CHAPTER 7
Desmond saw Ella running from the beach and back into her tent, then he heard her in tears. He wanted to go to her, to help her, but he didn't know what to do for her. He thought about not seeing her, for all of 10 seconds, and then immediately headed next door. As he exited his tent, he noticed Paolo running back fron the beach aswell, towards Ella. Desmond didn't know what Paolo had done to her, but he didn't want him seeing her.
"I don't think that's a good idea, brother," Desmond said, stopping Paolo short of seeing Ella by standing in front of her tent. Paolo didn't agree.
"This is between Ella and I, not you Desmond," Paolo told him.
"What did you do to her?" Desmond asked, narrowing his eyes at the other man.
"Nothing, Des... she just... ran off. I put my hand up to stroke her face and than she ran off," Paolo said. Desmond nodded.
"Aye. Well just... leave her for a while, yeah brother?" Desmond suggested. Paolo started to disagree, but then nodded, and headed off in the other direction. Desmond waited for a few seconds outside Ella's before he walked in, startling her a little.
"Oh Ella, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you," he told her, as she wiped her eyes. Ella smiled up at him, and beckoned him over to sit next to her. Desmond hesitated, before heading across and sitting with her.
"Are you alright, Ella? I saw you running back from the beach and then Paolo following you," Desmond asked her. She nodded.
"I... we... we were talking on the beach and then... he put his hand up to... I don't know, and I got scared," Ella admitted. It was the first time she'd admitted to anyone about being scared.
"Did you think he was going to hit you?" Desmond asked her delicately. Ella looked across at him hesitantly, tears begining to fill her eyes again, and she slowly nodded her head. Desmond's heart tightened at the thought of any man raising a hand to Ella. She was so beautiful, so delicate and sweet. If only he could hold her, comfort her. She looked up at him and met his gaze.
"Des... would you... would you hold me?" Desmond didn't need to be asked twice. He gently turned to her and opened his arms, she immediately went to him and he embraced her tightly, but careful not to hurt her. She continued to sniff into his purple shirt as he held her, gently stroking her back and trying to soothe her pain. After a moment or two she pulled back from him, cautiously looking at him.
"Ella, you have to trust me. I'm not going to hurt you," Desmond re-assured her, slowly edging closer to her. She wanted to believe him, she wanted to trust him.
"I don't know Desmond. I... I don't know how," she told him. Desmond put his hand out in front of him.
"Come with me. I want to show you something,"
"Des I..."
"It's alright. I won't hurt you Ella, just come with me," Desmond told her, softly, holding onto her hand and leading her out through the opening of the tent. Ella held onto Desmond's hand tightly as he lead her through the camp and out onto the beach towards some caves. As they approached the entrance of the caves, Desmond pointed Ella in the direction of a set of rocks, overlooking the beach. He helped her up onto them and they sat down. The sun was starting to set just on the horizon.
