Surf's Up?

The After Shock

Ellis' POV

I stood there, shocked. The house seemed to still be shaking after Steele slammed the door on the way out. No wait, I was shaking. His anger... it was different than anything I'd ever seen. His darkened eyes, the scowl. It scared me. He wasn't just angry though, he was hurt. I could see it. It was a glimpse of the same expression I saw when I called him a liar. Several times. What in the hell caused this?

I folded my arms across my chest and turned slowly towards Hill. His expression, if I wasn't mistaken, was of smugness. My eyes narrowed. He cleared his throat and looked down at the ground. 

"Hill, what just happened? What did I walk in on?" My voice, instead of coming out questioning and strong, how I wanted it to, came out instead as soft and begging. I slid my hands against my legs to stop them from shaking. 

Hill shook his head. "Nothing. Just a miscommunication I guess." He didn't meet my eyes. 

Miscommunication. What does that even mean? I tugged on my shirt and was about to ask when - my shirt... It had been pulled up. My hand slowly crept up to my hair. Messy. My breathing became hollow. Hill's hair was messy as well. No. Nononononono. No. Miscommunication. But how could Steele think that? I wouldn't. I couldn't. And Hill... Hill. He didn't even try to convince him otherwise. I looked him dead in the eyes. 

"Tell me it's not what I think."

He didn't move. 

"Hill... tell me Steele doesn't think that we just had sex." At the word, Hill looked up. He still didn't speak. I felt lightheaded. I couldn't even imagine what was going through Steele's mind. He thought we... in his house... I felt horrible. But a hot feeling rushed over me. Anger. I turned and walked back upstairs. I grabbed my stuff and glanced in the mirror before walking out. My eyes were pink and my hair was frumpy. I breathed deeply and walked out. Hill hadn't moved when I walked back down. I couldn't look at him. I would give him the benefit of the doubt later - I always did - but for now I couldn't. I grabbed the knob and stopped. 

"Hill," I whispered, "Why would you let him think that?" He didn't answer. I walked out, slamming the door behind me. 

Driving home sucked. Hundreds of thoughts scrambled over each other trying to make it to the forefront of my brain. I tried to sort through them. First, I was beginning to understand why I was so upset. Obviously, my feelings were still mildly confused. I mean, Steele and I have had some pretty crazy moments together. Second, I could understand why Steele was so upset. At least I thought I could. Maybe it was the fact that it would've been weird, for us to be in their house doing, well... Or maybe he was confused too. A fluttery feeling made me nervous. Why did that give me hope? Okay it was time to stop thinking. I pulled in and movement caught my eye. Someone was sitting on my front steps. A sigh escaped my lips. 

I unbuckled slowly and turned off the car. Stepping out, I felt my eyes sting. I took a shuddering breath and walked towards him. He glanced up and stood quickly. He shoved his hands deep in his pockets. 

"Brian... what are you doing here?" My voice was shaky. 

Brian sighed. "How are you?" I must have looked confused because he gently touched my cheek and said, "Your eyes are red." I took in his features. His face was concerned, but because I knew him, I knew that there was something underneath. His lips were slightly pursed. He was mad. 

"Steele..." He started. I shook my head. I knew exactly what happened. He must have called Brian and Brian, being the good friend he was to both of us, came to see me to check on me. He had to know that it wasn't right. He knew me. We sat down. He waited for me to speak. I laughed and hiccuped at the same time. "It was a miscommunication." That's all he needed. He nodded. I saw his shoulders relax slightly. He grabbed my hand and pulled it to him. I scooted over and leaned my head on him. So tired. So tired of the drama. Of the 'miscommunications.' Of the confusion. 

We stayed like that for a while. Eventually, we stood up and went inside to watch a movie. We both tried calling Steele several times, but he didn't answer. 

Steele's POV

I don't know how long I was on the side of the road. All I know is that every time I closed my eyes, I saw them together. First it would be them kissing, but like in a movie, it would zoom in on her skin. His fingertips on her skin. Tan, smooth. And then the image would change. It would be me and her. The pressure on my lips, the taste of her mint chapstick, the ease and comfort we'd both feel. It was all there. Everything I'd felt that time we kissed in the rain. My hands gripped the wheel and my forehead rested on them. My knuckles were turning white. 

My phone buzzed. I pulled myself back to reality and grabbed it. I missed four calls from Brian from an hour ago and two from Ellis. Ellis. Her green eyes came to mind, shaking me to my core. I put the phone back into the cupholder. I took it out again. I shook my head and put it back down. Sighing, I grabbed it and hit call. 

He picked up immediately. "Steele?? Are you okay? We've been trying to reach you for over an hour man!" I nodded, then remembered he couldn't see me. 

"I know. Sorry. What's up? Are you... are you with her?" I realized I didn't want to hear his answer. 

"No. I mean, I was, but I left. She's pretty shaken up dude."

A million thoughts flew through my mind. Shaken up? Is that because of Hill or because of me? I swear, if he had done anything to make her uncomfortable - 

"Steele? You there?"

"Yeah, sorry I'm here. Why is she shaken up? Is she okay?"

I heard him sigh. "Dude, you walked out before you knew anything." I caught my breath. "What does that even mean? Brian you have no idea. If you had seen - "

"No, Steele, you have no idea. Whatever you think happened, didn't happen. Hill was trying to get in your head. And it worked. You know that's what he does. You know that better than anyone. Why'd you let him?"

I can't describe what I felt. It was as if someone had traded places with me in holding up the sky. I felt light. But also confused. 

"So they didn't - "

"No, they didn't have sex. This is Ellis we're talking about man. You know she wouldn't if she wasn't 100% sure. I think she's mostly hurt that you didn't know that."

My head drooped. Of course that would upset her. I assumed something that went against the things that she put value in, the things she believed in. I was an ass.