me before you

16

THE LAST FEW DAYS have all blended together for the most part. ellie had gotten pretty much her whole memory back from five nights ago but has handled it pretty well.
i had no clue where this left the position of our friend group, we had gotten invited to a party tonight to kick off the month of march/spring and we were all on board to go but didn't know how to ask ellie if she wanted to go. so there sierra and i were arguing over who was going to tell her.
it's not like it was some big deal, she shouldn't come and honestly i don't think she would want to but it is nice of us to extend the invitation, it's just a matter of how she reacts.

"hey el" i walk back into the living room with sierra following me, i drew the short end of the stick.
"what's up" she asks noticing my suspiciousness.
"so listen, we all got invited to a party tonight, you of course were invited but i don't know if it's the best idea that you go. and even though we were invited if you don't want us to go right that's fair and i understand." since ellie's parents had been out of town the past week she's been staying at sierras house and probably will until her parents return home.
"oh, you guys can go. it's okay" she says
"are you sure? we don't have to" i tell her
"it's fine, my aunt is gonna grab dinner with me tonight anyways"
"feel free to sleep here again el" sierra says and ellie nods, im sure that was her plan as it was.

my phone starts to ring and i read graysons name.
"i'll be right back" i tell the two girls and get up walking to the foyer

"hello?" i answer the call
"what are you up to?" he asks, he sounded off
"i'm at sierras, why?"
"can i come pick you up? ill have you back in time to get ready for the party tonight."
"what? to do what?"
"i just- i need someone to talk to"
"okay, where are you? how much time do i have?"
"i'll be there in 10"
"alright"
he ends the call and i walk back to the living room.
"i'm gonna head out in a few minutes" i tell them, sierra had picked me up earlier so my car was already at my house.
"do you need a ride? i can drive you" ellie offers, she has been trying to find ways to repay me for playing nurse the other night but i assured her that there was no need.
"i'm okay, my...brother is gonna pick me up"
"alright, no worries"

we sit for a few more minutes until i get the text that grayson was here. i say my goodbyes ti the girls and assure sierra i would be back to get ready with her.
ace had parked at the end of the driveway on the street to ensure no one would see him.

"hi" i get into his passenger seat.
"hey" he begins driving and stays silent. i didn't really know where this was going or what he needed to talk about so i didn't push. eventually we pulled into the beach parking lot and he puts the car in park.
"are you alright?" i ask as i unbuckle my seatbelt looking at him
"i don't know" he says staring at the ocean.
"what do you mean you don't know?"
"i mean i don't know millie, i feel off" he sighs.
"well what do you need from me?"
"i don't know, i just wanted to sit but i don't want to be alone, chase and tommy don't really understand and they would worry"
"you're worrying me" i tell him
"no, no, no don't be. i just have a lot going on in my head right now"
"well do you want to talk about it?" i ask
"i don't know where to start, i just feel like most things in my life are falling apart. my mom came home this morning, i found out after practice and she doesn't know how bad things have gotten between my dad and i,so she expects me to sleep in their house tonight but i don't think i can."
"okay, why don't you say you have plans tonight and sleep at the omalleys"
"that would have been great if i didn't already agree to coming home after the party."