Secure// Ellie Williams

Secret Hideout

I walk into Ellie's room and find her sitting at her desk writing in her journal. Her cassette is next to her so I know she's listening to music. I walk up behind her and I'm about to tap her shoulder when I notice she's not drawing like usual, but rather writing something. It looks like poetry or something. I tap on her shoulder to get her attention and she jumps up, slamming her journal shut and clutching her heart.

"Holy shit Lils you scared the crap out of me!"

"Sorry Els I was just trying to get your attention. Whatcha writing, looked poetic." I give her a wink and she blushes.

"It's nothing."

"Wait was it actually poetry?"

"Sometimes yeah, but I was working on a song actually."

"Really? Can I see it?" She shakes her head quickly pulling her journal closer to herself. I stare at her for a minute before an idea comes into my head and I break out into a big grin.

"Ellie Williams are you writing a song for me?"

"What! No!" She says quickly. She starts to scratch the back of her neck and that proves to me she is. She always scratches the back of her neck when she's nervous. 

"You are!"

"How would you know?" 

"Because you scratched the back of your neck and you always do that when you're nervous." I tell her.

"You noticed stuff like that?" 

"Of course."

It's been two weeks since the dance and Ellie and I've hung out a lot since. We are starting to relearn each other which is nice. The awkward tension we once had is fading quickly and I'm starting to get the Ellie I remember back. Caleb tried coming up to me to blame his behaviour on his alcohol, but Ellie just tells him to 'fuck off' and he doesn't really fight it. I have regrets hooking up with him now, but it's not like I can take it back.

"So you're coming with me." Ellie tells me as she pulls me away from the school.

"Where?"

"Outside the wall. It's a surprise."

"You know I'm not allowed to leave. Maria, Tommy and Joel will freak. Tommy and Maria would kill the both of us."

"That's only if they find out." Ellie smirks at me. I want to leave, I hate being trapped here, but they have good reasons to keep me from going out of the walls on patrol or anything. My shot with only one hand isn't great and I can't even reload a gun properly. If we ran into trouble Ellie is responsible for protecting both of us, "Come on Lils. We will be okay, I promise." Ellie continues to stare at me eagerly. I sigh before giving her a quick nod. She smiles at me and grabs my hand before pulling me to the stables.

"Hey Ellie, Lily- you still cannot leave."

"She's not dude, she's just walking me out." The stables manager looks at Ellie skeptically before he shrugs without a care and hands Ellie Shimmer. We walk to the gate and make sure to go to the more quiet entrance. We hide behind a corner before making a break out. Once we get through Ellie jumps on Shimmer and gives a hand to me. I grab it and hoist myself up. As I'm about halfway up I lose my grip trying to get my leg over and I fall off Shimmer, "Shit Lils, you okay?" Ellie jumps off and goes to help me but I push her hand away. I stare at my bandaged arm and sigh before getting up. 

"Can you help me up?" I ask Ellie. She nods and grabs my waist pushing me up on Shimmer.  Once I'm comfortable Ellie pulls herself up and I wrap my arm around her waist. We ride in awkward silence before Ellie speaks up.  

"So, you have any plans tonight?" Ellie asks me.

"I think I might go over to Adams. You're more than welcome to join if you want."

"No I'm probably going to watch a movie with Joel tonight." I nod at her.

"Tommy's not much of a movie guy so we never really watch any."

"You know you can always watch it with Joel and I. He loves you so I know he wouldn't mind."

"Nah I'll let you guys have your bonding time." I give her a lazy smile and she returns it. We continue riding to our mystery place. As we're riding we end up by the river that Ellie and I swam in a few years ago.

"Nice view." She says. 

I nod, "Beautiful." I feel Ellie's gaze on me as I turn and give her a smile, "come on, we should get going." Ellie nods and she kicks on Shimmer to get her to go. After a bit of riding we reach the library.

"What are we doing here?" I ask.

"Well we could grab you some books and I don't know just hang out." I smile at Ellie and let her help me down. She ties up Shimmer as I enter the library. My eyes scan the area and I look upon the book shelves. I hear rustling behind me and turn to see Ellie watching me look at the books. I turn back and pick up a copy of "Alice in Wonderland." I motion for Ellie to follow me and we go down to Eugene's weed hideaway. When we get down I look at my arm and see that the bandages need to get changes.

"Is it okay if I change them?" Ellie asks me hesitantly. I nod at her and she carefully grabs my arm and takes off the bandages. When they're off I get a good look at my hand. The bruising has gone down but it's still almost all purple. Ellie stops for a minute when she sees my arm, but it's only a second until she starts to wrap it back up with a fresh bandage, "It looks better." 

"It's not like it'll ever look good."

"It could have been worst. You could have lost your arm, or... die." I don't respond to Ellie as I watch her wrap my arm. She wraps it over a tool the medic used to stabilize my arm in a somewhat cast. When she's done she doesn't let go of my arm and I don't move or deny it.

"Why'd you take me here?" 

Ellie shrugs, "I know you like it."

"Thank you."

"For what?" Ellie looks at me confused.

"For taking me out. Not treating me like some wounded puppy. Sure I see your looks, but you're the only one who would actually let me leave."

"No problem. Here, why don't we make a date to come here. It'll be like our little secret hideaway."

I smile at Ellie, "Yeah. Our secret hideaway."