Seeing Blind |NH|

Chapter Thirty One

Two days later, as I was taking my trash out, I saw Esta's car was back in her spot.  A smile appeared on my face and just as quickly disappeared.  When had she gotten back?  Why hadn't she come by or called or texted?  And my only reasonable calculation was that either Jace had ditched her again, which would surprise no one, and she didn't want me to know just yet, or he was still around and had somehow convinced her to not talk to me anymore.  As much as I dreaded it, I kind of hoped it was the former option.  I hated to think he had that much control over her.

I tossed my trash into the dumpster and pulled out my phone.  I saw that my texts had not gone through yet which implied her phone wasn't back on.  I went back upstairs and as the elevator door opened, Esta ran into the elevator and collided into me, her eyes filled with tears.  Although, I couldn't have said for sure she knew it was me, she must have because she wrapped her arms around my waist and held onto me.

"Esta?" I asked as I pulled away a bit, my hands holding onto her arms, while I tried to get a better look at her face.  "Hey, are you okay?  What's wrong?"

Before she could answer, Jace appeared behind her.  He grunted before saying, "Esta, c'mon back inside."  He reached for her arm.

I pulled her out of his reach.  He rolled his eyes and tried to reach around me but I stepped in front of him.  "Out of my way, dude.  This doesn't concern you."

"I think it does.  My friend is crying and it clearly seems to be because of something you did or said, so perhaps you need to take a step back."

"This is none of your business.  We're simply having a small misunderstanding about something."

"She's in tears.  Doesn't look small to me."

"Get out of my way and let me take care of my girl."

He reached around for her arm again.  I felt her grip my arm more tightly.  Getting the hint, I said, "I don't think she wants to come with you right now.  Maybe you should walk away before something worse happens, okay?"

Just then, I heard a door open and Patrick stepped out.  Looking in our direction he stepped further out into the hallway and crossed his arms. "How about you let her decide if she wants to go back with you?" Patrick said. 

Jace sneered at him before trying to reach for Esta, again.  "Leave me alone, right now, Jace.  Let me calm down.  Please?" she said, meekly behind me.

Jace relented.  Through gritted teeth, he said,  "Fine.  I'll be waiting here when you get back.  Okay?  This is all a misunderstanding, Esta."

"We'll talk when I get back."

"Okay."  He turned around and walked back inside her apartment.  Slamming the door.

I quickly turned around and looked at her.  Patrick came up behind me. "Are you okay, Esta?" He asked.

She nodded, wiping at her eyes.  "I just need some air.  That's all."  She gave us a weak smile before turning to push the elevator down button.  She crossed her arms and kept her back to us but we could see she kept wiping her eyes.

"Maybe Niall should walk with you?" Patrick suggested, looking at me. 

She nodded her head.  The elevator dinged and the doors opened.  She stepped inside and wordlessly, I followed her.

She said nothing as we rode down.  She said nothing as we stepped outside into the bright LA sun.  She said nothing for two miles.  And how do I know it was two miles?  My watch beeped every time I had walked a certain number of steps.  I mentally reminded myself to turn that off.