I'm sorry everyone, I know I haven't updated in a while and I apologize for that. School has been very heavy this passed month. But these two chapters have been in my google docs for a long while and I finally found the time to edit and post them. So, enjoy and comment what you think!
Ellie's eyes darted to her watch then to the doors for the tenth time within a few minutes. Her heart pounded, and her nerves wouldn't settle down. She shifted again in her chair and took a sip of her hot chocolate as she waited for Piers to arrive. She got to the coffee shop—their coffee shop. A pained smile cracked her mouth.
He won't be referring to this place as theirs after today. She thought.
Ellie's head jerked up at the sound of the door opening and froze. All her anxiety's peaked as soon as her eyes landed on Piers. His cheery smile was like the twist of the knife bedded in her heart.
Piers noticed Ellie and with a slight wave he started towards her. Ellie gulped down the rising panic. After she had reassured herself that this was all for everyone's benefits, she plastered on a smile.
"Hey." Piers' voice broke her out of her own little world. He pulled the chair out across from her and sat down, his broad smile growing wider with the moment.
"Hi." She managed to say. "Glad you could make it."
Piers reached across the table and placed a hand over hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "It wasn't a big deal. So, what did you want to talk about?"
Ellie searched his face for any doubt on why she called him to meet her here, but found nothing. His now prominent dark bags under his eyes dulled under his smile and bright eyes. She cleared her throat and straightened her spine.
"Piers, I had a great time last night."
"And..." He tried prompting her. Before she answered Ellie took back her hand from his, making the smile on his face fall slightly.
"But, I think we shouldn't continue with what we're doing."
"Wha—was it something I did?" He blinked back, put off from her statement. "I'm sorry if I came off too strong..."
"No, no, no." Ellie waved her hands. "It's not like that!"
"Then what?"
"I just...I'm not...looking for someone right now, and I don't return the same feelings you have. I'm sorry."
"Oh, I must have misread the signs then." He said sharply.
"Piers," She began softly. "I'm sorry. It was never my intentions to lead you on."
"Really? Because you fooled me." He leaned back in his chair and took a calming breath. "I'm not trying to come off as pushy, but if it was never your intentions then you should have made that more clear in the beginning. If you didn't feel anything for me then why did you kiss me back?"
Ellie ran one of her nails over her thumb as she thought out her answer. "It took me by surprise..."
She overheard him lightly snort.
"I'm not lying."
"You could have still said something to me."
He paused.
"Is there someone else?"
"No!" She observed a few customers turn their heads towards her at the pitch of her voice and lowered her eyes back to her hands. "I-I mean no."
"Would you be willing to give us a chance?" Ellie nibbled on her lip, the action not going unnoticed by Piers. "You're not telling me everything. You're nervous. What is it?"
"It's nothing. Really."
"Is it your grandma?" She flinched. "It is isn't it?! What did she say? If it's something I did—"
"It's not you!" Piers reeled back and gawked blankly as Ellie tried to regain control over her breathing. "It's your job. Piers, I lost too many people to these wars and bio attacks. I've been lied to, kept in the dark and watched those I love suffer from it. I can't do that again. I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt your feelings—believe me."
A deafening hush fell over the shop; it felt as if all eyes were glued to Ellie. She shifted her feet towards the exit, ready to bolt out of there at any moment but Piers' voice stopped her.
"Ellie, I'm sorry but I can't...my job—I can't leave it behind."
"Then there's nothing more to say." Ellie stood from her seat and placed on a sad smile. "Thank you again for everything you did for me, Piers. You have no idea how grateful I am of you and your team and for your generosity." She half expected him to stop her, but to her disappointment, he didn't. He remained seated and watched silently as she left the shop. Ellie held back her tears as best she could and put up her brave face.
As soon as she disappeared from his sight, Piers clenched his fists on the table and clucked his tongue in frustration. "Damn it." He breathed under his breath. "God damn it."
A week blurred passed and Ellie stood over the kitchen sink scrubbing the dishes furiously. She catch herself eyeing her phone sitting on the counter beside her. With a frustrated, disgusted snort, she refocused her attention back onto the plate she was cleaning and scrubbed harder.
