Author's Note: Wow, I'm sorry guys -- I know it seems like I'd abandoned this story. Really I just hadn't had a lot of time to work on it because of my job. But I'm back, with the next part, and I hope you guys continue to read and enjoy. :)
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Linger
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Six.
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"And you're to come right home after school, young lady, do you understand me?"
Ellie nodded mindlessly at her mother's words as she reached for the door knob, but said nothing. She'd tried to convince her mother to let her stay home from school today -- she couldn't stand the thought of facing Liz after what she'd done to the blonde on the phone. But of course, Mrs. Nash was still very angry about the day before, and had all but used brute force to get her daughter out of bed.
A gust of wind caught Ellie off guard as she trudged down the walkway, dragging her feet on the cement. Her hair, which she'd barely felt like brushing that morning, whipped around her face, and she pulled her jacket closer around her. She'd been planning on doing what'd she'd done the morning before -- going to Jay's house instead of the bus stop. But not only did she not trust Jay to take her to school, she was kind of scared to see him.
What if Liz was right? What if everything she'd said was true? Was Jay really some sort of bullying asshole with nothing better to do than steal things and sleep around? Ellie shook her head to herself -- she was just going to try and forget about Jay for the time being -- it was hurting her head to think about that kind of stuff.
It looked like she'd be riding the bus that morning.
She took her normal seat in the front of the bus, close to the driver, and squeezed against the window. She didn't realize that she'd chosen to sit on the wrong side of the bus until it was rumbling past Jay's house. He was just coming out of his house, and she could've sworn that their eyes met.
She gave a little sigh, sliding down in her seat some and looking down at her wrist. She'd put on the bracelet he'd given her, but she suddenly felt wrong wearing it. After a thoughtful moment of biting her lip, she pulled it off and slipped it into her jacket pocket.
"Sorry, Jay," she mumbled to herself, before closing her eyes and resting her head against the seat.
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"Ellie, please?"
Ellie stopped on her way to the bathroom, and turned to face Liz. She'd done a good job of avoiding the blonde up until lunch time -- the minute Liz had tried to talk to her in the cafeteria, Ellie had bolted for the door. But now she just couldn't stand to hear the desperation in her friend's voice.
Liz however, was apparently surprised that she got through to Ellie, and she paused, as if searching for what to say. Ellie crossed her arms, keeping her gaze pointed at the floor, and Liz took a hesitant step forward.
"Look, I'm sorry," Liz said sincerely, "I just...I thought you should know. I don't want him to hurt you."
Ellie swallowed hard -- she was getting that feeling in the back of her throat that said she was close to crying, and she didn't know why. Because she was mad at herself for falling for Jay? Because she was upset that things were too good to be true? She didn't know.
"Liz," she said slowly, "You're my best friend, you know that." Liz was nodding enthusiastically, and Ellie sighed, "But...I kind of just want to be by myself right now."
"But why?" Liz asked, looking crestfallen.
"Because I'm not sure of anything right now," Ellie said, "And I've already snapped at you once for something that wasn't your fault. I don't want to do it again."
She turned and started to walk away, but Liz hurried after her.
"Ell, I don't mind. I don't care about that!" She tried to insist.
"I do," Ellie said simply, before turning into the bathroom. She half-expected Liz to follow her, but sighed with relief when the blonde didn't appear.
She walked to one of the sinks, glancing at her reflection in the mirror above the sink. She shook her head at herself, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair. She could suddenly hear Jay's voice in her head, calling her 'Ginger' in that tone that drove her completely mad. She mentally cursed him, before going to the large window -- she would spend the rest of her lunch period sitting in the sill and watching the grounds.
It looked like it was going to rain, yet again.
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Wednesday and Thursday went by the exact same way. Ellie got on the bus in the morning -- remembering to sit on the other side so she wouldn't have to see that orange Honda -- and she avoided Liz and any of her other friends during the day. Then she got on the bus again and went straight home. It wasn't so hard actually -- she could grow used to this kind of thing.
She was sitting at her desk, reading for English, when her mother entered the room. Ellie was sure it was because Mrs. Nash was going to allow her to use the internet again, and she started to get a little excited.
"Your father and I are going out," Mrs. Nash said, crushing Ellie's hopes. "Both tonight and tomorrow tonight -- dinner parties with our bosses."
Ellie nodded, not looking up from her book. "Okay," she said.
