THE alarming looks Eliza got from her peers as she walked through the halls of her high school killed her with embarrassment. She tried to stay oblivious, pretending she had no idea what they were staring at. But she knew.

Everyone knew.

Over the weekend, Adam had made the brave decision to appear at Flora McAdams party, accidently spilling to one of the twin's former teammates that his sister and enemy were now in a relationship. Even though Eliza and Charlie had yet to confirm anything with one another, they were in a different type of a relationship. Eliza had ignored the many rings she got from her so-called friends, not wanting to bother.

Yes, her and Charlie nor her and Adam had made up yet. She was on edge with everyone in her life, and she knew this was the consequence. Eliza felt horrible for what she said to Charlie at the rink last week and regretted every bit of it. Eliza had finally realized Charlie really did care about her, and she hated that she was trying to push what they had away. This was something she, deep down, always wanted. She always wanted to feel cared about by someone who wasn't forced to care about her, and that was Charlie.

Eliza shook her head, glaring at all the deadening stares on her. The girls around her school stared at her like she was a piece of meat, and they were all the predator's, ready to pounce and attack.

Wanting to escape this cage she was put in, she raced towards her locker at a speedy walk. She would be lying if she said she wasn't shocked by Charlie already being there, leaning against the metal locker right beside her own. She straightened her posture up. It was a habit she picked up over the years, thinking that if she seemed taller, she looked more powerful.

Charlie's head peaked up at her, faintly smiling at the girl who quickly returned it, relieved he wasn't angry.

"Hey, banksie." He whispered by her ear, as he stood tall from behind her, acting as if he was a shield to her. Eliza's cheeks rose at the heat of his body hitting her own, leaning back to meet his chest.

"Conway."

"It seems we've been caught." His eyebrows raised sarcastically, giving the hallway a quick look. Eliza let out a giggle, grabbing the books from her locker.

"I assumed you'd be happy about that."

Charlie laughed. "Oh, I am. Your brother finally did something great for once!"

"But, for all the wrong reasons." Eliza looked up to the boy with a frown, making him immediately grab her hand for some sort of comfort. To him, it was a simple gesture. To her, it was everything in the world and more. 

Charlie's face softened at the female, caressing her soft skin. "Don't frown, El. You aren't the one who needs to apologize. It's him. Don't take anyone's fight anymore, unless you fight back."

"I've tried." She murmured, looking down to the floor. Charlie was quick to place to fingers at the tip of her chin, pulling her head back up to look at him.

"I know, banks. I know." He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, making her heart skip a beat. She was incredibly stunned by how sweet he was being towards her; how affectionate he was acting. It was new, and she didn't mind it. "Don't be scared to fight your battles, Banks. I'll always be here when you need me."

This made Eliza sigh with relief, happy to have someone like Charlie in her life. "Thank you." Was all she could say in the moment.

"Don't thank me. That's what I'm for, Ellie. I'm here to keep you safe, and away from your bitchy family members." Charlie grinned proudly, as Eliza blushed fondly over the Conway boy, giving him a gleaming smile. The two began their trek to class, trying their best to keep conversation going instead of glaring at the students who were gawking their way.

It was a shock to many about this relationship, especially effecting the Ducks more than ideal. They were concerned on how long exactly this relationship had been going on, and how it even happened. So that is why when Charlie and Eliza entered Science class, they were bombarded with questions from their fellow teammates.

"How did this even happen?" Averman exclaimed, looking at the two as if they had just murdered an entire family. "I mean — when did this even happen? Last I knew, you two hated each other! Now what, you go and fall in love."

"Love? You guys are in love?" Guy's eyes widened at the duo, who was staring at one another in horror.

"No — no, they can't believe in love. My man Charlie doesn't fall in love, right Char?" Peter patted his friends back, who glared; annoyed on what the smaller boy had just said.

"Look at them! They're perfect together. I can't believe I hadn't realized this sooner!" Connie grinned happily, putting her hands on her hips in a motherly stance, acting as if she had just seen the two get married, and she was the mother. "Make sure to name your kids after me."

"Kids?" Guy and Charlie squeaked, staring at the brunette, before glancing at one another in question.

Eliza groaned, throwing her head back from annoyance. Charlie noticed her state, standing up abruptly. "Ok, ok, everyone just shut it! What goes on between Eliza and I is our own personal information. And Peter" He looked towards the smaller fellow. "Shut the hell up." Charlie then thumped the teammates forehead, making him groan.

"So, you are in love?" Connie jumped, unleashing her inner love crazy antics. "Oh, Guy. Eliza can be my maid of honor at our wedding, and Charlie can be your best man!"

"Our what?" Guy's mouth gawked in shock, as Eliza grimaced at the thought of being a maid of honor.

"God, guys. There will be no weddings, no kids, and no love." Eliza quickly shut that off, making Charlie frown at some of those words.

"No love?" He asked her, raising his eyebrows as he crossed his arms over his chest. She shrugged, biting her bottom lip anxiously. Guy stared at them in amusement, as Averman cleared his throat, gaining the blonde boys attention. Averman looked between Guy and Eliza, before slowly turning his back and making hand motions — almost as if he was trying to seem like he was kissing someone.

Guy huffed, grabbing a notebook and throwing it at Averman's head — who groaned from the pain he just endured.

"You know, this would've been a whole lot easier to talk about if someone didn't run his mouth." Charlie glared at Adam, who was sitting in the corner with a scowl. He looked up to the group, running a hand through his hair.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, bullshit, Banks." Charlie hissed with anger, making the group gasp from the sudden language. "You knew what the hell you were doing. You have been this entire time. Eliza has always been there for you, but the one time she finally gets a boyfriend you decide to be so against it?"

"Boyfriend?" Adam stood up, looking at his twin. "Since when has he been your boyfriend?" Eliza looked down at the table in front of her, not knowing how to answer. She didn't even know her, and Charlie were official — but she decided to not speak out about it. Adam rolled his eyes at his sister. "Bitch."

"What'd you just call her?" Charlie raised his voice, leaning his hands on the desk that was separating him and Adam.

"I called her a bitch." Adam's words came out slowly, as Eliza and the entire team glared at him. Adam noticed this, scoffing. "Of course — make me the bad guy. Not like I wasn't betrayed by my own twin sister." Adam rasied his voice.

"Betrayed?" Eliza jolted up from her seat, walking next to Charlie. "You're hurt? You're the one betrayed? My own twin brother won't look at me without disgust anymore! Hell, my own father does that. You're turning into him, A."

Adam shook his head, denying this information. "No — no, I'm not. I'm nothing like him."

"Oh, you aren't?" Eliza scoffed. "Then why the hell are you acting like I just ruined our entire lives."

"You basically have!"

"And how's that, Adam?"

"You are with our enemy!"

"He isn't our enemy anymore, Adam." Eliza hissed, glaring at the blonde. "If I can forgive him, then you should be able to as well." Eliza pointed, before grabbing her bag.

"Where you going?" Guy asked the girl, as she made her was towards the classroom door.

"Anywhere but here."

authors note

SLAYYY SHE UPDATED
anywayssss i'm fully aware how much of this book as misspellings or mess ups — but tbh i'm too lazy to care HAHA anyways hope you guys liked this i actually enjoy writing these types of chaps and im fully aware i need to stop writing this book soon and move onto the second one BUT I CANT STOP MAKING TEA??? anyways bye babes love ya