*pant *pant*

Bent over with my hands on both knees, I panted like only a dog could. "Who's idea was it to make a high school with four floors?"

"Alot of them, I'd imagine," Eli replied coolly as she strolled past and leaned out of the open window at the side of the hallway. Hanging her scarf off the frame, looking almost like a banner at the side of the building.

I dragged my collapsing body over beside her, watching the warm sky. "Oh c'mon, I was just complaining to complain."

She looked at me and gave me a quick up-and-down before saying, "Then you're in luck, thanks to our hard work, no more cases require our attention today."

"So why did I just haul myself up four floors!?"

Eli didn't speak to reply, instead she just pointed. 

I followed her gesture out of the window to a girl sitting alone on a bench curled up into a ball in the courtyard below

"To watch her."

I squinted, leaning a little closer to the window to get a better view at the crying girl. She had long green hair that cascade over her shoulders, and even from all the way up here, I could see the frills of her pink dress. 

Beautiful, delicate, and....familiar.

"Is that Kim...?" I paused, trying my darndest to remember the surname.

"Chapman," Eli finished for me. "I'm surprised you know her."

I let out a short laugh. "Who doesn't? She's one of Keley's main circle."

Who could ever forget Keley's welcoming party for new students. Ugh.

I noticed a subtle unreadable twitch in Eli's face at the name, barely there, but noticeable.

"I'm honestly surprised you're helping her," I added. "The talk of the town is that the queen considered you her arch-nemesis."

Eli scoffed, her tone casual but with a glint below it. "Try as Keley might to ruin my reputation." She said with a shrug, "People still require my services."

Her eyes moved back towards the courtyard, looking down at Kim. "Even the ones closest to her."

I tilted my head, watching the girl below as she used her sleeves to wipe the tears cascading down her cheek. "So... what's the story?"

"Quite standard," Eli, began, "She requested my help in pursuing the one she was infatuated with..." her voice trailed off.

I narrowed my eyes. "I get the feeling there's a catch."

"She likes Keley." 

"Ahh, I see."

"That's the background behind it," Eli simply said, her gaze locked onto the girl below. Then she turned towards me, probably expecting that I would shoot a follow-up question.

I obliged. "Now how about the whole bawling her eyes out thing?"

Eli's tone shifted slightly, the weight behind her words not lost on me. "I sent her some things through email. Things that would..." she paused, opting to choose her words carefully, "in short, shatter her delusion about Keley. All Fabricated, of course.

Delusion? Bit harsh. Also what the hell could she have possibly sent?

My mouth stood agape for a second at what I was hearing. "And that's supposed to help... how, exactly?"

"It wasn't supposed to," she replied.

I was preparing myself to throw a moral critique at her, but I noticed the way her attention drifted again, to something or someone down below.

Another girl had arrived, sporting a leather jacket and a neat little beanie. She ran up to kim without hesitation and sat beside her. Kim without hesitation either, turned and buried herself in the new girls arms, holding her tight like she was a pillow to cry on.

The other girl replied by wrapping her in a calm and steady hug, patting her back with assured comfort.

Eli's voice returned from beside me. "That's Denny. The friend who was always there, the one who knew everything, listened to everything, but was never the center of Kim's attention."

A fate alot of people are familiar with.

"To show her the one who truly cared for her," Eli continued, "I first had to break her heart."

I stood up from my relaxed position, "So you just took it upon yourself to pair her up with someone."

"Yes"

"And what? You think you can just decide the feelings of others!?" I said in shock and outrage. 

Eli simply looked me in the eye, and said once again, "Yes."

Seeing her resolve I relented, looking down at Kim and Denny who were now caressing each other's cheek.

I relaxed, asking a simple question with a chuckle, "Does her getting with Denny even complete her request?"

Eli smiled, "Bill, it's a silly assumption people have when they ask for my help, I have never once promised to help someone get with the person they like," she continued, staring at her finished work down below. "Only ever to help them find love."

"And that means finding the best candidate for them, even if it's the one they desire or... not." Eli finished. 

God complex much?

I leaned against the window frame, letting my mind contemplate Eli's questionable morals and what it would mean for me if I chose to be her assistant. I stared out blankly at the sky, lost in thought, watching the beautiful, golden sunset.

Wait. Sunset?

I jolted upright, fiddling around in my pocket for my phone with a sense of dread. I took one glance at the time displayed and smacked my palm against my forehead. "Don't tell me I just spent the whole day following you around."

Eli looked at me funny, slightly amused at my worry. "Frankly, I fail to see how a single missed afternoon would significantly impact your academic prospects."

I waved her off, "No, it's not that...". 

It's the fact that this was the best day i've had in weeks.