"I think that plate is clean enough for God to eat off of now, Ellie." Ellie jerked her head over to her grandmother as she lingered in the doorway to the kitchen. Her eyes trained on the plate Ellie was furiously cleaning.
Ellie flicked her eye back to the plate, put it to the side and picked up another one to clean with a shrug of her shoulders. "There was a stain that wasn't coming off." She heard her grandmother shuffle beside her and place a gentle hand on one of her shoulders.
"Ellie," Her voice was clip. "I know it hurts right now, but it's better this way. It's better to have ended things before they began than have it hurt even more if you two got closer. I know you're angry at me, but in time you'll understand my reasoning."
"I'm not angry at you grandma." Ellie sighed and placed the dish to the side and glanced up. "What you did, you did it for me—I understand that."
"But?"
"I'm just angry at myself."
"Oh?"
"I get why you told me to stop things between Piers and I agree with it...but..." Ellie's eyes trailed over to her phone with a sad sigh. Marie followed her gaze and with a knowing smile nodded her head.
"Give it time, deary. Time is important right now. These feelings will dull with time, giving you a chance to move on. But always remember, this was the best choice for you." Marie placed a quick peck to Ellie's temple and draped her arms around her, cloaking her in a warm embrace.
"Thanks, grandma." The two stood in comfortable silence until Marie piped up.
"Ellie, would you mind stopping by the grocery store for me?"
"Sure, what did you need?" Ellie dried off the soap water on her hands and leaned against the counter.
"Well, I was planning on making your favourite tonight—"
"—Meatballs?!" Marie swayed her head with a chuckle.
"And I need you to pick me up some of the meat and a spice. Think you could grab them?"
Ellie nodded quickly, jumped to her feet and was already pulling on her jacket while Marie trailed into the living room. "Oh, and after we could watch a movie—your choice which one."
Bobbing her head and zipping up her jacket, she turned to Marie with a smile reaching her eyes for the first time that week. "Thanks grandma, you're the best."
"Why Ellie, I already knew that. But thanks for reminding me." Ellie levelled her eyes while Marie flashed her a devilish smile.
"Okay, grandma. I'll be back in an hour. Don't let the compliment get to your head before then." And with that, Ellie clicked the door closed behind her.
Marie let out another chuckle under her breath and returned to finish up the dishes while she waited for Ellie to get back. She hoped the fresh air would help clear her granddaughters head and lift her mood.
With a sigh, Marie flung her hands into the soapy water and began to scrub the dishes. Absentmindedly, her eyes trailed over to Ellie's phone she forgot to grab and a scowl brushed her lips.
A part of her piped up, was she wrong for breaking them apart? He might not have had the safest job, but what if he could have made her happy? Was she wrong? Her thoughts shifted again. No. Ellie deserves more, she deserves a life of happiness and one away from all these wars and bio nonsense.
A knock came to the door. Raising a grey eyebrow, Marie dried her hands on her apron and started for the front door. Her mood fell as she opened the door, revealing the one and only person whose appearance has hung over their heads this passed week like a dark shadow.
"Piers? What are you doing here?" Marie straightened her spine, ready to slam the door at any moment but stopped at the desperate look on the young man's face. He really was attractive, Marie thought—and had the manners to go with the looks. Good enough for her granddaughter...if only he wasn't part of that godforsaken job.
"Is Ellie here? I wanted to talk to her."
"No. She's gone out for a while." Marie said bluntly and began to shut the door but Piers' hand sprang out and halted her.
"Please, I'll wait—no matter how long she'll be."
"It's time for you to leave, Piers. Ellie doesn't want to see you, and I think it's time we all put this behind us and move on."
"Please, just let me talk to her—"
"I said no. Leave my granddaughter alone, Lieutenant." Piers winced at the formal directness but stood his ground.
"Ellie's an adult and can think for herself. I don't expect anything from her. I only want to talk to her."
