The sky shined a bright orange from the rising sun, sending light through the windows of the van. Ellie ducked her head down as Matty lifted her onto his lap, kissing her roughly and running his hand up her thigh. As much as she didn't want to, she pulled away from his lips, cupping his face in her hands.
"I really should go, my parents and Alex are probably wondering where I am." She said softly, "and after the scene I'd made when they didn't believe me about the money, I think they're a little too scared to ask."
Matty wrapped his arms around her waist tightly as she sat on his lap, "stay." He mumbled.
She laughed softly, kissing all over his face before pushing it away playfully. He smiled and let go of her, watching her climb off his lap.
"You sure you don't want to come in?" She asked, "its better to get it over with..." she said, referring to him having to face Alex.
He pulled his leather jacket on, running his hands through his hair slowly, "I promise I'll come back...later..."
She could see the need for sleep in his eyes which bags collected beneath. Without doubt he was tired and slightly hung over. Ellie nodded, grabbing her bag and getting out of the back seat, with him following to get to the driver's seat.
"Bye." She said, looking around to make sure they were alone, as he did the same.
"Alright, baby." He kissed her cheek quickly, just in case anyone away from eye's view was around.
She smiled and headed up the street to her house, quick in the pace she walked as the air was chill against her arms. She ran up the driveway, shaking her hair out as if to rid any unfamiliar scents to her family into the air. She took her keys out, opening the door and seeing her parents on their way out.
"There you are..." Mrs. Moore sighed in relief, "where have you been?!"
"Out..." Ellie shrugged, seeing their suitcases and other luggage in hand, "where are you guys going?" She asked.
"To visit your uncle, his birthday week...remember?" Mrs. Moore answered.
"Of course she doesn't." Mr. Moore mumbled, wheeling his bag out to the car.
Ellie rolled her eyes as she turned her back to them, of course...at least try to be smart around them.
"Can you do us a favor, Ellie?" Mr. Moore asked.
"What?" Ellie asked, pushing her hair back as it fell into her face, she hadn't realized just how many habits she'd picked up from Matty...from the messy hair to not giving a single fuck anymore.
"Keep an eye on your brother...now I know what you're thinking, he's older than you and-"
"No, it's fine." She nodded, already knowing where the conversation was heading, "I will. You two have fun." She said.
Her mother and father looked at her in confusion, being that she hadn't simply obeyed them with no fuss in a long time.
"Alright...be good..." Mrs. Moore hugged her tightly, Ellie wrapped her arms around her just as tight, missing the comfort she once felt from her before they'd been so distant on her own accord.
"Seriously." Mr. Moore glared at her sternly as she and her mother pulled away, Ellie couldn't help but smirk as she nodded.
They headed out of the front door, Ellie locked up before carrying her bag upstairs as she saw Alex coming down.
"They're gone?" He asked.
She nodded, noticing his clothes, a nice fitted black tee underneath his leather jacket and dark denim jeans.
"What are you all dressed up for?" She asked.
"Party." He said.
She turned around as he continued down the stairs, "here?"
"Yeah, mum and dad are gone, why not?"
She smiled, seeing how okay he seemed...and being honest, she knew she could go for a bit of a party herself, to cancel out the chaos of her life. "Count me in." She smirked, continuing up the stairs.
"Yeah, uh...by any chance have you talked to Matty? He told me he was going to talk to you..." he said.
Her heart raced at his mention of him, "um, yeah. He did. He just told me um...that you two...uh..."
"Please don't tell mum and dad about us...ever." He said quickly.
Us. The words sent an ache in Ellie's chest, because there was no them.
"He told me he was just trying to figure out his feelings." She turned back around, "since he was so freaked out when you kissed him in your room...that's all."
Alex looked around, feeling stupid. Ellie could see the embarrassment in his face, "but don't worry...um...you never know." Damnit. She didn't know what to say, she had to make him feel better....yet it was getting too complicated.
"I'm gonna go pick up the alcohol...I'll be back." He said, heading out of the house, just as he made his way through the door, there stood Holly on her way in.
"Uh, is Ellie here?" She asked.
Ellie stepped down from the staircase at the sound of her voice, "I'm right here..." she said.
"You look nice today..." Holly smiled at Alex.
"Thanks..." he smiled back, taking out his car keys.
"Could you not flirt with my brother." Ellie rolled her eyes.