I coughed awkwardly and immediately switched the subject. "Nevermind that. Class is finished, so let's... get on with my session already."

Eli's brow arched, "Ah, of course." She glanced around, taking in our surroundings carefully. "Good a place as any. Deserted floor, high enough to be private."

After shaking off her musings, she raised a finger. "We shall proceed. However, may I remind you that you still haven't agreed to the terms of my services."

I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Yeah, yeah... I get it. Just..." I sighed. "Do me a solid first and answer one question."

She nodded in response, motioning for me to go on.

I took a deep breath and repeated my question from earlier. "Why me? Why do you want me to be your assistant?"

Eli paused, rubbing her chin thoughtfully before answering with a completely unexpected slap to the face. "Because you're boring, Bill."

Wow. Okay. Screw you too.

Eli wasn't done. "Dark brown hair, short and messy. Eyes, also dark brown. Average height and build. Only discernible style being always wearing a dark hoodie and a dollar store backpack, honestly it's quite remarkable how generic you are."

I glanced down at my sweatpants and grimaced. It was hard to argue with her about my particular look and style.

Though the one with a three and a half meter scarf wrapped around her body probably shouldn't be commenting on people's fashion.

"And that's exactly why you're perfect," Eli continued, framing it like a compliment towards me. "You don't stand out nor command attention. You're completely unremarkable, invisible if you need to be. The perfect assistant in my field of work."

"And most importantly, you have no connections here whatsoever!"

I rubbed the back of my neck, wincing. "Alright, alright, enough. No more ego bruising for the day."

Eager to get on with the whole reason I even contacted her in the first place, I finally relented. "Fine. I'll be your assistant, in exchange for your advice on my...situation."

Eli's eyes brightened up with excitement. In a few microseconds, she whipped open her sling bag and pulled out a bright pink notebook decorated with hearts, along with a pen.

"Tell me," she said, "what exactly do you need my help with?"

I took a deep breath to steady myself, and cleared my throat.

Here we go...

"So... if you didn't know, me and my family moved to this town just three months ago. I used to go to another school."

"I'm aware."

"Well in that umm.. other school, I had a partner. Still do."

"Long distance?"

"Yeah," I replied, eyes downcast. "Long distance."

Eli noticed the shift in tone and my downtrodden expression. "I take it that's not the main issue though, is it?"

I looked down at my hands, my fingers now fidgeting together. "Nah."

I finally turned to her just as she finally began to start writing in that notebook of hers. "Some of our mutual... acquaintances back in the old school told me that they've noticed my partner getting... a little friendly with one of their close friends." I made a vague limping motion with my hand to get the point across. "Even sent me videos, believe it or not."

Eli nodded, prompting me to continue as she finished writing my words.

"I talked to them about it, obviously" I said, rubbing the back of my head. "But they told me that that friend was someone incredibly important to them, and they're not going to back off just because."

I leaned forward onto the window frame, my eyes glancing down below to Kim. "They keep reassuring me that it's all platonic, that I have nothing to worry about. But I don't know, I just can't help but feel... anxious."

Eli finished her scribbling, then pressed the pen to her lip, deep in thought.

Eventually, she clicked her tongue and asked, "The acts your partner committed with their friend... what were they specifically?" Her voice way softer than usual.

I replied hesitantly, "Touching, a lot of it. Arms around each others shoulders, hands lingering longer than they probably should, that kind of stuff."

She nodded, her fingers stroking her chin as she analyzed my words, before speaking once again, "However I suspect nothing occurred that could be considered cheating, correct?"

I looked up, meeting her eyes and nodded.

Eli leaned on the frame, "And I presume the exact words used in your confrontation were for them to 'back off'?"

I nodded again, slowly this time. 

I see where this is going.

"Then perhaps a better way for you to express your feelings isn't to go in guns blazing and telling them to back off outright," she said softly and carefully. "But by merely voicing your discomfort—clearly stating which actions specifically cross the line for you. Set a boundary, not an ultimatum." 

I stared blankly, letting her words sink in for a moment, "But what if they tell me they won't stop?"

Eli smiled, "Hasn't happened yet."

Damn

I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding, a smile forming faintly on my face, "Yeah, you're right."

Eli shut her notebook with on hand, making a satisfying thud. "Any other pressing matters I should know about?"

I stood up and straightened out, adjusting the straps of my backpack. "Nope, you're good. I'll... try to follow your advice."

With a swift motion, and fantastic accuracy, she dropped her notebook and pen into her bag. "Excellent! Now that that's settled." She raised her phone toward me, "I suggest giving updates every—."

"Miss Hartley!" A voice echoed throughout the hallway, cutting her words short.