"Ellie is an adult, but first and foremost she is also my granddaughter. She doesn't need someone like you waltzing into her life then leaving her alone again. She's already lost so much as it is, I will not allow that to happen again. Now," Marie stilted her eyes. "If you really like her, you'll respect her and her feelings and leave her be!" Before Piers could stop her a second time, Marie slammed the door with a huff and marched back into the kitchen.
A half an hour later Ellie returned home, stirring Marie from her kitchen. "I'm back! And I picked up a movie!" Ellie settled the bags on the table and took off her jacket and regarded Marie oddly as the woman remained silent. "What's wrong grandma? You look...upset."
Marie lit her face with her usual smile and took the bags to the kitchen. "Oh nothing deary, just a little tired is all."
Ellie accepted this answer and bobbed her head before entering the kitchen to help with dinner.
After dinner and when the dishes were done, Marie and Ellie curled up on the couch and flicked on the movie.
"I joined a quilting club. Did I tell you?" Marie said while watching the previews play. Ellie's face brightened up immediately.
"No! But that's great grandma. Are you sure you're well enough—"
"Oh hush Ellie," Marie tilted her head to get a better look at her granddaughter. "I'm absolutely fine. Stop worrying about me."
"So, when do you go to the quilting club?"
"Every Tuesday night. There are five other women in it as well. It's only downtown so it isn't that far of a walk or drive."
"I'm happy for you grandma. It's nice to see you getting out and meeting people." The two continued watching as the beginning of the movie started. "I got some news for you as well. I'm joining an online writing course."
"Why Ellie," Marie gasped and placed a hand on Ellie's knee, "Good for you! You always talked about doing it, but I often wondered if you ever would. What changed your mind?" Ellie shrugged her shoulders.
"I wanted to change. I was tired of always talking about things and never actually doing anything for myself." Marie patted Ellie's knee again with a smile.
"Good for you. You deserve to do something for yourself. When do your classes start?"
"Next week. I used the money I saved up from my last job."
"Nonsense! I'll pay for it—and I don't want any complaining." Marie interjected before Ellie could open her mouth.
Ellie knew arguing with her grandmother would be useless. So, instead, she plopped her head onto Marie's shoulder and watched the movie with a smile on her face. For the first time in her life, she was finally doing something for herself. Too bad it was only because Piers encouraged her to do so, but she'd never tell her grandmother that. Ellie could already hear the voice of anger coming from her grandmother at the thought of telling her. Clearing her head of that man, she snuggled closer to her grandmother and let out a content sigh and watched their movie.
"I'm just saying he's been crankier than usual lately, Andy!" Finn jogged to keep up with the man as they rounded towards the shooting range.
"He's just under a lot of stress right now with Chris' case!" Andy shot back.
"Ya, I get that, but that's not everything."
Finn furrowed his brows as they reached the entrance to the shooting range.
"I can see the changes in him this past few weeks. I'm telling you something happened to him. He's been working harder than normal—even more since Chris went missing." Andy froze with his hand on the door and sighed.
"I know...I've noticed it too. Something happened to him and I tried asking but he just shrugged it off and said it's nothing."
"Maybe we should try again?"
Andy opened his mouth but closed it as he heard shooting coming from inside. It wasn't odd, but given the time of day and the kind of gun it was they knew it could only be one person.
The two men strolled inside, regarding the lone figure down by the shooting stall with a scowl on his face.
"He looks angry." Finn gulped.
"Ya...he told me earlier that he was doing some shooting, what's he still doing here?"
"Piers, what're you still doing here?" Piers lower his gun and gave them a sidelong glare.
"Oh, Andy. Finn. What're you two doing here?"
"It's time for shooting practice. Did you forget the time again?" Andy tried to crack a joke but Piers shrugged his shoulders and resumed shooting.
"I guess so..."
Andy cleared his throat, arousing Piers' attention once more but didn't put down his gun this time. "Listen, Piers...we've been wondering—well, more like worrying. Are you okay? I mean, you seem off these past few weeks. We were just—"
"You already asked me that before. I'm fine."
"S-sir," Finn started. "With all due respect, I think there's something bothering you and it might help to talk about it." Piers slammed his gun down making Finn and Andy flinch.
