Underground

19

Estelle
I whirl around at the speed of light, eyes wide.
There was Logan, standing in the doorway, ignored by the boys, who were so entwined in their conversation they didn't even notice. 
Cautiously, I turn back around, laying my balled fists on the counter, telling myself that I shouldn't be so anxious.
I grab a coffee cup from August's rack, trying to act semi-natural, but honestly, I was scared.
I walk over to the bubbling water in the kettle, pouring it into my mug before grabbing a teabag.
"I asked a question." Logan says, this time closer. 
I ignore her, putting the tea-bag in the water.
She sets a hand on my shoulder. "Who are you talking about."
"Honestly, I have no idea." I say, looking over my shoulder.
"Oh, hey Logan!" August says.
I jump, knocking the mug of boiling water over onto my hand. 
I jerk away, yelling a few curses as I do so. 
Logan looked at me wide-eyed, grabbing my hand and putting it under the sink faucet, then turning it on to extra cold. 
"Estelle, are you okay?" Logan asks softly. 
I nod, pulling my hand out of the water, trying to ignore the throbbing.
"Estelle?" She asks. 
I push past all of the boys, running out of the house. 
***
The biting cold did not help my hand, it made it hurt 10x worse, but the fresh air did help with my head, which was pounding and overwhelmed. 
Then I realized, it was probably below zero and I was wearing pretty thin pajamas. 
The door opened, then closes. "You look kinda cold."
I look behind me, August was standing there holding a coat.
"I'm fine." I lie, trying to seem almighty.
Then I felt a hand on my arm.
"Liar." He says, draping the jacket around my shoulders.
I look at him innocently. "Why do you care about me so much?" 

August
I felt the "Because I'm in love with you." Come up my throat like bile. But like most sick, I swallow it down.
"Because you're special to me." I say. "And it would hurt a lot if I lost you." 
She looks up at me, her cheeks a light tinge of purple. "Thanks." 
"Don't mention it." I say, patting her reddish mess of hair.
She tucks herself into my side, trying desperately to warm up.
I felt my cheeks light up like Christmas lights, but I kept a firm arm around her.
"I think there's something wrong with me." Her voice was soft, screaming for help between the little cracks.
"There's nothing wrong with you, your brain's just trying to warm up to the fact that you're safe." I try to explain.
"Am I gonna die?" She asks.
I look down at her. "I won't let that happen in a million years."
She wraps her arms around my waist, clinging onto me. "What if you can't protect me?" 
"E, I'll always protect you." I say, looking down at her. 
She moved her hands to my cheeks. "I'll protect you too, August Jones, for as long as I live."
I smile, grabbing her hands. "How about we go inside?" 
***
As soon as we got inside, Logan was already bandaging Estelle's blistering head, and un-bandaging the head injury. 
I walked over to Ned and Stefan, who were watching Logan and Estelle closely. 
"What're you gonna do once the the scientists come and get her?" Ned asks, his eyes not leaving her hand. 
I look over at her, she was giggling at something Logan had said. "I'll figure it out." 
"You better." Stefan says. "You two are soulmates." 
Ned punches him in the shoulder. "Shut up ya loon." 
I smile, looking over at the two guys. 
"See?" Stefan rallies softly. "Look how happy he is." 
"Shut your mouth before I shove my foot up your arse." Ned says, glaring at Stefan. 
"Why are you so defensive about it?" Stefan says, crossing his arms over his chest. 
"Because, take it from me, you can't rush anything about whatever's happening between them, you'll wreck it, but you'd love that lots wouldn't you?" Ned's accent always got accentuated when he was angry, so at this moment he sounded like a drunken old Irish man.
"Are you calling me a bad friend?" Stefan asks, his eyes narrowing.
"Guys stop." I say. instinctively grabbing Ned's forearm. 
"You bet." Ned scowls at Stefan, ignoring my pleas. 
Stefan scoffs. "You're the bad friend." 
"Guys, this isn't the time." I say under my breath, looking back at the girls. 
They were watching the snarls and scowls of the other two guys. 
"Stefan, you need to leave." I spit. 
"Why should I leave?" Stefan asks. 
"Because I don't wanna have to clean blood up off my floor, again." I say, talking through my teeth. 
"Fine." He says, grabbing his coat off the bar and walking out of the house, making a big deal of slamming the door. 
"Thanks Aug, I was about ready to bust open his jaw." Ned says, his accent going back to regular. 
"It's no problem." I say, walking over to the fridge, taking out the milk, setting it on the counter. 
"Um August, I know it's like your job to watch Estelle and everything, but I need to take her to campus." Logan informs.
"Why?" I ask, pouring myself some milk.
She shrugs. "My friends want to meet her."
"Well, I mean it's not a problem to me." I say, taking a sip of my milk, undoubtedly getting a milk moustache.
"Well, I guess we'll see you soon." She says, pulling Estelle out the door.
Estelle blew a kiss, then ran along with Logan.
"I wonder what their gonna do." I say, turning to Ned.
He looks guilty. "I think I know."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"I know this guy, who knows this guy, who knows this guy's grandpa, and he's like her." He says. "Ned, what do you mean?" I say, taking a tep closer to him. 
"August, I know all about her, every nook and cranny of her existence, August, Estelle's not the only Pangean."