To break girl code

- Chapter 9 -

Ellie walked up and down the cool marble floor biting her nails. Cat would be coming out of Ashley's room soon and Ellie didn't know how to feel about that. She knew this was serious since the doctors had given her pitiful looks when she said she would be visiting Ashley.

Suddenly Cat walked out of the ward with a solemn face. Her eyes were not red with tears, but her cheeks were puffed out and her lips were wobbling from trying not to.

"Ellie, oh my god." Cat ran up to Ellie and hugged her, or more Cat's arms were strangling Ellie's neck. Ellie stood there with her arms by her sides, not knowing how to react. Eventually Cat pulled away and wiped her nose on her dark green sweater.

"I'm sorry," she managed to make out before she broke down in tears, Ellie, as awkward as she is just patted Cat on the back. "What happened?" Ellie said, handing Cat a tissue from the assistant's desk.

"It was right after the win when me and Ashley were in the gender-neutral locker rooms... by ourselves, and these guys came up to us as said they were going to our party, one of them winked at Ash as they walked off but I didn't see, anyway Ashley disappeared during the party so I went looking for her.." Cat stopped to choke out a sob, Ellie pulled her in closer. Cat sniffled, "and then.. and then I heard her scream." Cat blubbered garbled words.

"Oh no." Ellie whispered to herself as Cat continued to cry. Cat wiped her eyes, "Anyway, she wants to see us." Ellie nodded as Cat took her hand and led her into Ashley's room.

Ashley was looking at a relatively young guy in an assistant outfit, he was probably their age, holding a clipboard. He turned to face the girls, "Cat I see you're back with Ellie?" He asks and Ellie nods. Then she looked at Ashley. Oh God.

Ashley had one massive bruise on her left cheek, her lip was split and Ellie could see other marks all over her. "Ashley oh my god." Ellie ran up to the girl and wrapped her arms around her, careful not to hurt Ashley.

The assistant cleared his throat, "So Ashley was attacked yesterday around 11 pm, as you can see the guys who did assault her went pretty far."

"Is she..." Ellie swallowed. Her heart beat elevated and she looked at Ashley's worried pale face.

"Pregnant? We don't know yet." The assistant grimaced.

Cat stepped forward and took Ashley's hand gingerly. "Will she be okay? We need are bright gorgeous star to shine in the next dance competition round." Catharine kissed Ashley's messy hair, which made both of them smile like dorks. Ellie stood uncomfortably in the background.

"She'll be fine, but right now Ashley needs rest." The assistant motioned for the door. Cat kissed Ashley on the lips this time, "I'll see you soon my Goddess." Ashley said, holding Cat's chin in her hands like the whole world was in them. Cat only nodded slightly in respond.

Both girls left the room quietly. Ellie tried to think of something to say to Cat, but every time she opened her mouth, she saw Cat's watery eyes and closed her mouth again. But she knew what she wanted to talk about, but words failed her.

Then Cat spoke up as they both left the hospital, with a cracked voice. "Look Ellie I know you didn't mean what you said about me and Ash, it's just..." She paused to wipe her eyes, "I'm a fighter you know? And I always have been... But now I have Ashley an-and I feel like I need to be te-ten times stronger to protect he-her." Cat was full on crying now, Ellie stopped and wrapped her arms around Cat. They stood there for a long time until Cat could start talking again.

"And... I don't know Ellie but, I just feel like I'm not enough for Ashley, Like I'm not strong enough. If I can't protect her... What's the point?" Cat sighed and looked down. Ellie nearly slapped her face from her stupidity.

"The point is she loves you! You guys are the best couple in the whole world!" Ellie yells across the parking lot. A stranger gives them a weird look as she enters her car.

Cat laughs. "You really didn't mean what you said?"

Ellie puts her hand on her heart. "I promise."

They both continue walking until they reach Cat's car, Ellie was taking the bus back, which wouldn't arrive for a couple of minutes. "You really are the most pro-LGBTQIAP+ straightee I know."

Ellie tried to nod at that but she knew she couldn't. "Cat... I don't think I'm-" But then Ellie remembered Grace, and her heart eyes when she talked about Alex, how she was pretty much in love with her. Ellie could never ruin that for her, it would be breaking girl code.

Cat stood there, waiting for the rest of the sentence and Ellie snapped out of her daze, "I... Don't think I'm up for riding with a bunch of strangers on a sweaty bus, can you give me a lift?"

"Of course, for a split second I thought you were going to say you're not straight." Then Cat laughed.

"Come on Cat you've seen me around guys, you know me." Ellie forced a smile.

Do they know her?

********

Later that night (or morning since they got home at 2 am) Ellie tossed and turned endlessly trying to get to sleep, in the end she sighed and pulled out her phone. She clicked on Instagram and to the girls dance team group chat. Nothing usually happens in it, but a few texted about the win.

Ellie clicked the section that showed her who was in the chat. She scrolled through the names until... Alex. Ellie clicked her account and followed Alexander immediately.

I shouldn't be doing this, the more I get attached... But Ellie kept scrolling anyway.

Any photos she found interesting or pretty she would save. Alex with her family, Alex with friends, Alex in a blue bathing suit...

Ellie also saw that Alex's captions were mostly lyrics from Dear Evan Hansen. I guess if she likes it I should look into it. Ellie tried not to double tap from way back, because she knew that's where the troubles at. But she did save a photo of Alex in an insta folder. Not anything creepy.

It was a photo of Alex in a forget-me-not blue dress on the street. And Ellie just found it so perfect. Then she read the caption.

Only us.

A/N Yay! Finally I did it. Being overseas really messed up my time schedule and this took a while. What did you guys think?

Also guys, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY VIEWS! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I love you guys,

-And Peggy