A Christmas To Remember
Chapter 16: The Secret's Out
Elliot's grip tightened on her shoulder even more, but he made sure that he didn't hurt her. Tailor seemed to have been lost for words. Every time she opened her mouth nothing came out. Elliot stared at her friend; she was looking at Scott with wide, but angry, eyes. Elliot stared back at Scott wanting to wipe that smirk grin off his face. Scott gave Elliot a satisfied smile and looked back at Tailor.
"Isn't it magical? Me, you, together", Scott folded his arms.
Tailor opened her mouth, but still, nothing escaped. She closed her mouth and stared angrily at Scott, but thankful to Elliot for staying by her and not starting a fight.
"I can come and see you whenever I want", Scott continued. "It's going to be cool, don't you think Tailor?"
"No!" She snapped, finding her voice. "You don't understand!" She found her voice rising higher, but she didn't give a damn if she woke up the neighbours. "I - hate - YOU! You - I - hate! Hate - I - you! Which parts don't you understand?!!"
Scott's eyes had widened but his body stayed in the same position. "We can tell who's gone nuts here", he said, casually.
Tailor glared at him with pure hatred. "I have NEVER, ever liked you! I wouldn't give you a gram of sugar if you paid me! How much torture do I have to go through to make you get it in your thick - stupid - dumb - dense - unintelligent - slow - brainless - dull - dim-witted - not-getting-this - skull!!"
Scott looked taken back but Elliot looked at her friend in amazement. He had never, ever seen Tailor say so much in the same sentence. But one question nagged at him; how much torture did she go through?
Scott got over his shocked expression and smiled at her. "You know that every gram of sugar I put in my tea I'll be thinking of you".
"I'll tell you where you can put your every gram of sugar ", Tailor mumbled under her breath. Elliot heard her and smiled a little on the inside.
"Why don't you just go?" Elliot said, coolly.
"Why don't you just stay outta this?" Scott snapped at him. "You stupid - pathetic - none-girlfriend - dope!!"
That did it. "You twit!! How dare you!!" She punched him. Smack in his left eye. No one - and she meant no one - could ever call her best friend in front of her like that, especially Scott.
Elliot stood there, mouth opened wide. He could still hear 'Snow Dogs' playing away in the background because everything seemed silent for a moment.
Scott stumbled back and bashed into the wall opposite the door. Tailor probably gave him a shiner but you couldn't see his eye because Scott had it covered with his hand. He looked at her angrily out of his one, good eye. "You'll pay for that!"
"I think I've paid enough!! You've already given me a sprained ankle!! Don't you ever - and I mean EVER - come near me again! I don't give a damn if you run to your daddy or not!" She pointed at him angrily. "You just stay away from me", she hissed and slammed the door on him, locking it with the chain.
Elliot was still shocked but he shook his head and walked over to the sofa with Tailor. She sat down and put a hand to her forehead, her eyes closed shut. Elliot sat in the armchair opposite her and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs and cupping his hands together.
"Scott gave you a sprained ankle?" He asked, gently.
Oops. Tailor opened her eyes and lifted herself up. She put her foot in front of her and sat back on the sofa, looking at Elliot. Her lip wobbled and she bit it softly.
"It's not my fault", she said quietly. "When I went to Emma's party I did slip as I was walking back. But before I went I said goodbye to Garth and Scott came up to me. I was slightly nervous so I gulped some lemonade. When I was walking back I felt dizzy and slipped on the pavement. I collapsed outside of April's apartment and her friend found me", Tailor stopped, there was no way she could tell Elliot about Raph.
"Is there anymore?" Elliot asked, sensing there was more to it.
Tailor's eyes began to water. "I didn't wanna worry you . . . Yes, there is . . . I was out for 6 - yes, SIX - days".
Elliot stared at her. SIX days?!
"When I received your message", Tailor continued. "I didn't see any point in worrying you because you had put that you had just come back, when I had just woken up, so I thought I'd leave it".
Elliot closed his open mouth.
Tailor looked at him with sad eyes. "I'm sorry . . . But I think it's as obvious to you as it is to me that Scott did something to my drink . . . I didn't mean for this to happen . . . I didn't want to be knocked out for six days . . . I didn't mean for me not to tell you . . . I'm sorry, Elliot".
