Dance Till You're Dead (ON HOLD FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE)

Chapter 6

On Sunday night, Ella cried herself to sleep. Her arm was covered in bandages under the long sleeves of Ryan's hoodie, which he'd left with her at the hospital, but the words etched into her skin were still fresh and raw in her mind. The Police had called earlier that day, and she had grudgingly repeated them over and over.

"What was the message the attacker, um, left you with Miss Nobel?" the female officer had asked. Ella noticed how her eyes had flickered to her left arm as she spoke.

"I will get you."

Ella repeated, ashen faced and holding back tears. But she couldn't hold them back now. She wanted them all gone before tomorrow too. She was going back to college. Of course everyone had told her not to, but she was determined. She had to show, whoever it was that she wouldn't back down. In her mind it was the only way to deal with this.

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The next day came all too quickly, as Ella awoke with her arm throbbing and her alarm clock drumming. She hauled herself downstairs, preparing for the onslaught of pleas from her parents for her to stay home, she didn't need to go to college so soon and be so vulnerable, and why was she wearing a long sleeved jumper in June anyway? After what seemed like three hours of questions and pleas, Ella slammed the door shut and almost ran to her car where she shut the car door and gripped the steering wheel. Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she refused them an exit. She was going to make it through today without them.

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"Ella!" a voice shouted. Heads turned towards her as Carys ran and nearly pulled her over in the force of her hug. When she finally let go, Ella saw tears in her eyes.

"Don't you dare!" she said, gripping her shoulders, "If you start then I will, and I've already had half the college staring and pointing at me this morning." Carys' mood suddenly switched.

"What? Who?! I'll get them!" she said loudly, before Ella grabbed her and told her to can it.

"Sorry Ells, I just don't want people making today more difficult than it's already going to be." Ella smiled at her.

"Thanks Cary, you really are the best." she bumped her hip against Carys, who smiled quickly back then looked away before locating their lockers in the hall.

"Have you seen Ryan today? I really need to talk to him." Ella said, turning the key and rummaging through her books and folders.

"Finally plucked up the courage to ask him out then?" said Carys excitedly, struggling to find her own key amongst the piles of paper and food wrappers in her bag. Ella gave her a look and said

"I don't think a boyfriend is exactly what I need right now. No. I need to thank him, it was him who...found me. He said he was coming round to...well he didn't exactly say actually, but he stayed with me all night until his parents made him come home. It was very, sweet of him. I woke up after he'd gone, so didn't get chance to say thanks." Carys looked ecstatic. She finally found her key and was unlocking her locker door.

"Incredibly sweet! Oh this is so exciting, I think a boyfriend is exactly what you need right now Ella, someone to protect you and care about you. I mean, someone other than me of cour..." she trailed off. Ella followed her eye line into her locker. She moved her head to try and see what Carys was staring at, but she noticed and snatched something out before slamming it behind her. She slowly locked it back up, then turned round to Ella.

"Come on then, you've got English Lit first haven't you? I've got Media, so I'll walk that way with you." she said cooly, pushing the piece of paper from her locker into her back pocket, which she saw Ella eyeing suspiciously. But luckily for Carys, Ella's attention was snatched by someone else as Ryan ran towards her and wrapped her in his arms, being careful not to touch her injured one.