The house was quiet… to quiet; as it normally was. Belle hated it, she hated all of it. She hated the stillness, the unwavering smell of cleaner. She hated the way everything was immaculate and clean, and perfect. She hated being a part of it, being just like it. Cold, still, perfect, and most importantly; alone.

Belle pulled her long wavy brown hair back with her fingers. She pulled her hair up, pulled it tight, and wrapped a black tie around it tightly to keep it up, immaculate, in place… perfect. Her black painted nails were perfectly manicured, and she watched her fingertips as she brought them down on the keys of her giant white grand piano that lay in the corner of her room. Her too quiet room, a room that needed this sound, needed some kind of sound before Belle went crazy.

Her cold icy blue gaze landed on each key as her fingers pressed down, danced along them; a beautiful sound finally filled the too quiet room. She tipped her head back slightly. The moonlight was the only light coming in from the other side of her bedroom, a floor to ceiling window that she usually covered with a curtain. The color danced along her skin, played happily along the pale white of her. It made the small rose tattoo from behind her ear and down the right side of her neck more noticeable then it was on an average day.

She was perfect, just like everything else in this room.

Clean, poised, cold just like the room. She was tall, thin, curvy, but none of these adjectives defined her. She knew she was a mouthwatering sight, she knew how perfect she was, and she hated it. She hated her clean face, the perfect amount of freckles along her nose, not a hairline ever out of place. She hated the way her lips were perfect and pink and soft, and she hated how her eyes immediately stilled anyone she looked at.

She hated being perfect.

It was just another reason for so many people to fear her, to follow her, to not want to know her but worship her. And worship her they did, just as anyone worships a king and/or queen. She was the queen of her school, her stupid high society scholarship giving school. That school, was just as perfect as she was, as her home, as her life. Perfectly planned and set. Everything just perfect.

She tipped her head to the right, allowing her icy blue gaze to close shut and to focus her mind on the melody playing in her room. The only sound that could be heard. If she was to stop, she’d be enveloped, plunged into the silence of her life. The loneliness of it.

Such a perfect life, so many people to love her, and yet… she was so alone.

Father away in Paris on business, her mother most likely at her secret female lover’s place. She hoped something in-perfect would happen to them. She hoped something would flash; a camera would catch her mother’s secret indulgence. Her father would lose a deal, maybe a big one. Something.

But to no such luck, everything was perfect; as it would always be.

She could hear her slow heart beat in her ears, timing with the sounds of the melody she played on her keys. She could feel the tightness in her chest grow weaker finally, releasing the pain that it once held. She played away her loneliness, played away her hatred.

And she’d do this until she was too tired to do it anymore. She’d play and play and play until she couldn’t. And then she’d reluctantly stand from her seat, allowing the silence of her lonely life to take her over again. She’d pull down her immaculate pony tail and allow her long brown hair to cascade down her back along both sides of her. She’d fall into bed, and slowly, sleep would take her.

And then she’d awake in the morning, and do it all over again.

Ellie hated him. She hated him and she felt disappointed at herself for it, because she had never hated someone before. But why would she like him? How could he sit there, talk the way he does, and still manage to have girls like him? Still managed to have the prettiest girl to ever walk the halls of Hathaway Bay on his arm? What was up with that girl for her to want to be with such an asshole?

Her face was red, and her blood was boiling. She was effectively stomping her way down the hall. Only seven thirty in the morning and he had managed to ruin the rest of her day. She had half a mind to go to his girlfriend, and tell her just what the asshole does every day in the morning during those Student Council meetings, but she knew that would prove ineffective. For the simple fact that as much as she hated him, his girlfriend hated her more.

Why? She couldn’t say. She had been trying to figure that out since she got the first glare from the rather icy exterior of Hathaway Bay’s high school queen. She was so regal, so hard to speak with. How she had managed to rise to the top so quickly with such bad charisma, Ellie wasn’t sure. But she knew one thing. The school’s queen could hate her all she wants; she’d never reciprocate those feelings. Someone so beautiful, and so sad she couldn’t hate. She couldn’t manage to muster any other feeling but curiosity for the immaculate brunette.

Ellie’s soft long blonde hair swished back and forth as she walked, posture hunched. She couldn’t even figure out a way to get her attitude to change, to feel better. Charlie was an asshole, and Charlie fucking ruined everything. Clenching her fists in and out she swung around the corner and stomped toward her locker.

Ellie was one of the tallest girls in her class. Her long highlighted blonde hair reached down to mid-back length, though she had it up most of the time because when she wasn’t handling student president complications, she was actively performing in the current season’s sports. It being winter, the current sport was soccer. Despite being sporty, she was rather feminine looking, and most were intimidated by her beauty. She wasn’t just beautiful though, she was probably the nicest person in the school. She usually had an unforgettable friendly smile on her face, and she pretty much knew everyone, and everyone knew her.

She was unforgettable, not that Ellie was aware of such a fact. She never saw herself as more than just another student, working hard for her future, yet still enjoying what she could of the present.

That was until Charlie Hamilton came into the picture. Charlie was the biggest douche-bag of the school. And Ellie’s hate for him knew no bounds. She found herself jealous of his closeness with the school’s queen, and found herself despising him even more when he touched her. Charlie didn’t deserve any woman, especially someone that looked so special, that seemed so unique.

The blonde grumbled a few cuss words under her breath as she spun in her locker combination, absentmindedly not paying attention to the rather blue icy gaze that was now looking at her to her right, one of her perfect brown eyebrows a little higher than the other as she looked at the blonde with curiosity. Ellie ignored the attention, even though she normally killed for a look other than resentment from the cold brunette, she focused only on her boiling rage for the brunette’s boyfriend, who would never deserve such a title.

“What’s wrong sweetheart. Did they forget to add the extra dose of sugar to your coffee this morning?” Belle couldn’t help the satisfied smirk crossing her perfect plump lips, and she also silently reveled in the way the blonde shivered to the sound of her voice, her pretty lips twitching down at the corner. Belle was normally shorter than her by at least five inches, but with her normal heels on she nearly matched the girl’s height.

“Shut up Dawson,” She grumbled unhappily, slamming some books into her bag. “And while you’re at the shutting up business, cut your boyfriend’s tongue out. If you don’t, I fucking will.” Maybe telling the brunette about her irritating boyfriend wouldn’t be any help, but she did it anyway. Maybe if she pushed the matter enough, Isabelle would finally get it.

“Charlie trying to hard again?” She asked casually, shutting her own locker and leaning against it, for some reason giving the blonde her undivided attention. Maybe they bickered, and maybe Isabelle tried her damned hardest to hate Ellie but most of those efforts seemed in vain.

