A Thousand Words

4.

Ella's POV

Relief flooded through my legs and lower back once I removed my shoes. My lower half ached after my six hour shift at the coffee shop. The fifteen minute walk home didn't get any easier after being here for a month.

This month was exhausting. Because I was juggling school work on top of an almost full time job, thanks to George, I had zero time for myself.

Tyler, of course, didn't make working at the coffee shop any easier. He only talked to me if the conversation was work related. He made it perfectly clear that he had no interest in knowing me after my first shift at the store. It pained me to see my name next to his on our schedule. Other than Tyler, I enjoyed working with the other baristas at George's. Jake, who was five years older than me, became a close friend of mine. He was a master at latte art and a major fan of jazz. Shifts with him always ran smoothly. I also befriended Lena, a design major at the University. Though she was more on the quiet side, she always had a sarcastic comment to add to any conversation. They had taken me under their wing and made me feel at home.

"Hey! How was work?" my roommate, Maddie, greeted me as soon as I sat down on the couch. I knew Maddie since high school. When I told her that I was movie back to the city, she graciously offered me a room in her apartment since her old roommate had just moved in with their boyfriend.

"Long," I mumbled into a throw pillow.

"As always," she chuckled. "Well, if you're not too tired, I think I was gonna hit the bars tonight with some friends. Wanna join?"

My head perked up from her suggestion. "Honestly, I'm down. I need to go somewhere that doesn't smell like coffee beans or musty, old books," I told her. Normally, it took a lot of convincing for Maddie to get me out of this house. I was always preoccupied with either work or too busy burying my head in a textbook to adventure out of this building.

"Now that's what I like to hear!" Maddie cheered. "The Ella Price is finally going out! She's no longer hibernating. Now the worl–"

I threw the pillow at the girl's face while rolling my eyes.

"You are so dramatic," I laughed. Maddie faked a pout before jumping up on her feet.

"So I've been told," she smirked. "Now get your ass to my room. This is a special occasion and I need to make you look so hot that you can visibly see drool coming out of–"

"Shut up!" I groaned, grabbing the pillow from her hands and throwing it back at her.

***

I found myself pulling down the tight black dress that Maddie so graciously let me borrow. I wasn't used to wearing such outfits, nor was I used to the amount of makeup she caked on my face. I haven't felt this uncomfortable in my own skin since walking the halls of my judgmental high school.

I muttered 'hello' to the two friends that Maddie briefly introduced me to. Distracted by the unfamiliar setting, my eyes darted all around the room. My breath hitched once my eyes stopped at a recognizable tall, messy haired figure.

The voices of Maddie and her friends drowned out as I watched the boy take a sip of his drink. He looked dazed, as he always did, while looking at the bare counter. I could tell that he's had more than enough to drink as he swayed, struggling to stay in his seat.

"I'm gonna grab a drink," I interrupted. It was as though my legs had a mind of their own as they made their way to the bar. I knew he didn't want to talk to me, but I had the urge to try.

I stood in front of the bartender, two seats down from Tyler. "Hi. Could I get a gin and tonic?" I asked.

I could sense a glare coming from my right. The bartender gave a nod and turned around to make my drink.

"You shouldn't be here."

I glanced over my shoulder. The boy faced forward, taking another sip from his glass. He acted unbothered by my presence, but I noticed how his body tensed up since my arrival. His jaw was clenched, as though he was holding back from saying anything else.

"You shouldn't be either," I remarked. "Don't you have the morning shift tomorrow?"

Tyler simply shrugged, glancing at the TV.

The bartender placed the drink in front of me. I nodded my head in gratitude and turned back to Tyler. It was going to take a lot more for him to talk to me. I barely knew him, but I knew Jenna wouldn't appreciate her boyfriend turning into a pessimistic alcoholic. Deep down, I felt like I owed it to her to watch over him.

"You don't think I notice you showing up to work hungover every morning?" I took a sip of my drink, gazing in the same direction as him. "I'm not stupid, Tyler."

"How would Jenna feel?" I decided to add.

This drew a reaction out of him as his neck snapped in my direction. I could sense his spiteful glare on me, but I shook it off. Immediately, he pulled out his wallet, sliding the card to the front of the counter. I followed his lead, refusing to let him walk away from this conversation.

"Don't talk about Jenna," he seethed.

"Really think she'd be okay with you getting drunk every night?" my voice raised. I could see Tyler's knuckles turn white as he gripped onto his glass tightly. "It's pathetic, honestly."

I heard the screeching of his chair against the wooden floors, indicating that he stood up. To keep himself from falling over, he quickly grabbed onto the counter. The bartender hesitantly handed him his card and receipt. Tyler scribbled a signature on the sheet and made his way past me. I did the same thing, chasing after him.

"I need to go," I mouthed to Maddie as I walked past the group. She eyed me in confusion, but I just shook my head.

"You don't know me! Why can't you just leave me alone!" Tyler yelled as soon as we stepped foot onto the sidewalk.

"Because, Tyler, I can't just sit around and watch you waste your life away! Jenna wouldn't want that!" I told him, trying to stay calm. Tyler shook his head and stumbled forward. I grabbed onto him before he fell face flat into the ground.

"You don't know what wanted," he fumed while shoving me away. "She didn't want me. If she wanted me, then she wouldn't have killed herself," he stated bluntly. "I wasn't enough to keep her here and neither were you."

I could feel an ache in my heart from his harsh words. His words meant nothing to me, yet it still hurt. I didn't know why Jenna chose to end her life, but I knew it was more than the relationship that either I or Tyler had with her. This was her decision, her choice, and none of us were to blame. I already hated myself for losing contact with her and not being there when she needed me most, but I refused to blame myself for her actions.

I heard sniffling from in front of me. I watched as the tears streamed down his cheeks. Tyler was breaking down right in front of me. I decided to push aside my animosity for the boy and wrapped my arms around his torso. I was surprised when he didn't push me away.  Instead, he buried his face in the crook of my neck, trying to hold back his sobs. It was obvious that he was dealing with this grief on his own and no matter how much he denied my company, I knew he needed someone. Without his approval, I decided that I would be the one to guide him away from this path of self destruction.

"C'mon," I finally whispered. "Let's get you home."