: Chapter 53

The ice cream parlour was quiet. The only sound in the place was little Charlie next to me humming while he played with his new deck of cards that he had won at an arcade game.

He was shuffling them and asking me to chose a card. I did what he said and then he shuffled them again.

The little boy picked up a random card and showed me it with a grin ‘Is this your card?’

‘Yes. It is.’ I lied Charlie cheered ‘I am the best magician there ever was.’

‘Yeah.’ I agreed before winking at Lana ‘I am sure if Penn and Teller decide to make their duo into a three then they will come right your way.’

Lana was sitting on the other side of the booth and it gave her the perfect view to frown at me ‘I can not believe we are here. You should be resting, Ella.’

I shrugged while picking another card from Charlie ‘I did not get out of a hospital bed to go and lie in an another bed. Fresh air will be good for me.’

‘You are inside!’

‘The last time I checked the air in here was not rotten.’ I rebutted while taking another bit of my mint chocolate chip ice cream ‘I would rather just get on with things. I do not want to be in bed just lying around thinking about stuff. I will only drive myself crazy.’

She did not look happy with my answer as she argued ‘You should be resting. You were in a serious accident then unconscious for days. Also you just lost your father.’

‘You were in an accident?’ Charlie asked from beside me, his bottom lip trembling and his eyes starting to water ‘Drizzy was hurt?’

‘Of course not.’ I lied to the small boy while picking him up and putting him on my lap.

I patted his back until he stopped crying and then I moved my ice cream bowl closer to him ‘Here. Do you want the rest of my ice cream?’ I asked rhetorically.

My words seemed to do the trick because he smiled and nodded his head ‘Yay!’

Lana still did not look any less annoyed.

She started explaining with her hands moving around in the air ‘You can not just act like nothing has happened.’

‘I am not doing that.’

She argued ‘Yes. You are.’

‘I just want everything to go back to the way it was.’

Her blue eyes widened as she spoke ‘Everything except you and Stone?’

I stayed quiet.

‘I was wrong.’ Lana admitted, ‘I should not have said what I said about him.’

All I could do was shrug at her ‘You were wrong about what you said. I did not end things because of that though. I have my own reasons.’

‘Oh no.’ She exclaimed, ‘You are pulling an Ella.’

My mouth opened and then closed before I sputtered ‘What the hell is that?’

‘It is your signature move.’ She explained ‘Every time you get hurt or you are upset then you shut everybody out. Something bad happens and then it is like you build your walls up so high that nobody can get in. You think secluding yourself away from everything and going into your own little shell will stop everyone else from sharing your pain.’

‘I-I do not do that.’

Lana’s head went to the side as she vocalised ‘When your mom passed away, you did not speak to me for two weeks. You did not speak to anyone.’

Maybe I did do that.

‘He is better off without me.’ I told her about ‘He deserves—’

‘Stop, Ella. You deserve happiness too’ She scolded.

I shook my head because I was not going to change my mind.  Not even when that was all I wanted to do.

I was so unhappy. Everything felt so confusing. I had no idea what was right and what was wrong. Nothing made sense.

‘What is with your sudden change of heart about your thoughts on Stone?’ I asked with curiosity.

‘I know that I said that stuff at the hospital and it was way out of line. I was just trying to be the strong one for once. I am terrible at it.’ She explained ‘You are the one that is strong. Not me. You have been looking out for me pretty much my whole life. I tried to think about what you would do if I was still dating an illegal street fighter and I felt lied to and betrayed.’

I smiled at her sadly ‘If you did have a boyfriend like that then I would kick his ass.’

Her giggle was almost a snort ‘I am sorry but I cannot say I would do the same. There is no way I would go up against Stone.’

‘He is a good guy, Lana.’

‘He is the best guy for you.’ She said, ‘That is why it is such a shame that you are pushing him away.’

‘It is not as easy as that though.’ I mentioned ‘We kind of started this wager where I have three days to give a real reason why we should break up.’

‘Only you two would do something as crazy as that.’

‘I have until midnight on Friday to come up with a good reason why we should break up.’ I further elaborated ‘I am not changing my mind. He should not be with me.’

‘So if you lose then what do you have to give him?’ She questioned.

‘Me forever. Apparently.’

‘That is just like something out of a film.’ She gushed and then asked, ‘Do you really believe that if you do win that he is going to just give up and leave?’

I looked away ‘He will give up.’

‘He is not going to just give up.’ Lana told me like it was a statement rather than an opinion ‘I think he will fight for you. No matter how long it takes.’

Glaring at her dreamy expression, I pointed out ‘I am planning to win. You are meant to be Team Ella.’

‘I am Team Ella.’ She responded with but then her expression went sheepish as she started tapping her phone ‘Yet I do not support your decision to be here. You should not be out and about. You should be in bed!’