The blonde scoffed. “Please, that’s putting it lightly. What you see in him, I have no idea.” The blonde slammed her locker shut, her pale green gaze finally meeting that of the icy blue one that had been staring at her for a good five minutes. She felt a familiar tingle reach up to the tips of her fingers before it ran through her entire body. That gaze never failed to freeze her to stone, a thrilling kind of stone.

“Jealous?” The brunette cocked her brown eyebrow up again, a confident smirk splashing along those lovely pink lips again. Of course, Ellie’s gaze followed the upturn of them, she couldn’t resist watching them. Everything about Isabelle was so addicting, so perfect. Ellie found her fascinating.

“Please, of Charlie?” Ellie scoffed again at such a ludicrous idea. “He may get to kiss you, but it doesn’t mean he deserves to.” Something about the statement made the icy brunette smile in amusement, her icy blue gaze dancing with a sudden tenderness.

“Who does then, you?” She chuckled, and it sounded condescending, but she didn’t mean it that way. Ellie was way prettier than her, far more perfect. She was sure that if her parents ever met her, they’d want to trade her in. The idea kind of appealed to her. Her annoying pull toward the normally overly happy blonde frustrated the brunette, and usually she handled any conversation with her with an icy cold glare and swift indifference. But sometimes, only sometimes, did she let herself indulge in silent banter with the attraction in front of her.

Ellie drew back as if offended. “I’d be the best damn kiss of your life, I’ll have you know.” She scoffed defensively. Her red face grew redder but not from a blush. Her boiling blood was now sizzling.

Isabelle only laughed some more, which only served to piss off Ellie further. Her jaw clenched, her pale green eyes suddenly lighting up with fire. How dare she, how dare she stand there and laugh at me! “Relax feisty, perhaps you’re right.”

Isabelle was extremely amused as the taller of the two rolled her pale green eyes in obvious annoyance. “You’ll see Belle; one day you’ll be begging me to kiss you.” She grumbled, successfully agitated.

Isabelle held back another laugh, keeping her amused icy blue gaze on the blonde as she stomped passed her. She watched her until she turned a corner, sparing the brunette one last glance before disappearing from her sight. The queen only laughed, highly amused before heading off in the opposite direction.

***

Ellie’s day did not get better. It grew worse, and it was probably the slowest day she had, had all year. Though Isabelle seemed rather friendly toward her today, her normal animosity set aside for now, her minions and worshipers were not nice. Blocking her way, knocking down her books, and calling her names as she turned corners. Isabelle made no move to defend her, and Ellie didn’t expect her too. In fact, normally, Ellie didn’t give a damn what the obnoxiously small group of idiots thought of her. But today, after another obnoxious confrontation with Charlie Hamilton, she just couldn’t take it. She was on the edge, the very wobbly edge of a very long cliff. And no one wanted to be around when she hit the jagged ground.

By lunch, Ellie was shaking with bent up aggression, and she was extremely happy she had GYM next, so she could work some of it out. That class would be her only damned savior. When she entered the cafeteria, she knew that most people only turned their heads out of admiration. But because she was so close to the edge, the only people she saw turning their heads were the goddamn cliché clique of minions that surrounded lonely little Isabelle, who looked extremely bored with their attacks.

Ellie’s fists were doing that clenching thing again, her jaw tight, so tight it began to dully ache from the pain she was causing it. Her pale green eyes meant icy blue, and the posture of the girl straightened. It was a gaze of understanding, and the regal queen stood at her table and demanded the attention of her whispering group of idiots.

Ellie – happy that Isabelle didn’t hate her today – removed her gaze from their direction and stomped her way toward her table. When she flopped down in a chair next to her best friend Aiden, she itched to actually slap her. She laughed at her, her bubbly tone easing quickly into Ellie’s ears. “Hard day El?”

She was too amused.

Ellie’s pale green gaze met her best friend’s gray, and the easy laugh that was normal from her faded. Her eyebrows clenched together in worry. A wrinkle on her forehead could be seen, her shoulder length black hair bobbed about her head as she leaned forward, setting a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “Seriously El, are you alright?” Her bubbly voice now had a worried tone to it, and for some reason, it didn’t comfort Ellie like it normally did.

Ellie shrugged her palm off of her shoulder and shrugged. “This day is just taking forever.” Ellie’s normal effervescent nature was completely masked today. Very rarely did this happen, and she knew that she had to mask her bad mood quickly. Her group of sort-of friends were now looking at her with worry, and the last thing she wanted to do was talk about her obnoxious day.

So Ellie did what she normally didn’t have to do. She faked a smile. “Just a little tired, how’s your day Aid?” Aidan lit up at this, the crease in her forehead disappearing. Her features relaxed and she sprung into a long spill about being paired up with Erin Thompson for their history project, whom she had been crushing on since freshmen year. Ellie would have been intrigued, listening, nodding along, actually caring, if she hadn’t had such a shit day so far.

But something else was catching Ellie’s eye. She could feel the eyes on her, her body always knew when they were looking at her. The cold chill ran through her, but that chill was never unpleasant. She was also never afraid to meet the gaze, as most people were.

Most people were too afraid of those piercing blue eyes to challenge them back, to look directly at them. Most people were scared of everything Isabelle, and of course Ellie knew why that was, but Ellie wasn’t scared of Isabelle. When she wasn’t extremely attracted to the brunette, she was naturally curious about her. She wanted to know her. She wanted to know what the hidden look in her eyes was, that intense gaze hid something deep, and she wanted to know it. She wanted to know her.

Of course, Ellie had felt this way since she meant the rather terrifying queen of the school. But Ellie wasn’t pushy, and normally Isabelle wouldn’t be caught drop dead staring at her, or even paying attention to her existence. And when she did pay attention, usually she was full of spite and witty comments. Only when it seemed Isabelle was away from everyone did she seem to actually playfully banter with the taller blonde. Maybe even somewhat enjoyed her company.

There was something to Isabelle that Ellie couldn’t figure out, but so desperately wanted to. So when she meant the icy blue gaze of the regal queen of the school, all she did was shoot one eyebrow up in question.

Why are you staring at me?

She seemed to answer across the room in silence with only her icy blue gaze and the small raising of both of her eyebrows.

Who says I’m staring?

A playful smirk began to play along the brunette’s lips and Ellie found it infectious. Great, while she was seemingly having a terrible day, Isabelle seemed happier than usual. Her features light, her normal mask of indifference replaced for an adorable amused smirk. Perhaps it was because Ellie was having a bad day that Isabelle was so happy; Ellie wouldn’t put it past the brunette to be a little sadistic.

