- 12 hours ago
The Prank That Broke Us
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Short filmTranscript
00:03when i woke up i was a prop in their prank zip tied to the goal post on the school's
00:07football
00:07field students walking by laughed at me filmed tiktok and someone even threw a milkshake at me
00:12i was tied up in front of everyone for two whole hours when my best friend leo finally showed up
00:18savannah said she wanted to see a real life horror movie prank so we just played a little joke ellie
00:22you're not actually mad are you we grew up together you know me better than anyone i just
00:26stared at him silently i guess my dignity was just something to be sacrificed for someone else's
00:30entertainment i transferred schools the next day and leo lost his fucking mind please ellie it was
00:37just a prank don't be like this after gym class i was just walking out of the equipment room when
00:43the football players surrounded me leo carter the boy next door i'd known my whole life was leading them
00:51leo knocked me unconscious and tied me to the goal post of the football field for two whole hours
00:58leaving me to be watched and mocked by everyone finally leo arrived he still had that same cocky
01:03smirk he always wore hands shoved in his jean pockets he strolled over like he was just there
01:07to watch the show the rest of the football team his accomplices followed behind him and so did
01:10sienna miller she was wearing a pink sundress her long hair flowing over her shoulders like every
01:13strand of her hair was glowing oh my god you guys actually did it that's insane the excitement
01:18she couldn't hide in her voice made my blood run cold so my pain was just her entertainment
01:23of course savannah asks savannah gets it was a gentle tone i had never heard from him before me
01:29he walked up to the goal post and looked up at me the setting sun cast a golden glow on
01:33his face
01:34the features were so familiar but right now he was a complete stranger the eyes i once thought
01:39would protect me forever now only held mockery so how's the view from up there ellie he was still
01:44joking as if i wasn't a person but a toy all right all right joke's over let's get her down
01:48he said it so casually like he was commenting on the weather a couple of his teammates clumsily
01:53untied the ropes no one cared if i would get hurt i crashed hard onto the grass the impact knocked
01:58the
01:58wind out of me and i felt like my lungs had collapsed every bone in my body ached i curled
02:02into a blob like a dying insect leo crouched down and ripped the bandage off my face the pain of
02:07the
02:07tape tearing at my skin made me gasp when he saw my red swollen eyes he paused for a second
02:11for a
02:12moment i thought i saw a flicker of regret i thought he would apologize what are you crying
02:16for it was just a prank we used to prank each other all the time he said it so lightly
02:20as if
02:20this was just like any other joke but he forgot our old pranks never involved destroying someone's
02:24dignity they never involved humiliating someone in front of hundreds of people they were never this
02:28cruel i stared at him saying nothing my throat felt like it was stuffed with cotton i couldn't get
02:32a single word out it wasn't that i didn't want to speak i just didn't know what to say how
02:37do you
02:37question 16 years of friendship how do you put this betrayal into words my stare made him
02:42uncomfortable don't look at me like that it's creepy his darting eyes gave away his guilt savannah
02:46said yesterday she wanted to film a cool halloween prank video so we thought it's not a big deal
02:51you're fine right but i didn't make a sound i just gave leo one last look and that look was
02:5516 years
02:55of friendship countless happy memories and in that moment it was over heard his voice behind hey eleanor
03:00vance where are you going stop being mad okay i didn't turn back my steps were shaky but firm every
03:05step
03:05felt like walking on knives but i couldn't stop if i stopped i was afraid i would break down i
03:09would
03:09sob uncontrollably right in front of him and if that happened i would have truly lost lost everything
03:14when i got home i went straight to the bathroom as i took off my clothes i saw the bruises
03:20and
03:20vents covering my body they were horrifying i stood under the scalding water scrubbing my skin over and over
03:27trying to wash off the milkshake to wash off the humiliation trying to wash away every trace of leo but
03:33i
03:33couldn't the laughter still echoed in my ears the malicious stares still crawled on my skin and leo's
03:41careless words it was just a prank they replayed in my mind like a curse the hot water sting my
03:46wounds
03:46making me shiver but the pain was good it kept me lucid it reminded me that this wasn't a nightmare
03:51this was real leo really did use me as a toy to impress savannah my mom knocked on the door
03:56ellie you've
03:57been in there a while don't run up the water bill honey i turned off the shower coming out now
04:03my
04:03voice was so hoarse it didn't sound like my own mom must have gone to her book club because she
04:08didn't
04:08notice anything was wrong that was for the best i didn't want to explain how could i explain tell her
04:13that the person i trusted most in the world had betrayed me tell her i was tied up like a
04:17clown on
04:17the school's goalpost no i couldn't bring myself to say it the girl in the mirror was a mess my
04:22face
