Not Thinkin' Bout You

Chapter 31

PREVIOUSLY: "...Honestly, I could have easily taught you everything she's taught you and more. And you should respect me, I'm your successful father!" he yelled. A tapping sound behind her reminded a horrified Ellody that Sienna was waiting for her to open the window, and she couldn't see inside to realise that their dad was right there.

"The only thing you're successful at is being a horrible person!" Ellody spat, deciding that the only way to keep her dad from hearing Sienna was to keep yelling and hope Sienna heard them. "And there was no way you could've raised us to be the women we are today. Look at yourself, having a screaming match with your youngest daughter over who could've parented better! You're far too immature to be a father, and I don't see what mum ever saw in you." Ellody stopped to breathe, and thankfully Sienna's tapping had stopped too. Her dad threw his hands up and stormed down the stairs, pushing Ellody over as he went. She landed with a thud on the ground next to the window, the air knocked out of her.

It was one thing to yell at someone, but a whole other thing to physically hurt them. The door to Ellody's room opened and Jonah appeared, looking up and down the hallway before his eyes landed on Ellody, lying on the stairs awkwardly and wincing.

"Ell! Are you alright?" Jonah asked, rushing back into her room and pulling his shirt on before almost falling down the stairs to get to her.

"Can you let Sienna in?" she said weakly, handing Jonah the window key. He frowned at her before unlocking the window. Sienna tumbled through immediately, looking angry and ready to shout at someone, but it faded when she saw Ellody.

"What happened?" she said, glancing up and down the stairs before shutting the window.

"I don't know, I heard shouting and a thud so I came down here to find her like this," Jonah sighed, touching the back of his hand to Ellody's forehead as though checking if she was sick.

"He... he shoved me," Ellody whispered.

"Who? Jonah?" Sienna said suddenly, staring accusingly at him.

"No, dad," Ellody added, trying to sit up. Her hand slipped and she nearly fell back and hit her head, but Jonah caught her.

"Woah, hang on... I'll take her up to her room," Jonah said to Sienna, whose face was bright red.

"DAD!" Sienna screamed. Ellody's mum appeared at the foot of the stairs, looking concerned.

"What's wrong, Sienna?" she asked, not even noticing Ellody in Jonah's arms.

"OH MY BLOODY GOD! WHERE IS THAT PIECE OF-"

"Sienna! Honey, come down here and we can talk through whatever you're thinking," the woman began, but Sienna was having none of it. Even though she was technically still a bit mad at Ellody, they were still sisters, and Sienna was never going to let anyone lay a finger on her baby sis.

"Let's get you upstairs before the yelling starts," Jonah mumbled, sliding a hand under her knees and lifting her into his arms easily. Ellody held her breath as he walked slowly up the stairs, readjusting her in his arms so that she has her arms around his neck and legs around his waist, like a koala.

He pushed open the door and ducked so she didn't hit her head before gently placing her on her bed, watching her make herself comfortable.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Jonah asked slowly, shutting the door as Sienna started to yell at their dad. Ellody was so grateful for her sister. And for Jonah.

"I... my alarm went off, so I got out of bed to get Sienna from the window... but then dad was standing at my door and he was trying to find Sienna... and I didn't want him coming in here because then he'd find you..." she drifted off, rubbing her elbow, which had hit the ground first when he'd pushed her.

"OK, then how'd you end up on the floor?" he said carefully, taking a seat on the bed next to her.

"He... he got angry a-and walked past me and sh-shoved me," Ellody mumbled her chin trembling. Her dad had never been a nice person, he'd never been there for them, but he'd also never hurt her.

"Really? Man, I didn't think he was... abusive," Jonah sighed, shaking his head and grabbing his phone off the trundle.

"Me neither," Ellody sniffed, taking a tissue from her bedside table and blowing her nose. Her elbow hurt to move, but the only thing she could think about was how Jonah had picked her up and taken her to safety. Something Zach would do.

"This is, like, the worst timing ever, but... after last night... did you want to, um..." he trailed off, staring at his phone and blushing slightly.

"What?" Ellody mumbled, waiting for his reply.

"Well... be like..." he stopped, turning off his phone and staring at the bed sheet as though it was extremely interesting. Ellody knew what he was trying to say, and since she was feeling brave this morning, she finished his sentence for him.

"Be more than friends?" she whispered. Jonah looked up so fast he could've hurt himself.

"I... yeah," he mumbled, locking eyes with Ellody. He licked his lips before taking a deep breath.

"Ellody, I like you too. Do you wanna, I dunno, be my... girlfriend?" Jonah asked. Ellody blinked, wondering if this was the right thing to do. Her feelings for Zach... they were still there, but they were buried underneath everything she felt for Jonah.

"Yeah," she breathed, nodding. Jonah smiled, making Ellody smile. Sienna continued to rage downstairs at their dad, who was yelling back, but Ellody was so lost in this moment with Jonah that she could barely hear them.

~

ZACH'S POV:

His thumb hovered over 'send', but he ended up deleting it all. Ellody hadn't texted him in days, and she usually texted him 24/7. It hurt that she seemed to be moving on. Should I be moving on too? I miss her so much, I don't even know what to say to her.

"Dude, quit moping after Ellody. She's clearly busy! High school's a busy time," Jack said, patting Zach on the shoulder comfortingly. "Except none of us would really know, would we?" he added, laughing. Zach shook his head, dropping his phone to grab a plastic water bottle and bopping him on the head with it.

"Shut up! I'm not moping," Zach laughed. Jack raised his eyebrows and snatched the bottle, hitting Zach repeatedly with it.

"Admit it! You are moping. Little mopey, sad Zachary," Jack teased. Zach jumped out of his chair and chased Jack upstairs, forgetting all about Ellody.

~

"Hey, I don't think Jonah's at his mum's," Daniel frowned. Zach raised his eyebrows at him curiously.

"Where else would he be?" Zach frowned.

"Not sure, but... that view. It doesn't look like his mum's place," Daniel explained, showing Zach his phone. A screenshot of Jonah's earlier story none of them had seen was posted on a fanpage.

"That's weird," Zach mumbled. He recognised that view, but he couldn't remember where he'd seen it before.