Well then stop staring.

Was Ellie’s silent answering gaze. The amused expression on Isabelle’s beautiful features seemed to only further grow. Her eyebrows shot up suggestively, her gaze twitching down all the parts she could see of Ellie where she was sitting. A rather warm chill ran through Ellie at the sudden action, and she couldn’t help the glare set on her features.

Make me.

And Ellie would have silently answered her if the worst person she’d ever known hadn’t walked in her line of sight. He set his disgustingly large hands on each of Isabelle’s shoulders. Ellie watched that adorable amused gaze disappear and turn into her normal mask of indifference. Her features hardened, her eyes darkened, and suddenly she was all ice again.

It seemed even Ms. Dawson didn’t like her own boyfriend. This thought, for some reason, in its own sick way, cheered Ellie up enough to place a real smile on her lips. She turned her gaze from the horrid man and “his” beautiful queen to engage in a debate at her table about how the new star wars movies are or aren’t a bad idea.

***

Ellie had wished, no, prayed that practice would have gone by fast. But to no avail, it was the slowest practice she’d ever had. Sweaty and exhausted emotionally and physically, Ellie trudged her way down the hall toward the locker room. She’d already decided to skip the shower until she got home, so she planned on quickly going in and then out.

But just as she was about to turn the corner, something stopped her.

It was Isabelle, and Isabelle sounded fucking pissed. “I don’t give a fuck what you do in your spare time normally, but how about you leave her alone?” Ellie felt herself flinch, and made a mental note to never piss Isabelle off enough that she’d speak to her in such a tone.

Gaining some courage, she tipped her head around the corner. Of course Isabelle was mad; she was talking to the piece of shit himself… Charlie fucking Hamilton.

Isabelle was so very angry. Her hand was on her hip, she was leaning on one foot slightly more than the other. If Isabelle didn’t have such a scary expression on her face, Ellie would have thought it was hot. Her brown hair was up for once, in a tight immaculate ponytail. Her normally long hair was tamed, the long strand falling down her back. She had on a tight black dress that fit every curve so nicely… Why was she dressed so fancy? Her icy blue gaze was scarier than ever with the look in her eyes, like she would kill. Her black pumps lifted her normal short height so she was almost eye level with Charlie, who was rather short for a guy.

Isabelle was mouth-wateringly beautiful, even when she looked like she could murder you with just that icy look in her eyes. “You shouldn’t make your feelings so obvious.” Charlie was smiling deviously at her. Something evil was rooted in him, and Ellie knew nothing good could come from his look.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her tone was indifferent. “She’s been angry all day because of you. If you don’t stop, she’ll do something about it soon.” Isabelle’s icy gaze was hard, nothing, no emotion could be defined in her eyes except anger.

“Please, you know that petite little thing can’t touch my spotless reputation. She can touch other parts of me though,” Charlie probably would have continued with his disgusting trail of thoughts if Isabelle hadn’t immediately reacted to his words.

She shoved him, and it looked hard as he fell back and hit the wall. “Don’t fucking talk about her like that,” Isabelle’s anger had her shaking, her hands clenched so tightly in her palms that Ellie was sure she was leaving imprints in her palms.

Something in Charlie changed at the contact. He recovered quickly, his posture straightening, and he suddenly looked big, so big. He rushed at Isabelle so fast; Ellie hadn’t known quiet what was going on, until a couple seconds after he had her slammed into the opposite side of the halls walls. The hit was hard, and Ellie almost jolted, running down the hall to throw him off her.

“Listen to me you little slut,” His big rough hands were cupping her chin roughly. Somehow, though Ellie knew she was in pain, she managed to show no signs or acknowledgement of it. “Keep your little dyke crush in check, you know I don’t like hearing about my supposed girlfriend flirting with the school’s favorite lesbian.” He pulled her back just enough to slam her against the wall again, and this time Ellie did jolt into the hall, because Isabelle’s whine of pain couldn’t be ignored.

And Ellie would have run down the hall, if that icy blue gaze hadn’t met hers. The warning in it, to stay back, was so intense that Ellie hid behind the corner again. Even though everything in her was yelling at her to run and put a stop to what was happening. She had to get Isabelle help, some kind of help.

Isabelle wasn’t making it easy for herself either; a malicious smile crossed her pink plump lips. The pain leaving her eyes as she made contact with that of Charlie’s rather hateful grassy ones. “What’s wrong Charlie baby, insecure?” Her tone was so even, like she had done this a thousand times before.

Charlie grunted in anger, and slammed his fist rather hard into the side of Isabelle’s ribs. She let out a grunt, though Ellie was sure it would have been a scream if she hadn’t been trying to look so tough. She fell to the ground finally, Charlie releasing his hold on her to the wall. Ellie jolted forward again. “Don’t think I didn’t see you making eyes at her. Do it again bitch and I swear I’ll make it too where you can’t get out of bed for a week.” Charlie brought his foot, which was strapped in a rather heavy looking black boot, into Isabelle’s side and sent her a couple of feet across the floor. She released another grunt, a little louder than the last one.

Charlie spun on his heels in the opposite direction and took off out the doors at the end of the hall without looking back at the girl he had beaten to the floor. Isabelle, tried to get up, but when Charlie had gone, she released a loud cry of pain, and fell back onto the floor.

Finally spurting into action, Ellie jolted to her finally, running across the hall faster than she had ever run before. She collapsed to her knees at Isabelle’s side, who tried to brush her off, act as if she didn’t need her, but when Isabelle went to protest and get up again, all she released was a chocked sob and she fell back down again. The corners of her eyes watered, though she fought hard to keep the tears of pain down.

Ellie was wrapping her arms around Isabelle, though the brunette kept fighting her. “Let me help you,” Ellie whispered gently, grabbing her swiftly, and picking her up. Isabelle was so light, like a feather. She moaned painfully at the sudden motion and gripped onto Ellie tightly, her arms flying around the blonde’s neck. “I’ve got you.” She whispered and kicked the locker room door open.

Ellie rushed in, setting Isabelle as gently as she could on the bench before rushing into the coach’s office and finding ice packs and bandaged and such. She rushed back out, not quite sure what she was supposed to do, but she knew she couldn’t do nothing. She had already done enough nothing and now Isabelle was lying on the bench, holding her side, and moaning in pain quietly.

“Isabelle,” She whispered urgently. “Can I take this off?” Ellie’s shaky hands managed to grab onto some of the tight material of Isabelle’s dress. This seemed to snap Isabelle from her daze of pain long enough for her to shake her head no.

“N..n…no.” She stuttered out, trying but failing to sit up. “I’m fine,” She moaned unconvincingly, trying to sit up and managing to do so this time.

