Colour Me Red

Chapter 27: Ellie

Chapter 27: Ellie

I spent the next few weeks studying and training, spending extra time after school to catch up on all the work I'd missed. Whenever I got home from school, Dune was already packing up his rucksack and telling me that we were heading out for a run. My protests became sparser as the weeks passed by and I became more used to the physical exertion that I was constantly putting my body under. I became stronger and fitter and as the days rolled on I became more aware of Dune's approval of my progression.

Every night when we returned to the cottage I'd flop down face first onto our bed and groan out of exhaustion, but not enough to drown out the sound of Dune murmuring three words that had my heart beating fast. "You did good," he'd say, with an almost wonder-struck tone. I'd then grin like a mad man into my pillow so that he wouldn't see the effect he had on me, only to be pulled off the bed and into his arms like he did on the odd occasion.

Felix was recovering, slowly but surely, and he was soon able to abandon his wheelchair and move around without too much discomfort. Dune was always wary of him doing too much, and was like a mother hen whenever he was around Felix, which was practically all the time, considering how worried he was that he'd strain himself. Marc was always busy on his computer, but I never knew exactly what he was doing, and Dune never felt the need to enlighten me on any assignments that they may or may not have been working towards.

Even though I was happy, I couldn't help but think about my old life; about Sydney, my best friend, about my mum and my little brother, Elias. I missed them all more than I first realised and felt guilty that I'd allowed the hectic formalities of life to distract me from memories of them. I wished I could see them all one last time, but I knew that it was near impossible. My father would never allow it and it'd only put me in more danger if I were thought to be alive.

I was lounging carelessly across our king size bed, scrawling some notes down from my textbook when I received a text from Bridget. Dune had bought me a new phone along with the motorcycle he'd purchased for me when I'd started school a couple of weeks back and it was now brimming with the phone numbers of all of my new friends. I'd become gradually closer to Bridget and the others over the weeks and we were planning a shopping trip for that Saturday afternoon.

I'll pick you up at one, I texted back to Bridget. Since I'd gotten my motorcycle, I'd been providing Bridget with a means of transport to school and back, considering that she was still learning to drive.

I'd just pressed the send button when Dune strolled into the bedroom holding a plate and a glass of orange juice. He placed them on the chest of draws and then sat on our bed, resting back on the plush headboard with his hands laced behind his head.

"Hey," I greeted, twisting my neck around to meet his gaze and smile at him.

I was lying on my front so my back was facing Dune, so I had to crane my neck to look at him.

"Well hello there," he said smoothly. "I hope you're not working too hard."

I smiled and turned back to my work, scribbling down a few more notes before shutting my books and pushing them away from me.

I turned back to Dune to find him shamelessly checking me out from behind and I rolled my eyes before eyeing up the sandwich Dune had brought in on a plate.

"Is that for me?" I asked coyly, gesturing towards the food.

"Mhm," Dune hummed, but before I could make a move to get off the bed to retrieve my sandwich, warm fingers encircled around my ankle and I was tugged back a little, still lying on my front. Before I knew what was happening, I was being flipped over and came face to face with Dune, who was now hovering over me with a smug look on his face.