Just Us

Part 8

I quickly pulled my jeans on, following with my bra and shirt. Multiple thoughts clouded my mind. Was this right? You enjoyed it. Yes, I enjoyed it but it doesn't make it right. Ellie decided to do it, don't blame yourself. She's also drunk, very drunk. She is also an adult, she can come up with decisions on her own.

"Ellie, can we talk?" I yell, I'm suddenly sober, my legs still unable to hold my balance and slightly shaking. I follow after her, heading around the back of the bar into the back room, it appears to be a kitchen. I notice Ellie opening up cupboards in search of something. 

"Sure baby," she replies, not making eye contact and continuing her actions. She opens a door and reaches inside, pulling out a can of food. She flips it over to check the expiry date then heads out of the kitchen, making her way past me.

I follow after her, looking like a lost puppy. She walks around the bar and sits back on the stool we were on only moments before our actions, I remain on the other side. "Ellie, you're in a relationship, what we did was wrong," I speak, I mean it honestly. 

"But you enjoyed it, I could tell," she says, the smell of alcohol burns my nose as she looks up at me. There's something about her presence right now that makes me feel unpleasant. She opens the can, inside are the remains of diced tomatoes. "You can't deny that what we did was nice," she says again. She pulls the can up to her mouth and engulfs half of the tomatoes. 

I look out the large window and notice the blizzard has begun to die down, it appears safe enough for Ellie and me to return to town. I don't particularly want to stay with Ellie any longer. Yeah, I enjoyed it but I can't help but feel guilty.

"We should head back," I mumble, my eyes still plastered to the large window, admiring the snowy slopes. I notice Ellie turn around and look out the large window, a sigh comes from her direction.

Ellie places the can down and pushes it towards me, a way of her asking if I want any. She stands up and heads towards the front doors. I pick up the can and finish it off, then follow Ellie. 

I walk around the corner and see Ellie already on her horse, I walk to the door and move the wooden planks away and open them up, heading back to my horse and we head off back to town. The sound of birds chirping in the distance and wind blowing through the trees cloud the uncomfortable feeling of silence amongst Ellie and me. I'm curious what she's thinking. 

After a long walk, we finally make our way back to camp, Maria waiting by the gates as they opened. She looks up at us, slight fear coated on her face however she manages to hide it perfectly.  

"We felt the blizzard, we were worried about you too, we were about to send Jesse and Dina out to check if you guys were alright," Maria says as Ellie and I both hop off our horses as they get taken away into the stables. "Are you guys... drunk?" She asks, taking a deep breath next to Ellie.  

"Maybe, maybe not?" Ellie laughs, heading off towards Dina who was waiting near the gates with Jesse. 

I walk in the opposite direction, planning to get home and have a great sleep which would help with the headache that's coming along.

"What happened?" Jesse asks as he comes running up towards me, "did you guys get caught in the blizzard?"

"Barely, we got inside only minutes after it started, we camped in the ski-lodge on the edge of the mountain," I reply, still walking forward as my plan hasn't changed. I look up at Jesse slightly, he's only a bit taller than me, his posture a bit 'wonky' making him appear shorter than he is.

"You're fucking drunk? Aren't you?" he says, placing his hand along my chest to stop me from walking. "Come on, tell me all about it,"

"Jesse, honest to god, I love you lots but I'm fucking exhausted, I'm going home to sleep," I reply, pushing his hand off my chest and continuing walking towards my house. My head drops down as I feel guilty about my aggressive response.