04:22was pale my lips colorless the marks on my wrists were deep in a sickening shade of purple red like
04:27they were carved into my bones i took out the antiseptic and started cleaning them bit by bit
04:31it hurt a piercing pain but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart 16 years i'd known
04:37leo for
04:3716 years our families lived on the same street our parents were old friends our moms went shopping
04:43together our dads had barbecues on weekends we were in the same class since kindergarten he cried his
04:48eyes out on the first day and i was the one who gave him a piece of chocolate after that
04:53he followed
04:54me around like a little shadow ellie wait for me ellie you can have this ellie we're gonna be
05:00together forever back then leo's eyes were so bright his smile so pure he was the troublemaker and i was
05:06the good girl who always listened when he got into trouble i covered him when the teacher asked who broke
05:11the classroom window i said it was me it was him practicing his baseball swing he hated studying so i
05:17tutored him before final exams i'd give him all my meticulously organized notes then i'd stay up all
05:22night making a new set for myself he used to say ellie you're the best i'm going to make you
05:26my bride
05:26someday i'd blush and say who would want to marry you but secretly my heart would flutter i thought
05:31we were best friends the closest partners i even secretly hoped for more i hoped that one day he would
05:38look at me seriously and say eleanor vars will you be my girlfriend but it turned out in his eyes
05:44i was
05:45just a toy he could humiliate whenever he wanted just a backup plan who would never leave
05:49to get savannah's attention he didn't hesitate to tie me to a goal post to make me the laughing stock
05:55of the whole school to trample all over my dignity my phone buzzed non-stop it was the school's gossip
06:01instagram page they had a new post i clicked on it mechanically someone had uploaded the videos from
06:07this afternoon in the video i was hanging there like a broken doll swaying every time the wind blew
06:13the comments were filled with lols and laughing crying emojis i'm dead eleanor got what was coming
06:19to her mummy of the year lol every comment felt like a slap in the face so this is what
06:25everyone
06:26thought of me i closed instagram on his story leo had posted too today's source of entertainment
06:32savannah are you satisfied the picture was of me tied to the post he even added a clown jeeping emoji
06:37savannah replied you guys are so bad i was just kidding around followed by three blushing emojis her
06:43comment was flooded with likes and hype leo you're the man anything for queen savannah what's next
06:49around two i shut off my phone my heart felt like a hollow empty space so my pain was their
06:58entertainment my dignity was their plaything and leo the one person i thought would always be on my
07:05side he was the one who had hurt me the most leo fell for her instantly or more accurately he
07:13was
07:14completely mesmerized from that day on savannah was all he could see he'd skip the last five minutes
07:20of his class just to save her the best table in the cafeteria before i was the one who always
07:25saved him
07:26a seat he'd drive halfway across town just to buy her breakfast all because she casually mentioned
07:33wanting to try donuts from some trendy new shop he would do anything to make her smile including tying
07:41me to a goal post if i stayed any longer i was afraid i would start crying i closed the
07:47door and the
07:49tears finally came they flowed silently like a dam breaking i covered my mouth trying not
07:56to make a sound i didn't want my parents to hear
08:01i opened my laptop and started researching how to transfer to a school in california
08:06i had to get out of here away from this suffocating place away from leo away from all the humiliation
08:14and mockery there was a great high school in california near where my aunt lived she'd asked me back in
08:19ninth grade if i wanted to move out there i said no back then i couldn't bear to leave home
08:25to leave
08:26leo looking back now it was pathetic the person i couldn't bear to leave had no problem hurting me
08:34my phone rang again it was leo i declined the call
08:40he called back i declined again after a dozen more times he sent a text
08:46stop sulking you want to go to six flags tomorrow i know you've been wanting to go
08:50fine my bad happy now ellie stop being mad i bought your favorite red velvet cupcakes want me to bring
08:58over i didn't reply red velvet cupcakes did he really think a cupcake could fix everything
09:05he kept texting eleanor voss don't push it it was just a joke are you really this sensitive
09:12savannah already apologized to you what more do you want if you keep ignoring me i'm done with you
09:18eleanor fine whatever your choice so when an apology didn't work he resorted to threats
09:27that was leo always the center of his own universe he thought the whole world should revolve around
09:33him i blocked his number finally the world was quiet the moon outside my window was full and bright
09:43when we were little we used to sit on the swing in my backyard and watch the moon
09:46he'd say ellie doesn't the moon look like a giant block of cheese i'd say it looks like a silver
09:53plate
09:54he'd reply i'm hungry so everything looks like food and i'd give him the candy from my pocket
10:03those were good times but we could never go back the next morning i went to the school's
10:09administration office i found my guidance counselor to ask about transferring she was a