Ellie’s face hardened. “No you’re not!” She snapped. “I’m taking it off, and I’m going to help you and you’re going to let me, do you understand?” Ellie’s voice was stern, but still gentle. She didn’t want to sound harsh at all after seeing what just happened, but she needed to convince Isabelle that she needed a little help, because she desperately did.

Isabelle’s features softened as their gazes meant, and the pain began swirling harshly in her normally icy blue gaze. “You can take it off.” She breathed heavily, managing to pull herself up enough for Ellie to pull the zipper down.

Now was an extremely inappropriate time for Ellie to feel the tingles, the desire shoot through her. She did everything swiftly, not hovering over any section of her body for fear that she’d stare to long, want too much, that’s the last thing Isabelle needed.

The place on Isabelle’s ribs had already begun to darken rather quickly, and Ellie guided Isabelle down and guided her hand to hold the icepack over the spot. “I’m going to go get my clothes for you, they might be a little bit larger, but you can’t wear that dress.” Ellie walked quickly toward her locker in the room that was only a couple inches from the bench she had set Isabelle on.

Isabelle was still breathing unsteadily. Her eyes dazed with the pain. Ellie knew it must be killing her to be so vulnerable, to show so much weakness in front of someone she normally despised. But desperate times call for desperate measures. Ellie quickly found her jeans and a soft grey sweater she had planned on changing into after her practice, but it looked like she was going to be heading home in her soccer uniform. The number 8 stapled to her back, the colors of Hathaway Bay on her body, and the name of the school on the front. Her last name in a frown along her shoulders right above her number.

Everyone knew her number, everyone knew her. Hopefully most of her teammates had gone home, and wouldn’t see Isabelle like this, hopefully she could escape with Isabelle before anyone noticed and could do damage with it. There were a lot of people on the team that were just waiting for the right moment to bring down the queen of the school. It was almost sickening and just as malicious as the queen’s normal ring of idiots.

Ellie finally kneeled back beside Isabelle again, removing the icepack from her ribs. Ellie focused really hard on keeping her gaze only on the bruised area, though she so desperately wanted to drink in the curvaceous body before her. But she couldn’t, not only was this an extremely inappropriate time to do so, Isabelle was staring at her so intently, that she was sure the brunette would blow up at the first slip of the eye.

She gently helped Isabelle sit up and brought the wrap around her ribs, tightening it just right. The wincing was the only sign that Isabelle was in pain now. She had wiped emotion from her face, though that hidden look that Ellie normally noticed was still there, looking at her intently. “Here,” Ellie managed to help Isabelle into a sitting position with her legs hanging off the bench. She was going to help her into her jeans but Isabelle shooed her off, grabbing the waistline and tugging it up slowly, wincing every now and then as she pulled the jeans around her curvy backside.

Ellie found Isabelle’s determination to do everything herself kind of adorable, though she was starting to feel angrier the more she thought about her current situation. How could anyone hit Isabelle? Beautiful, sassy, perfect Isabelle? Her thoughts were chasing many questions that had no answers. And she was getting flustered the more she pondered them.

She held out her soft grey sweater to Isabelle and watched as she hesitated a moment before taking it. Her hands were still shaking, but she pulled the soft sweater over her head in a fast swift motion. She shouldn’t have done it so fast however, because she instantly released a grunt of pain.

Ellie was beside her on the bench in an instant. “You’re not walking, I’m carrying you.” Ellie moved to pick her up, though Isabelle fought her.

“I can walk Ellie,”

“No,” Ellie was stern again, but still kept her gentle voice. She never wanted to speak to Isabelle any other way. She wanted so much to grab the brunette and tell her that she deserved better, and to convince her of that and to let him go. And Ellie would gladly have her back.

But Ellie couldn’t say these things, there was a fragile line drawn, and she knew she couldn’t cross it.

Ellie picked Isabelle up effortlessly, and Isabelle, seemingly in too much pain to continue to protest, just loosely wrapped her weak arms around Ellie. Her breathing unsteady again as more pain shot through her ribs. Ellie carried her all the way to her car, and even buckled her in, touching Isabelle’s face affectionately just because she felt Isabelle needed it.

The touch surprised the brunette, but she didn’t shy away from it. She only met the blonde’s pale green eyed gaze to confirm that, that touch hadn’t been just her imagination. The blonde shut the door on her but didn’t leave her alone for long, and was soon in the driver’s seat, speeding down the highway probably toward her own house.

Ellie knew one thing was for sure; Charlie Hamilton is going to pay.

Belle had no idea how she had managed to get into this kind of a mess. How had everything gone from its normal routine, to her ending up in Ellie Clearwater’s bed? Belle would have shaken her head at herself if she wasn’t afraid of the pain she might cause from the simple movement… Of course it was a dull ache now, but the lasting effects of it always seemed to hurt more than the original injury.

It was too late. Belle couldn’t make up an excuse, or a reason to give to Ellie for what had happened in the hallway. Being hit by Charlie was normal for her, something she’s dealt with since she had to start dating him about two years prior. But Charlie was usually so careful, usually, he wouldn’t leave her writhing in pain on the floor of the school hallway. He always saved that kind of roughness for places where he couldn’t get caught. Alas, Belle was so good at avoiding situations where she is alone with him that he must have been antsy to get a hit in for a while. Especially with Belle defending Ellie all afternoon. He had to draw the line back, just as he always had.

Belle shut her eyes to block out the white ceiling above her. This bed wasn’t nearly as comfortable as her own but strangely she found it more inviting. Ellie’s parents are doctors; that’s how they meant anyway. So Ellie didn’t bother bringing her to a hospital. Rather Ellie brought Belle home, straight home. And Belle would have protested, would have demanded to take her back to her house, but she felt a line had already been crossed. And pretending that it hadn’t would be nearly worthless. Especially when Belle, for the first time in months, didn’t feel alone.

When Ellie had brought the car into park outside of a small apartment building, it had felt like decades had passed. Belle had stared at her the whole drive over, and maybe Ellie knew that, but she seemed so deep in thought that she didn’t really care if Belle was staring at her. Belle couldn’t decide what she was going to do, she had gone through so many excuses she could make but none were coming up any good. If this got back to her father, he’d surely be pissed it got out.

Belle remembers the silence they sat in, with not even the engine of the car to keep them company, and remembers how it so much reminded her of home. Usually when she was around the distracting blonde she didn’t feel this void, this silence that ate at her every day. It was almost like silence didn’t exist, and that’s why Belle has always liked Ellie. But now, as Belle could see the whole scene replaying in the blonde’s eyes, she didn’t feel like the silence would ever go away.