"As you are still grounded, I expect you to not leave this house," Mrs. Nash then said.
Ellie almost snorted -- even when she wasn't grounded she didn't leave the house. Instead of saying this though, she just nodded again. Mrs. Nash was silent for a moment, as if surprised by her daughter's blankness, but then she sighed.
"I will be calling throughout the night to check up on you," she said, "We'll be back around eleven."
Ellie waited until Mrs. Nash had left the room, and she shut her book, glancing towards the door. Great, her parents were going out until around eleven (which probably meant closer to midnight), and she had the whole house to herself. She wished she could be more excited about it.
Standing up, she went to her dresser to pull out her pajamas. A nice hot shower sounded good at the moment, and then maybe she'd watch a chick flick or two before going to bed.
As she was leaving her bedroom, her dad was coming from his, straightening the tie he was wearing. He smiled when he saw his daughter, and slowed to a stop.
"I'll see you later, honey," he said. He then leaned closer and lowered his voice, "And don't worry about being grounded -- I'm working on your mother. It won't be for much longer."
Ellie forced a smile. "Thanks Dad," she said, "Have fun tonight."
"Oh, you know it," he replied with that dry sarcasm she'd inherited.
He disappeared to the stairs, and Ellie gave a low sigh as she entered the bathroom. She had to admit, she honestly could've cared less if she was grounded for the rest of her life.
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Ellie finished brushing her teeth and looked at herself in the mirror again, trying to ignore the dark circles under her eyes. She hadn't been getting much sleep lately, as she would lay awake and imagine the kinds of things she'd say to Jay the next time she spoke to him -- if that ever happened.
She quickly ran a brush through her wet hair, and tossed her clothes into the hamper. She was forced to wear one of her silky nightgowns from a few years before -- her favorite PJs were still in the laundry. As she looked at herself in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door, she self-consciously pulled at the nightgown. It was a light pink color and way too small for her now -- too much of her chest was exposed, and she wasn't used to showing off her thighs like so.
She shrugged -- who'd she have to deal with at this time of night besides Buttons the Bunny? She pulled open the door, contemplating whether or not she felt like watching a movie now, and walked slowly down the hallway. She entered her bedroom, shutting the door behind her, and was just walking to her stereo when she noticed there was someone else in her room.
Jay Hogart was sitting at her desk, flicking aimlessly through her English book.
She gave a loud gasp, reaching up to clutch her chest, and she backed up against the dresser, knocking a few knick-knacks to the floor. He looked up at her, eyes piercing as ever, and his lips twitched into a small smirk at her obvious fear.
"Jay!" She exclaimed, "How did you get in here?!"
He pointed to the window, which was open, allowing a cool night breeze to sweep in, bringing with it the sound of crickets chirping. Ellie looked back at him, before pulling at her nightgown again, wishing she could stretch it out. He'd taken his jacket off, and it was draped on the back of the chair -- as if he owned the place.
"My parents would kill you if they knew you were here!" She said, still breathing hard from her little scare.
"I don't care," he said, and he suddenly stood up.
It was almost comical how out of place he looked in her room -- with it's baby pink walls and white carpet (her mother's idea, not her's). He suddenly crossed his arms though, and there was a seriousness to him that Ellie wasn't used to.
"What's going on?" He demanded.
"What?" She asked, confused.
"You're avoiding me, that's what."
Ellie took a deep breath, trying to feign nonchalance, and she shook her head. "No," she said, "No I'm not."
"Bullshit, Ellie," he said, he grinned, though there wasn't any real humor to it. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a tease."
She flushed, both out of anger and embarrassment, and crossed her own arms, sticking her chin out stubbornly. "And if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a lowly player."
His eyes widened just slightly. "What are you talking about?" He asked, surprised by her words.
Ellie hadn't originally planned to tell him about the rumors she'd heard about him, but now she just couldn't help it. She needed to know if they were true.
"I know someone who goes to your school, Jay," she said, "And from what I hear, you're quite the jerk."
"Who do you know?" He asked in a quiet tone.
"That's not important," she answered. "And I should be asking the questions here. You don't steal from just stores, do you? You steal from people."
"Ellie --" he said, rolling his eyes.
"I'll take that as a yes," she said, "And the ravine? I heard about that too -- where you mess around with girls."
"Not anymore," he suddenly said. "I did, Ginger. I messed around a lot -- what do you expect? I'm a guy."