10:12kind-looking middle-aged woman with glasses eleanor transferring in the middle of your junior
10:15year can be tricky with credit transfers are you sure you want to do this now i i'm being bullied
10:19at this school the words were barely audible it took all my courage to say them out loud
10:23do you have any proof if this is true we will take it very seriously i opened my phone the
10:28videos
10:29were still there each one was a fresh nightmare watching them again was like stabbing myself in
10:34the heart but now they were my evidence the counselor's face grew darker and darker as she
10:38watched have you called the police i shook my head the police that meant tearing open my wounds
10:41for them to see list that suffocating shame over and over during an espace's again the thought
10:45made me sick to my stomach i just want to transfer deep exhausting seeped into my bones as fast as
10:49possible i don't want to spend another second in this place leaving was enough it wasn't running
10:54away it was that they didn't deserve another second of my time or energy all right where do you want
10:58to transfer to palo alto high school in california it was one of the best high schools on the west
11:03coast
11:03it was also in the same school district as my aunt if i moved in with her i'd meet the
11:07residency
11:07requirements it had a great academic reputation free of all the bullshit drama palo alto high the
11:12academic pressure there is intense yes i've already confirmed with my aunt her address is within the
11:16school district as long as i provide proof of residency and the necessary documents they have
11:20to accept me just last month my aunt had asked if i wanted to move in with her and transfer
11:24she'd
11:24looked into it and with my grades getting into palo alto high was a sure thing i turned her down
11:28then
11:28i couldn't bear to leave home to leave leo how pathetic i saw myself as his whole world
11:37he saw me as a prop to entertain someone else the counselor was very sympathetic okay i'll get your
11:42official transcripts and vaccination records ready for you she contacted the new school that same
11:45day and helped expedite my paperwork the process will take a few business days you could be starting
11:49at your new school as early as next monday thank you my gratitude was genuine eleanor she called out
11:55as i was leaving when you get to your new school it's a fresh start forget about what happened here
12:01you deserve better my eyes welled up again the kindness of a stranger was more moving than the
12:06cruelty of someone i knew stepping out of the administration building the sunlight felt a little
12:11too bright i took a deep breath a new beginning was coming you can do this eleanor be careful and
12:20come home early after school mrs carter said we're having a barbecue in the backyard tonight okay i hadn't
12:25told my parents about the transfer i didn't want them to worry and i didn't want them to stop me
12:29i'd tell them once everything was settled school was the same as always except in ap calculus my
12:35classmates looked at me with a little more amusement in their eyes hey the mummy's here
12:38the whispers followed toilet paper today i heard leo went to see her yesterday and she gave him the
12:43cold shoulder she doesn't know what's good for her i walked to my seat with a blank expression
12:47let them say whatever they wanted this was my last day still mad he was trying to be charming but
12:53his eyes still held that same sense of entitlement as if my anger was just a childish tantrum i bought
12:57tickets to six flags for us want to go after school and i got your favorite red velvet cupcakes i
13:02promise
13:02you'll feel better after you have one i ignored him and took out my books i started to organize
13:06my things i cleared out everything that was mine from my locker not a single pen or eraser was left
13:10behind eleanor that's enough his voice was edged with impatience now i already said i was sorry what
13:15more do you want everyone was just having fun the other day look justin got his eyebrows shaved off
13:18yesterday and he wasn't mad i still didn't say a word i just kept packing just then savannah walked in
13:23she paused when she saw us morning then she smiled and walked over her voice was sickly sweet ellie are
13:28you
13:28okay i'm so sorry about the other day i was just talking that far it's fine i cut her off
13:33i didn't
13:34want to hear her fake apology and i didn't want to waste my last few hours here on her leo
13:38immediately
13:38jumped to her defense like a mother hen protecting her chick savannah already apologized just drop it
13:44she didn't mean any harm you know how she is she's so innocent she just speaks without thinking
13:49innocent i almost laughed out loud savannah was the most manipulative person i had ever met
13:55she played the victim on the surface but she was a master of scheming behind the scenes
14:00but leo bought her act completely i'm going to the restroom i stood up i needed to cool down
14:06otherwise i was afraid i'd lose control i was afraid i'd rip off savannah's fake mask in front of
14:12everyone in the restroom i looked at my reflection in the mirror my face was pale with dark circles under
14:18my eyes i hadn't slept well plagued by nightmares in my dream i was still tied to the goal poem
14:24everyone was
14:24laughing leo was laughing the hardest i woke up to a tear-soaked pillow i woke up to a tear
14:31-soaked
14:31pillow i splashed cold water on my face eleanor just one more day tomorrow you'll be free when i