Belle wanted to say something, to cover it up again, but all the things she could think of, seemed completely worthless and full of utter bullshit… Of course that’s what they would be, excuses full of utter bullshit. But usually she could think of some that wouldn’t be so easily seen through. Not with Ellie though, Ellie could always see straight through Belle and that was something that scared her, scared her so completely but at the same time intrigued her.

“My parents are home, and they work at the ER. They aren’t home often, but…” Ellie cleared her throat, the sound of her voice finally filling the deafening silence. Belle wanted to release a sigh of relief, but held it back. “They’re home today and I would really like them to look at you.” Ellie didn’t turn her head to look at Belle; she just looked down at her lap. Belle watched as the blonde gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, her knuckles turning white.

And suddenly Belle was fearful.

Ellie probably wanted nothing to do with Belle. Why would she? Belle’s so-called friends harassed Ellie on a daily bases, and Belle never did a thing about it. And even on Belle’s off days, she fuelled the fire that she knew Ellie didn’t deserve. When she was trying extra hard to convince Charlie she had no interest in Ellie whatsoever, she acted even worse. And now here Ellie was, taking care of Belle probably because she felt she had too. Because Ellie was a good person and wouldn’t leave a girl she saw get beaten to the ground by her supposed boyfriend to suffer there alone.

A familiar feeling started to envelope Belle. Maybe it was holding back her emotions all day, maybe it was being hit so hard, maybe it was the touch to Belle’s face that Ellie gave her right before driving off, but Belle felt exhausted and emotional… And the last thing she wanted was to be a burden to someone she admired so much.

No matter how painful it was, Belle sat up. “Ellie, I’m really sorry you had to see that. Charlie gets…” Belle shook her head; there wasn’t a good enough excuse. She had to think of another approach. “I’m really okay; I appreciate what you did for me really. But,”

Belle couldn’t talk anymore. Not with the way Ellie had suddenly turned her head, so fast, meeting Belle’s normally ice gaze with warm pale green ones. Something in the look had shut Belle straight up, and then Ellie was grabbing her hand. And the touch was so inviting and sweet, just as the one to her face had been… And Belle couldn’t take it.

Before she could stop it, a single tear slide down her cheek. “You’re going to come inside Isabelle, and my parents are going to look at you. You’re going to stay here for the night, and we’re going to take care of you okay.” Ellie leaned forward, and with her thumb, whipped away the single tear that Belle hadn’t been able to stop from slipping.

Belle felt useless, and completely weak. She felt like a burden and there wasn’t anything she could do about it. “Ellie-” Her voice sounded strange to her, completely caught off of its normal confidents.

Ellie doesn’t push, doesn’t insist, and doesn’t emphasize the fact that Belle is turning into a mess in the passenger seat in her car. All she does is run that gentle touch along her cheek, and brushes some of Belle’s dark brown hair behind her ear and out of her face. “It doesn’t matter what you say Isabelle, I’m not going to let him hurt you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

Ellie doesn’t wait for her to answer. Instead, she shoves the passenger door open and exits before Belle can even acknowledge what’s happened. How could she let things get so completely out of her control? Ellie was on her side of the car in an instant, and was pulling her out of it in the next.

“I can walk Ellie,” Belle managed to whisper, giving in just this once, to the weakness that threatened to consume her in these moments.

Ellie only shook her head, blonde locks flying on either side of her. “I’ve already told you, I’m carrying you.” How Ellie managed to pull the apartment buildings doors open, and carry her up the stairs and then unlock her apartment door and pull that open and closed as well was actually shocking to Belle. She knew her weight had to be somewhat weighing on the girl, I mean, Ellie really couldn’t be that strong. She was slender, and feminine. Yes she played sports, yes she worked out, and yes she was stronger, but… That didn’t mean she was hulk.

Ellie rushed in, instantly greeted by two people whom Belle assumed were her parents. They went silent at the sight of Belle and she was quite sure they knew who she was. Ellie set Belle down on the couch, and suddenly feeling like she needed to be somewhat more confident and pull her guard up she sat up straight on the couch, no matter the amount of pain it put her in.

“Mom, this is my friend Isabelle from school,” Ellie met Belle’s gaze and something in it told Belle that she wouldn’t have to think of and excuse herself. “She fell down and hurt her ribs pretty bad. I tried to patch her up a little, but I wanted you guys to look at her so I brought her here.”

Ellie’s dad was looking at her curiously; something told Belle that he wasn’t convinced by that story at all. But he didn’t push. He had a gentle air about him. He seemed sweet, kind of like Ellie, and Belle liked him immediately as he had kneeled beside her on the couch.

“It’s alright with you?” His voice was soft and gentle as well. And when Belle met his eyes, she didn’t want to lie to him. She smiled softly, in a more reassuring way.

“Yeah, it’s okay.” She mumbled out.

Ellie’s mother was more of the hard-ass. Well, Belle assumed that anyway. Her eyes were narrowed, pointing down at Belle full of suspicion. But those eyes were the same color as Ellie’s, and Belle couldn’t manage to dislike her either. Not with eyes like that. “How does it look?” The woman’s voice lacked the harshness of her looks. It was as soft as her husbands, as soft as Ellie’s.

Belle couldn’t help but wonder what it may have been like to grow up with these two, to have parents who spoke so gently. She wondered how they took it when Ellie told her parents that she was gay. Probably much better then Belle’s parents did when she told them. At least, she could only imagine since Ellie didn’t seemed to be forced into a relationship that could convince anyone otherwise.

“There’s a bit of bruising.” He pressed down on her ribs and Belle’s body jerked as she brought air through her teeth. “Sorry,” he mumbled to her gently, giving her an apologetic look. “I don’t think anything is broken, but you should rest and ice it.” He nodded to Ellie, silently communicating for her to go get some ice. She left the room immediately, and Belle watched her disappear. “We have Tylenol. It won’t do much, but it should dent the pain you feel a little. Would you like some?” He pulled her sweater back down (that was actually Ellie’s) as Ellie came back into the room with an icepack and handed it to her father. She didn’t make eye contact with Belle though Belle kept staring at her.

“Yes please, thank you.” She mumbled softly, almost shyly. Her actions were weird to her. She had never felt the need to act shy. Not once, but in front of these people… She actually did feel shy. And again, like a burden.

This time Ellie’s mother disappeared into the kitchen. Belle looked at Ellie again, hoping she’d finally look at her. She didn’t know what the girl was thinking, and she thought maybe if she got a look into those eyes, something would give it away. Ellie still didn’t look at her however, just stared at her ribs. The little she could see of the girl’s eyes she thought may have been angry… Angry at her? Angry at the scene she had witnessed? Belle just didn’t know.