She watched him looked at her with his cute eyes. She couldn't tell what he was thinking and it was making her feel uncomfortable. "Come on Elliot, say something", she didn't like the way he was so quiet.
Elliot kept his eyes on her face. Tailor had never lied to him. Never. He knew she had good reason for lying to him and he knew that if she told him straight away he would have murdered Scott. He wasn't angry with her. She's his best friend. He loved her to bits. He knew by the sad look on her face that she was still scared of Scott. She may have punched him and shouted her guts off at him but she was still scared. Those five minutes of courage wouldn't last long.
His face broke into a small, forgiving smile. "Come 'ere", he said to her softly, patting his knee.
Tailor's face brightened and she hopped over to him. Sitting herself gently on his knee, her foot in front of her, she held his hands. "I'm sorry", she repeated.
"It's ok", Elliot said gently, rubbing his thumbs over her hands affectionately. He didn't need her apology; he just needed her, herself. "I know it wasn't your fault, want me to kill Scott? I know my dad keeps a spanner in his shed".
Tailor smiled but she knew Elliot couldn't see it since she had her back to him. "No thanks, I think that punch I gave him will keep him away for a few days".
"A few days?" Elliot asked.
"Ok, ok, one day. Scott never gives up".
//
When April returned home Tailor was asleep on the sofa, her foot propped up on a cushion and a jacket spread out over her. Elliot was in the armchair, a cup of tea in his hands and his face on the T.V screen where 'Snow Dogs' was just finishing. He turned to her when the door closed and smiled.
"Exhausted", he said. "She fell asleep in an instant".
April nodded and took off her jacket. She hung it up and walked over to the kitchen. She clicked on the kettle and filled a cup with a tea bag, sugar and milk. She perched herself on a stool and faced Elliot. "She isn't the only one exhausted", April said with a smile.
Elliot got up and walked over to her, sitting on a stool and resting his tea on the counter. He glanced at Tailor before turning back to April. "Did you know Scott Sternum was moving in above you?"
April nodded sadly. "That's where I went", she said. "I didn't want to worry Tailor so I had to go to Chief Sternum's office to confirm a few things about that boy".
Elliot nodded. "He came here".
"He did?"
The kettle clicked and April filled her cup with hot water. She let the tea bag soaked into it before squeezing it out and chucking it away.
Elliot nodded a second time when she sat back down. "He asked for some sugar and then told Tailor he was moving in the apartment above you. Then Tailor just clicked and shouted at him - never seen her do that - then he said something to me and she punched him", Elliot smiled a little, he was glad she had punched him.
"My niece punched Chief Sternum's son?" April said, slowly.
"Yeah", Elliot said, taking a sip of his tea.
"Tailor punched Scott?"
"Yup".
"Good on her", April smiled proudly. "Not every aunt would let their niece get away with that but that boy deserved a good beating . . . so . . . what did he call you? Please tell me he didn't mouth off?"
"No", Elliot answered. "He called me a stupid - pathetic - none-girlfriend - dope".
April patted Elliot's hand before drinking some of her tea. "Well, you know you don't fit any of that".
Elliot let out a small smile. "Except for the none-girlfriend part"
April smiled at him and glanced at Tailor. "She doesn't have a boyfriend. So what. I bet Scott don't have a girlfriend. He just thinks he can get anyone he wants. Just like his dad", she added the last bit angrily.
Elliot drained his tea and rinsed his cup off in the pot water. He quickly grabbed the towel off the side and gave the cup a dry before replacing it back in the cupboard and folding the towel back neatly.
"Thanks", April said.
Elliot nodded in reply. "I better go".
He grabbed his jacket that was draped over Tailor and put it on. He grabbed his shoes, put them on and tied the laces. He lifted himself up and smiled at April. "Tell Tailor I said she is very lazy", he said jokingly.
April chuckled and nodded. "Sure".
Elliot walked over to Tailor and his lips brushed against her cheek. "Bye", he whispered to her though he knew she couldn't hear him. He walked over to the door and, saying a 'goodbye' and 'thank you' to April, he walked out of the apartment closing the door shut behind him.
April smiled when he went. Such a nice person, she thought, one that Tailor needed right now. She sighed and gulped down her tea. After rinsing her cup off she went upstairs to get Tailor a blanket. No point in waking her now. She had been through a long day.
