The Silent Girl

1.

TW - Abuse Content!
'Ella'

My school bag was hanging off my left shoulder as I walked through the horrible school halls, looking for my friends.

"Hey" Luke came running up behind me, putting an arm around my shoulder, I flinched back, slightly on edge.

"Hi" I say simply, feeling really tired.

"Why did you flinch?" He asks, as we walk pass more and more teenagers in the corridor.

"I didn't mean to, sorry" I apologize straight away, hoping that he hadn't noticed my on edge state or my bruise.

"Ella, I can see that bruise through your make-up" He says, running his thumb over my swollen cheek. "What happened?"

"It doesn't matter" I look down, not wanting to talk about the events of last night.

"Ella, I know you better than that." He sighs, in eye line, I see our other best friends standing at the side of the corridor, Micky and Noah.

"Hey Ella, Luke!" Micky yells, waving us over, making both of us walk over to them both, a few others around the area. 

"Hey you two" Luke says, keeping his arm around my shoulder tightly.

"Hi" I say simply, again. Not in the mood to deal with my three protective friends.

"Ella, I think we can all see the bruise under your make-up" Noah says, stepping forward and rubbing his own thumb across my cheek.

"I don't want to talk about it ok" I say firmly, pushing them both off.

"Ella, you don't have to talk about it now, but after school, we are all going to Noah's house, and we will take the make-up off and have a look ok?" Micky says, tucking a piece of my light brown hair behind my ear, and rubbing my cheek once more.

"Whatever" I sigh, pushing them off again. Reaching for my phone and headphones, I put the ear buds in my small ears and the music fills my ears as I slide down the wall to sit on the floor, awaiting the beginning of the school day.

'Luke'

"What if they hurt her or something?" I question, watching the girl from the other side of the classroom. I was sitting with Noah and Micky, and Ella was sat on her own on the other side of the room.

I wasn't paying much attention to the maths teacher talking at the front of the classroom.

"I don't know, Luke" Micky sighs, us all watching as her eyebrows knot together as she writes something down in the book.

"We'll try and find out but you know how stubborn she can be." I add, writing something down in my own book as well, I really needed to concentrate, we are in our GCSE year, so this is important.

'Ella'

The day was boring. And all day, the boys just asked me what happened, constantly, it really annoyed me. Especially because they said that they'd leave it alone until after school. I didn't know what to do anymore. Should I tell them? Would they tell social? Or school?

I knew they'd get it out of me at some point. I was just nervous and it triggered my anxiety so much. Especially, as they are all as protective as each other. Which I loved and hated.

But now it was the end of the day, and we were all walking home. Towards Noah's.

We always went to Noah's because his parents were always at work and no one ever bothered us. And we didn't bother anyone either.

When we reach the front door, Noah grabs his keys and opens the door. Letting us all in. As soon as I take my shoes off by the front door, in an instant all three of them grab me and pull me up the stairs towards the main bathroom.

When we enter the main family bathroom, Micky gently lifts me up onto the marble counter as Luke and Noah grab things from the cupboards, all communicating with each other, just not me. 

"Look at me, Ella" Luke says, from where he was stood in front of me. He gently wipes my make-up off with a flannel that was in the bathroom. I wince from the contact, it was painful. "Sorry"

Noah and Mikey both take one of my hands, they hold them tightly, giving them a comforting squeeze.

Luke takes the flannel away, and rubs my swollen cheek.

"I think you've made it worst by putting loads of make-up on it." He sighs, grabbing a tube of cream, most likely relief pain. He gently applies it, being really careful not to hurt me. Which he didn't, it felt like a relief.

"I'm sorry" My tear that I was holding in all day falls. "I shouldn't of covered it up"

"Don't cry, Ella" Noah says sternly but gently, wiping the tear from my good cheek. Luke finishes applying the cream, so he puts the cap on, and puts it in the medical box.

"Let's go into my room" Noah says, lifting me by my hips and placing my tired shaky legs on the floor. He puts an arm around my shoulder as we walk towards his own bedroom.

By the time we were all sat in Noah's bedroom, we were all getting comfortable. I was laying on my side, head on the pillow, being careful not to smear cream all over it.

"Ella" Mikey says at one point. His hand on my thigh. "Can we talk?"

"If you want to" I whisper back, rubbing my good eye.

"What happened?" Noah says, the first thing he asks and its so open.

"They are going through a divorce" I whisper. "Last night, they were trying to figure out who was going to have me the most often. I tried to give my opinion and yeah."

"Oh Ella, we are so sorry" Luke nods, holding my hand.

"I'm just struggling at the moment, it will be better when they don't live together, it's just loads of shouting" I whisper, rubbing my tears away from the good eye, but just leaving the tears from the bad eye flowing.

"I get that, Ella. Do you want to stay here for a few nights?" Noah immediately offers.

"No, don't worry, I'll be fine" I sigh, giving them all a small smile.

"Ok, the offer is there if you want it" Noah smiles gently.

"Thank you" I sniffle slightly.

"Who hit you?" Micky asks, rubbing my lower arm in comfort.

"Mum" I whisper.

'end of 1.'

first chapter!

hello everyone, i'm so happy to be posting this story! i love the beginning and hope you do to, join me on my new journey.

just so you know, there is sensitive topics -- self harm, abuse, bullying... i will warn you are the beginning of the character when it is serious!

~pops~

Posted : 11.02.22