The Missing Puzzle Piece

Chapter Six

Ella's POV

A few days after the storm Parker and I were stuck in, we still aren't talking. I prefer it this way. Not talking to him is better than talking to him. Actually a lot I things are better than taking to him. Like-

"Hi Ella," Ryder says standing in front of me. I'm currently sitting outside the school under a hude oak tree. "How are you?" Why is everyone being nice to me?

"I'm fine. You?" This is seriously creepy. Why would he want to be friends with me? He hates me or something. 

"I'm doing well, thank you. So Ella, I've been meaning to tell you, I think you are very beautiful. What are you doing hanging around an ass like Parker. Yeah, I've been mean to you in the past but I think we can become friends. What do you say?" Wow. He actually sounds like he cares.

"Sure." Dammit. I suck at this kind of thing. I always agree with people. I cross my legs and go back to reading my book. Not even five seconds later, Ryder is leaning over my book and kissing me. I don't know how to react so I just sit there. He wasn't gently at all. It was rough and terrible.

I think I tried pushing him away but he holds both my wrists in one of his, while his other hand is against the tree behind me. I don't think this is what friends do. His grip on my wrists is getting tighter and it's starting to hurt. 

Something pulls him away from me and he releases my hands and stumbles backwards. "Don't you fucking touch her," Parker says holding Ryder's shirt. 

"Aw c'mon man. We're friends now. She forgives me." I never said I forgave him. "We were just having some fun."

Parker throws the first punch at Ryder's nose. I try to go in to stop their fighting but someone runs and holds my waist. I try getting out of their hold, but they're too strong. As I stuggle, I get a glimpse of Joey holding me back. 

Tears are falling down my cheeks and I yell for them to stop. Parker, obviously stronger, is straddling Ryder throwing punches at his face. Joey sits me down and holds me in his lap while trying to calm me down. 

When Ryder can no longer fight back, Parker stands up, and looks down at his victim. Why do guys always have to fight? His eyes are dark but when he looks over at me, they fill with sorrow. "Ella," he says as if asking if I'm okay. I shake my head and bury my head into Joey's shoulder.

"Just let her be, man, she's a bit shocked right now," Joey says wrapping an arm around me. Who knew Joey would come to the rescue of all people.

Parker glances at me one more time before walking away leaving a bloody Ryder lying on the grass. Ryder slowly gets up and puts his hand up to his nose and pulls it away, examining he blood on his nuckles. He pulls off his shirt, leaving him in his undershirt, and holding it up to his nose to stop the bleeding. 

After the fight between Parker and Ryder, Joey and I have become closer. We've been hanging out more and talking a lot. He still hangs out with the other two but not when I'm around. I've been ignoring both of them for the past three days. 

I can barely look at Parker without seeing someone that could potentially hurt me. With Ryder, I just see someone who isn't trustworthy and is a monster. He betrayed me after I agreed to be friends with him. He was just trying to mess with Parker. It seems like Joey is the only normal one out of them three.

"So Ella," Joey says siting across from me at a picnic bench, "will you go on a date with me?" A date? "I mean you don't have to. We could go to dinner or something and-"

"I'd love to, Joey." I smile and brush his hair back from his eyes. "You don't need to be so nervous around me."

He smiles and kisses my cheek. Yeah, we've gotten really close in the past three days. I blush and cover my face up with me hands. "And you don't need to be so shy around me," he says removing my hands from my cheeks. "You're so cute when you blush." That of course only made me blush more. 

"Stop making me blush," I exclaim covering my face again. He again takes my hands and holds them in his. "You're mean."

"For making you blush?" I nod my head and can't help but laugh. "You're adorable." That's the same thing Parker said to me when he was dropping me off at my house after 'kidnapping' me. Ugh stop thinking about him, Ella. He almost killed a guy. I wonder how many people he's punched, or fought. 

Parker walks by and shoots a glare at Joey. Joey ignores it and goes back to looking at me. My eyes follow Parker as he walks to the parking lot and gets in his car. Joey uses his finger under my chin to gently pull my gaze back to him. He sighs and closes his eyes, "You guys need to talk."

"I'm not talking to him. He pretty much almost killed Ryder. He can't control who touches me and who can't, he doesn't own me."

"You do know that sounded so wrong," he says trying not to laugh. I punch his arm and he bits his lip to keep from smiling. He rubs his arm where I punched him, which actually wasn't that hard, and starts laughing at me pouting like a little kid.

"I'm serious, Joey!  He thinks he can do whatever he wants with me."

"Please don't say you're going to get revenge on him."

"Sorry babe, but I am, and you're going to help me."