Anna

29 - Freya

Ellie's limbs moved like molasses. Droplets of sweat dampened her skin, even after sitting on the gym's wood floor for ten minutes. Her nose had numbed to the collective scent of sweat and body odor from herself and fifteen other women.

After the ambush in the park two days prior, Joe and Tessa decided that she needed self-defense lessons. They wasted no time signing her up for a class. Ellie did not argue at the time, though her wobbly legs made her wish she had.

Ellie rested her head against the mirror mounted to the wall as her heart rate returned to normal. The students who did not bolt as soon as class ended milled about the open studio. No one paid any mind to her. At least not at first.

As Ellie reached into her backpack for a fresh pair of socks to replace the foul ones on her feet, a shadow fell over her. Looking up, she saw a young woman, not much older than her, with short teal hair that barely covered her ears and naturally tan skin. A loose tank top hung off her torso and her shorts disappeared between her thighs. The woman's presence made Ellie wish she had the confidence to wear anything other than a baggy t-shirt and sweats.

"You're new." The woman's low but casual voice caught Ellie off guard. A few beats passed before Ellie realized it was more of a statement than a question. She assessed the woman before responding to the non-question.

"First time." The corners of Ellie's lips turned into an obviously fake smile. She looked away and pretended to busy herself by searching through her bag.

To her surprise, the woman joined her on the floor.

"I'm Freya," she said, crossing her legs. Freya seemed oblivious to Ellie's confusion.

Ellie hesitated, unsure if she wanted to introduce herself.

"Ellie," she finally managed.

She looked up. Freya's eager chocolate eyes greeted her as she paused her faux search. Freya stared back at her expectantly. "Um, it's nice to meet you..."

"I knew you looked familiar. Ellie Russo."

Ellie's gaze and heart fell at the same time. She opened her mouth to respond, but thought better of it. She pretended to look at something important on her phone in the hope that Freya would leave, but the girl could not take a hint.

"I saw Chase Holland talk about you with Sasha Steiner. I kind of didn't expect you to be... normal."

Ellie dropped her shoulders and glared at Freya from under her eyebrows.

"I thought you'd be paler, too."

Ellie couldn't hold her tongue anymore. She laced her voice with a bitter chill she wished she had with the photographers in the park.

"I lived in a basement, not under a rock."

Deciding she wanted to be done with the conversation, Ellie hoisted herself to her feet. She prayed that her jelly-like legs would keep her stable long enough to carry her away from Freya.

Ellie waited for her ride by the front window in solitude, so another glimpse of vibrant blueish-green hair made her eyes roll. Freya stood next to her with a little less confidence than when she first sat down. Her deep brown eyes bore their way into Ellie's soul, prompting Ellie to lean away from the intrusion.

"I'm sorry. I can be a little straight forward sometimes. Can we start over? I'm Freya. Martinez."

Freya Martinez thrust her hand out. Ellie stared back at her, confused as to why the woman wanted to talk to her so badly. She studied the girl's face, her hair, her hand. Freya looked and acted the exact opposite of Joe and Tessa. The difference should have frightened Ellie. Instead, she found Freya exciting.

"Ellie Russo." To Ellie's surprise, a smile danced across her lips. She reached her hand forward. When their palms met, Freya clasped Ellie's hand and gave one strong shake.

"I guess we're friends now, Ellie Russo." Freya dropped her hand and leaned against the door frame. Ellie crossed her arms and shrugged as if she could retreat back into her shell.

"So you saw it?" Ellie asked, glancing down at her shoes. She tapped the floor with her toe and bit the inside of her cheek. Freya must have noticed Ellie's hesitation because she decided to change the subject.

"That class was brutal, right? I'll be sore for a week."

Ellie's legs almost gave out at the reminder of how hard she worked for an hour straight.

"Are they always like that?" Ellie asked, afraid of the answer.

"Only when the sun's out." Freya gestured to the clear mid-morning sky.

"It'd probably be best to come back when it's raining, then." Ellie blushed at her own comment, unsure of where it came from.

Outside, Joe and Tessa's car pulled up along the building. Had they arrived two minutes earlier, they would have been a welcome sight for sore eyes and limbs. Instead, Ellie sighed and looked at Freya.

"My ride's here." Ellie searched Freya's expression for any indication that she was excited or disappointed to watch her new friend leave. Freya's lowered eyes indicated the latter.

Ellie retrieved her bag from the floor and walked around Freya towards the door. Freya swiveled to follow her direction.

"See you next time it rains, Ellie Russo."

At the smirk on Freya's lips, an uncontrollable smile crossed Ellie's. Freya waved as Ellie pushed out the door and climbed into the car's back seat. Tessa turned around before Ellie had a chance to sit.

"How was it?"

Ellie shrugged. She considered telling them about her surprising new friend, about how Freya somehow annoyed, frightened, and fascinated her, but she held back. Joe and Tessa would be over the moon if they knew she made a friend. They would bombard her with questions and wouldn't rest until she divulged every detail.

What if Freya was only nice because she pitied Ellie? It wouldn't be the first time, but Ellie still held out hope for their friendship. Until she could determine Freya's true intentions, she decided to hold back.

Instead, Ellie kept her report simple, yet effective.

"I can't move my fucking arms."

Tessa's head whipped around, slack-jawed. Joe covered his mouth to suppress a laugh but his bouncing shoulders gave him away.

"Ellie," Tessa scolded.

"What? Joe says it all the time."

Tessa's eyes shot daggers at her husband, who gripped the steering wheel. His wide eyes both feigned innocence and begged for forgiveness.

"Let's maybe keep the 'fucks' to a minimum."

Ellie couldn't tell if Tessa's instruction was meant for her or Joe. Either way, she ignored her and glanced out the window into the gym's studio. She craned her neck for another glimpse of teal hair as the car rolled away.