14:39got back to the classroom leo and sarana were chatting happily she was sitting in my seat and
14:44they were leaning in close to each other leo was helping her with a math problem hand over hand kind
14:49of helping i stood at the doorway watching them quietly once he used to teach me like that the
14:55only difference was with me he was always impatient eleanor why are you so stupid you can't even solve
15:01a simple problem like this the bell rang i silently took an empty seat in the back row i didn't
15:09want
15:09to see them anymore i spent the whole morning in the back of the class at lunch i went to
15:14the school's
15:14vending machine i bought a ton of snacks the kind i usually never let myself buy buying so much today
15:19what's the occasion i'm in a good mood because i was about to be free i was about to leave
15:23this
15:24suffocating place during the last class of the day i packed up everything my books my stationery even
15:28the trash in my locker why are you cleaning everything out not coming back tomorrow or
15:31something i left nothing behind i wanted a break his tone was light still smiling but his joke hit the
15:36mark i glanced at him but didn't say anything there were so many things i wanted to say i want
15:39to ask
15:40why did you do that but in the end i asked nothing what was the point i already knew the
15:43answer the
15:43final bell rang i slung my backpack over my shoulder and took one last look at the classroom three years
15:48of my memories were in this room there was laughter there were tears but from today on none of it
15:52had
15:52anything to do with me anymore wait for me weren't we supposed to go to six flags i walked out
15:56without
15:56looking back eleanor what's with the attitude now i walked faster as soon as i was out of the school
16:00gates i got into my aunt's car she had flown all the way from california just to pick me up
16:04ready to go
16:04yeah then let's go the car pulled away from the curb in the rearview mirror i saw leo running out
16:08of the
16:09school he stood at the gate looking completely lonely lost he was still holding two tickets to the
16:12amusement park the wind blew through his hair and for a fraction of the pain i had felt goodbye leo
16:16and good riddus it was dark by the time we landed in california the five-hour flight was quiet i
16:21didn't
16:22say much my aunt didn't press me for details she just glanced at me from time to time her eyes
16:26were
16:26full of compassion her house was a 10-minute walk from the high school you can stay with me for
16:31now
16:31once you get settled you can decide if you want to stay in the dorms thanks auntie don't be silly
16:37we're family she said gently stroking my hair her touch was so light as if she was afraid of hurting
16:42me my aunt's eyes blazed with anger when she mentioned leo she had seen the videos that little
16:46bastard is an absolute monster if you hadn't stopped me i would have called the carters and given them a
16:50piece of my mind she was so furious she almost called his parents right then and there i was the
16:54one who stopped her i didn't want a huge scene i just wanted to leave quietly it's all in the
16:58past now
16:58i forced a smile what do you mean in the past she said getting worked up do you have any
17:03idea how my
17:03heart broke when i saw those videos you're such a good kid eleanor you don't deserve to be treated
17:08like that auntie i'm okay things will be better now that night i turned off my phone i didn't want
17:13to see any messages i didn't want to know if leo was looking for me i didn't want to know
17:17if anyone
17:17at school had noticed i was gone i didn't want to know anything i just wanted a good night's sleep
17:22and for the first time in a long time i slept soundly no nightmares no waking up in a cold
17:26sweat
17:26no voices laughing at me no malicious stares just the faint sound of my aunt snoring softly from the next
17:31room it was comforting the next morning my aunt took me to the school to register palo alta high
17:36was much bigger than my old school the lawns were green and manicured and the hallways were filled
17:39with the quiet hum of learning there were no clucks no nasty pranks this is your new counselor
17:44miss bennett miss bennett was in her 30s with glasses and a warm smile eleanor vance is that
17:48right welcome to pal her smile was genuine not like the forced politeness of the teachers at my
17:51old school our academic de kivla team is looking for new members i really encourage you to try out
17:56i've seen your transcripts they're very impressive i was taken aback at my old school all the student
18:01government and club positions were held by savannah and her friends even though my grades were good no
18:05one ever considered me because i wasn't pretty enough or rich enough or popular enough really i
18:09was a little unsure of course your grades speak for themselves believe in yourself i walked into my
18:14new classroom 40 pairs of eyes turned to look at me there was no mockery no malice just simple
18:19curiosity hi everyone i'm eleanor vance it's nice to meet you all my voice was a little shaky but i
18:25tried
18:25to stay calm the class broke into applause it was warm and sincere the new girl is really pretty
18:30someone whispered pretty me and she's super smart too she seems really quiet no one called me a nerd
18:37no one called me a hanging on no one looked at me like i was a freak my seat was
18:42in the third row by