"I'm not flirting, just giving him a compliment..." Holly rolled her's back.
"What do you want? I thought you hated me." Ellie said.
"I don't. I miss you, Ellie. I guess I was just jealous...and I'm sorry." she said.
Ellie shut the door, throwing her bag aside as she now assumed it would never make it to her bedroom, "jealous of what?"
Holly shrugged, looking around the house, seeing it was still exactly the same as always.
"You...and Matty..." she said slowly, "we both spent so many years drooling over the guy," she laughed slightly, "I never thought one day one of us could actually...hang out with him or anything... I even found this." She pulled out a book from her purse, showing it to Ellie.
Ellie took the book, turning it around and remembering, she laughed out loud, opening it to the very first page, "property of Mrs. and Mrs. Healy."
"Oh my God...throw this away and never pull it out of the trash." It was one of their old scrap books. Doodles and glitter all over the front cover.
"I really am sorry." Holly said.
Ellie handed the book back over to her, "me too. I did kind of start to ignore you...and I didn't mean to." She said.
Holly observed her, "why do you look like that..."
"Like what?" She asked.
"So...messy...you look like you haven't taken a proper bath or sleep in weeks. And you smell like cigarettes and alcohol..." She laughed.
Ellie shook her head, leaning her head back, tired of everyone asking, "I've been...just...going through things ." She explained.
"Please don't tell me you're on drugs." She said.
Ellie laughed, "I'm not on anything...let's go to my room, I have to tell you everything...trust me, its a long story."
-----------------------------
The music began to be a drag, Matty couldn't stand watching Ellie walk around and not being able to talk to her. Especially when he'd notice guys trying to talk to her... as they always did at Alex's parties if she was present, but it never bothered him then as it did now. It was odd, having things back the way they were just for her brother's sake, who he still hadn't even spoken with.
The entire party they'd just walk passed one another awkwardly and smile. He wasn't sure if Alex purposely neglected the topic because he felt too weird about it, as Matty had also...or if he just wanted Matty to be the first to bring it up...
Ellie came his way, smirking and winking at him as she made her way pass. He couldn't help but smile, holding his cigarette between his lips as his back leaned against the wall coolly. He looked around, seeing no one who paid enough attention as he grabbed her bum playfully while she passed.
He could hear her laughing as she continued on her way. He spotted Holly from afar, talking with Alex. He wondered what it was all about, it wouldn't possibly be fair if those two hit it off while he and Ellie would still have to continue in secret...but they'd already planned to tell.
He studied how intrigued Alex was with their conversation. Giving him enough time to follow Ellie into the kitchen, away from the noise of the party. Ellie watched him as she sipped on a beer, leaning against the counter.
"Hey." He said through exhalation of smoke.
"Hey." She smiled.
"How many numbers have you gotten tonight?" He asked.
She rolled her eyes, "how about you?"
He closed his eyes with a sarcastic grin, "you know I've had my back against that fucking wall all night."
She laughed softly, "I know...I haven't gotten any, I don't want any. I'm just waiting for this to be over so I can be with you." She said quietly.
Alex came rushing into the kitchen, pulling Matty by the back of his jacket and swinging him around, "YOU FUCKING PRICK YOU'VE BEEN SLEEPING AROUND WITH MY SISTER?!"
Ellie stood up straight, immediately, seeing Holly close behind him. She couldn't have ratted her out, she wouldn't...they were best friends...they'd just made up...and she trusted her.
"ALEX TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF ME! I CAN EXPLAIN!" At Matty's attempt to push him off a crowd swarmed around them like a hive of honeybees.
Alex threw a punch at Matty's face, decking him right in the nose. He held onto it as blood oozed between his fingers and down his hand.
"ALEX STOP!" Ellie came between the two, grabbing Alex by the arms as he went for more.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM?! HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THIS SHIT?! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY FRIEND!"
"ALEX PLEASE! JUST LET US TALK IT OUT-" She said.
"GO TO YOUR ROOM ELLIE!" He shouted.
She looked up at him, breathing heavily as Ross pushed his way through the crowd, helping her break them up...Matty still holding onto his nose.
"Alex you are not dad." She said slowly, she'd never seen him so angry in her entire life...nor had he ever spoken to her so harshly before. "Holly, I can't believe you...don't you ever talk to me again." She pushed her way passed her and the rest of the people around, running up to her bedroom and slamming the door.