why can't we all get along

Here school was almost starting and Henry looked neglected.

"I'm sorry," Ellie knew she spent too much with her cat, Clyde and not enough time with Henry, her cocker spaniel. "Its too hot to take you on a walk." It was steamy out, and Henry was getting old.

She thought about the first day they got him and how her Dad wished they'd gotten an old dog instead of a puppy. "We'll never potty train that dog."

She kept smiling about those days when he loved to chew on everything. And though, both her Mom and Dad really wanted to give up on him and give him to the neighbor. He'd grown on them. She'd grown up with him. And to think she thought things would have never changed.

Now Clyde was curled up on her bed sleeping, and there Henry was all sad.

"You're still so loyal," she told him. He followed her hand, with a nod.

"All right, you can get up here too." Only she'd have to lift him up on the bed. He was one massive dog to lift, even if he was a cocker spaniel. "Henry, you're definitely going on a diet this time!" Ellie groaned getting him up on the bed with Clyde.

Clyde didn't budge. Henry ignored him. Ellie was pleased. She hadn't expected this. This was good. Why couldn't everything be this easy?

She thought of Cory and Eric. Well, she didn't want it to be that easy. But still, their little group had broken up. Kyle had Roxie.

She heard them in the hallway. Ellie so wanted to stomp out there and ask what they were doing, but she didn't. If she started in on him, then Kyle would start up his own little war with her.

She was still miffed by him. By what he'd said about Rex.

Ellie rang Leia on her cell.

"I have this question thats been bugging me," Ellie wasn't sure if she'd call it a survey question, exactly because Leia would be the only person she'd ask. "Did you ever date the guy, OK, its like this," Ellie rolled her eyes. "Did you ever go out again with the first guy you slept with?"

"What?" Leia squealed back.

"I know its stupid and all, but I just wondered-"

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Are you sure?" Leia questioned.

"Oh God," Ellie wished she hadn't called her. "OK, I've been with Eric."

"All the way?"

"Well how many ways are we talking about?"

"You had sex with Eric?"

"Yes, I had sex with Eric." Ellie said as quickly as she could.

"Was it any good?" Leia asked.

"Yes, it was electric!" Ellie wanted to scream into the phone with ecstasy, but she didn't instead she said, "That's too much information I'd rather you didn't know."

"OK," Leia said. "Well, what do you want to know?"

"I heard this from someone," Ellie sighed. "That the first guy you have sex with, you don't fall in love with them."

"That's crap," Leia told her.

"That's what I thought," Ellie hoped that didn't remind Leia from what she'd told her about Eric and have Leia asking a play by play with Eric.

"You know, I was just about to call you for a favor," Leia then said. Back to being old Leia, Ellie supposed.

"What kind of favor?"

"I was wondering if you and Eric weren't doing anything later, like around three or so, if you'd mind going with me to meet this guy at Borders," Leia then said.

"What guy?"

"I met him, blogging."

"You blog?"

"Yes, I blog, don't you?" Leia said.

"Um, yeah." Ellie didn't know what else to say.

"So would you? I'd feel better if you and Eric were there, you know, if it's horrible, I've got you two as my back up plan."

"Back up plan?"

"You know what I mean."

"All right, I'll call Eric," Ellie sighed and put down her phone on the bed. Did Ellie really want this kind of stuff to start up, again?