Charlie was still on my lap as he sat and ate the remainder of my ice cream.

Once he had finished the whole bowl, he then grinned at me ‘Does that mean you can be my girlfriend, Drizzy?’

‘Of course it does.’ I replied while laughing at his cute little face.

Charlie got bored and started looking around the place. Just like the rest of the pier, the ice cream parlour was decorated in Halloween decorations. All things from orange and purple string to different spooky figures around the place.

His chubby finger pointed to the back of the shop ‘Look at the witch!’

‘Did you know a long time ago in some places, girls were not allowed to wear lipstick because boys thought witches wore it to make them fall in love?’

‘Really?’ He looked up at me in amazement before motioning to the ghost statue  in the middle of the room ‘What about ghosts?’

A ghost fact comes to mind and I voiced it ‘I read this research paper where fifty random people who had claimed to have seen a ghost, all said that the ghosts loved the smell of lemons. That means that ghosts love lemonade.’

‘That is silly!’ Charlie exclaimed with a laugh.

Lana looked bewildered ‘How do you know all of this?’

‘I just read a lot. I guess.’ I shrugged.

Charlie was now looking over my shoulder in the direction of the front door to the shop as he asked ‘Do you know any facts about giants?’

‘Where do you see a giant?’ I asked curiously because I had not seen one on my way into the store.

I turned my head around and what I saw made my eyes widen.

‘I know when a giant looks like that then he is about get very mad at people that have green hair and are called Ella.’ I voiced as I began to hide in my seat.

Stone sat down next to me. He was glaring at the table as he occupied the whole space of the booth. His face was hard and his jaw was clenched. It was scary how mad he looked. He met my eye and what I saw was that his face was expressionless. Like he was holding back his fury.

‘Fancy meeting you here.’ I nervously made a joke.

He did not answer. He glared and it gave away everything that he obviously wanted to say.

Charlie spoke up from his place on my lap ‘Big Giant Man, Ella says that she is my girlfriend now.’

Big Giant Man as the little boy had called him was now glowering at the back of the small human’s head.

My attention goes went to Stone who was watching me unfalteringly.

I shrugged and attempted to smile at him ‘You did not specifically say I could not go anywhere.’

‘You were in an accident. You are hurt.’ He snarled ‘I have made it clear enough that I do not want you on your feet. Was it not a large enough hint when I said that I needed to carry you out of the car this morning?.’

‘Not really.’ I deadpanned ‘I have a small feeling that if you had your way then I would always be carried around by you or in your arms somewhat.’

‘Damn right you would be.’ He gritted out, his jaw ticking.

Looking anywhere but him, I reassured ‘I promise you that I am okay. I just needed some air. I have been in that hospital room for days.’

‘Ella.’ He growled in warning.

I exaggerated a growl back ‘Stone.’

He rested his arm behind me and leaned closer so I could feel how harsh and deliberate his words were.

‘You are injured.’ He spoke, his dark voice deepening ‘If I have to haul you over my shoulder, drag you back and chain you to the bed until you get better then you better fucking believe that is what I am about to do.’

I should not have found that attractive.

I stole a glance at his lips that were set in their usual semi-permanent scowl.

Lana stood up from her seat in the booth and let out a hurried noise ‘Charlie, lets go and get some more ice cream.’

Charlie let out a happy cheer before Stone picked him up from my lap and then deposited him on the ground.

The small boy and the blonde girl ran off to the ice cream parlour’s counter while faced the fiery wrath of the giant.

Stone scrubbed a hand along his face before he voiced ‘What are you doing, Medusa?’

‘It is none of your…’ I began but then stopped.

I could not even finish my sentence because it did not sit well on my tongue.

He chuckled darkly ‘Finish that sentence.’

I rolled my eyes at him and at the fact that I had subconsciously moved closer to him. Close enough to see how many emotions swirled around in the obsidian eyes.

‘How did you know I was here?’ I asked ‘Lana.’ He answered while still appearing seconds away from picking my body up and locking me away.

I sat in silence and wondered why Lana had told him that I was here.

‘I am pissed off.’ He stated as his gravelly voice deepened.

‘When are you ever not pissed off?’ I challenged him while watching his furious expression.

His jaw ticked a few times before he retorted ‘When you are happy and healthy.’

‘I am happy. I am having ice cream’ I argued ‘Not so healthy though because I have had four scoops.’

Continuing to glower at me, he repeated himself ‘Go home. You are meant to be on bed rest.’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘I don’t care.’ He said with a tone of warning ‘I am taking you back.’

‘No. You are not.’

‘Ella’ He grumbled again, obviously furious at my stubbornness.

‘I can not just sit there.’ I explained while looking up at him ‘I can not just sit and think about everything. I will drive myself insane.’

