This one I'm not super proud of, I'm not sure why I wrote it, probably to torment myself more than I already do. Any way's I made a short story thread per request. https://www.notebook.ai/forum/general-chat/short-stories-and-other-writing-adventures
“It’s alright, promise.” Elise smiled across the plastic table at her friends, Across from her sat two young girls, both short haired Brunettes, though one was considerably shorter then the other. The taller of the two had fluffy curls and a light spattering of freckles. The other was shorter with straight brown hair and the most intriguing eyes. The two girls shared a glance. While their attention was averted Elise let her gaze travel behind them where two boys stood trying desperately to seem casual, she couldn’t help but to glare at them lurking over the girls shoulders like a dog that had been told no.
“Well if you’re sure it’s alright for us to go…” Sophie tralled off glancing behind her at the boy’s. Elise forced a happy smile on her face.
“I’m serious you two go on ahead, I’d be third wheeling if I went with you anyway. I’ve got homework and such to get done.” Elise responded, Noel sent a searching glance over Elises face for a crack in the perfectly performed fassade, she would find none.
“Well, I guess we’ll be off then alright.” Noel said looking over her shoulder and grinning at the boys, “It looks like Matt and Ben are getting a little restless, not too subtle are they.” She stood up ,swinging her bag over her shoulder in a single fluid movement,and joined the two boys. Sophie waited a moment.
“Elise, we’ll have a girls night too alright, just the three of us and the princess bride.” She stood up slowly and gave Elise one final glance before joining Noel, and just like that the four disappeared into the crowd.
Elise didn’t stay at the table for long, a girl sitting by herself was too unusual, too exposed, who knew the kind of company she would receive. After a few minutes she grabbed the strap of her bag. An instant later there was a thunk as a bag was placed next to hers.
“They were trying.”
Elise didn’t look up, she knew who it was.
“No they weren’t, did you see how relieved they were when I said no? It was never a friends kind of activity in the first place.” Elise grumbled her hands slipping into the pocket of her hoodie.
Ryan sat down on the bench next to her, “Why did you say no if you wanted to go.”
“I didn’t want to”
“Then why are you doing the thing again.” Ryan asked, pulling gently on Elise’s arms, her hands falling out of the pocket, the marks from her nails visible on the skin. Elise pulled away, her nails going back to marking the delicate skin.
“Why are you here again, You should be miles away.” Elise whispered, looking down at the Table, refusing to make eye contact.
“You’re avoiding the question.” He responded, She tried to push him out Tried to shut out the worry in his voice, a voice that was once so welcomed, “Elise, Why.”
“Why! You have the audacity to ask why?” Elise’s voice cracked with emotion, tears spilled from her eye’s, as her voice grew, “You don’t get to ask any questions, You want me to answer yours, then you answer mine. Why are you here? You’ve tormented me enough!”
“I’m here because you need me.” The voice, so infuriating calm, so frustratingly right.
“Then why.” Elise whimpered, “Why did you leave me.”
She looked up into the empty space next to her, tears streaming down her face. Her friends long lost in a crowd. She was met with the sight of an empty bench.
“Why did you leave me?”