Ellie hated what was happening -- her anger was slowly ebbing away, and she was growing happier by the minute that she was even hanging out with him. She cursed herself -- he was just so charming, even when they arguing.
"Did?" She echoed finally. "You don't anymore?"
He smiled, "No," he answered. "It got kind of old, and then I met you."
Ellie sighed and rolled her eyes, but she was easily falling for him again. "And what?" She asked, somewhat sarcastically, "You're a changed man?"
"No," he answered, taking a step towards her, "But I'm trying."
She let out a deep breath, turning her head and looking at the floor. She didn't want to believe him -- something in the back of her head made her think he was lying, made her know that he was lying. But she was just so happy to see him again -- she hadn't realized how much she'd missed him.
He was suddenly grabbing her wrists lightly, and he pulled her arms apart. She flushed a bright scarlet color as he looked her up and down, smirking smugly.
"Nice," he said winking at her.
She scoffed under her breath, snatching her arms away, and walking around him towards her bed. She sat down, grabbing her stuffed rabbit and holding it in her lap as if it would held shield her body. Jay turned to her and studied her, hands on his hips.
"So is that it?" He asked. "You were avoiding me because of those rumors?"
She shrugged, playing with one of the rabbit's ears. "Can you blame me?"
"Nah, guess not," he answered. "But does that mean things are okay with us now? You'll stop avoiding me?"
She paused, wanting to tell him that things weren't working, wanting to tell him that she was better off without him. But instead she nodded.
"Yeah," she answered.
He grinned at her again, and in an instant was sitting beside her on the bed, stretching his legs out and making himself at home.
"I like your room," he said.
"Ugh, please," she said shaking her head.
"No really," he insisted, "It's comfy." He watched her in silence for a moment, before he changed the subject. "Can I give you a ride to school tomorrow?" He asked.
"As long as you promise me that you'll take me there," she said. "I got grounded because of Monday."
A wide grin broke his features again, and he playfully gave her shoulder a small shove. "There ya go," he said, "Rebellions fun, ain't it?"
She rolled her eyes, but found herself smirking. She raised her eyebrows and side-glanced him. "Well?" She asked. "Do you promise to take me directly to school tomorrow?"
He held up his right hand. "Honest Injun," he said.
She smiled, finding herself starting to relax. She glanced at her clock -- it was only eight o'clock now, and she had nothing to worry about with him in her room. As if reading her mind, Jay reached over with one hand and grabbed her chin -- his touch was still firm, and something about that excited her.
Seconds later, he was holding her in place as he leaned in to kiss her, and she met his lips with a surprising amount of enthusiasm. Their second kiss was better than their first, in Ellie's opinion -- probably because she knew what to do this time around.
She hesitantly slipped her arms around his neck as their tongues met, mouths moving rhythmically against one another's. In one swift movement, he'd moved Buttons the Bunny from Ellie's lap and dropped it to the floor -- all without moving his lips from hers. The hand that was on her cheek now moved down to her neck, while he moved his other one to her hair, combing his fingers through it.
And Ellie found that as he leaned more into her, she didn't push against him -- she let him guide her down to her mattress. He laid down half-on top of her and half-beside her, breaking their kiss finally. He looked at her briefly, as if waiting for her to stop him, and he pressed his lips against her jaw, leaving a hot trail of kisses along the bone. He then moved his mouth to the base of her throat, where he started to lightly bite suck gently on her smooth skin.
Her breathing was hitching in her chest as she balled his tee shirt into her fists, letting her eyes flutter closed. She could feel that her face was hot -- she was, without a doubt in her mind, the color of a setting sun -- but she was too 'in-the-moment' to really care. His warm lips on her skin created was a sensation she could've never imagined, and when his teeth grazed over her collarbone, she felt a shudder of sorts go through her body.
His hand was suddenly on her thigh, and she quickly reached down to grab it as he started to slide it under her nightgown.
"Jay," she said, almost exasperated -- he was ruining a perfectly good moment.
He gave a sheepish little chuckle, nodding. "Right, sorry," he said. He then set his hand on her knee and kept it there, and she didn't mind that so much.
What she did mind was the tiny voice in the back of her head. She didn't want to think about the 'what if's -- what if Jay was lying? What if he was just playing her? It was all too much for her to worry about, and all she wanted to do was revel in the moment.
Pushing her thoughts away, she lightly grabbed Jay's head, pulling him up from her neck and pressing her lips against his.