"And with all due respect, Finn, why don't you mind your own business—the both of you!" He shot Andy a heated glare as well, making the man frown.
"Who shit in your bed today? This isn't about Chris, is it? So why don't you cut the bullshit and tell us what's going on?"
"Because it's none of your damn business!" Piers snarled back.
"It is when it starts affecting your work and those around you, sir!" Andy emphasized on sir with a hint of venom.
Piers grumbled under his breath and snatched his gun and resumed firing once more. "I got dumped—well more like rejected, okay?!"
Andy and Finn shared a puzzled look before cracking a smile.
"You rejected? Impossible, the ladies love you." Piers sent him a warning glare making Andy raised his hands in surrender. "We didn't even know you were seeing someone. What's her name?" There was a long pause before Piers let out a long, drawn breath.
"Ellie. Her name is Ellie." He could feel both sets of eyes on the back of his head as he emptied the clip and packed up his gun.
"Ellie...is that the girl we rescued from Edonia?" Piers nodded. "Damn! I didn't know you had the hots for her! Why didn't you tell us?! We could have helped you."
"It wouldn't have mattered—doesn't now. She doesn't want to get into a serious relationship due to my job. She already lost people she cared about due to Bio-wars."
"W-well...you don't need her." Finn interjected. "There's plenty of women out there that would love to be with you. Who needs her anyway?" Andy inclined his head in agreement.
"Ya! We can go down to the bar and pick you out a hotter, better girl. They'll fall at your feet anyway." Piers shrugged off Andy's offer.
"Nah, I think I'm just gonna go do some more paperwork." Gripping his gun, Piers dragged his feet out of the shooting range while Andy and Finn watched on silently.
"Poor guy." Andy sighed. "I was wondering why he was always going on about some headstrong, quirky girl before..."
"Is he gonna be alright?"
"It's Piers. He'll bounce back...eventually." A secret smile nudged Andy's lips once more. "Well, it makes more sense now."
"What does?"
"I didn't put two and two together back in Edonia. Piers was extra vigilant with Ellie when we found her, just saying it makes more sense now since we know about him and her." Finn merely gazed at Andy with a blank stare resulting in the older man to give him a pat on the back. "Guess you're still a little young to see it, huh?"
"I'm not that young!" Finn tossed off Andy's arm while the latter man chuckled bemusedly and headed for the door.
Piers stomped down to his office, sparing barely anyone a second glance as he did so. When he finally did reach his office, he slammed the door behind him and slumped into his seat with his head in his hands. He knew he was acting irrational, immature even, but he couldn't help it. His emotions flipped and flopped all over the place. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't focus on his work long enough to get anything done. Ellie kept popping up into his head every moment and it was driving him crazy.
He shouldn't have let her walk out of that coffee shop. He should have bolted up and forced her to stay and talk it over with him, but he was a coward. He respected her wishes, but cutting it down to the bone, he was scared of her rejection. Piers grunted and kicked at his desk.
Scared? He faced off with BOWs, and some of hell's worst nightmares on the job and he was scared of some girl's rejection?
The silence of his office answered it for him. He let out a groan and buried his head deeper into his hands. This whole ordeal has messed with his head and now it was affecting his work and relationship with his teammates. What sort of leader is he, to allow his emotions to take over and point them at his friends and coworkers?
Tired of the silence, Piers stood from his desk with a groan and headed back to the shooting range. He needed to apologize to Andy and Finn and set things straight.
The ticking of Ellie's fingers over her keyboard sounded around the living room. She lifted her eyes as Marie bounded down the stairs with her scarf draped around her neck.
"Don't forget the baked goods grandma!" Ellie called out. Marie reappeared from the kitchen a moment later with a plate of baked goods in her hands.
"I'll be late tonight Ellie. Are you still working on your homework?"
"Ya. I'm almost done. Have a nice night!" She said just as the taxi pulled up on the curb.
"Okay. Night deary."
"Night." The click of the door sounded out and Ellie resumed her typing.
