Not Thinkin' Bout You

Chapter 27

PREVIOUSLY: "Girls, come downstairs please!" their mum called. The Brown sisters stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds longer before Sienna stood up and called back.

"Coming."

Something strange had passed between them. Ellody could feel her sister's heartbreak at dinner as she picked at the sides of her mashed potato.

"Aren't you hungry, Sienna-banana?" their dad said with a toothy grin. He had called Sienna that nickname for as long as Ellody could remember, and Sienna had always hated it.

"Not really," she mumbled, avoiding eye contact with everyone. Their mum looked stressed to see Sienna in such a bad mood - Sienna had been angry with everyone lately, but she hadn't been sad. This was new and strange, and Ellody hated it. She preferred Angry Sienna, as horrible as she could be. It was easier than watching Hurt Sienna refuse to eat dinner.

BRRT BRRT.

BRRT BRRT.

Ellody's phone was ringing from upstairs. She tried to ignore it and keep eating to be respectful, but whoever was calling couldn't wait. It stopped ringing, then started again.

"That sounds important," her mum commented. Ellody shrugged, wondering who it could be. Nobody called her except... well, actually, a lot of people called her. It could be any of the Why Don't We boys, or any of the girlfriends. Or one of their family members. They all had her number.

"Aren't you going to get that?" her dad asked with a mouth full of food.

"Actually, I'm a respectful person who doesn't run away from the table just to answer my phone," Ellody snapped. He frowned, but didn't say anything else. This family dinner sucks. Who on Earth is ringing me right now? She wanted to get up and answer whoever it was, but she'd just told her dad that she wasn't going to, and her stubbornness always won.

After dinner, Ellody went straight upstairs to check her phone.

FOUR MISSED CALLS FROM: JONAH MARAIS

JONAH: hey ell i have news

JONAH: pick up pls

Ellody had never put her thumbprint on the scanner faster.

The phone rang twice before he picked up.

"Hey, what's the news?" Ellody asked. Sienna walked into her room, saw that she was on the phone and walked right back out.

"Well... can you come get me?"

"Huh?" Ellody glanced at the door as Sienna closed it, wondering what Jonah could possibly be on about. He was in LA. She was in Denver. I can't just come get you from LA.

"Get your butt to the Denver airport right now," Jonah said before hanging up. Ellody's heart seemed to stop. No way no way no way no way-

"Mum! I need a ride!" Ellody yelled, sprinting out of her room excitedly.

~

The drive to the airport seemed to drag on and on, and it was the biggest relief when they finally arrived.

"Wait, so what's happening?" her mum asked.

"Someone's here," Ellody said. Jonah hadn't picked up her last seven phone calls while she was in the car.

"Who, exactly?"

"I have no idea," Ellody muttered. They walked straight into the waiting lobby, where everyone getting out of their gates usually waited for people to pick them up. And there, wearing a grey hoodie and black sweats, was Jonah.