A Day Late

"Hey El!" Craig said enthusiastically over the phone. Ellie was trembling because she knew how hard it was for her to refuse Craig and how he always had her wrapped around his little finger.

"Hey… so what's going on?" Ellie said in a bored tone, as if to signal to Craig that she was just not interested in whatever shit he was trying to sell to her this time.

"You're still mad at me aren't you?" Craig asked with a painful sound in his voice.

"No, of course not! Why the hell would I be mad that you used me? Why in the world would I be angry that you told me you loved me, especially since you knew I loved you, then only said it to get your cocaine? That doesn't make me mad at all!" Ellie said in her super sarcastic voice.

Craig sighed and Ellie felt slightly bad for being so harsh but reminded herself that unless Craig got out of the picture, the golden opportunity with Sean would be gone forever.

"Ellie… I really am sorry! I… I was an idiot. I know that, but I do really love you. I have… Hell I have loved you since the summer Ashley left. You were always on my mind. Manny never even came close to you! Please just give me a second chance… I'm clean and I've changed!" Craig said with a pleading voice.

"No… no Craig! I'm done… I don't want this anymore. Whatever chance we had, is gone. You will always be my friend… my rock and my shoulder to cry on and I'll always be your musical fusion and I'll catch you when you fall… but not as your girlfriend. I'm sorry." Ellie told him honestly.

"Ellie… you don't mean that! I know you love me. I know it and so do you. We belong together. You're like my other half… the half that I lack and I'm like the part of you that's willing to take a chance. I need you and I know you need me! Why are you trying to deny that Ellie? Why?" Craig said exasperated.

"Maybe in the past Craig, but not anymore! I don't love you! There… there's someone else. He… he has my heart and I just won't get it back. You can't have it because I don't have it to give. It's been taken and… maybe I want him to have it." Ellie said regretting the words, knowing that she would have a lot of explaining to do.

"Who… who, Ellie? Who is it that gets your heart? Who is it that is so high and mighty and gets you? Because I promise you, I deserve you so much more then he does. Is it Jesse? Jesse doesn't deserve you El! Please… please Ellie, just give me a chance. I promise you that I can be ten times better then whoever the hell you think deserves your heart. I know it!" Craig said trying to convince her.

"Craig… It isn't Jesse. It was never Jesse. Jesse was… a fling to put it simply. He never had my heart and he never will but… one other guy did. He loved me and I loved him and he hurt me as much as you… if not more. But despite that, I still love him. Why do I love him? I'm not sure, but I know that I do and that no matter how hard I freaking try he won't get out of my head!" Ellie said more to herself then Craig.

"You're freaking kidding me Ellie! Who else is there? Wait… Sean? Are you freaking still in love with Sean? Are you kidding me? He doesn't love you Ellie. He never will! He loves Emma and you will never live up to her in his eyes! He came back for her… not you. He doesn't want you Ellie… don't you realize that? He doesn't deserve you!" Craig said unfeelingly. Craig realized how far over the line he crossed and immediately wanted to take the words back.

Ellie sat there quietly and took a deep breath. Someone entered the room but she didn't notice.

"You know what? You're wrong! He did love me! And he does love me now, I can see it in his eyes! He may have come back for Emma but he wasn't meant for her… he wasn't! He was made for me… and only me and no matter what you say… he will always have my heart and I will always love him even if he will never love me back!" Ellie said then hung up in a huff.

Ellie started crying hoping in her heart that Craig was wrong but she was almost positive that he was right and that killed her.

"Ellie… he does love you" Jay said from the other side of the room.

Ellie turned around startled and stared at Jay in awe.

"What… what did you just say?" Ellie said with a shocked look on her face.

"Sean… he loves you. Hell, he didn't come back for Emma. When he heard you were with that Jesse guy he just assumed you two were so far over there was no point. Emma is that overly occurring chick all guys have. But he's done with her; he told me himself and Craig this afternoon." Jay said then sat down next to her.

Ellie stared at him in shock not sure what to say.

"Craig said that… that Sean didn't…" Ellie trailed off.

"Because he wants you! Of course he is going to tell you that Sean doesn't want you so that you don't want Sean!" Jay said laughing.

Ellie smiled and stared at her hands not sure what she was supposed to do.

"Ellie… go get the hell in my car! You and I are going to my house to visit little Seany… for once I'm going to be helpful. Mostly because neither of you will stop sulking till I do" Jay said smiling and helped her up.

Ellie ran around getting on anything that made her look flattering, quickly throwing on light makeup and her shoes then ran down to Jay's car breathless.

"Are you sure Jay? Are you really sure he loves me?" Ellie asked apprehensively.

Jay smiled and turned on the car. "Ellie… get ready to go get your man" he said and they drove off.