Fighter {Completed}

Chapter Twenty-Two: Cole, Please {Ellie}

Chapter Twenty-Two: Cole, Please {Ellie}

One Week Later

"I'm gonna miss you guys. You be safe," Julia hugs us all, pressing a kiss against my cheek. She brushes a lock of hair away from my face, the same my own mother used to do a long time ago. Instantly, I ache to be a part of her family, have her be my mother.

Why won't my mom be like this?

"I love you all," she says, and gets to her tiptoes to hug Cole. He hugs her back with one arm, the other toting my duffel bag in his hand, him having refused to let me carry it.

As we pile into the car for the long drive, I kick my shoes off and cover up, pulling a thin blanket over my legs that I kept out of my bag. Cole slides into the seat next to me, sighing as he sinks low, clearly tired and unready for this long ass drive. Everyone is quieter than normal as we head out, Sebastian crashing and snoring slightly in the front seat as Scarlet drives.

We're only a few hours into the drive when Sebastian wakes, energized and ready to party it seems as he immediately makes Scarlet pull over for some food and turns up the radio once we're back in the car.

Demi Lovato's Tell Me You Love Me begins blasting through the radio, and Scarlet freezes, glancing back at me. My heart swells as a huge grin takes over her face. She cranks the radio up loud.

Singing loudly, the pair of siblings in the front seat jam out as we drive, both glancing back at me every few moments.

I know what they're trying to do.

They want me to sing.

But that's not happening with Cole next to me.

"Oh, tell me you love me," Sebastian yells along with Demi, before saying, "Sing it, Ellie!"

I don't even realize I'm lip-syncing until Sebastian cheers, getting Scarlet's attention.

Soon, I can't help it.

The music is loud. Loud enough to give anyone a headache from hell. Which means it's loud enough that Cole can't hear me sing.

Soon, the three of us are screaming the lyrics. As I let my gaze drift, I spy movement to my left. As I let my eyes move over, I'm shocked to see Cole's foot tapping along to the beat on the carpeted floorboard. He stops as he sees me staring, painting on that same brooding face.

You can't fool me.

I see you, Cole.

With a smile, I look away from him, still singing as the next song comes on. He doesn't seem to enjoy this one as much, but I guess seeing the three of us singing and having a good time finally makes him get out of his mood.

It continues for a while, before finally, we all tire of the loud music. The car quiets down, and boredness takes over. I look at the time, cursing.

We're only six hours through this drive.

How the hell did I make it the first ten hours?

Hopefully a nap will make the rest of the drive go faster. I move to get comfortable, spreading the blanket over me better and sinking in my seat a little, propping my feet up on the console. They slide off when we hit a bump, and before I can even react, warm, rough hands grasp my calves, pulling my legs. Cole stretches my legs across his lap, then continues on his phone like nothing happened.

My face feels like it's on fire and I'm sure it probably looks the same.

With a pounding heart and a spinning head, I know there's no way I can sleep now. My entire body burns because of the small contact my legs make with his.