//
"Yo April!" Mikey said the next morning when they all came to see her. He gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek before looking at a sleeping Tailor on the sofa. "Aww, how cute! But . . . hasn't she got a bed?"
April smiled and grabbed all five of the guy's coats. She hung them up and sat on a stool opposite Raph. "She has got a bed Mikey", April answered watching Leo, Donnie and Mikey settling on the floor and Splinter sitting in the armchair.
Mikey smiled. "Well . . . why not sleep in it?"
April chuckled and shook her head. "Elliot came last night and he said she was exhausted and fell asleep. I didn't see the point in waking her up so I covered her with a blanket". April sighed a little. "No point in waking her up when she has to worry about Scott moving in right above us!"
The penny dropped. Everyone looked at April, all with shocked expressions on their faces.
"Sorry . . . that came from nowhere", April gave them all a small smile.
"The mean dude is moving above you?" Mikey questioned, shocked. "Oh - my - God"
"Poor Tailor", Donnie said sadly, shaking his head.
"Yeah", Leo agreed, nodding.
Raph remained silent as well as Splinter. He was the most shocked out of all of them. Already Scott had made her life hell and now he was moving in above April to rub it in her face? But she wouldn't be here long, Raph realised, she would be going back in India soon, but what about April? She still had to put up with him and his dad. Raph didn't say anything; he just glanced at Tailor slightly sad and looked at Splinter.
Splinter gave his son a small smile. From what he had heard from Raph, this Scott was really bad. He could get out of anything because his dad was in the police force. Splinter sighed, poor Tailor, but she would leave soon. He had noticed the sadness in Raph's eyes when he realised that she would be going back. But April would still have to face them everyday. Splinter glanced at his sons and wondered; how would they feel when Tailor left?
"How about we wake her up now?" Mikey's words came into Splinter's mind. His son in orange was glancing at Tailor, a small smile on his face.
"Let her wake up in her own time Michelangelo", Splinter said softly. He looked at Tailor and smiled. "She has much on her mind, who are we to interrupt that?"
//
(Ending this one here. Thanks for the reviews everyone! Thanks a lot! : ). Hope ya like this one. More to come! Have a great new year!! Love ya!)
Chapter 16: The Secret's Out
Elliot's grip tightened on her shoulder even more, but he made sure that he didn't hurt her. Tailor seemed to have been lost for words. Every time she opened her mouth nothing came out. Elliot stared at her friend; she was looking at Scott with wide, but angry, eyes. Elliot stared back at Scott wanting to wipe that smirk grin off his face. Scott gave Elliot a satisfied smile and looked back at Tailor.
"Isn't it magical? Me, you, together", Scott folded his arms.
Tailor opened her mouth, but still, nothing escaped. She closed her mouth and stared angrily at Scott, but thankful to Elliot for staying by her and not starting a fight.
"I can come and see you whenever I want", Scott continued. "It's going to be cool, don't you think Tailor?"
"No!" She snapped, finding her voice. "You don't understand!" She found her voice rising higher, but she didn't give a damn if she woke up the neighbours. "I - hate - YOU! You - I - hate! Hate - I - you! Which parts don't you understand?!!"
Scott's eyes had widened but his body stayed in the same position. "We can tell who's gone nuts here", he said, casually.
Tailor glared at him with pure hatred. "I have NEVER, ever liked you! I wouldn't give you a gram of sugar if you paid me! How much torture do I have to go through to make you get it in your thick - stupid - dumb - dense - unintelligent - slow - brainless - dull - dim-witted - not-getting-this - skull!!"
Scott looked taken back but Elliot looked at her friend in amazement. He had never, ever seen Tailor say so much in the same sentence. But one question nagged at him; how much torture did she go through?
Scott got over his shocked expression and smiled at her. "You know that every gram of sugar I put in my tea I'll be thinking of you".
"I'll tell you where you can put your every gram of sugar ", Tailor mumbled under her breath. Elliot heard her and smiled a little on the inside.
"Why don't you just go?" Elliot said, coolly.
"Why don't you just stay outta this?" Scott snapped at him. "You stupid - pathetic - none-girlfriend - dope!!"
That did it. "You twit!! How dare you!!" She punched him. Smack in his left eye. No one - and she meant no one - could ever call her best friend in front of her like that, especially Scott.
