Chapter 8

My head shot up as I heard a knock on my window. The sun was just beginning to set, casting a warm glow across my carpeted floor. I looked back, not able to see outside from this angle, but I knew who it was. I debated opening it or not. I was still angered by what had happened days prior at church. Ellie and I hadn’t talked in three days, and I ignored her at school.

I got up anyway, though. We needed to talk and I was starting to feel bad just blatantly walking away from her when she came up to me at lunch or my locker.

I sighed and rose from my comfy bed, setting the math homework down I’d been working on. I walked over and when I arrived at the window, I saw Ellie. She was perched on the sturdy branch as usual, sitting there with her legs dangling, looking at the window patiently. We made eye contact, but I didn’t make any moves yet.

Ellie waved at me through the glass, placing her hand against it a second later like some needy puppy. I bit my lip and hesitantly walked over and let up the latch, pushing it upwards and leaning my hands on the windowsill.

“Hey,” I greeted quietly. It felt awkward, to talk after what had happened. We were further away now, even though we were only feet apart in reality. What used to be mere inches from the heart was now miles.

“Hey,” Ellie said. She smiled at me but it didn’t reach her eyes. She scooted closer, hesitating to step inside the windowsill, her eyes asking me the silent question. “I’m sorry, Eve…”

“I am too,” I said quickly. I didn’t realize in the moment but Emma was definitely right. “I shouldn’t have…ignored you…or been mean,” I murmured. Ellie’s eyes sparkled, and this time her smile did reach her eyes.

“A lot of it’s on me,” She shrugged as she scooted closer, stepped on the lower branch, and jumped into the room with an air of familiarity and teenage angst. I took a step back and couldn’t help laughing softly at the familiarity of the scene. Not talking in three days also meant she didn’t visit and I didn’t see her, which was horrible.

“No…no, don’t blame yourself,” I shook my head. “It was partly my fault, too, really. I’m sorry for pushing you to -” I sighed. She slapped her hand over my mouth and silenced me as I looked up at her with round, confused eyes.

     “Shush,” Ellie said simply. She removed her hand from my mouth, walked towards my bed, and left me standing in front of my window motionlessly for a moment. She flopped down onto my freshly made sheets causing the linen to crumple and wrinkle. However, this time, I found myself not angered by her actions, or scolding her, but rather feeling content at the common occurrence of her, sometimes aggravating, behavior. “It is my fault, and I’ll take credit for it, Evie.” She shrugged.

“It’s…” I trailed off, slowly walking over to my bed. I joined her, taking a seat on the edge of my bed. She smiled at me, leaning down to look at me as I hung my head, clearly thinking about something.

“It’s…not your fault?” Ellie finished playfully, laughing softly.

“Well,” I giggled, dragging the ‘l’ out.

“You know it’s not. Say it.”

“But I-“

“Just say it.”

“It’s not…my fault.”

     She smiled at me proudly and chuckled softly. I felt a lot less tense than I had the last few days. This week I’d been avoiding her like the plague, and I hated to say it, but it killed me inside to see the solemn look in her eyes when I walked away from her.

“Good,” She murmured. “It’s not.” She said. I didn’t answer or repeat it, but I nodded and finally smiled at her, too.

“I’m still sorry about what happened. About how I ignored you,” I sighed. I looked down at my lap, scanning the blue fabric of my dress as I avoided her eyes. I gnawed at my lip, biting it between my teeth. “But, uhm…uh, never mind,” I murmured.

“No, go on,” She insisted.

“I’m, just, still curious about the fight. I just wonder. I keep wondering.” I said softly as I looked up to meet her eyes. My eyes pleaded with her own which hardened.

“I’m sorry, Eve. I just really don’t want to talk about it.” Ellie huffed, running a hand over her face.

“No…it’s okay. I get it.” I mumbled, tugging on my hair and playing with it anxiously.

“You know I’d tell you if I could, right?” She asked quietly. She reached her hand over, gently tilting my chin to meet her eyes again.

“Yeah,” I breathed. I didn’t really. I didn’t get it, but I’d get it for her. I glanced into her green eyes again before looking down at my lap.

“You still mad at me?” Ellie chuckled, her
thumb running over my bottom lip. I glanced over at her and sighed, turning my head to look out the window.

“No, I’m not. I was never mad…” I mumbled quietly.

“Yes, you were.” She said bluntly. I smiled and scoffed a laugh.

“Yes…I was…but not necessarily at you,” I admitted, looking over at her and giggling. “But I’m not mad anymore. Promise.”

“Good. I’m not either.” She mumbled, letting my chin go, her hand falling limp in her lap. I glanced down, my eyes tracing over the way her hand was positioned on her blue jeans. When I looked up again, her gaze was set on my face.

“What…?” I giggled anxiously as she stared at me.

“Nothing…” She murmured, her eyes scanning over my face. “You’re just pretty.”

     “Shut up,” I scoffed, looking away as I laughed her comment off. “You’re just trying to sugar me up since you hurt my feelings,” I said.

     “Am not,” Ellie insisted, smirking at me as she crawled closer. “It’s simply a compliment…because I’m a nice lady.” She shrugged.

“Nice lady, sure,” I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes, but I couldn’t hide the smile on my lips. She laughed, her eyes wrinkling at the corners and her white teeth on display. She pushed me by the shoulders and I squealed softly, landing back on the comforter as we acted like idiots.

“What? You don’t think I am?” Ellie chuckled, leaning down so her face hovered directly in front of mine. Her breath ghosted over my skin as I blinked up at her and we both went silent. I could hear everything and yet nothing as we sat there in the moment, just us.

Eventually, I was forced to snap out of it when I heard footsteps. Instantly, I knew they were my father’s. I grabbed Ellie by the shoulders and pushed her off with a force I didn’t know I possessed, quite frankly.

“Uh, you- you gotta go,” I murmured, looking at Ellie with wide eyes. Something flashed upon her face that sent pain through my heart, but I had to ignore it. She simply got up from the floor where I had sent her tumbling and headed to my window. I watched her while she swung her leg over the windowsill and jumped down onto the oak tree with ease.

“What’s with all a’ ‘at ruckus?” Dad asked as he swung my bedroom door open carelessly.

“Uh…I got frustrated at my homework…sorry.” I murmured. I knew I probably looked ridiculous from his point of view with my flushed cheeks and disheveled hair.

“You and that anger, girl…” He muttered before turning on his heel and leaving.