Ch. 4

Ellie was in the corner talking to Marco and Paige when she saw Craig coming her way.

"Hey." He said.

"Hey." Ellie replied.

"Can we talk?' Craig asked leaning in to whisper it in Ellies' ear.

"Um, sure; let's go out back." Ellie offered. Ellie lead the way into the back yard. Only about ten people had made their way back their so it was fairly private.

"So how have you been?" Craig asked.

"Good, you?"

"I've been ok, but Ellie, I really missed you." Craig admitted.

"I've missed you too." Ellie said cautiously.

"Good. I broke up with Manny a while back."

"Why?" Ellie asked.

"It just wasn't right. I was in love with another girl."

"Oh, should you really be telling me this?" Ellie asked.

"Yes I should because your the other girl. Ellie I was stupid to choose Manny in the first place. If I could redo everything I would." Craig explained.

"I …um…I think I hear Marco calling me." Ellie lied and dashed back into the house. She wiggled in and out of the crowd hoping to lose Craig to the crowd.

"We need to talk. In five minutes upstairs." Jay had pulled Ellie aside in whispered into her ear before disappearing again. Ellie hung out behind the drink table hoping not to be seen until she felt it was safe to make her way up stairs. She saw Jay turn the corer upstairs and paused for a moment before going up.

"Ellie?" Another familiar voice called to her. Ellie froze in her tracks. In one day she was a bout to come face to face with both of the boys she never expected to see again. Sean was now standing behind her as she turned around. He was smiling that stupid little smile that she use to love.

"Sean Cameron, I never thought I'd see you again." Ellie replied trying not to sound bitter.

"How have you been? You look great." Sean replied.

"Um, I'm doing fine. What are you doing here?" Ellie asked.

"I moved back. I'm actually working with Jay now." Sean admitted.

"Wow congratulations." Ellie replied as Sean leaned in and hugged her.

"Yeah, I guess things are starting to look up. Do you a few minutes to talk, I want to apologize for…" Sean started.

"Actually… I promised Marco… I would go find…something…for him…so we'll talk later. Ok…Ok." Ellie said rushing up the steps towards the room Jay was in. She knew Sean was watching her but all she wanted was to get away. She let her self into the room and leaned against the door after she shut it.

"Red, Sean's …" Jay started.

"Back, yeah I know. I just ran into him." Ellie finished his sentence. Ellie walked over to the bed and sat down at the foot. She laid her hands in her head and sighed.

"He wants you back." Jay said flatly sitting next to her. Stunned Ellie lifted her head and stared at him.

"We didn't get that far into the conversation." Ellie told him.

"Well he told me today at work. Apparently he was hired yesterday."

"I can't take this, first Craig now Sean." Ellie said before she could think about it.

"Craig? What about Craig?" Jay said standing up defensively.

"Nothing, it's not important." Ellie replied quickly. "I just need to get out of here. Can you take me home?"

"Sure, that's not such a bad idea. I had to park around the block so you go say good bye or what ever and I'll meet you out front in a few minutes." Jay said kissing Ellie on the fore head and leaving the room. Ellie took a few minutes to compose herself before heading back down the stairs. She found Marco and said goodbye and tried to sneak out unnoticed. Jay was pulling up right as she was walking out the door. He stopped in the middle of the road and let Ellie in. He drove down the street but it wasn't in the direction of the apartment.

"Where are we going?" Ellie asked.

"You'll see." Jay smiled devilishly. They drove for about twenty minutes before Jay brought the car to a stop. They where at the edge of a wooded area and it was pitch black outside.

"What's going on?" Ellie asked again.

"You'll see. Now get out of the car."

"So what; when you kill me I wont stain the upholstery?" Ellie joked, getting out of the car. Jay walked over with a flashlight in hand. He took her by the hand and led her through the trees. Ellie clung tightly to him; finally they came to a clearing on top of a small hill.

"Look up." Jay ordered her softly. Ellie did and she saw the stars shining brighter then she ever has before.

"Wow" Ellie said softly. "It's beautiful. How did you find it?"

"When I was younger after I had it out with my old man I decided to run away. This is where I ended up. The next day my father found me a beat my ass, but ever since then when ever things got rough I would come here." Jay shared as he sat down on the ground. Ellie sat next to him laying her head in his lap. "Feel any better Red?" He asked playing with her hair.

"Yeah." Ellie smiled. "So how many other girls did you bring here?"

"None." Jay answered.

"Come on you can tell me I won't be mad." Ellie urged him.

"Seriously, for some reason you the only one I've ever brought up here." Jay smiled. They stayed there for over an hour just lying under the stars and talking (ok they also made out). Eventually it become too cold for them and they decided to head back home