Two hours into her work and her phone went off. Putting her laptop to the side, Ellie plucked up her phone and read the incoming call. The breath in her lungs froze. Piers.
"What does he want?" Ellie shifted her gaze down to the electronic clock on her laptop then back up to her phone. It was late—late for a work week.
Ellie was about to let the call go to voicemail, but the last moment of curiosity, she picked it up. "Hello?"
"Ellie?" Piers' voice sounded distant against the car horns and wind. "I was worried you wouldn't answer my call."
"What do you want Piers?" He paused on his line of the phone.
"Just to talk."
"Talk about what?"
"H-how you been?"
"Good. Really good." She paused. "I took up that writing class."
"I'm glad, Ellie. I knew you could do it." The sincerity to his voice broke down her walls and for once, she allowed herself a moment of weakness to enjoy hearing his voice.
"What about you? How's work? And Andy and Finn?"
"Same as usual. No update on Chris." Minutes passed in silence between them. For a moment, Ellie wondered if his cell phone died until his voice whispered through. "Could you do me a favour?"
"Favour?" She sat up straighter.
"Could you come outside?" His gruff voice answered.
"Outside? Why?"
"Please. Just...come outside."
Before she apprehended it, Ellie stood from the couch and made her way to the front door. Before she could decide against it, she threw it open and stilled. There in front of her on her steps stood Piers, his downcast eyes perked up at the sight of her.
"Hi." He breathed.
"Hi...what are you doing here?"
"Just...wanted to see you—and talk to you. Please don't slam the door."
"I wasn't going to, Piers." A quirk of a smile reached his mouth. "What did you want to talk about?" A shiver ran through her body at the bitter Late February air. Piers noticed her shiver.
"Could we talk inside?"
Ellie stepped to the side and pushed the door open wider to allow Piers to enter. Keeping his distance, he shuffled inside with a grim thanks and sighed at the warmth.
"Make yourself at home." Ellie said and gestured to the living room, noting all her work splayed everywhere. "Excuse the mess...I was working." That only made Piers chuckle as he took off his jacket.
"I knew you would take the course. I'm glad you're doing it." Ellie made a move to grab his jacket from him but stopped as her hands grazed his.
"Your hands are freezing! How long were you outside for?" Piers shrugged it off and stepped into the living room, looking around in wait for Marie.
"Not long. Where's your grandmother?"
"Out at her quilting club. Do you want anything to drink?" Ellie asked while hanging up his jacket.
"No. I'm good, thanks. I'd rather just talk." Ellie made a gesture for him to sit in the living room while she tidied up her papers.
"If this is in regards to our last meeting, Piers I should tell you know I haven't changed my mind." A hard smile touched Piers' lips as he leaned over his knees.
"I figured as much, but that's not the complete reason why I came."
"Well, what is it?" Ellie asked with more curiosity.
"I know you said you didn't return my feelings—and I understand why." He shifted in his seat. "But can't we at least still talk...be friends?"
"Piers..."
"Ellie, I know it's sudden and we barely know each other. But when I'm with you, it feels like I've known you my whole life." Their eyes locked. "You're like a breath of fresh air to me. I know it's selfish of me to even say that but I wanted you to know how much your friendship means to me. I understand if you'd want me to leave."
Ellie remained silent, taking in all he said word by word. Words that stirred her heart and frightened her even more. Biting back her urge to tell him to leave, she let her quieter voice speak.
Standing up, Ellie took a step towards Piers. The man sat as still as a deer in headlights as she padded around the coffee table and stopped in front of him. Piers tried standing up, but Ellie's firm grip on his shoulders stilled him in his seat.
Ellie stepped between his legs and dipped down to his face. She could hear his sudden hitch of his breath as her hands cupped his face. Within a heartbeat, she closed the remaining distance between them and gently kissed his shaking lips. At first he didn't respond, but his sudden shock died away. He kissed her back with more hunger and confidence than their first kiss.
Latching his hands onto her hips, he yanked her on top of him. Her yelp of surprise melted into his mouth as his hands pulled her closer to him as if she was going to disappear at any moment. She broke the kiss breathlessly and gaze at his darkened eyes. Before she could utter a word, Piers brought her head back down to his and resumed their kiss.