‘You are driving me insane.’

I tried to think of something that would make him leave. I took the last resort and decided that the option I was about to do was worth a try.

I stuck my bottom lip out in a pout and widened my eyes to give him a puppy dog look.

My lip trembling did not even get a chance to start because I ceased what I was doing when he narrowed his eyes at me.

Stone cursed under his breath.

‘You cheat, Ella.’ He growled again and I could feel his voice vibrate through me.

‘Please just leave me.’

‘I am never leaving you.’ He stated and waited a minute before he added begrudgingly ‘I will let you make your own way back but you better be going straight to bed.’

‘Thanks. How kind of you’ I muttered sarcastically while ignoring my stomach doing somersaults at the first part of his previous statement.

‘You could have died.’ He raised his voice as he said it and I could feel him start to shake ‘I could have lost you. You are lucky that I am letting you leave my sight ever again.’

I could see how worked up he was so I decided not to argue verbally.

‘Medusa, you are going back.’

‘Yeah. Okay.’ I fibbed.

Lana and Charlie walked back over and that was when I stood up to meet them. I looked back over my shoulder and seen the dark eyes watching my every move.

It took all my energy to draw my gaze away from him and for me to tell Lana ‘Lets go.’

We walked along the pier. Away from the ice cream parlour and away from him. Lana held on to my arm like I was going to fall over at any moment. Charlie ran in front while waving his arms around like an aeroplane.

I turned to Lana and asked, ‘Why did you tell Stone?’

‘Because you should not be on your feet!’ She erupted and then she softened her words as she talked again ‘He is so worried about you. We all are.’

I shook my head while I looked at the sea ‘Can we go and grab some stuff from my apartment?’

Her eyes almost popped out of her head as she spluttered ‘You can not be serious.’

‘I just need to grab a few things.’

We were almost at the start of the promenade when she let out a sigh and she spoke again.

‘Stone is not going to be happy about this.’ She vocalised and there was almost a hint of fear in her tone.

‘He does not have to know.’

She tilted her head while agreeing ‘Fine. Just to get your stuff and then we will head straight back or else I will call Stone again.’

‘Traitor.’ I murmured as we turned onto one of the streets taking us away from the beach.

My whole body was hurting. It was mostly my legs that felt strained. The hill up to my apartment was a challenge but I just tried to breathe through it because I did not want Lana making a fuss.

I unlocked the door to the apartment and stepped in while dreading what feeling would come with it.

Charlie ran past the both of us and jumped on the sofa. Lana looked around as I stared at the carpet and focused on anything except the sensation in my throat and my stomach.

The place had started to feel like home but now that was feeling was gone.

The small boy called from the other side of the room as he swung his legs ‘I am bored.’

Walking over to him, I unlocked my phone and passed it to him ‘You can play on my phone until I have packed some of my things.’

Lana and I made our war through to my room. I tried to keep my attention centred on the floor while she gawked at the walls of my bedroom.

‘He painted all four of your walls green.’ Lana pointed out before she questioned, ‘Is that not too overpowering?’

I studied my fairytale green walls and had the urge to break down.

‘You would think so but it is not.’ I shook my head with a small smile ‘It is perfect.’

She nodded understandingly ‘I will pack some clothes for you. You get what else you want to take.’

‘Okay.’ I quietly let out.

Her whole body stilled as she took in the sight of the unmade bed. She turned around with a sheepish look on her face.

‘Is there any love zones that I should avoid?’ She asked with a red face.

‘Love zones?’ I repeated while my own face started to heat up.

‘Is there?’ She questioned while glancing at the headboard ‘Apart from the obvious.’

‘No.’ I said instead of the truth.

I was not going to tell her that she should not touch any wall, floor or other surface of the apartment. I was not going to tell her that she should probably just wait outside.

I sat on the bed and attempted not to think about anything else than what I was needing to take. I threw my school stuff into a bag and some books while I focused on the job at hand.

Lana was busy filling another bag with a few days worth of clothes when she looked around and whispered ‘Do you hear voices?’

Staying quiet for ten seconds, I answered ‘No.’

She shrugged before picking up the bag of clothes ‘I will go and see if Charlie is fine.’

When she left, I moved myself from the bed and onto the floor. I brought my chest to my knees and took deep breaths. The walls did not seem as bright or the right exact shade of green as I stared at them. I closed my eyes after a while and let my head fall back onto the bed.

When I opened them again, I noticed something sticking out from under the bed so I reached out and grabbed it. Pete the Second was lying there on the ground. The stuffed panda that Stone had won for me after I went on the Ferris wheel with him.

I sat the stuffed animal on my knees and bit my shaking lip before I eventually picked myself up from the floor and dropped the panda onto the bed. I picked up my bag and got ready to go.