Elliot stood there, mouth opened wide. He could still hear 'Snow Dogs' playing away in the background because everything seemed silent for a moment.
Scott stumbled back and bashed into the wall opposite the door. Tailor probably gave him a shiner but you couldn't see his eye because Scott had it covered with his hand. He looked at her angrily out of his one, good eye. "You'll pay for that!"
"I think I've paid enough!! You've already given me a sprained ankle!! Don't you ever - and I mean EVER - come near me again! I don't give a damn if you run to your daddy or not!" She pointed at him angrily. "You just stay away from me", she hissed and slammed the door on him, locking it with the chain.
Elliot was still shocked but he shook his head and walked over to the sofa with Tailor. She sat down and put a hand to her forehead, her eyes closed shut. Elliot sat in the armchair opposite her and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs and cupping his hands together.
"Scott gave you a sprained ankle?" He asked, gently.
Oops. Tailor opened her eyes and lifted herself up. She put her foot in front of her and sat back on the sofa, looking at Elliot. Her lip wobbled and she bit it softly.
"It's not my fault", she said quietly. "When I went to Emma's party I did slip as I was walking back. But before I went I said goodbye to Garth and Scott came up to me. I was slightly nervous so I gulped some lemonade. When I was walking back I felt dizzy and slipped on the pavement. I collapsed outside of April's apartment and her friend found me", Tailor stopped, there was no way she could tell Elliot about Raph.
"Is there anymore?" Elliot asked, sensing there was more to it.
Tailor's eyes began to water. "I didn't wanna worry you . . . Yes, there is . . . I was out for 6 - yes, SIX - days".
Elliot stared at her. SIX days?!
"When I received your message", Tailor continued. "I didn't see any point in worrying you because you had put that you had just come back, when I had just woken up, so I thought I'd leave it".
Elliot closed his open mouth.
Tailor looked at him with sad eyes. "I'm sorry . . . But I think it's as obvious to you as it is to me that Scott did something to my drink . . . I didn't mean for this to happen . . . I didn't want to be knocked out for six days . . . I didn't mean for me not to tell you . . . I'm sorry, Elliot".
She watched him looked at her with his cute eyes. She couldn't tell what he was thinking and it was making her feel uncomfortable. "Come on Elliot, say something", she didn't like the way he was so quiet.
Elliot kept his eyes on her face. Tailor had never lied to him. Never. He knew she had good reason for lying to him and he knew that if she told him straight away he would have murdered Scott. He wasn't angry with her. She's his best friend. He loved her to bits. He knew by the sad look on her face that she was still scared of Scott. She may have punched him and shouted her guts off at him but she was still scared. Those five minutes of courage wouldn't last long.
His face broke into a small, forgiving smile. "Come 'ere", he said to her softly, patting his knee.
Tailor's face brightened and she hopped over to him. Sitting herself gently on his knee, her foot in front of her, she held his hands. "I'm sorry", she repeated.
"It's ok", Elliot said gently, rubbing his thumbs over her hands affectionately. He didn't need her apology; he just needed her, herself. "I know it wasn't your fault, want me to kill Scott? I know my dad keeps a spanner in his shed".
Tailor smiled but she knew Elliot couldn't see it since she had her back to him. "No thanks, I think that punch I gave him will keep him away for a few days".
"A few days?" Elliot asked.
"Ok, ok, one day. Scott never gives up".
//
When April returned home Tailor was asleep on the sofa, her foot propped up on a cushion and a jacket spread out over her. Elliot was in the armchair, a cup of tea in his hands and his face on the T.V screen where 'Snow Dogs' was just finishing. He turned to her when the door closed and smiled.
"Exhausted", he said. "She fell asleep in an instant".
April nodded and took off her jacket. She hung it up and walked over to the kitchen. She clicked on the kettle and filled a cup with a tea bag, sugar and milk. She perched herself on a stool and faced Elliot. "She isn't the only one exhausted", April said with a smile.
Elliot got up and walked over to her, sitting on a stool and resting his tea on the counter. He glanced at Tailor before turning back to April. "Did you know Scott Sternum was moving in above you?"
April nodded sadly. "That's where I went", she said. "I didn't want to worry Tailor so I had to go to Chief Sternum's office to confirm a few things about that boy".
Elliot nodded. "He came here".
"He did?"
