"Bro, why are you so quiet? In the span of today, you managed to upset both Clara and Ellen. What's your deal, man?" Eric asked a quiet Henry on his bed. Today was a Saturday, therefore entertainment night. People had left, but Henry was in his room with Eric. They knew Clara would be in class as well, she wasn't a fan of entertainment. They, however, went when they felt like it. "Let's go to class." Henry said, getting down from the bed, and picking up his bag. Eric sighed and followed suit. "Oh, by the way, was it me or Eleanora has gained weight, since the last time we saw her at the country club?" Eric asked. 'She's become more beautiful as well.' Henry thought but only nodded his head in response to Eric's question. "If you are going to meet Clara, I suggest you put a smile on first. She's mad as hell." Eric advised and Henry smirked, making him laugh. They got to class, but were surprised to find it empty. "Do you think she went for entertainment today?" Eric asked. "I don't think so. She's probably in her room. Let's go." Henry replied, leading the way again. They were passing by the Form one block, when they saw Clara in one of the classes. It was Eric who spotted her. "Hey, is that not Clara? What is she doing at the form one block?" Eric pointed out, and asked. Henry turned, and was surprised to see her there too. He changed course, and walked in the direction of the class, where Clara seemed to be teaching someone. It's because of where she was standing that made Eric spot her. She was standing in front of the class, by the board, holding a marker and teaching. They saw who she was teaching when they got to class. Henry smirked, looking at them with interest. "What are you both doing here?" Clara asked, annoyed to see Henry. "We went to look for you in class, but you weren't there, so we decided to go look for you in your room, when Eric spotted you here." Henry explained, shifting his focus to Clara. "What do you want? I'm busy." Clara said and continued her lesson. "Since when did you turn into a chemistry teacher?" Henry asked with a smirk. "How is that your business?" She retorted. "I want to talk to you." Henry replied instead. "I don't know what's going on with you, but I won't tolerate your mood swings this time, Henry. You didn't even acknowledge the presence of the girls, neither did you greet." Clara said. "Follow me and you'll find out." Henry shot. "Um I think we get it now sister Clara, we can continue from here. Thank you for your time, we'll go now." Ellen spoke for the first time since the boys entered, and begun packing her things with Abby and Kelly. They had approached Clara for a lesson on chemistry in her room, before entertainment. "Elle I'm so sorry for Henry's behavior towards you today. All of you. He said he missed you, but I wasn't expecting him to treat you this way when he finally saw you." Clara had apologized on behalf of her friend. Ellen just smiled and the girls nodded. They proceeded to class to learn, and had been doing that since. "Where are you going?" Henry asked Ellen, blocking her path. Abby rolled her eyes and tried branching past him, but Eric blocked her too. "Hen..." Ellen begun but stopped mid-sentence due to shock. "I missed you" his words rang in her ears as he drew her in for a tight hug. Ellen wasn't the only astonished one present, everyone else was. Eric was slightly taken aback since he wasn't expecting that, but smirked afterwards. Henry was just too much for him, and Clara had to admit the guy was hard to read sometimes. Ellen pulled out after her initial shock and "what do you think you are doing?!" she blurted out in fury. "Who do you think you are Henry? Or do I look like those girls whose feelings you can play with at your leisure? You are nice and miss me today, then you punish me unfairly tomorrow? Please stay away from me senior, whatever game you are playing, I don't want to be a part of it." She continued, hurt in her voice, but resolution in it as well, before running out of the class. A pin could be heard in the room, as the silence was deafening when the juniors left. "What just happened?" Eric asked in amazement. "I think Ellen just broke up with Henry, before they even got together…" Clara replied and stifled a laughter. Henry just looked on in perplex as well, he wasn't expecting that reaction. He knew she'd be upset, but this was beyond upset, and Clara's words irked him. "Break up with Henry? Have you ever seen a girl break up with Henry before?" Eric commented. "Well, now we have. You went out of line, thinking she's like every other girl you date, forgetting you went to her, not the other way round, like you're used to. I thought you knew her by now, that she's not one to rush for a guy's attention, and being her first male friend, you just made her decision to be friends with guys a foolish one. Here's some advice, start planning how to get her back." Clara replied and packed her things to leave the guys.
***
Ellen was tossing in her bed, unable to sleep. Her encounter with Henry the whole day, kept playing on loop in her head. She had been so excited, anticipating meeting him again only to be this disappointed. She wasn't even sure why she was feeling this way, but it hurt, Henry was her only male friend, aside Chris, and she liked his gentleness. Most people were against their friendship for obvious reasons, but they enjoyed each other's company, and he never made a move to show he was with her to play her. On the other side of the school, Henry was also in deep thought, as to how Ellen could react to him that way. He even hugged her, and told her he missed her; how could she not take note of that? He had wanted to explain his behavior earlier and apologize, catching up in the process, as they had not seen each other, since school reopened. Ellen indeed was different from the rest. A hug from him couldn't pacify her after all. He fell asleep after he formed a new plan to apologize to her.