Ellie’s father placed the icepack over Belle’s ribs and guided Belle’s hand to hold it. He also helped her swallow down two Tylenol tablets by helping tip the water into her mouth.

A lot of time had gone by with her lying on the couch. Ellie’s parents chatted endlessly to her, their names being one of the first things she finally learned about them besides both of them being doctors. Eric and Blake were completely friendly, and even helped feed her dinner they made. Ellie stayed in the room as they chatted away, she wouldn’t leave Belle alone with them. She sat in a chair, flipped through channels on the television, and occasionally met Belle’s gaze as if to check on her.

A silent question, “How are you doing?” or “Are you okay?” usually was what Belle figured she was asking while she sat there. And Belle would always answer the best she could without actually saying anything. Raising her eyebrows, or nodding slightly at her. Ellie always seemed to understand her, because she’d then turn her attention back to the television for a while before repeating the process.

One thing that Belle noticed was how loud Ellie’s apartment was… And she oddly loved it. It was so much more comfortable than the normal silence she was usually surrounded by. Eric and Blake never stopped talking, they bickered and discussed everything. And they loved each other.

Just by listening to them she learned more about their lives then she even knew about her own. She even discovered Ellie had a brother who was in college studying abroad. His name was Eli; she guessed the Clearwater’s had a thing for “E” names. Belle found it cute; she loved lying there, listening to them. She didn’t want the evening to end.

But eventually it had too, which leads back to Belle staring at Ellie’s ceiling at two forty-five in the morning. Belle shouldn’t have been surprised when Ellie insisted that Belle sleep in her bed; it was only in Ellie’s nature to do so. Of course, Ellie being openly gay, her parents weren’t okay with the sleepover idea, and Ellie was in her brother’s room. Not exactly sure what they could do with Belle’s injured ribs, but hey, can’t fight parent logic.

But Belle didn’t want to be alone.

Maybe Ellie had telepathic powers, maybe Ellie could somehow tap into Belle’s mind in a way that no one else could, because it was almost like Ellie felt her. About two seconds after Belle had said the thought in her head, Ellie creaked the door open. Her pale green eyes seemed to kind of glow in the night. Street lamps and moonlight didn’t exactly put the room in pitch black.

“You’re still awake?” Ellie muttered softly, looked behind her, and then rushed into the room and shut the door quietly. She tip toed her way to the side of her bed and Belle waited until she was close enough to whisper her answer.

“I don’t do a lot of sleeping. You?” She questioned back. She figured Ellie slept just fine at night, with her heart and comfortable household, there was no way she had trouble sleeping.

“Can’t. Thought I’d check on you, are you okay?” Belle let her eyes thoroughly examine what she could see of the girl in front of her. She really was quite beautiful. So sweet too. Belle liked her. Not that she’d admit it out loud. She had sharp features, but they were gentle as well. Belle couldn’t help but wonder how that was possible. Her nose was small and cute, and her lips were thick but not to full, her eyes were spaced just right; her jawline was feminine, so feminine. Her skin looked so soft, Belle itched to touch her. She didn’t though, she held back.

The silence between them was comfortable for her, but Belle knew she had to answer that question. So she shook herself out of her Ellie induced daze and turned her gaze to the ceiling once again so she didn’t fall back under the spell. “I’ve been better.” She could feel the blonde’s presences all around her. That normal flowery scent invaded her nostril, she had gotten closer. Her hair was a little damp, and the girl in front of her only wore a tang-top and some sweatpants that Belle would have much preferred to have been off.  

“Do you need more medicine?” She asked gently, tipping her head to the side so her blonde locks ran longer down the right side of her body. Her voice sounded raspier than normal, probably weirded out by the way Belle couldn’t stop checking her out. Even now, as she knew Ellie was watching her, her eyes followed the strands of her hair, watched as some of those same strands wrapped around the skin on the blonde’s arm. God, she’s beautiful. Belle shook her head, cutting off her gaze again. Shut up idiot, stop that.

“No, I’m okay.” She whispered out, feeling shy again. Where had this shy feeling come from? She hadn’t felt shy since she was six years old and she had her first girl crush on Tia Miller. And even then, at six, she had more confidence than she does right now. Is it just because Ellie had seen more than she should have, or is it something else entirely?

“Well, okay.” And then Ellie had to go and do the touching thing again. Because she can’t leave a room unless she’s grazed Belle’s skin. This time the touch isn’t nice to her, it’s intense and makes her body burn. All Ellie did was place her hand over Belle’s for a couple of seconds, running her fingers along the smooth skin. But it sent her sensitive body into overdrive, and Belle audible gasped at the touch.

She immediately regretted letting that little noise escape her; however, because Ellie shot her hand back so fast Belle was sure it was going to go straight through her chest. Then she was on the bed. “What’s wrong, are you okay?” Her hands were now back on Belle, on her face, through her hair as Ellie examined every inch of her, as if she could see any damage just with her blind eye even while Belle was covered in a blanket.

Belle would have stopped her, settled her down, answered, if she could control her breathing, the obnoxious shiver and tingle running through her at every single touch. Why was this happening now? At this moment? Belle tried shaking the Blonde away, but Ellie didn’t seem to get it, and took that as answer meaning “no” to her before question.

“Tell me what’s wrong, I’ll try to help, to fix it.” To fix it. The little words echoed through Belle’s mind and allowed tears to gather in her eyes. What was wrong with her? She couldn’t control anything around this girl, her emotions, her feelings, her body… What the hell is going on with her?

Ellie scooted closer when she saw the tears on Belle’s face, and she stopped asking questions. Instead, what she did next made Belle cry a little more than she wanted too. Ellie laid herself down beside Belle and pulled Belle to her gently. She wrapped the girl up in her arms and mumbled; “it’s okay, I’m here. You can cry, I won’t tell anyone.” Ellie gripped her a little harder as Belle did just that, but not too hard out of fear of hurting her.

And Belle cried until she fell asleep against Ellie. She had never cried so much, and yet she had never felt as safe as she did right then, with Ellie tightly wound around her. She can’t even remember the last time she fell asleep this early, and slept the entire night. All she knew as her eyes drifted shut and her crying slowly stopped was that she felt safe, warm, and comfortable… And most importantly, she didn’t feel lonely at all. She was wrapped up in a warm body, a flowery scent, a gentle hand moving through her hair, an awkwardly fast heartbeat of the girl wrapped around her. She fell asleep to it. To its rhythm, and made a mental note to try and play it on her piano later before she had fully drifted off into unconsciousness. The most peaceful sleep she had ever managed to have.

