James was a nice boy. He was polite, opened doors for Ellery, paid for her ticket, offered to buy her snacks. He was cute, too--jet black hair, Italian, dark eyes. He played baseball in the spring, did cross country in the fall. He was friends with everyone.
He didn't drink, didn't smoke. He was respectful and charming and nice. Even better, he was nothing like what she was used to--meaning, he was nothing like Adam. James didn't play games, didn't try to act a certain way. He spoke with honesty (something Ellery definitely wasn't used to). The small compliments he gave her were sincere, not just induced by alcohol and the desire to flirt. Ellery could practically hear Lillian's praise ("He sounds perfect!"). And worse, Ellery knew it was true. Which was why she felt immensely guilty for being such a terrible date.
Saying she was distracted would be an understatement. Ellery was off-base, everything that occured in the movie flashing before her eyes without processing any of it. For a while, James would try to comment on the movie--but at the blank stares she'd send him in response (that is, if she even noticed him talking to begin with), he stopped trying.
In all, the two didn't really talk. The ride to the theatre was too nerve-wracking--not to mention embarrassing, by Adam's threat--to speak. But despite her disheveled thoughts, Ellery found herself enjoying James' company. Feeling guilty for the lack of interest she knew she'd shown, Ellery turned to him during the ride back.
"I'm sorry for being such a bad date," she apologized sheepishly. "I...I guess I just had a lot on my mind."
James glanced at her, a small smile on his lips as he gave her a slight shrug. "It's alright."
But Ellery didn't feel that could suffice. "And, I'm sorry for Adam," she said quietly; her eyes fell to her lap at the uncomfortable expression that flashed across James' face before he'd managed to mask it. "I'll be sure to yell at him when I get home."
A small laugh filled the small space. James turned to her for a moment, curiosity in his eyes.
"So, um..." he cleared his throat. "Adam's pretty protective of you, then?"
Ellery scrunched up her face with a frown. "Not usually," she mused, shrugging. "Of course, he's never really seen me...date."
She'd been hesitant to use the word, but after the smile appeared on James' face, her hesitance eased.
"Maybe we'll have to get him more used to it," he suggested with such suave, Ellery immediately thought back to Adam; still she smiled at James.
"I'd like that," she replied. And for the first time that night, she realized that could get to liking James.
Possibly even a whole lot.
#
Adam's car was blocking the driveway when James reached Ellery's house; she inwardly groaned at the thought, annoyed for the first time since she'd met him by his constant presence. James looked a bit nervous as he shuffled from his car, following Ellery up the path to her front door.
It was the awkward moment. The one where the girl shuffles with her keys, wondering if the boy is going to kiss her; the boy stands there awkwardly, wondering if she'd mind if he did kiss her. Ellery was shocked at the butterflies in her stomach at the thought of James kissing her; a smile crept to her lips.
"Well, um," she stated lamely. "This was fun. Well, once I got out of my head."
James smiled. "Yeah," he replied shyly. "Uh, this next Sunday--are you free?"
Ellery didn't try to fight the grin that spread across her lips. "Yeah, totally."
For a moment, it looked like James was going to kiss her after all. Their faces were inches from one another, a soft smile on both their lips--
"Oh, did I interrupt something?"
Gauging from the all too satisfied smirk on Adam's lips, he purposely interrupted this moment; and Ellery's annoyed expression only greatened his satisfaction. Lillian could only send Ellery a sorry glance, her eyes pleading, "there was nothing I could do".
Ellery stopped glaring at Adam long enough to smile sweetly at James (who looked even more uncomfortable than his last encounter with Adam).
"G'night, James," she said cooly, leaning forward to give him a kiss on the cheek.
James nodded, smiling widely at Ellery--the happy expressions on both their faces, it was as though Adam wasn't even standing in the doorway, a glower on his face.
#
As soon as Ellery had shut the door behind her, her post-date haze fell and she turned sharply to Adam. The pleased expression remained on his lips--Ellery wished she could slap it right off of him. In fact, she almost did.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she screeched, eyes ablaze.
Adam only shrugged in faux-innocence. "What?" he asked dumbly. "Did I ruin your night?"
The smile on his lips and the hopeful look in his eyes was like a knife in her heart. Hot tears surfaced in her eyes, but she blinked them away angrily, not wanting to give Adam any more satisfaction.
"Why must you be such an ass?" she growled hotly. "I mean, really--threatening him?!"
Adam only shrugged again. "Boys need to know their boundaries."
Ellery could only stare at the hypocrisy in his words. "So what if James had wanted to kiss me, Adam? What then?!"
"He wouldn't have lived for that second date of yours." His words were calm, as though his response was the most rational of choices. "I can't have some guy macking on my Ellie--"
Now Ellery was furious; she didn't bother with hiding the tears that stung her eyes any longer. "I'm not your anything, Adam!" she shouted.
The hurt expression that flashed across Adam's face by her words almost made Ellery feel guilty--but her anger was in full control of what she said next instead.
"I hate you for this, Adam." Hot tears rolled down her face. "I hate you for being so selfish. I hate you for thinking that you have the right to be this selfish when it comes to me. I hate you for turning this--something good--into something about you. I hate you for ruining this night for me--"
"Elle--" he said quietly, but she cut him off.
"No, Adam!" she snapped. "I will never forgive you for this."