The kettle clicked and April filled her cup with hot water. She let the tea bag soaked into it before squeezing it out and chucking it away.
Elliot nodded a second time when she sat back down. "He asked for some sugar and then told Tailor he was moving in the apartment above you. Then Tailor just clicked and shouted at him - never seen her do that - then he said something to me and she punched him", Elliot smiled a little, he was glad she had punched him.
"My niece punched Chief Sternum's son?" April said, slowly.
"Yeah", Elliot said, taking a sip of his tea.
"Tailor punched Scott?"
"Yup".
"Good on her", April smiled proudly. "Not every aunt would let their niece get away with that but that boy deserved a good beating . . . so . . . what did he call you? Please tell me he didn't mouth off?"
"No", Elliot answered. "He called me a stupid - pathetic - none-girlfriend - dope".
April patted Elliot's hand before drinking some of her tea. "Well, you know you don't fit any of that".
Elliot let out a small smile. "Except for the none-girlfriend part"
April smiled at him and glanced at Tailor. "She doesn't have a boyfriend. So what. I bet Scott don't have a girlfriend. He just thinks he can get anyone he wants. Just like his dad", she added the last bit angrily.
Elliot drained his tea and rinsed his cup off in the pot water. He quickly grabbed the towel off the side and gave the cup a dry before replacing it back in the cupboard and folding the towel back neatly.
"Thanks", April said.
Elliot nodded in reply. "I better go".
He grabbed his jacket that was draped over Tailor and put it on. He grabbed his shoes, put them on and tied the laces. He lifted himself up and smiled at April. "Tell Tailor I said she is very lazy", he said jokingly.
April chuckled and nodded. "Sure".
Elliot walked over to Tailor and his lips brushed against her cheek. "Bye", he whispered to her though he knew she couldn't hear him. He walked over to the door and, saying a 'goodbye' and 'thank you' to April, he walked out of the apartment closing the door shut behind him.
April smiled when he went. Such a nice person, she thought, one that Tailor needed right now. She sighed and gulped down her tea. After rinsing her cup off she went upstairs to get Tailor a blanket. No point in waking her now. She had been through a long day.
//
"Yo April!" Mikey said the next morning when they all came to see her. He gave her a hug and a peck on the cheek before looking at a sleeping Tailor on the sofa. "Aww, how cute! But . . . hasn't she got a bed?"
April smiled and grabbed all five of the guy's coats. She hung them up and sat on a stool opposite Raph. "She has got a bed Mikey", April answered watching Leo, Donnie and Mikey settling on the floor and Splinter sitting in the armchair.
Mikey smiled. "Well . . . why not sleep in it?"
April chuckled and shook her head. "Elliot came last night and he said she was exhausted and fell asleep. I didn't see the point in waking her up so I covered her with a blanket". April sighed a little. "No point in waking her up when she has to worry about Scott moving in right above us!"
The penny dropped. Everyone looked at April, all with shocked expressions on their faces.
"Sorry . . . that came from nowhere", April gave them all a small smile.
"The mean dude is moving above you?" Mikey questioned, shocked. "Oh - my - God"
"Poor Tailor", Donnie said sadly, shaking his head.
"Yeah", Leo agreed, nodding.
Raph remained silent as well as Splinter. He was the most shocked out of all of them. Already Scott had made her life hell and now he was moving in above April to rub it in her face? But she wouldn't be here long, Raph realised, she would be going back in India soon, but what about April? She still had to put up with him and his dad. Raph didn't say anything; he just glanced at Tailor slightly sad and looked at Splinter.
Splinter gave his son a small smile. From what he had heard from Raph, this Scott was really bad. He could get out of anything because his dad was in the police force. Splinter sighed, poor Tailor, but she would leave soon. He had noticed the sadness in Raph's eyes when he realised that she would be going back. But April would still have to face them everyday. Splinter glanced at his sons and wondered; how would they feel when Tailor left?
"How about we wake her up now?" Mikey's words came into Splinter's mind. His son in orange was glancing at Tailor, a small smile on his face.
"Let her wake up in her own time Michelangelo", Splinter said softly. He looked at Tailor and smiled. "She has much on her mind, who are we to interrupt that?"
//
(Ending this one here. Thanks for the reviews everyone! Thanks a lot! : ). Hope ya like this one. More to come! Have a great new year!! Love ya!)