Fishing Trip//Max Joseph//Catfish: The TV Show//Catfish

*Chapter Fourteen*

     Ellie lifted the carry-on above her head and shoved it in the compartment above her seat. She sat down next to a guy- "What?"

"Alex?"

"Ellie?"

     "Holy shit, no. NO. This is not happening right now. He is not on this flight. He is not on this flight. He's not on this flight."

     "Hey, you're on this flight?" he asked, turning in his seat. Ellie's mouth gaped. "Close your mouth, babe. You're catching flies." Alex moved his hand to her chin but she swatted his hand away. "Don't call me babe... And don't touch me." Alex's expression changed. Happy and confident turned into hurt and angry... Real fast.

     "I just— Where have you been?" Ellie winced at his pained tone. "Work stuff" was the only answer she manage. "I'm not dealing with his shit today. Just ignore him. Just ignore him."

     Not her strong suit. It was difficult to drown him out. Music was blaring in her ears, and she busied herself by texting Max. Nothing could drown out the sound of his desperate conversation starters, his questions, his voice.

     "Ma'am?" Ellie paused the music on her phone and took out her earbuds. She looked up expectantly. "That- That's my seat. I think." A girl stood before her, fumbling with her tickets.

"Oh, thank GOD!"

     She turned to Alex with a triumphant grin. "Hear that?! It's her seat, not mine!" His grin dropped. Ellie jumped up and grabbed her  carry-on from the cubby above her head. "Here ya go! Enjoy!" she exclaimed loudly, motioning towards the empty seat. The girl simply nodded in thanks, not entirely understanding what just happened.

     Ellie retrieved her ticket from the back pocket of her jeans. "Oh," the thought. "Seat 48, not 46. Shit, I'm lucky." She made her way across the aisle and sat beside a girl in the middle of a phone call.

     She hung up and looked at Ellie in surprise. "Holy fuck! You're Ellie Stokes!" An older woman leaned forward from the other side of the girl. "Amanda, language."

     Amanda dismissed the woman with a wave of her hand. Ellie chucked. "Yeah! It's always great to meet a fan!" Amanda smiled and nodded. "Ohmygosh. I can't believe it's you!" Her voice became high-pitched and she brought her hands to her face. "I'm your biggest fan! Will you sign my..." She searched for something for Ellie to sign.

     "Wanna take a picture?" Ellie suggested. Amanda answered by nodding vigorously. She grabbed her phone from the cup holder beside her. They posed for multiple pictures, some serious, some silly.

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     "So, where are you from," Ellie asked curiously. Amanda looked up from her phone. "I was born in Florida, but my mom was born in New York." Ellie smiled. "Two of my favorite places."

     "Really? I thought you hated Florida. Because of... you know, what happened." Ellie shook her head. "No, it'll always be home."

     Florida brought back memories. They were usually from her childhood, so Ellie automatically cleared the thoughts from her head. She winced as she remembered the feeling of her mother's hand as it came in contact sharply with her face. How distant the feeling was, yet how familiar the pain felt on her skin. Ellie shook her head again to bring herself back to focus. "Don't think about it, Elle."