kick'm when your down

"Eric, did not get all your friends." Roger was watching Ellie eat yogurt at lunch. He always made time to have lunch with her. Still. Even if she wasn't in the best mood. She just stared back at him stirring her yogurt.

"Are you going to eat that?" He wondered. She handed it over to him. He stirred it for a moment and then gave it back to her.

"Look, I'm sorry this whole Elliot thing backfired on you. He sounds demented." Roger blinked.

"No, he's not. He's not like that at all." She promised. "I'll just stay home. I will. I should."

"Come on, you can go with Cory and me. You can be our date." He dipped a french fry in his ketchup then and ate it.

She shook her head, no. Finally taking in a spoonful of yogurt.

"Anyway, I'd have to see Eric and his date and-and it would be better if he didn't have to see me, you know."

"He told me about that." Roger nodded. "I know he didn't mean it."

"Well, it felt like he did. He meant every word of it." She squinted.

"He's a pretty good actor. He should think about being a drama major," Roger cocked his head to one side trying to make Ellie smile, but she didn't. "What can I say, breaking up, hurts. It really does. But sometimes, it has to be done. You should really break up with Elliot. You should."

Ellie just let out a breath and tossed her yogurt in the big trash canister near them.

"What are you gonna do about this Jeremy guy?" Ellie studied his slightly bruised face.

"What? Its hardly noticeable now." Roger smiled. "I just suggested counseling with the counselor. I mean, it has to be something that happened to him, or he just plays too many damn video games. Maybe he only puts his SIMS characters in hostile mode. Anyway, I don't know whats going to happen."

Ellie looked at him as if she might cry.

"Just don't get stuck in rut with your life, OK." Roger then told her. "You know, we'll always be there for you. We will. Just think about it, will you? Please? Its Prom."

"But doesn't it suck, usually, anyway." She got up then and walked away.

Roger just scowled. What the hell had happened to Ellie?