18:43the window the sun was shining and a gentle breeze blew in i'm chloe davis you can just call me
18:47chloe
18:48she had two dimples when she smiled ellie wow what a beautiful name eleanor like eleanor roosevelt
18:54strong and smart your parents must be really cool she was a talker as soon as the bell rang she
18:58was
18:58pulling me aside to give me the rundown of the class which teacher was strict which students were
19:01funny how friday pizza day in the cafeteria was the best which corner of the library was the best for
19:05writing papers in peace there are no real bullies at our school everyone's pretty chilled was your old
19:09school really strict or something you look so nervous it was okay i shook my head i didn't want to
19:14bring up the past well don't worry i've got your back now chloe said patting her chest if anyone
19:19messes with you they'll have to go through me first i listened to her a warm feeling spreading
19:24through my chest so this is what it felt like to be treated with kindness no need to be careful
19:28no
19:29need to walk on eggshells no need to worry about being disliked just simple genuine friendship
19:34meanwhile back in ohio leo was losing his mind eleanor had been missing since school let out yesterday
19:39her phone went straight to voicemail her texts weren't delivering he waited at the school gate until
19:43it got dark but she never came out she ran to the vance's house and mrs vance told him she'd
19:47gone to
19:48visit her aunt which aunt the one in california leo did you and ellie have a fight california that
19:56was so far away and wasn't today a school day a terrible feeling started to grow in the pit of
20:00leo's stomach no way eleanor wouldn't actually leave she was just mad at me she'd be back in a few
20:04days
20:04just like every other time they fought he tried to reassure himself the next day at school eleanor's
20:09seat was empty her locker was empty too nothing inside even the novels she always kept with her were gone
20:15excuse me do you know why eleanor vance isn't here today his voice was laced with panic the
20:19counselor gave him an odd look you don't know she transferred her tone was flat as if she were
20:24commenting about the weather boom leo's mind went completely blank transferred when did this happen
20:30why didn't she tell him why transferred where his voice was shaking palo alta high school in california
20:37so far away she was really gone because of that stupid prank impossible eleanor had been following
20:45him around since they were kids he could be a jerk to her and she would never get really mad
20:49she'd pout a little and he'd say a few nice things and everything would be fine how could she transfer
20:55over something so small how could she leave without saying a word to him how could she actually be done
21:02with him it had to be a lie leo pulled out his phone and dialed her familiar number again straight
21:08to voicemail he didn't give up he called again and again and again until the school bell rang still
21:12voicemail leo what's wrong eleanor transferred he looked like he'd seen a ghost what why but a flicker
21:18of triumph flashed in her eye why he wanted to know why too it was just a joke he'd pulled
21:23worse pranks on
21:24her before she never got this angry why this time leo thought back to yesterday after school the way
21:30eleanor had looked at him for the last time her eyes were calm cold like she was looking at a
21:34stranger there was no love in that look no hate nothing just a dead empty calm his heart suddenly
21:42clenched in his chest the pain was so sharp he had to bend over so this is what a broken
21:46heart felt
21:47like it was excruciating leo are you okay savannah asked trying to help him up her soft hand rested on
21:54his arm before that touch would have made his heart race now it just annoyed him don't fucking touch me
21:59he snarled shrugging her hand off savannah froze leo had never spoken to her like that before
22:04leo i said don't touch me he roared his eyes were bloodshot like a wounded animals the entire class
22:09turned to stare savannah's eyes welled up with tears but leo didn't care his mind was filled with
22:14one person eleanor she was really gone she really didn't want him anymore in the days that followed
22:20leo was a different person he used to be loud and cheerful now he was quiet and withdrawn
22:26he'd stare into space during class and sit alone at lunch he barely spoke to anyone his friends said
22:32he was losing it dude it's just eleanor she transferred so what why are you acting like this
22:39didn't you used to complain about how annoying she was she's gone now you should be happy
22:46he couldn't feel happy every day after school he would automatically start walking in the direction
22:53of eleanor's house hoping she was just visiting her aunt for a few days hoping she'd be back soon
22:59but a day turned into two and then a week passed she didn't come back mrs vance said she was
23:05doing
23:05well in her new school in california leo what happened between you two ellie left in such a hurry
23:13she didn't even tell you he didn't know how to answer what could he say that he used her as
23:21a
23:21prop to impress another girl that he trampled on her dignity and broke her heart he could only send
23:28her endless texts and leave voicemails but they all went unanswered he had to know why he had to
23:35bring her back he started obsessively searching for everything he could find online about pala alta high
23:40school on the school's website under the student spotlight section he found her picture she was
