No Way (#Wattys2015)

Chapter 19

Ella

"Are you almost ready?" Shauna asks, standing behind me as I pull my hair up into a ponytail. I didn't bring any clothes with me so I had to wear Shauna's, which were slightly to big for my smaller frame, but it didn't matter much.

I look at her through the mirror. Usually, if I were about to go do something dangerous and risky, it would be Justice or Ivy there, asking if I was ready, if I was sure I wanted to do this. Now one of them was dead and the other on their death bed. I'm more than sure I'm ready.

"I'm ready." I say. 

Shauna smiles and we walk out into the main room, together. Already, Antonio is arguing with Jamie and Adam about not letting him come. I sigh and walk over, tugging on Antonio's arm. He looks down and smiles, kissing me softly, then returns to arguing with my boys. 

"Tony, sweetie. They didn't make the decision to make you stay back. I did." I announce, loudly, so he can hear me.

He looks down at me, surprised and partially hurt. I give him a soft look and pull him off to the side, everyone watching us closely. I glare at them all, eyebrows raised in a don't-you-have-something-to-be-doing-right-now sort of look. Everyone ducks their heads down and pretends to be doing something else that isn't watching Antonio and I.

"You just decided to make me stay back?" Antonio snaps, crossing his arms and glaring at me.

"It's not like that. Jamie and I discussed it this morning and we decided that it would probably be best if you stayed here instead and then came to the boxing match tonight with us." I explain in a soft tone of voice I had never used for anyone else but Justice, Cori, and Ivy. "It's not because I don't think you're capable of coming, but it's because this is something us street rats need to take care of ourselves, okay?"

He sighs and nods slowly, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close. "Okay. I understand. But stay safe, okay?"

"I will. The daylight is always safer." I mutter, wrapping my arms around his waist, knowing that the words I had just told him were lying words. 

"Icy! Let's go!" Adam calls, using that stupid nick name for me that I pretend to hate but secretly love. 

"I love you." I kiss Antonio on the lips, quickly, before joining Shauna, Sam, and Adam over at the door. 

Jamie is staying back with Andrew and the rich kids. We agreed on it, early this morning, when both of us were up finalizing the plan. Jamie sees that we're about to leave and walks over, pulling me into a hug.

"I swear to god, if you get yourself killed, Ella, I'm bringing you back to life and killing you all over again." he mutters into my hair. I smile and hug him back.

"And I swear to god if I come home to my boyfriend's dead body, I'm going to brutally murder you and then feed your dead body to some cannibal, got it?" I step back, grinning at him, even though he knows I'm dead serious.