Not Thinkin' Bout You

Chapter 14

PREVIOUSLY: ... liar. Freaking liar. She never went with friends, she went with Jade. 

"That was incredible," Sienna mused as they all shut the car doors.

"Best concert ever," Jade agreed, holding out her arms like a small child. Sienna leaned across the car and pressed her face into Jade's, hugging her tightly. Ellody stared out of the back window, once again feeling like the annoying little kid that always ruins the moment by just existing. She wanted to get out of the car and leave them together, but if she got out now, they probably wouldn't notice and leave without her. That would mean she was stuck outside. Heck no.

The ride home was full of Jade and Sienna's chatter, alongside Ellody's silence. She didn't want to talk to anyone right now, she just wanted to sleep.

"Where are we?" Ellody asked as they passed under a street lamp and saw a park she didn't recognise.

"On the way to Jade's," Sienna replied, glancing out her window before returning to her conversation. Ellody's heart fell to her feet as she remembered that she wasn't going to get to sleep in her own bed tonight.

"Right," she sighed, sinking lower into her seat to distract herself from crying.

~

"I was wondering if you'd be OK with me and Jade sleeping in her room and you in the spare room," Sienna blurted, going slightly red.

"As long as I can't hear you from the spare room," Ellody commented slyly, raising her eyebrows challengingly at her sister. Instant regret.

"Oh." Sienna stood very still for a few seconds before grabbing her sister's arm and roughly shoving her into the spare room, throwing in her bag before slamming the door. I probably deserved that. But holy damn, I better not hear them.

~

The bed was so much nicer than she anticipated, and she was quick to call Zach, Kay's appearance on her mind.

"Baby, what's up?" Zach answered, and there was laughter in the background.

"Huh?" Ellody breathed. Her heart skipped a beat. There was silence before Zach laughed too.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought this was Kay," he said before hanging up.

~

"NO!" she yelled, sitting up in bed abruptly, looking around, completely startled. "It was just a dream," she told herself, tears leaking down her cheeks, guilt taking over. "It was just a dream," she said again as her body shuddered with sobs. The walls were closing in on her, she was drowning in her tears...

~

"Ellody? Shit girl, you look messed up," someone muttered, their hand gently clasping her elbow and pulling her up to standing. Ellody automatically stood up, rubbing her wet eyes. "Let's get you cleaned up, hey? Hey, it's OK." Their voice sharpened as more droplets fell from her eyes.

"I need Zach," she whispered, his face appearing in her mind.

"No, you need sleep. But first, a shower."

"I need Zach," she repeated, her voice growing steadier. The person she was with sighed and shut the door, locking it behind her. But what door? All I need is Zach.

"I need Zach," Ellody said, more forcefully. The hand gripped her elbow a little tighter, steering her a few steps before stopping her and turning on a light. The light burned on her closed eyelids, glowing red.

"OK, time to strip off and get in the shower. Come on now, Ellody," they instructed, and Ellody's eyes finally opened. Of course, Sienna stood in front of her, her hair up in the messiest bun Ellody had ever seen and a frown on her face. "There you are. I was wondering if you'd ever open them," Sienna grumbled, tossing a towel she was holding over the shower screen and motioning for her to get undressed.

"If I'm getting naked, you're getting out," Ellody decided. Sienna threw her hands into the air and shook her head.

"You're half asleep. I'm not letting you drown in the shower - or your own tears, for the record," her sister lectured, reaching forward and beginning to pull Ellody's clothes off.

"Fine. But I'll do this myself. You turn around," Ellody decided, stepping away from her sister and falling backwards into the bath. Her head hit the cold tile with a thud, not knocking her out but hurting like hell. Sienna squealed, rushing forward and staring at her, waiting for her to move. Ellody's head felt strange for a second before a surge of pain hit her, just as suddenly as she smacked her head. She gasped as the shock hit her, tears falling thick and fast down her face. Sienna gasped too, throwing the door open and calling for Jade, who appeared in a pink nightgown looking mildly concerned. When her eyes landed on Ellody, she walked forward and raised an eyebrow.

"Me too, bro. Me too," Jade sighed, stretching her arms above her head. Ellody closed her eyes, trying not to focus on the intense pain that was like a heartbeat in the back of her head.

"Sorry, what? Aren't you worried? We should call an ambulance!" Sienna whisper-screamed, her eyes welling with tears at how useless Jade seemed to be right now.

"Did she hit her head?"

"Yes!"

"She's conscious, so it's fine."

"What? No, she's not fine. She needs an ambulance! Jade, come on!"

"Sienna. Look at me. Drunk people fall over, hit their head, people make them shower, they wake up fine the next day and do it all again. She's fine. Just... get her showered and clean or whatever and I'll help you carry her to bed," Jade said, her voice slightly raised. Silence. Then Ellody could hear soft sobbing, and she forced her eyes open, unable to believe that Sienna was crying over her.

"Sienna? Stop crying," Ellody whispered, unable to make her voice any louder.

"Ellody? Ellody, oh my goodness, you're alive," Sienna mumbled, kneeling by the bath and stroking her hair out of her face. Ellody summoned the energy to push her hand away before letting her arm go slack; gravity did the rest. "Jade, look, she's OK," Sienna gushed. Ellody wanted her to shut up, but she couldn't tell her. There were footsteps, and suddenly a lot of cold water was flooding over her head.

"Hey," Ellody yelled suddenly, sitting up abruptly. Her head was swimming, but she could feel the cold pouring down her body.