've recently started liking them... a lot

And today's story is.... Sam's Story by RadioBear! Here's the description!! :D

Sam, a troubled boy with a troubled past. Oakley, Sam's best friend, but still doesn't know the truth. They were best friends for years until Sam got his big hit and moved to Hollywood to persue his singing career. But he left behind a big part of him, his heart, his best friend. Years later, Oakley is still missing Sam, big time. Sam is still missing Oakley, big time. Will the two besties unite? Will Oakley ever find out the truth about Sam's past? And will the two fall in love along the way? This is Sam's Story.