23:46wearing her new school's uniform standing with a group of girls laughing the smile on her face was
23:51one he hadn't seen in a long time it was relaxed natural and genuinely happy not like when she was
23:58with him always so careful always watching his mood it turned out that without him she could be this happy
24:04leo wanted to book a flight and go to her right then but his feet felt like they were made
24:09of lead
24:09suddenly he wasn't so sure she looked like she was doing great much better than when she was with him
24:15would his showing up just ruin everything for her as he hesitated he noticed a tall boy in the
24:20background of the photo the way the boy looked at her was familiar it was a look of pure adoration
24:25his heart clenched again the pain was so sharp he had to bend over so he had really lost her
24:32completely and forever my life at palo alto high was falling into a comfortable rhythm my new
24:38classmates were all friendly no one knew about my past to them i was just a normal transfer student
24:45good grades quiet personality that's all chloe became my best friend she was loud and fiercely
24:53protective of me ellie let's play tennis after school ellie can you help me with this problem
24:58ellie how is your skin so perfect she was a constant happy buzz in my life she introduced me to
25:05new
25:05friends and helped me fit in slowly i started to let my guard down i started to believe that not
25:13everyone was out to hurt me i started to believe that i deserve to be treated well the atmosphere at
25:19my
25:19new school was amazing everyone was focused on their studies there were no toxic clunts no cruel jokes
25:28the teachers were dedicated and the students were kind my grades were better than ever i won the state
25:36championship in the national debate tournament our academic declam team made it to the national
25:41finals miss bennett often praised me eleanor is truly a pride of our school my classmates were
25:48genuinely happy for me there was no jealousy no exclusion only sincere congratulations life could
25:56be this simple and beautiful not every place was filled with malice one day during a brain of
26:02brain to begin classes chloe leaned in conspiratorly ellie caleb reed from the class next door has been
26:08been asking about you caleb reed um the name didn't ring a bell you know the guy who's amazing at
26:17basketball the six foot one hottie so many girls have a crush on him i don't know him i don't
26:26know him
26:28i really didn't since coming here all i'd focused on was studying i hadn't paid any attention to the
26:36basketball captain yes you do he's the one who helped you pick up your books last week when you dropped
26:42them all over the hallway
26:47now i remembered last week when i was getting books from my locker a tall boy from the next class
26:55had
26:56helped me he had a sunning tam you reveled he had a sunny smile thank you no problem he'd replied
27:07scratching the back of his neck his ears turning a little red that was it what was he asking about
27:17me what do you think he's totally into you our ellie is so pretty of course she's attracting all the
27:24hot guys i froze someone liked me a real genuine crush not like leo who treated me like a possession
27:37he could summon or dismiss at will not someone who just assumed i would always be there for him
27:45but someone who was shyly asking about me who helped me just to be kind don't be silly i said
27:54but deep down something was quietly shifting inside me
28:02i could be liked
28:06i deserve to be cherished
28:09a month later i was in the library after school for a meeting with the academic de kenela team when
28:16someone knocked on the door excuse me is eleanor vancer here
28:22i looked up and saw the last person on earth i ever wanted to see again
28:27leo
28:27he was thinner and his eyes were bloodshot
28:30the moment he saw me his eyes lit up
28:34ellie
28:35his voice was a mixture of relief and nervousness
28:38everyone on the team turned to look at us
28:40chloe tugged on my sleeve
28:42worried
28:43i stood up and walked out of the library i didn't want to air my dirty laundry in front of
28:47my new friends
28:48what are you doing here my voice was so cold it surprised even me
28:52i could face him with this much calm
28:55my tone stung him
28:56i came to find you
28:58why did you leave without saying anything
29:02i've been looking for you for a month
29:04your mom finally told me you were here
29:07a month
29:08i was surprised
29:11i never thought he would actually look for me
29:13let alone for that long
29:15in my memory he always had the attention span of a goldfish
29:19why were you looking for me
29:20to get you to come back of course
29:22he said
29:23as if it were the most obvious thing in the world
29:26it's not good for you to be all alone out here
29:28come back ellie
29:29i forgive you
29:31you forgive me
29:32i almost laughed
29:34even now
29:35he was still so arrogant
29:39still thought i was the one in the wrong
29:41that i was the one who needed to be forgiven
29:43leo carter
29:45you need to get it straight
29:47you're the one who needs to apologize
29:49i did apologize
29:51i bought you tickets to the amusement park
29:54i even had your favorite gift ready
29:57what else do you want
29:59i looked at him
30:00the boy i had adored for over a decade
30:04he was a complete stranger to me now
30:08he would never understand
30:11i didn't want amusement park tickets or gifts
30:13i wanted respect
30:15i wanted to be treated like a person
30:18not a play thing