…

Belle was late, so very late. She had woken up late, after another almost sleepless night in her bed. Her empty cold bed. Her shower had taken twice as long then normal due to the pain the water caused when it hit her ribs, and getting down the stairs had been even worse. The maid had helped her, but Belle didn’t let her do much more than that, and it took her about ten minutes to put her shoes on, and at least two to slide her backpack on.

Then she had to wait in her driveway for her driver, who had gone home after thinking she was staying home. Because of traffic, it took them an hour to get there. Leaving Belle walking into third period Government when it was about half over. Even then, she’d be walking in with about a quart left because she still had to go to her locker, and she wasn’t walking to fast. If she increased her speed there was no way she’d make it through the day. She still had to stand up straight and hold her chin up, and all of that was stressful on her ribs that had only managed to get a little better.

It had been another five minutes by the time she made it to her locker. Thankfully classes were in session and she wouldn’t see Charlie and her minions until after Fourth Period, which was a free period for her. They all had Economics, and she was entirely too happy to not have that until next semester. She needed to toughen up a little bit more before facing the group of idiots that normally surrounded her.

Not that she wouldn’t destroy them if they tried to replace her. She had to hold her place as queen; the job was demanding and kept her busy. It gave her something to do while she walked the halls. She didn’t have much else to do, because her life was planned, and when your life is planned, it leaves you with a lot of free time until your useful time to the people that have planned it come.

With twenty minutes left in Government, she finally made it to the door. She pulled it open gently, wincing slightly before masking her pain and slipping in. The teacher, who was at his desk while the class worked silently, looked up at her met her gaze. He smirked at her, and she managed a smile back. They had an okay relationship; they often debated what was going on around the world. Mr. Sanders liked that, since most kids didn’t bother to do this. “Do you have a pass Belle?” His tone was light, which gave way that he would be excusing her anyway.

“I knew I forgot something. I don’t think traffic hands those out though.” She added lightly, letting a little emotion and warmth into her eyes as she met his gaze. He was amused, and chuckle nodding to the seats so she’d go sit down. She did so, not bothering to look at anyone as she walked down one of the isles and plopped herself down at one of the back seats she normally sat in.

“Where have you been?” Kelli Albright asked her as she leaned back slowly in her seat. Kelli was someone she played music with on occasion, and probably was her closest thing to a friend. Kelli was bisexual, and Belle had dated her for a while sophomore year in secret. Eventually that ended, but Belle and her remained what she’d call friends. Kelli had just been getting used to the idea that she liked girls as well, so it had worked out. But the two had quickly grown out of each other in that way and Kelli eventually broke it off only to have Belle agree with her.

“Traffic was hell this morning, and I woke up late.” Belle looked across from her at Kelli who had a raised eyebrow at her.

“You slept late?” Kelli sounded completely unconvinced, as she should be. Kelli was the only person who knew of how Belle slept, and sleeping in wasn’t something that Belle managed to do much of.

“I didn’t get to sleep tell around five thirty-ish. So it’s not that weird.” Belle reached across the desk and grabbed the worksheet Kelli had been working on. “Is this important?” She asked curiously, meeting Kelli’s brown gaze, which had somewhat softened from its normal curiosity and was now back to normal.

“I suppose so. You should probably grab one.” Kelli shifted in her seat to face Belle completely. “I tried to get to you this morning before the minions surrounded your locker, but you weren’t there.” Belle raised an eyebrow at Kelli now curious herself. “I was going to ask if you were coming by after school to play with the band today.” Kelli’s brown gaze was familiar and easy, but it didn’t make her feel warm… not the way that Ellie’s did.

Ellie.

Suddenly, Belle shot her eyes from Kelli to shift around the room until they locked with pale green eyes. Pale green eyes she hadn’t seen all weekend. She had started dreaming about them, when she could dream. And was sure she had almost gotten the rhythm of her heartbeat down on her piano… If only she could have one more listen. Then she’d be able to prefect it.

“Earth to Isabelle.” Kelli snapped her fingers in front of Belle’s face, but Belle just slapped her hand away. Ellie was giving her one of those silent questions, as if they could communicate telepathically… hell; Belle was starting to think they actually could.

Are you okay?

Her thin eyebrows went up. Her eyes were soft, and sent that warm feeling through Belle’s chest, letting it bloom all around her. And she felt good, for the first time in three days, she felt almost okay. Finally Belle managed to reply with her eyes.

I could be better.

And Ellie smirked, as if she knew exactly what she was thinking. Belle traced the upturn of Ellie’s lips and found her own doing the same thing, turning up, into a real smile. Ellie turned away from her, and Belle finally let her focus return to Kelli who was glaring at her. That annoying glare she does when she knows something about Belle that Belle doesn’t want her to know.

“Are you done flirting?” Belle only rolled her eyes in answer and pulled out her phone from her back-pocket… She should get Ellie’s number, and then maybe their silent communication could be kind of confirmed… Then they could talk across rooms with more than just their eyes.

“I wasn’t flirting.” Belle manages out flatly, in her normal icy tone.

Kelli stared at her unconvinced. “Right, sure.” Kelli let it go for now and laid her head in her palm. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail, so it remained off her face, making her more readable. “So are you coming?”

“I don’t know. Probably. My mother is still with her female friend and my Dad’s still in Japan. So I don’t have to worry about any… Uhm… Demands…? I guess.” Even when they’re there, everything is harder. Belle is stuck with Charlie twenty/four seven and forced to formal dinners and events. Her father doesn’t like to let her out of his sight because he’s afraid she might catch the gay again, and her mother forces Charlie on her in any given situation when she thinks she catches Belle’s gaze wandering to someone more feminine.

“Alright, I’ll let Bale know. He’s missed you.” Kelli winks at her and Belle rolls her icy blue eyes. The poor guy kept denying that Belle was gay, which Kelli had repetitively told him.

“Don’t say his name to loud; it might get back to Charlie.” His name came out bitterly, the normal ice in her tone making it sharper.  For some reason Belle was extra pissed at him, more so then she usually was after a beating. Perhaps because he wrapped sweet little Ellie into it.

“Ugh,” Kelli groans at the mention of his name and lets her head fall into her arms. “I’m so glad I’m not you for that very reason actually.” They didn’t speak much further on the matter, aware the ears around the classroom that were fighting to listen to their conversation. If too much was said, it would get back to Charlie, and rumors would surface that Belle surely didn’t want to deal with.

