it's always been you (a jottie story)

Chapter 4: Rekindling

Lottie's POV:

It's been 2 days since I spoke with Anastacia, and we're leaving for Maradova tomorrow. I haven't spoken to Jamie or Ellie yet, but I need to fix things fast, before Maradova, because we need to be on the same side. 

Ellie. I needed to speak to Ellie. I hadn't spoken to her much at all for the days we're been back at Rosewood. She's been in Lola and Binah's room a lot, especially because the school term hasn't actually started yet. We've only spoken when necessary, and we hardly see each other during the day. I've retreated to sitting in the library alone most of the days, with Anastacia and Saskia often sitting in with me. "Where would Ellie be?" I thought to myself as I lay on my bed in room 221. Her bed was still made, meaning she probably slept the night in Binah's room. Binah! I sat up, got dressed, and made my way over to the Stratus dorms.

I stood in front of Binah's door, took a deep breath, and knocked. Binah opened the door almost instantly. "Lottie!" Binah smiled, and pulled me into a hug. "Hey Binah, is Ellie here?" She let go of me and leaned against the door, "She slept here last night, as you are probably aware! She went down to the Conch gym about half an hour ago, something about training with Anastacia." I smiled in relief, "Thank you Binah, I'll see you later." Binah looked at me as I walked away, "Lottie!" She whisper-shouted. I stopped and turned around. "Go fix things. I know you can," she spoke softly. I smiled and nodded bravely, and ran down the stairs of Stratus, and towards the Conch gym.

I pushed the huge mahogany doors of the Conch gym, opening onto the sight of 2 figures in white, pristine fencing gear, sharpening their swords. Anastacia had her headgear off, however Ellie had hers on. Anastacia caught sight of me, and abruptly stood up. "Well, Ellie, you did better this time. I'm going to leave now." She said, and started packing up her stuff. Ellie pulled off her headgear, and turned around to face Anastacia, "What, why? Weren't we gonna have another...." Her voice trailed off as she caught sight of me standing in the doorway. Ellie locked eyes with me, her cold stare frozen into position. "I'll be seeing you two later on, au reviour!" She quickly walked past me, and gave me a knowing look, turning on her heels and strutting out the doors, slamming them behind her. 

I turned back around to the girl in front of me. Ellie. I walked towards her, and sat on one of the changing benches opposite her. "Ellie..." I started, "I don't know what's come between us, or how we drifted so far in so little time, but I'm so sorry. I understand you have so much on your mind right now, but I miss my best friend, and we work better as a team. You, me, and Jamie," I stopped, tears starting to form, "We need each other." I covered my face with my hands, and looked down at the floor. I suddenly felt little arms around me, and heard little choked sobs. I opened my eyes and Ellie was clinging onto me. "Lottie, I'm so sorry for pushing you away. I was just so scared that I was going to lose you, and we were going to lose Jamie now that Haru is here, but you're right," She looked at me directly in my eyes, both of us were crying now, "We all need each other, even when we think we don't." We held each others gaze, then melted into each others arms again. We sat there for a good 5 minutes, before Ellie started to stand up, and pulled me up with her. "Thanks Lottie, do you- do you think we're all good now?" Ellie spoke quietly, unlike her. I smiled, "Of course. I have my best friend back now." Ellie gave me her signature small side smile, and started to pack up her fencing gear. 

"Lottie," Ellie said as we walked out of Conch together, "Have you spoken to Jamie yet?" She asked. You stopped walking, "No, not yet. I wanted to fix things with you first. Have you spoken to him? I asked. Ellie stopped too, "Yeah, we fixed things basically when we got back, but its still not normal talk. He seems even more down than usual, like he's missing something..." Ellie's voice trailed off, and she looked at me with a look that said she just somehow solved all our problems. "LOTTIE!! You need to fix things with Jamie, then we can tell him about Haru! You're the only one he'll actually listen to." I stared at her, suddenly feeling a strong sense of deja vu, from my conversation with Anastacia several days ago. I looked at Ellie, and she looked hopeful, hopeful that our trio could be rekindled again. "I'll speak to Jamie, I was always going to speak to Jamie, I was just, I- I don't know. Nervous, I guess?" Ellie gave me a questioning look, but shrugged it off. "Whatever, look, I'm gonna go shower and get food with Binah, because my stuff is there. I'll catch you later, I promise, okay?" I nodded, and waved bye to Ellie, and then I set off back towards Ivy Wood. I was going to speak to Jamie.