Delicate

chapter nineteen

ELLAS POV

Did he seriously just leave because we weren't gonna have sex? The drinks, the music, him showing up, was that all just to get me into bed? Does he even actually care about me, or does he just want me all to himself? Whatever I don't have time for decoding his bullshit, I need to do my job.

I clean the house, and feel like I'm gonna pass out from hunger by the time I'm finished.

I ride my bike over to the cut, because to be honest I don't wanna deal with any of the Cameron's right now, and I feel like I'm losing my roots. Every day I feel less and less like a pogue, and I hate it.

"John B, you there?" I yell after I knock on the door. Kiara opens it. "Hey Ella, JBs not here right now, did you need something?" "Uh no not really, just some time with my friends" I say smiling. "You sure Princess evil isn't gonna meltdown that you're over here?" she says. I roll my eyes. "I don't need her permission to see my family". "That's what I like to hear," she says, giving me a hug and opening the door to let me inside. "We've been worried about you Ella. Thought you were getting all brainwashed and shit" she laughs.

"Well I'm here now, let's hangout" I say smiling fakely. I need to hangout with them, but I do not

have the energy or the motivation. I can't stop thinking about Rafe, and I know they're gonna give me shit about being on figure eight which will just make me think of him more. "Come on back! We're all on the back porch" she says.

I follow her through the house that I now feel like a stranger in. It's so weird that I don't even really consider this place my home anymore . "Guys! We have a visitor!" She singsongs. "Kie you actually got us a stripper?!" I hear a familiar voice exclaim. Ugh JJ. "Uh sorry to disappoint you, but I'd rather strip for almost anyone in the world before you" I say.

"You sure wouldn't have said that three months ago" he mutters. "Hey Ella!" Pope says. "Hi Pope" I smile. "So, you sure you aren't gonna strip for us?" Kie asks, smirking. "Yep". "Oh right Kie, we forgot to tell you. Ms Routledge over here has a boyfriend now, so she gotta be loyal and shit" he slurs. Of course he's drunk.

"Boyfriend? Spill Ella!" "I promise you there's nothing to spill. To be honest I'm not even sure what we are and he wants to keep things on dl so I can't really say anything". "You could say you had a bunch of hickies all over you" Pope says. "Hickies?!" Kie exclaims. "Um, who told you that?" I laugh awkwardly. "My buddy Thomas was working The Cameron's Christmas party". My face goes white. "He was?" I gulp. "Too bad I didn't see him". "Well he sure saw you" He laughs. "Look at Pope getting all the tea!" Kie laughs. JJ just stares at me angrily from across the porch. Something tells me his face is about to get a lot worse though.

"What do you mean he saw me? Why didn't he come say hi?" I ask, trying to play dumb like I don't know what he's about to say. "He said you and Rafe kissed under the mistletoe during some stupid ass procession, and that you two were together all night". Kiara's mouth drops open in shock, and JJ's glare gets worse. "Ella! There's no way you're with Rafe Cameron! We need to get you back home asap!" "I'm not with him Kie" I say, causing JJ to snicker. "Sure you aren't". I whip my head around and return his nasty stare.

"Look Kiara, you know I hate Rafe. I lost a bet when they dragged me to play golf with them, so I have to do whatever he wants, and he wanted me to kiss him to piss off his girl of the night".

"Makes sense I guess. We all know Ella could never be a one night stand and Rafe could never commit" Kie and Pope laugh. Oh how wrong they are.

"Soooo, back to the boyfriend" Kie smirks. "Did little miss innocent, finally become not so innocent?" Pope and JJ's eyes suddenly peak interest. "Ugh I'm only answering this because John B's not here" I laugh. And because I know it will piss JJ the fuck off. "Kie I'd already lost my virginity" I say, looking at JJ from the corner of my eye. She and Pope share a glance. "Riiight, ooh rank your experience on a scale of one to ten". "Really Kiara? with the guys here?" "Come on Ella! We're basically family!" Pope says. "That's what makes it weird!" I exclaim. "Don't be scared Cupcake, we all know a kook can't be that good but we won't judge you" JJ says smugly from across the room.