"I don't need help!"
"Then show me your arm!"
"There's nothing wrong with me!" Ellie yelled.
"Then show me your arm!" Paige beseeched. Ellie stopped in her tracks. "Ellie, please," Paige begged. "Show me your arm."
Against her better judgment, Ellie turned to face Paige and slowly rolled down her arm warmer and lifted her shirt sleeve. Scars up and down Ellie's arm. Paige felt ill.
"Oh, Ellie," Paige held Ellie's wrist, and gently touched a scar. Ellie began to sob quietly. "It's ok. It's ok."
Paige held Ellie for almost a half-hour, while Ellie sobbed, sitting on the bathroom floor. They both felt blessed that school had ended almost an hour ago, so no one walked in to see the girls. Ellie curled her body closer to Paige's, as her own body shook with sobs. Paige gently stroked Ellie's hair, trying to calm her down.
"I'm taking you to my house, okay, sweetie?" Paige asked. When Ellie didn't respond, Paige simply helped Ellie to her feet, and wrapped an arm around Ellie's shoulders. Paige called Dylan and, once Dylan arrived in the family van, the girls wound up at the Michalchuk residence.
Paige took Ellie right up to her bedroom. Ellie sat on Paige's bed and looked around Paige's room.
"Honey, can you spend the night here?" Paige asked Ellie quietly, "I can get you a toothbrush and everything, and you can borrow pajamas."
Ellie said nothing, but shrugged, then nodded.
Paige went into her dresser and pulled out a pair of pajamas. She held out the black top and black satin pants to Ellie. "Your favorite color," she teased. The redhead smiled a tiny bit. Paige set the pajamas on the bed. Ellie made no move to get changed.
"C'mon, Ell, time to get comfy," Paige said. Ellie pulled off her jacket, and stopped there. "C'mon, girl, you can get into pajamas."
Ellie turned away from Paige and quickly changed into the pajamas. Paige smiled a little, and then went back to the dresser and pulled out some pajamas for herself and changed into them.
"Do you… do you maybe want to take a shower, or wash your face, and get your makeup off? I'll make us some dinner, we can paint each other's toenails, or watch a movie or something," Paige suggested, not really sure of what to do.
"No shower," Ellie said softly. "I'll wash my face, and take off my makeup."
Paige smiled and held out a hand to Ellie. Ellie took Paige's hand and pulled herself up. Paige led Ellie down the hall to the bathroom. She handed Ellie a bottle of eye makeup remover. Ellie quickly washed up, after removing her thick eyeliner. Paige washed her face.
Ellie went back into Paige's room, and Paige followed. Ellie sat back down on the bed. Paige took out her hairbrush and gently undid Ellie's braids. She brushed out Ellie's hair gently, and then brushed her own.
Paige yawned softly. "Dinner? What do you want?" she asked Ellie.
"I just want to sleep now," Ellie whispered.
"Alright, hon, let's get you comfy and then you can take a nap," Paige said. She pulled back the covers and sheets, and tucked them in around Ellie.
Ellie blushed a little, and asked quietly, "Lie with me?"
"What?"
"I don't wanna be alone," Ellie said. Paige shrugged.
"Good enough reason, honey," Paige said, and slid into bed next to Ellie, "You'll be just fine."
Ellie nodded a little, and burrowed closer to Paige. Paige wrapped her arms around Ellie, remembering how broken the girl had looked earlier, in the school bathroom. Ellie yawned and closed her eyes.
Once Paige was sure Ellie was asleep, she leaned over and kissed Ellie's temple. She whispered, "You'll be just fine. I'll take care of you now."