30:20i don't want anything
30:21i just want you to leave
30:23and don't ever come looking for me again
30:26he grabbed my arm
30:28eleanor
30:29don't take this too far
30:31it was just a prank
30:34why are you being like this
30:36a prank
30:37always a prank
30:40in his mind
30:41tying me to a goal post
30:43and humiliating me in public
30:45was just a prank
30:50yeah it was just a prank
30:52so me leaving
30:54that's just a prank too
30:57you don't have to take it seriously
30:59i left him standing there
31:01frozen in shock
31:02i walked back into the library
31:04without a second glance
31:06are you okay
31:07who was that
31:11i'm fine
31:13just someone who doesn't matter anymore
31:16and it was true
31:17he didn't matter
31:19what once felt like the end of the world
31:22now seemed so small
31:24the person i once thought i couldn't live without
31:27i could now face with perfect calm
31:30leo's appearance was just a small hiccup
31:33my life moved on
31:34after midterms
31:36my gpa was in the top 2% of my class
31:39ms bennett gave me a special mention
31:41at the academic awards ceremony
31:43eleanor is a transfer student
31:44but she has adapted wonderfully
31:46she is an example
31:48for all of us
31:51no one made snide remarks
31:53no one called me a nerd
31:54just genuine recognition
31:56caleb finally worked up the courage to ask me out
32:00eleanor
32:00are you free this weekend
32:02i was wondering if you'd like to see a
32:05a movie with me
32:07he was so nervous
32:08his ears turned bright red
32:10i was sure his palms were sweating
32:12chloe was making frantic gestures behind him
32:14say yes
32:15say yes
32:16i thought for a moment
32:18okay
32:19and why not
32:20i deserved to be treated with respect
32:23i deserved to be liked for who i am
32:25i deserved to have a normal high school experience
32:29caleb looked like he was about to jump for joy
32:32really
32:32that's great
32:34i mean
32:35thank you for giving me a chance
32:37he scratched the back of his neck
32:39grinning like a kid
32:41that weekend we went to see a pixar movie
32:45caleb was so thoughtful
32:47he bought popcorn and soda
32:50he even brought a pack of tissues
32:53i heard this movie is kind of sad
32:56just in case you cry
32:57i smiled
32:58he was so nervous
33:00he didn't know where to put his hands
33:02the movie was great
33:03it was about growing up and finding courage
33:06i didn't cry
33:07but my heart felt warm
33:10after the movie
33:11he walked me home
33:13i had a really good time today
33:15he said
33:16me too
33:18so
33:19can i ask you out again sometime
33:20he asked
33:22his eyes full of hope
33:23he looked like a big golden retriever
33:25i nodded
33:26he beamed
33:27so this is what it felt like to be cherished
33:30careful yet confident
33:32no need to walk on eggshells
33:34no need to worry about being abandoned
33:38just two people who simply liked each other
33:41when my aunt found out
33:42she teased me
33:43is our ellie going on dates now
33:45i blushed
33:46not yet
33:47we were just friends
33:49but maybe
33:50we could become something more
33:52are you two going to the homecoming dance together this year
33:55she winked
33:56i know that caleb boy
33:58he's a good kid
33:59basketball captain
34:00good grades
34:01he's a good one
34:03yeah he was a good one
34:07i wasn't going to be
34:08like before
34:09humbly waiting by someone's side
34:12waiting for the occasional scrap of attention
34:15waiting for a smile when he was in a good mood
34:17i deserved better
34:18meanwhile
34:19leo's world was falling apart
34:21he thought eleanor was just throwing a tantrum
34:23he thought he could win her back after a few days
34:25but she really was done with him
34:26after he came back from california
34:27he locked himself in his room
34:29he replayed years of memories over and over in his head
34:31eleanor was always there
34:32right behind him
34:33wherever he went she followed
34:34whatever he said she listened
34:35when he was angry
34:36she would careful try to cheer him up
34:37when he was happy
34:38she was happier than he was
34:39he had gotten used to her presence
34:40like he was used to breathing
34:41and now that she was gone
34:42he felt like he was suffocating
34:44no one saved him a seat at school anymore
34:46no one brought him breakfast
34:47no one walked home with him
34:48no one sat with him in silence
34:50when he was in a bad mood
34:51no one remembered all the little things he liked
34:53and most importantly
34:54no one looked at him with those gentle eyes anymore
34:57as if he was her entire world
34:58as if he was the sun and the moon
35:00savannah still tried to hang out with him
35:02but he suddenly found her completely uninteresting
35:04her fake poverty act
35:05her damsel in distress routine
35:06it all just irritated him
35:08how could she even compare to eleanor
35:09eleanor wasn't as conventionally beautiful
35:11but her smile was warm
35:12eleanor was a bit of a nerd
35:13but she was kind-hearted
35:14eleanor cried easily
35:15but she was never unreasonable
35:16she remembered everything he liked
35:18she knew he had a sweet tooth
35:19and always had candy for him
35:20she knew he hated rainy days
35:21and would bring an extra umbrella for him
35:22she knew he was bad at math
35:23and would patiently explain the problems to him
35:25and savannah all she did was ask for things
35:27all she did was make everyone cater to her
35:29he started to regret it
35:30why did he treat elowen like that
35:32just to make sarana laugh
35:33was savannah's laugh worth eleanor's tears
35:35was it worth losing the one person
