I need you

Chapter 3

The next day, everything was back to normal... Armando's normal, at least. Ella pretended that things were fine and all was forgotten. She had to. There was not a moment's peace living with Armando unless she were willing to turn the other cheek.

"You cooking breakfast?" Armando watched as a tired Ella walked into the kitchen.

"Yes." She answered dryly.

"Come here. Come here." He grabbed Ella from behind and gave her a hug. "I was thinking about making breakfast. We don't have the ingredients I need here. Want to come to the store with me?"

Ella knew that meant she had to go to with him. Armando's questions were more like demands that he just dressed up to make Ella feel like she had options. She didn't.

"I'll go."

"Great! Now, make yourself look a little better. Right now you look like you got no mirror and nobody loves you. I'll pick out your outfit."

Ella scoffed. She was so tired of his slick insults. It's not like he loved her, she thought.

***

Once they arrived at the store, Armando hurried to open Ella's passenger door. He extended his hand and held her wrist, guiding her out of the vehicle. He closed the car door behind her. Ella was sure his gentle display was just his way of trying to make her ignore what happened before.

"You're so beautiful." He looked at her and blushed.

"Thanks." Ella watched as the grin slowly disappeared from his face. "Thank you, baby. It makes me feel so special when you say things like that."

"Of course, babe." He faked a smile.

Ella felt the tension. He needed to be praised all the time. If he gave her a compliment, it was solely so she could return one. He needed to feel special, he needed to be important. It pissed him off when Ella didn't make him feel that way.

"Let's get a cart." Armando got a shopping cart and pushed it towards Ella. "Follow me."

Ella took the cart and followed closely behind Armando. He picked up strawberries, flour, almonds, and a few other things. He had gotten an idea for breakfast from a cooking show and he wanted to show off what he thought he could do.

Armando beamed as he told random strangers how he was making breakfast for Ella. He lavished in the attention he was getting, especially from women who expressed how much they wished their boyfriends would do that for them. 

They were now in the eggs aisle. Ella opened a few cartons and checked for any cracked eggs."What are you making?" She finally asked as she picked up some eggs.

"It's a surprise," Armando replied in annoyance.

"If you tell me, maybe I can make sure you have everything you need. You've never made breakfast like this before."

"How do you know what I've made? Just shut your mouth. You're starting to bug me."

"I was just asking." Ella frowned.

In that instant Liam, from group therapy, walked by. He locked eyes with Ella. His hair was out and fell to the middle of his back. It made him look like the paintings of Jesus. She knew he couldn't save her, though.

Liam wanted to say hello but the look on Ella's face made him change his mind. Instead, he blankly stared at her. It wasn't his intention to. He simply remembered what she had said in the group and wondered about her safety. In fact, he had been up all night thinking about her.

Armando noticed that Liam's eyes were fixed on Ella. He grew angry and jealous. He was already annoyed by Ella questioning him about the meal he was going to make. Liam just gave him an excuse to act on his frustration.

"You good, fam?" Armando stepped in front of Ella and blocked Liam's view of her.

Liam didn't even bat an eye. He quickly responded, "Yeah. She's blocking the eggs I'm trying to get to. Guess I zoned out waiting." His face was stern. He wasn't bothered by Armando's attempt at intimidation.

Armando nodded his head and pulled the cart away. He watched Liam pick up a carton and leave. "You know him?" He swung around to look at Ella.

"He just wanted some eggs and I was in his way." Ella held up the carton she had in her hand.

"I didn't ask you that. You know what?" He slapped the eggs out of Ella's hand. When it hit the floor, the top opened and a few of the eggs cracked.

"Armando." Ella bent down to clean up the mess.

"Leave it. Leave it! Just leave all this crap right here." Armando grabbed Ella by her shirt and pull her upright. He took her hand and dragged her off, leaving the cart.

Ella was embarrassed. She could see people looking at them. "What about breakfast?"

"I'm not about to make nothing. You got dudes out here starting at you. It's because you dress like you don't have any sense. No respect for me. None!"  Armando dragged Ella all the way to the store's exit, only letting her go to push the door open.

Liam was at the checkout. He saw Armando and Ella leaving in a hurry. His heart sank. He hoped she was going to be okay. He could tell Armando was weak and only had the strength to hurt Ella. But what could he really do for her if she didn't leave? Maybe she'd get the courage to someday.