𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐲𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧

◈ four ◈

[real life]

it has been a few days since the sleepover. ella's mind has been in a complete daze ever since that night. she wanted to mention the narcotics that she found scattered upon the cold tile of her bathroom floor to corbyn but how could she? that's the question she has been asking herself constantly ever since finding them.

how?

"just ask him," jack shrugged, as if it was the easiest thing in the world. well, considering ella told him she had an important question to ask corbyn but didn't know how, the joyful boy is probably assuming her question is far more simple than it actually is.

"that's the thing, i don't know how to just ask him. it's complicated," ella sighed, leaning her head against her locker as she shrugged and crossed her arms.

"i'm sure it can't be that hard," jack reassured her, gathering his beautiful curls in his hands before he tied them up in a little man bun. "if this seems super awful, just remember that i'm the one that has to ask fay to give me my pillow pet back. that's going to be brutal."

"she still hasn't given ramen the penguin back?" ella laughed, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her glossed lips.

"nope. she wanted to steal my snuggie too and that's where i drew the line," jack explained, his eyes trailing to over ella's shoulder as he finished his sentence. "oh, there he is!"

"who?" ella asked, turning her head to take a look for herself just as corbyn came up to them.

"hello, corbeano! i have to go but ella here," jack stated as he slung his arm around the brunette's shoulders, "has an urgent question she needs to ask you."

"well, it's not exactly urgent," ella laughed lightly, glancing at jack for a split second as she forced a smile.

"gotta blast," jack grinned before skipping away through the school halls.

corbyn chuckled as he watched jack vanish around the corner before redirecting his attention towards ella once again. "so, what's up?"

ella knew she had to think quick and that is exactly what she did. "i was wondering if you wanted to grab some coffee after school? just the two of us."

"are you asking me out?" corbyn smirked, grasping the black strap to his backpack as he hung it on his shoulder.

"what? of course not. i just thought we could hang out and, like-"

"calm down, little," corbyn put his hands up in front of himself, "i was messing with you."

"little?" ella asked, an amused sparkle twinkling in her chocolate brown eyes.

corbyn nodded, "expect me to start calling you that from now on, littleton."

"gotcha, corbs. i'll text you the location," ella informed him as she started to walk towards her next class.

"sounds like a plan."

◈◈◈

ella and corbyn have been sitting at the table in starbucks for almost an hour now. the two of them had been enjoying themselves as they discussed random topics, such as their favorite bands and movies. nothing too deep.

not until now anyway.

"listen, about the other night, i was being an asshole," corbyn admitted, raising the plastic cup up to his mouth as he sipped from his iced coffee before setting it back down on the table. "and i'm sorry."

"i was about to mention that actually," ella replied, feeling her stomach starting to churn as if she was going to be sick. this was the moment she had been avoiding like the plague.

"mention what?"

ella reached into the pocket of her black jeans as she pulled out the little white pills. the same ones that she had found in the bathroom. the same ones that corbyn had dropped that night.

corbyn recognized them as soon as she opened up her hand, exposing the pain medication. the color drained from his face. "those aren't mine," he mumbled, his clear ocean eyes fading into an icy blue. his features were stone cold.

"i know. so, why?"

"is this what this was all about?" corbyn let out a breathy laugh, gesturing to the small coffee shop around them. "just so you could fucking lecture me? damn, ella. that's screwed up."

"corbyn, i was-"

"go ahead. go back and tell the rest of the group that i'm just an addict. a fucked up, nobody, drug addict. i don't give a shit anymore," corbyn hissed, a hint of pain laced throughout his words. he clenched his jaw as his heart rate increased.

"i'm not telling them. i hadn't planned on it, nor will i ever. the only reason i brought it up is because i want to help you, corbyn. that's it. i would never tell a soul," ella explained, placing her hand on his shoulder. she expected him to shrug it off and was quite surprised when he didn't.

corbyn's anger melted into something close to pure emptiness. he was numb. he stared at her blankly before raising his hands up to his face as he sighed, "nobody can know about this."

"i promise," ella whispered, gently rubbing her thumb against his shoulder for a few seconds before she pulled her hand back into her lap. "and i have never, ever broken a promise."

corbyn crossed his arms as he closed his eyes. a sudden feeling of total exposure washed over him as he came to the realization that his inner demons were unleashed and on full display. 

he couldn't escape this now but she is going to show him how.

sky speaks!

frickin heart snapped over this chapter

ship name ideas for corbyn and ella??