Two Broken People

No Problem

                               Tori's P.O.V.

  I thought I was going to be sick. Elliot's sister just said that my dad was being targeted to help a hacker group bring down the company he works for. Convincing my dad to bring down the company that my dad works for would not be without difficulty for sure. I couldn't even think of a single reason why anyone would want to bring that company down. I looked up at Elliot with a concerned look in my eyes. "Let me get this straight. You want me to convince my dad to hack into E Corp and spread viruses to take them down?", I asked astonished.

   "Yes, so we're on the same page here, right?", Darlene asked. "Actually, no. I don't understand why you wanna bring down E Corp. If there's a lot of good reasons behind bringing them down then show me them. Otherwise, my father is loyal to the company.", I explained to them. "E Corp is the worst company in America! Did you know that E Corp was responsible for the chemical spill that caused leukemia in half their employees?! My-our father DIED of leukemia because of that chemical spill, and E Corp swept it under the rug!", Darlene shouted, causing both Elliot and I to stare silently at the floor. "My father says that was not their fault. The owner of the company never meant for that chemical spill to happen.", I defended my father's place of employment. "Then where are the files to back up your story?", Darlene questioned me. "My dad says they are stored away some place. Somewhere safe-",I tried to answer her. " That's because they don't want you to see it because it'll reveal their dirty, wicked schemes." , Darlene protested.

  "Elliot,", I began. "Evil Corp killed my father, Tori. If you want proof, I'll get it for you. Then you'll start to see things my way.", Elliot told me with a stern look in his beautiful blue/green eyes. "Elliot, I'm sorry.", I got up as he got up. I wanted to kiss him so bad. "Elliot,", I stared at his eyes with concern and adoration. He looked like he was going to kiss me fiercely  and passionately,  but we were interrupted by his sister, "Listen, I can take a hint. I'll leave you two alone. But Tori, you need to think about what we've said about the company your father works for. They are evil, and they will control this whole country unless you get your dad to take them down. Think about it." Elliot and I looked at her and watched her leave before staring back into each other's eyes. "Elliot, I", before I could get the words out, he crashed his lips into mine, and round three began. I woke up with him spooning me, and holding onto me so tight that I almost couldn't breathe. 
 
  "Elliot, I-I can't breathe. You're cru-shing me.", I barely could get out. "Don't leave me. Please stay. ", he whispered. "Elliot, I kind of can't go anywhere.", I tried to say, but the sound was muffled, " I kind of can't believe that you want me. Like at all." After a couple of minutes he turned me to face him,"Tori, why would I ever want you to leave?" "I'm not exactly the model type. I'm not someone special.", I continued  to look away from his beautiful green orbs and said in a very sad low voice how I felt every day even with him here. It all felt like a dream. Why would he pick someone like me? Oh right because my dad worked for the company that he wanted to take down. I answered my own question. I knew what was going on. This all was an illusion. "Do you even like me?", I asked him out loud. No one will ever like me for myself. " Tori, why would you even ask that?", he looked oblivious.  "I'll persuade my dad to take down ECorp.", I finally said after a long awkward minute of silence, "but if he can't be persuaded, then it's all up to you, and you'll have to come up with another way to bring them down. As always, my loyalty lies with my father. I'm sorry you lost yours. I'm sorry you lost him to something catastrophic like cancer." My self- sabotaging mouth had run away with itself again. I looked up for a split second to see a very confused Elliot staring at me like I was crazy. I turned and looked away to let a stray tear fall quickly from my cheek to the pillow beside me. 'Theres always a catch
', my thoughts wouldn't stay silent either,'Theres always a reason for everything.'

  'Maybe if I help him with this he'll fall in love with me.', the thought echoed in my mind, 'One can only hope.' I shook my head at that as I put back on my clothes. I looked back at a confused Elliot who was getting up and putting on his clothes. I turned around as another stray tear fell down my cheek. I wiped it away. "I have to get back. I'm already in so much trouble with my mom." "Tori, you're 28. Let your mom worry. You're an adult.", Elliot said from out of the blue. I turned to look at him and he was inches from my face. He saw. He could tell I had been crying.  Great. His hand reached over to touch my left cheek. I looked at his shoes awkwardly. "You're here, because I want you to be here.", he said in a low voice. I looked back up at his eyes with my eyebrows furrowed. 'He is such a confusing person.', I thought. "But do you want me?", I asked him out loud, "That's the million dollar question." He scoffed and looked away for a bit, and then tried to look me in the eyes for a long amount of time. "Tori, you are beautiful. Never ever doubt that, ok. I am very very attracted to you. We are getting to know each other better. It takes time.", he said carefully.  " Yeah it does.", I said as I looked at the ground and then backed away, "I'll call my dad tomorrow. See if I can persuade him to help." I walked out the door after that, leaving behind a confused Elliot. Tears stung my eyes as I got into the cab and told the driver the address of the hotel we were staying at. Why did I think that someone could actually love me? It was always just a lie. Heartbreak after heart break. Loneliness after loneliness. I knew better, but I wanted the lie to be true.