Ellie's hands raked their way through his hair. Grabbing a fistful in the process, Piers' moan sent a heated flare through her body, prompting her on. Breaking her lips away from his, Ellie moved to his jaw, sending up a shudder from Piers as she nipped at the sensitive skin. Piers' hands grabbed tighter on her butt, sending up a gasp from Ellie long enough for him to run his mouth over her neck.
She wasn't aware of how and when they managed to get up the flight of stairs. Ellie's head flopped against her pillow while Piers tore off his shirt and pants. Instantly, Piers claimed the distance between them once more. His mouth dragged along every angle of her jaw while his hand fumbled with the boundary of her clothing. He tore her top off, then her pants until nothing stood between them.
Shivers ran up and down Ellie's spine with every touch Piers made on her skin, burning trails with his lips as he kissed her neck and down to her hip. Ellie tried to stifle her yelps and moans, but that seemed to only encourage Piers more. She froze as one of Piers' hands trailed down her thigh.
"P-Piers," She pulled her head away and he lifted his up to meet her stare. "Sh-should we...I never..." Understanding swept across his face and in an instant, Piers lifted up on his forearms by her head and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"I'll go slow. Just relax." His voice soothed her anxiety and for the first time in a long while, she felt safe.
Piers continued his kiss, deepening it while his hands moved down her body skillfully. Her moans and whimpers encouraged him further. Her startled gasp and shock of slight pain melted into his mouth and dulled to a pleasurable ache. She adjusted her position while Piers lifted her hips off the bed, never once breaking their kiss as their moans filled the room. In those blissful moments, nothing mattered to her. She wanted to feel this moment and live it to the fullest with Piers. Everything felt right for once in her hectic life.
"I don't understand it."
"What don't you understand?" Ellie shifted under Piers as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"This..." He placed a kiss to her lips and ran a hand over her cheek. "I feel like I knew you forever. I can point out all your little quirks and little things that make you...you. But every time I see you do them, it's like I'm witnessing them for the first time. I love everything about you." Piers wrapped his arms around her and shifted on the bed so she could lay on top of him.
Ellie rested her head on his chest with a sigh and closed her eyes and listened to his steady heartbeat. "I know. I feel it too." She sighed. "What're we going to do?"
"We could give us a try."
Ellie lifted her head off his chest and met his gaze with a small smile. "Can I think about it? I don't want to rush into something."
"Of course, but don't keep me waiting too long though, okay?" Ellie gasped as Piers grabbed her butt and gave it a squeeze. She smacked his chest playfully with a chuckle.
"Okay, okay! Enough of that. You should leave before my grandma gets home. If she catches you...us like this, not even the apocalypse, could stop her." Ellie could hear and feel Piers' grumble of laughter in his chest as he swayed his head and sat up in bed.
"She is a force to be wreckin' with."
"One of a kind." She placed one last kiss on his neck before pulling away. "But really, you should leave before she gets back."
"Okay okay...geesh. Kicking me out right away." He said teasingly and slipped out of the bed.
Ellie watched in amused silence as Piers changed. Her eyes drank in his finely formed body. A quirk of a smile touched Piers' lips as he noticed her stare. "I could stay and..."
"No, no, no." She bounded up to him with a smile and placed a kiss on his lips. "Good night Piers."
"Night, Ellie. Call me tomorrow?"
"Of course. Now don't get caught."
"I feel like a teenager tiptoeing around the strict parents." He tossed over his shoulder and pulled open her bedroom door.
"In this case the old lady is gonna beat you to death with her cane."
"Just the same." He mumbled under his breath before slipping out of the room, but not without rushing over and giving Ellie one last kiss on the cheek. "Night."
Ellie chuckled to herself and watched as Piers disappeared out of her room. Only until she heard the front door click closed downstairs did she sprawl back out on her bed with a smile spreading across her face.
Oh, Ellie. What have you done? She thought to herself as she nestled closer to her pillow and closed her eyes. Something for myself for once. Was her last thought before she drifted to sleep.