She fought hard to keep things about her sexuality, things about Ellie away from Charlie. Because Charlie would go on a rampage. Of course, being the queen, kids see things, hear things, and suspect things… Belle’s sexuality had been questioned frequently, and it never failed to reach Charlie. So Belle fought extra hard to act like a straight girl in love with her boyfriend in front of everyone so that maybe, one day, people would stop asking questions.

It was mostly working. But slip ups happen, and when they do, they blow up around the school. Isabelle Dawson is notorious, popular, she’s the queen. People are going to gossip about her, say anything, and do anything to mention her. Her name attracts attention; there wasn’t anything she could do about that. In fact, that was just the way her father wanted it. Isabelle had a planned life, and being the most well-known female girl in Hathaway Bay is right there on the priority list in that perfect life that’s been planned for her.

Ellie avoided her most of the day, and Belle did the same thing. She allowed herself glances at the bubbly blonde, who was back to her normal uppity behavior, but she fought down urges to defend her, to mention her. When her friends made front of her, she laughed, she made jokes of her own, and she felt sick.

Charlie had found her at lunch immediately, wrapping her up in a disgusting kiss she wanted to whip from her lips as it happened. She wanted to be far away from Charlie, especially with how badly her ribs still did hurt. He kept his arm around her the entire time, and Belle forced herself to look happy about it.

Someone that wasn’t hiding their feelings about it was Ellie. Who sat at her normal table, glaring daggers at tall, strong, brown styled hair Charlie. Charlie didn’t notice… or at least he pretended not to. See, Charlie didn’t care when Ellie stared over at Belle or him, he only cared if Belle acted as if she wanted that attention. So today, she pretend that those pale green eyes weren’t alluring, she pretended that her favorite blonde was invisible and wasn’t even there. Again, it made her sick.

She only ended up with a small moment to breathe right before seventh period. She held herself against her locker, the pain in her side had doubled over the past hour and she found it increasingly harder to hide her pain. The hallway was almost deserted, and the few people that were there weren’t paying her any attention. So she let out a shaky breathe and just sat there for a few minutes.

But apparently, her indifference toward Ellie had taken a toll on the girl, and the tall blonde was standing in front of her in a matter of seconds. Her posture was straight, her arms crossed along her chest. Her usually full lips had seemed to manage a straight line, and she looked utterly annoyed.

“Hi…?” Belle managed out; confused by her expression, confused as to why Ellie felt she needed to come up to her in the hallway. The last thing she needed was for Charlie to turn the corner out of chance and see Belle talking to Hathaway Bay’s favorite lesbian.

“Hi!?” Ellie spat the word back venomously; her bubbly behavior that Belle had admired back on her earlier was gone. “Are you serious Belle? Are we back to strangers, you hating me for no damned reason again?” Ellie didn’t uncross her arms. She was almost tapping her foot impatiently like a mother… and Belle found it all too amusing. A grin cracked across her icy features, her ice gaze melting into amusement as she meant the blonde’s annoyed pale green eyes.

The blonde grew more agitated as Belle began to laugh at her. Ellie flicked her gaze around the hallway before she quickly moved in front of Belle and trapped her against her open locker. Not that Belle couldn’t have slipped away, if her head didn’t fog over by Ellie’s close proximity. Ellie’s flowery scent invaded her again, and she felt her stomach flip as Ellie’s gaze attached to hers. It was annoyed, but there was something else in it. Her pupils were dilated, her breathing had increased. It seems how close they were caused issues for the blonde as well as it did for Belle.

“Ellie, what are you doing?” Belle had managed it out in a cool and collected voice, sounding unaffected. But just by looking at Belle you knew that wasn’t the case. She was a mess around Ellie, a complete mess. She never could hide as well, never could pretend when the girl was so close. In fact, all Belle thought about when Ellie was this close was rather personal thoughts. Thoughts like what Ellie might taste like, if she tasted as good as she smelt, if her skin was soft all over her body, what her hair felt like in her fingertips.

“Don’t think you can pretend around me anymore. I won’t let you. You need someone to look after you. You can convince all of them, but I see the way you look at me… The way you look now.” Ellie’s eyes shot down Belle’s body and back up so fast Belle would have missed it if she wasn’t standing so close. “I’ll see you at the party tonight.” She mumbled softly. Belle let her eyebrows knit together in confusion as Ellie smirked at her. “I’m going to watch Charlie.” Ellie shuffled her fingers along Belle’s cheek and Belle felt the touch all over her body again. It ran through all of her, and she parted her lips slightly as Ellie’s eyes softened into hers. “I won’t let him hurt you anymore.” Her fingertips pushed through her hair and pushed her hair back behind her ear. Belle shivered, she couldn’t take her eyes off of Ellie’s green ones.

“You don’t understand Ellie,”

“I’ve been thinking about that actually.”

“No Ellie please, things are more complicated than an abusive boyfriend.” Belle’s not sure what possessed her to do it, or how she had mustered up any of the courage to do it, but she placed her hands on the Blonde’s waist and pulled her closer to her, so close she could feel Ellie’s breathe on her lips. If she thought her body’s reaction was bad before, it had just gotten a hundred times worse.

“I’ll help you. I’ll fix it.” There it was again… I’ll fix it. Belle could feel the lump in her throat form, but she fought it down. No one had ever said that before, had ever wanted that before. Why did Ellie seem so determined to help Belle? Why does Ellie care? Because that’s Ellie, that’s who Ellie is. She’s good.

“You can’t fix it,” Belle was sure all the ice in her gaze was gone. Not that it would do much good against Ellie; the girl was ruthless against her walls. “I don’t ignore you for me, or because I don’t like you.” This time, Belle shuffled her fingers through the blonde’s hair. And she reveled in how soft it was. “Things are just complicated okay. I really do appreciate everything you’ve done. But we can’t be friends Ellie.” Belle dropped her hands from the blonde before she could no longer control her actions, which was where this was heading.

“That doesn’t make any sense, do you hear yourself?” Belle broke her gaze, but Ellie tipped her head down to follow Belle’s, keeping their eyes attached. “I want to fix it.” Why does she keep saying that? Belle’s features hardened. She had to push Ellie away.

“You can’t fix it alright. Whatever it is, it’s broken and it’s not fixable. So stop saying that.” Belle forcibly removed her arm and stalked off down the hallway, Ellie didn’t follow her, but she could feel the pale green gaze on her back. It made her want to turn around, to go back to her, and the safeness she felt when Ellie surrounded her.

But she couldn’t. This wasn’t something she could get used to. Belle would show Ellie indifference. She would go to that party she forgot completely about and she would push Ellie away, completely. Sweet little Ellie was too close to her complicated problem, and once again, Belle felt she needed to protect her. So she’d protect her the best way she could, by pushing her away.