No Other Pain

Chapter 8: No One I Knew

Ellen woke up the next day to a weird room. She doesn't really remember what happened. She remembers wanting to make Patrick jealous, him punching someone and her throwing up. Did she actually try to leave with someone? Someone knocked on the door.

Ellen realized Patrick might have taken her somewhere last night, not wanting her to go back home in the state she was in. "Come in." She coughed, trying to adjust her voice.

The door opened, revealing Patrick in a purple robe, his hair messy. What happened last night? "Good morning." He smiled. She looked down and saw water and two pills in his hand. "Aspirin. I know you hate orange juice so..." He raised the cup of water. "Thanks." Ellen was being cold. Even though they are on better terms than when they first saw each other again, she couldn't go back to whatever they had. He placed the cup down on the night stand with the aspirin and sat down next to her. She scooted away from him.

Patrick stopped her and placed his hand on her knee. Realizing what he did, he pulled away. "I'm sorry." Ellen shook her head. "It's easy for us. I get it." He nodded. Ellen avoided eye contact. "It is easy." She looked at him. "What,"

Patrick cut her off. "I would never, Ellen. You know that. Nothing happened." She couldn't help but smile. "Thank you." She lost count of how many times she has said that. He nodded again. Patrick seemed to be at a loss of words.

She looked out the window to the city of LA. "Ellen?" She looked back at him. "Yes." She smiled. Why was she suddenly so normal with him? It's the like she can't be mad at him. Except she has, for years.

She feels like she doesn't recognize who she is with him. But in the best way possible. This is the woman she wants to be. And she has been locked down deep inside for a very long time.

"I-" He looked away for a second and sighed, then back at Ellen. "I'm not pressuring you into anything," He stopped again and Ellen suddenly felt anxious. "But I want you to know that I'm divorcing Jillian. As soon as possible. And I'm doing it because I want to be with you." Ellen's entire body went cold. She got out of the bed. "You can't." A genuine smile drew in his lips. "But I can. And I should have done it a long time ago." Ellen felt tears in her eyes.

She has wanted to hear this sentence for over fourteen years. But when it was suddenly hearing it, she was scared. "No," She took a few steps away from him again. "I'm not leaving Chris. I won't do it now, Patrick."

"Okay," He seemed so calm as he stood up and walked up to her. "I'm divorcing her anyway." Ellen tried taking steps away from him again, but she hit the wall. "I won't see you in secret."

"I'm divorcing her anyway." A smirk drew on his face as he got closer and closer to her. "Patrick," She whispered. "Ellen." He responded in the same tone. He cupped her cheek, something he likes to do, and leaned in, their noses brushing against each other.

Something inside of him was set on fire, was alive again. The way her body reacted to him the same way it did years ago. She still felt the same, and that made him fall in love with her even more. "This is crazy. We haven't seen each other in years." Her eyes were on his lips. Studying every curve, she realized she's never forgotten them. "You know that doesn't matter." He whispered. "I love you."

Ellen caught her breath, her eyes closing. Patrick couldn't help but laugh an audible laugh, but it slowly faded into awe when he saw a tear roll down Ellen's cheek, hitting his thumb. "Ell," He wiped it away. "I do. I really, really do."

"I.." She smiled. "I love you too. I always have." Patrick smiled back, and suddenly, their lips collided. Ellen's arms wrapped around his shoulders, and he lifted her up and into the bed, hovering over her.

Their kiss escalated quickly. It was full of passion, full of lust. Her hands got tangled in his hair, as he took off his robe.

Their lips disconnected, but Patrick's were all over her skin in seconds, after he took off her dress. He missed the taste of her skin. It never changed, not even a little bit. Ellen's head rolled aback as she enjoyed the love of her life exploring her body for the first time in years.

His hands cupped her waist as his kisses trailed down to her stomach. It was so easy for them. He knew exactly what she wanted, but he was taking a minute to think about himself. Intoxicating himself with all she is, because, realistically, this might not happen again.

His kisses trailed even further down, and kissed her over her panties. "Patrick please," She cried. The couple jumped when Ellen's phone rang. Patrick stood up immediately and walked to the balcony door, trying to calm down, He looked outside at the city. Feet, rotten milk, feet. He closed his eyes, trying to picture anything except Ellen's lace panties. Ellen's bra. Ellen's skin... Feet, Patrick, focus on the feet.

"Hi Chris." Patrick rolled his eyes. He thought it was a business call. He turned around and jumped on top of her. Her eyes widened. She waved for him to stop but she knew that his smirk was purely evil. He started kissing all around her panties, as he watched her stomach move up and down dramatically. "I- I fell asleep at the trailer."

Wanting to make her go even crazier, he wrapped her legs around his shoulders, and started nipping at her skin. "Patrick stop," She mouthed. His eyes were locked with hers.

"Make me," He whispered back at her. "Because I already left to go to the store dear."

"Yeah I'm fine." Patrick laughed. Ellen shook her head in disbelief and tangled her free hand in his hair, trying to push him away. "I'll be home in a few hours okay?" Patrick waved his index finger, telling her that she's gonna be staying a lot more than a few hours. "Bye." She hung up. "Patrick I'm gonna- oh God."

Patrick pulled her panties down the second she hung up, and started to please her, enjoying the way she's reacting. Her hands tightened around the sheets.

February 25th, 2007

"We really can't keep doing this." Ellen whispered. Patrick wrapped his arms around her, her back leaning against him. He took her hand in his and rested them on her stomach. "Doing what?" He acted like he didn't know what she was talking about. "This. I can't keep cheating on Chris."

"Well, okay. I'll leave." He tried standing up, she slapped his leg, laughing. "Stop it." She smiled. "Ellen, I would keep 'cheating' if that means I can be with you. Even though I don't really think Jillian cares." Ellen looked up at him. "Divorce her, then." Patrick caressed her hair. "I have my daughter to think about," Ellen sighed and looked back at the wall of the trailer. "Yeah. We just had wrong timing I guess."

Patrick kissed the top of her head. "That won't stop us." Ellen smiled widely. Turning around, she straddled his lap. "Stop us from doing...what, exactly?" Patrick smirked, kissing her. "This..maybe?"

The door knocked. "Ellen and Patrick! You're wanted on set!" Ellen fell back on the couch, sighing loudly. Patrick laughed. "We'll finish this later, I promise." He pecked her lips and stood up. He opened the door of the trailer, letting Ellen walk out before him.

Present day

Ellen rested her head on Patrick's chest, catching her breath. "I've missed you." She whispered. "I bet you have." Patrick's hand ran over her hair in calming motions. She sighed. "What does this mean?"

Patrick's arm snaked from under her and rested on her hipbone. "Well, I told you what I want." She closed her eyes. "It's too late for that, I can't leave Chris." Patrick moved Ellen and sat down. Then he pulled her in and sat her in his lap, her face facing him.  Her legs wrapped around his waist and he smiled. "Ellen," He placed his hands on both her arms. "Take all the time you need. And this time, I'm gonna be here when you turn back."

"I think I just need time to process this." He nodded. "I get it. I made a mistake last time, Ell. But I won't do it again. I know how much you mean to me and personally I don't wanna waist another second. And waiting for you? It's not a waist of my time. It's a step forward that I'm willing to take as hard as it's gonna be."

"I thought your cheesiness would fade with age." Ellen laughed. "Oh it only got worse." She buried her head in the crook of Patrick's neck. "When I leave here, I'm gonna be a little distant, but I will show up eventually." He rested his hand on the back of her head. "okay." He whispered. "okay." she repeated.