35:37who genuinely cared about him
35:38he remembered that day
35:39the look in eleanor's eyes
35:40when they cut her down
35:41despair
35:41anger
35:42and deep deep disappointment
35:43she must have been in so much pain
35:44tied up for two hours
35:46by so many people
35:46having a milkshake thrown at her
35:48and he had just stood there
35:49smiling
35:49saying it was all a joke
35:50he was a fucking monster
35:52he started to pathologically stalk eleanor
35:54on social media
35:55he saw pictures of her
35:56at the movies with caleb
35:57he saw them dancing together
35:58at the homecoming dance
35:59he saw caleb kiss her on the cheek
36:01after a game
36:02every photo was a knife in his heart
36:04he wanted to explain
36:05to apologize
36:06but he didn't even have the right
36:07to show his face to her anymore
36:09one time
36:09he finally got through to her on the phone
36:11ellie
36:12i'm sorry
36:13i really know i was wrong
36:14can you please forgive me
36:17she listened
36:17her voice calm on the other end
36:19you know what leo
36:21some things can't be fixed with a sorry
36:24it's like a shattered mirror
36:26you can glue it back together
36:28but the cracks will always be there
36:30we can't go back
36:32then she hung up
36:35leaving him alone with the dial tone
36:37she was right
36:38they couldn't go back
36:40and he was the one who had shattered everything
36:43senior year
36:44i received my early acceptance letter from mit
36:47i checked the box for my intended major
36:49physics
36:49the competition for my graduating class was insane
36:52getting an offer from mit was almost unheard of
36:55i was one of the few
36:56it was the ultimate validation for all my hard work
36:59caleb was even more excited than i was
37:01that's amazing
37:02i guess i have to work harder now
37:04try to get into a school in boston
37:06we had been together for six months
37:07he was so good to me
37:09he respected me
37:11protected me
37:12he would never do anything to embarrass me
37:14he'd bring me bubble tea when i was tired from studying
37:17he'd go for long walks with me when i was stressed
37:20he even remembered my cycle
37:22and would secretly put a bottle of midmich
37:24a heating pad
37:25and my favorite ben and jerry's flavor in my locker
37:28all the things leo had never done
37:30caleb did them all
37:32chloe said we were a perfect match
37:34i thought so too
37:35love could be this wonderful
37:36no groveling
37:37no pleading
37:38no constant fear of being abandoned
37:40just two people
37:41walking side by side
37:42moving forward together
37:43respecting and cherishing each other
37:45the news of my mit acceptance
37:47made its way back to ohio
37:48and leo completely snapped
37:50the night of the big football game
37:52paulo shot a high versus our biggest rival
37:54he flew to california
37:55caleb as the team's quarterback
37:57threw a game-winning touchdown
37:59in the final minute
37:59the entire stadium erupted
38:01the crowd stormed the field to celebrate
38:03caleb pushed through the sea of people
38:05found me
38:06and pulled me into a tight hug
38:08amid the roaring cheers
38:09and that's when leo appeared
38:11he was holding a huge bouquet of roses
38:14wearing an out-of-ply suit
38:16looking both pathetic and obsessed
38:18he shoved his way through the crowd
38:20and stood in front of us
38:21ellie i was wrong
38:23i was so wrong
38:25please forgive me
38:26let's start over
38:29he was trying to stage
38:30some grand
38:31romantic gesture
38:32right there in front of everyone
38:34caleb immediately
38:35stepped in front of me
38:36who the hell are you
38:37his tall frame
38:38blocked leo from my view
38:39leo finally seemed to notice him
38:41and his eyes turned dangerous
38:43we grew up together
38:44i've known her for 16 years
38:46who are you
38:47his voice was laced with
38:48hostility and bitterness
38:49i'm her boyfriend
38:50caleb said
38:51not backing down an inch
38:52he took my hand
38:54a clear declaration
38:55that's impossible
38:56ellie tell him
38:57leo froze
38:58then lost it
38:59we're the ones who are supposed to be together
39:01you've loved me since we were kids
39:03you said you'd be with me forever
39:04i looked at him calmly
39:06and stepped out from behind caleb
39:07all eyes were on us now
39:09camera flashes going off
39:11just like that day
39:12i was tied to the goal post
39:13only this time
39:14i wasn't the helpless victim
39:16leo in ohio
39:18you made me the butt of the entire school's joke
39:20i said
39:21my voice clear and cold
39:22loud enough for everyone around us to hear
39:25now here in california
39:27you've made a joke of yourself
39:28we're over
39:29we were over the second you tied me to that goal post
39:32i watched his face drain of all color as i continued
39:36you're the one who destroyed everything
39:38you stomped on my dignity
39:40and treated my heart like a game
39:42and now you're sorry
39:43it's too late
39:45with that i took caleb's hand and turned to leave
39:47caleb's teammates closed in around us
39:49forming a wall
39:50stealing leo out of our world
39:52behind me i could hear his broken pleas
39:54swallowed by the sound of the victory celebration
39:57i didn't look back
39:59some things once you miss them are gone forever
40:02some people once you hurt them can never be won back
40:05he closed savannah
40:06he chose to turn me into a joke
40:08now he had to live with the consequences
40:11this time it was really over
40:18you
40:19you
40:19you
40:19you
40:19you
40:19you
40:19you
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