No Way (#Wattys2015)

Chapter 7

Ella

I glare at the cop cars from Ivy's front porch.  I refuse to go inside because then everyone will ask me how I am. For now, I'm just going to sit here, and watch. My phone rings, breaking me out of my hateful thoughts for my friends and family.

I answer the phone without even checking the caller ID. "Ella?!? Is that you? Are you okay!" Shauna' s voice sounds slightly shrill with panic. It makes me wanna laugh that she's panicked. Shauna the tough, boxing, car hijacker is panicked about me?

"Yeah, I'm fine, Shaun. Is something wrong?" I answer her, sitting down. Police officers are watching me so I glare at them and shove my finger in the air. They turn away, instantly.

"No! We were all worried because we heard a gang decided to try to you know, do stuff with you!" She exclaims. I laugh, remembering how the boys had touched me and how I have injuries from them.

"I'm okay, really." I reassure her.

She's silent for a moment and then, "Justice called the cops."

"I know." I say, quietly.

"They arrested both your parents, I hear. I'm sorry, Ella. I know how important your parents were to you when you were younger." Shauna says, nicely. I don't ask how she knows that my parents were arrested because I already know. Word spreads fast between gangs and on our side of town.

"I-I-I, yeah. Thanks, Shaun. I gotta go." I mutter as Antonio starts to walk over to me.

"Bye, Ella. Be safe." Shauna says then hangs up on me. I stand up and pocket my phone, waiting for Antonio to reach me.

"Ella, do you know where you're going to be staying tonight?" he asks me. I shake my head, biting my lip. I can't stay here and even though Justice is 18, she has to figure out where we can stay. Apparently, right now, she's my legal guardian, according to my father. Antonio sighs. "Come on, let's go."

I frown. "Where to?"

He gives me a duh look as he says, "My house." My eyes widen and I  instantly start shaking my head, my hair whipping my face. He sighs, giving me a firm look. "Ella, come on. It's three in the morning. You've got to be exhausted!"

I keep my mouth shut because I know I am exhausted. He raises an eyebrow at me and holds out his hand. I sigh and take it. "Only for tonight, though." I give him a look. He nods and helps me into his car. I lay my head against the leather interior and curl up into a tiny ball. "Are your parents home?"

"Don't worry, Ella. My mom loves helping people out. She'll probably insist you stay until you figure everything out." Antonio tries to reassure me but only succeeds in scaring me even more. Okay, not scared cause I don't get scared, but worried. I don't like taking charity from people and especially don't like parents.

"Antonio, you can't tell her about what's going on! You can't tell her about me even! After tonight, I'm not taking any more charity from you and your friends!" I snap. He looks taken aback, but I don't regret saying it, because it's true. After tonight, I'll go back to my screwed up life and they'll go back to their perfect lives. I'm just a complication or charity projection they decided to look after.

"La, you're not charity." Antonio says in a low voice. I close my eyes and take deep breaths so I won't explode. His stupid nickname for me only makes me angrier and that's what does it for me. 

I explode anyways. "Antonio! Get it through your small brain: I am not talking to you EVER again after this! I like my life! It's what I'm used to! I'm used to having bruises and cuts all over! I'm used to talking to police officers! This is my life! No one can change it! Just because I talked to you at that one stupid party does not give you an excuse to help me! I don't want or need help! Understand?"

Antonio stares at me wide eyed. I take deep breaths as I try to calm myself. I close my eyes and slam my head against his seat again. 

"I understand, Ella."

"Don't," I say. "Say my name."

"Okay. Sorry." He sighs.

"I think it would be best if you dropped me off at my friend Shauna's house." I open my eyes. He's not looking at me anymore and his grip on the steering wheel is tight, his knuckles white. 

"You're staying at my house tonight. End of story!" he snaps at me. I reel my head back, surprised that he has the balls to talk to me like that. I narrow my eyes but lean my head against the window, feeling exhaustion settle heavy on my shoulders. I let my eyelids slip shut and fall into a deep dreamless sleep.

***

Before I know it, Antonio is carrying me inside. I want to argue and tell him I'm awake and can walk but instead, I let my head fall onto his chest. He lays me on a bed and pulls blankets over me. I snuggle into them. He kisses my forehead and whispers, "Goodnight, Ella. I hope you dream away your worries."

Then just like that, he's gone.

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A/N: So, this one was short but you know, she needed to go home! Or somewhere!

Anyways....

Love ya

~ry