I Just Wanted to be Edgy Too

Chapter Thirty-One

Van

I stood outside of Ellie's door and listened. What if Barns was in there? How would I explain this to him? I felt the crease form between my eyes as I tossed around the potential to be in a situation with Barns that could turn ugly.

I tapped my knuckles lightly on the door, half terrified of what I'd find when it opened. After a few seconds, the sound of the deadbolt clicking sobered me, and I stood up a little taller. The door opened a hair, and Ellie peered out with red eyes. She was crying.

"You alright, love?"

She shook her head no and stepped out into the hallway, looking it up and down. That's when I saw it. She had a red mark that was on the verge of bruising running lengthwise from just behind her ear to her collarbone. That wasn't all. Her face was red and swollen, like it would be if someone had hit her. Like if he had hit her.

"Ellie." My voice sounded miles away.

She sniffled and wiped her eyes with her hands. There were similar bruises forming on her upper arm. They looked too close to the ones she wore in the hospital. I leaned into the wall.

"Why?" My voice was empty.

She shrugged. "He's out of his mind."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know. He left." She was shaking as she looked up and down the hallway.

I rubbed my palms together. "I can't go in there." I pointed to her and Barns' room, she nodded. "Come with me."

She looked up at me through heavy lashes and shrugged. "I didn't know who else to call, I know I shouldn't have-"

"Ellie." I said softly, trying not to let my gaze linger on the marks on her arm and neck. "Please just come with me."

She hesitated for a moment before disappearing inside. She grabbed her phone and her wallet and met me in the hallway.

"I need you to trust me, okay?"

She nodded.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and saw the missed calls and messages from Larry. Without wasting a moment, I tucked the phone against my ear as it rang.

"Van, mate, I didn't mean to upset you-"

"Nevermind that right now, Larry. I need a favor from yous. Please don't ask any questions."

There was a brief pause on the line. "What happened?"

"Remember what I said about those questions? Can you meet us at your room?"

"Us?"

"Mmhmm."

"Is everything...okay?"

More questions, but I should have expected that from Larry. He wasn't one to follow rules. I did a once over of Ellie as she paced in the hallway and rubbed her neck. "It will be. So, can you meet us?"

"Yeah...yeah, sure. And Van?"

"Yeah mate?"

"I'm sorry if I upset you. We just don't understand, and I want you to be happy. I want you to have what you deserve."

"It's alright mate, we'll figure it out later." I couldn't focus too much on Larry's concern on that moment. I had other things to worry about, and one of them was pacing in circles through the hallway.

We ended the call and I turned to Ellie. She was wrapped around herself like the day in the hospital, as if her arms were holding her together. I stepped toward her and sighed. "We're gonna go to Larry's room."