Footsteps came from the door so as I zipped the bag with my school supplies, I did not bother to look at who was there before I spoke ‘I will be there in a second. I hope you never found any love zones.’

I turned around and my eyes widened at who was standing there.

The person standing there took up the whole space of the doorway. His head hung slightly low because if he rose to his full height then he would hit the top of the wood with his head. He had his hand leaning on the door and by the way his veins bulged, he was holding on tightly. His obsidian eyes were trained on my bag with a scowl.

‘How did you know?’ I started playing with a strand of my hair to distract myself from going to him.

‘You are the worst liar.’ He mentioned with a scary frown ‘I called you to make sure you were heading back and it was the boy who answered.’

I raised a brow ‘Charlie?’

Stone nodded and his fist lightly tapped the wall in a rhythm ‘He answered. Told me you were packing your things.’

‘It is for the best.’ I gulped after saying it because I did not think my lungs were working properly ‘Please just leave me alone. I am just trying to make this easier.’

‘Easier for who?’ He retaliated in his demanding tone.

Running a hand through my hair and pulling it back from my shoulders, I walked over to the door with my bag in hand ‘You need to let me go. I can’t—’

He stopped me from leaving the room as his wide shoulders blocked my path. His large hand reached out and brushed over my face. He moved a green strand of hair behind my ear before his thumb flicked over my lip.

‘I love you. Relentlessly.’ He rasped out ‘I am not going anywhere.’

Silence fell between us. All I could hear was the sound of my heavy breathing and if it was possible then the sound of my heart breaking.

He did not budge from his stance at the door. If anything then he appeared to stand up taller and both his hands clutched each side of the doorframe more strongly.

‘Has anyone ever told you that you would make a great bodyguard?’ I remarked while peering up at him.

‘Yes.’

I bit my lip to stop from smiling.

The need to be close to him was so overwhelming that I could not linger there any longer. I did not even have to duck to get under his arm and walk right past him and into the living room.

Lana and Charlie arid up when they saw me. However, their attention did not stay in my direction for long as they watched over my shoulder.

‘I have everything I need.’ I lied ‘I am ready to go.’

The three of us made our way downstairs but Stone still followed behind. By the way that he slammed the door behind him was a sign that he was still furious.

It was when we exited the building that Stone looked around before exploding in rage ‘You walked.’

‘I am fine.’ I argued.

He saw right through my act because in one step he was right in front of me while scolding in a low deadly tone.

‘Is that why every step you are wincing? Is that why you are rubbing your arms over your marks right now? Is that why your eyes look glassed over like you are about to cry?’

I instantly dropped my arms to my side and looked up at his worried face.

‘That is none of your concern.’ I said cruelly in hopes that he would leave.

Stone did not like my words.

Viciously yet gently, he hooked his arm around my waist and then placed me over his shoulder effortlessly.

I was about to protest to him but the look of ferocity and savagery in his eyes silenced me.

Charlie ran over to where we were and looked up grinning while handing Stone my phone ‘Is it high up there, Drizzy?’

I did not reply because I was too busy matching the glare Stone gave me. I could only send it to the back of his head because as much as I kicked my feet in the air he would not let me down.

‘I will be taking her back.’ He said to Lana before he rated his large hand on my back and spoke to me ‘I am going to make fucking sure that you go back this time.’

Lana looked between us and tried to hide the small amused smile growing on her face.

‘I need to drop Charlie back home and he only lives a few blocks from here.’ She excused ‘You two just go ahead. I will see you back at mine.’

‘He is going to kill me.’ I pointed down at Stone in faux horror.

He did not deny it. He just walked over to his truck and set me down before opening the passenger door and helping me in. He then went to his side and started the engine without a word.

A few blocks later and then he eventually spoke up, his voice not as strong as before ‘Why are you doing this?’

I was doing it because I was a mess and not nearly good enough. I did not deserve his efforts.

‘Medusa, speak to me.’ He pleaded yet it sounded more like a command as his rough voice rang out among the space of the car.

I looked at his dishevelled state and then when it became too much, I stared out the window at the passing city.

‘I do not need to give you a reason why until tomorrow. That is what we agreed. Three days.’ I reminded him.

‘I tried to give you space.’ He declared while his grip on the steering wheel tightened ‘I almost crushed my phone to stop myself from calling you so I could give you time. Then you go and do this.’

‘It does not matter’ I whispered to myself ‘This,’ He stated, his input harsh and an unbreakable promise ‘This is not over.’

Stone was kind of like a Trojan Horse in a sense. He was large and screamed danger yet I underestimated how big of a threat he was. He had fought past my walls and he had taken down the barrier I had put up around myself. I did not know if I could rebuild myself without him.

He had conquered me and if I was not careful then he was going to do it again.