Fighter {Completed}

Chapter Thirty-One: I Can't Deny Her {Cole}

Chapter Thirty-One: I Can't Deny Her {Cole}

I wake to the sound of the closet door opening, cracking my eyes open to see the light flicker on. I squint in the brightness, after so long in the darkness it's bright as hell. Just as I begin to move, I'm stopped by a weight on my arm.

Ellie lies facing away from me, lying on her stomach with one leg stretched out and the other pulled up slightly. The jacket thrown over her in an effort to keep her warm does nothing to hide her figure as she sleeps, almost making me wish that door was still locked.

I pull my arm out from under her as gently as I can.

The four standing at the door are silent, probably in shock.

It's not everyday two of your friends get locked in a closet together. I sit up, stretching. Sebastian catches my eye as he grins slightly, hiding it quickly as he sees me. I raise a brow.

"We're going back out on the lake. You guys coming or would you like me to just close the door back?" Sebastian asks, laughing. I roll my eyes.

"Why are you in a closet?" Scarlet asks, staring daggers through me.

"We got locked in. I hid to scare Ellie and she came into the same closet. The door locked behind us." She nods, smiling slightly. "I'll wake her up and then we'll head out," I tell them, looking back to Ellie.

As they disperse, I keep my eyes on her face. Her lips part ever so slightly as she sleeps, her eyes dancing behind her eyelids. Blonde waves fall all around her, fanning out across the make-shift pillow and around her shoulders. I push a piece back, unable to stop myself.

My fingers graze her skin, shocks running through me as I do so. She frowns suddenly, groaning softly. I can't fight my smile.

"So are you going to wake her up and make your move or should I lock you in the closet again?" Sebastian asks. I shoot away from him, his sudden presence scaring the shit out of me. I frown, finally registering his words.

He locked us in?

"Again?"

"Sorry, just trying to help a brother out." He has the nerve to look sheepish, shrugging his shoulder. I shake my head, rolling my eyes at him.

Ellie gathers my attention as she stretches. Both Sebastian and I turn our heads to look at her.

Smiling as he looks her over, a proud glint shines in his eye. "She likes you. More than I've ever seen her like anyone." He faces me, his smile falling. "Including Keenan. You're wasting time, Cole. We don't live forever. You never know if someone else is going to come along and do what you won't."

The thought of someone else feeling the way I do about her has my blood boiling instantly. She's so incredibly beautiful that I know it's only a matter of time before someone else tries to win her heart, but as of now, Ellie's mine.

And I don't plan on letting her go anytime soon.

Sebastian is right. I need to grow up and tell Ellie how I really feel about her. I need to make sure Ellie knows what she means to me. But what does she mean to me?

I feel like I'm dying when I'm near her, but in a good way.

I feel like I can fly, and like I'm crashing at the same time.

I feel like I'm the king of the world, but also ready to bow at her feet.

What is wrong with me?

I wipe a hand down my face.

Right now, I just need to wake her up.

Once I get Ellie up and we're all ready to go, the day passes rather quickly. Swimming, tubing, water skiing, and hanging out makes us all tired and hungry quickly. Sebastian pulls out the cooler just as a sound erupts from the front of the boat.