Secure// Ellie Williams

The Dance

I've been in the church since morning setting up the dance for tonight. It's mostly just telling people where to put things and making sure our inventory is okay. I'm moving around the tables to the side while Alaina brings some of the alcohol from Seth's over to the back.

"And why did you sign me up to help as well?" Alaina asks me as she takes another box of whiskey, wine, vodka and beer.

"Cause Laina if I have to help than you do too." I tell her with a cheeky smile. She rolls her eyes at me as she continues carrying the box.

"The dance tonight better be worth it. Honestly, I hate these dances."

"It's nice though. It's an opportunity to have fun and drink, feel just a bit normal."

"We can do that with our friends."

"Who are all going to be at this dance." Alaina opens her mouth to say something, but closes it when she doesn't have a reply.

"Well since your thing with Caleb is over, anyone catch your eye?"

"Nope." I tell her as I move the last table and go over to help her move the drinks. I go to pick up a box with my good arm, but I struggle to pick it up comfortably while Alaina looks over at me with concern.

"Here let me-" Alaina starts but I cut her off, "I'm fine Alaina." She watches me wearily as I position the box and move my left arm under the box to keep it stable. Maria walls in and when she sees me she shakes her head and grabs the box.

"Hey Lils, don't do too much right now. And stop being so damn prideful. Hey Alaina, you girls can go now. Thank you for all the help." I nod at her and signal for Alaina to follow me.

"Look Lils I know it's hard but take the help when it's offered. Your hand needs to heal so it has a chance on going back to normal." I don't respond to her. She doesn't know how hard it is when she's the one being worried about me, "Here you can hang out at mine until the dance tonight." I tell Alaina and she follows me.

"So it's been weeks since you've talked to Ellie," She tells me, "I'm surprised."

"Why is that?"

"Well normally, even when you're not talking, you're talking. Sure it's not all personal and buddy buddy, but you still speak to each other."

"Yeah well I'm over her behaviour. Really why does she think she can be nice one minute then cold the next?" Alaina just shrugs at me.

"I don't know Lils."

~~~~~~~

After a few hours Alaina and I start to head to the dance. We meet up with Adam. He's smoking a cigarette at the front of the church and I go up to him taking the cigarette and take a puff before throwing it out.

"You know those are limited." Adam tells me.

"Good thing you were done." He rolls his eyes and we all hook arms to walk into the dance. I look around and see that it all pulled together nicely. There are a ton of townspeople dancing. I make eye contact with Ellie, but quickly glance anywhere else. I see Joel and Tommy in the corner so I go to talk with them.

"Hey Tommy, Joel."

"Hey sweetpea," Tommy says while Joel gives me a nod.

"Everything looks nice." Joel says.

"You can thank Maria, she organized it." I look over at the bar and pour myself a glass of whiskey. Joel and Tommy leave, Joel to talk to Ellie and Jesse, and Tommy goes to dance with Maria. I smile at them dancing as Alaina comes up to me.