Ellie sat at home, waiting for a call from Sean. *He's gonna be so pissed. I shouldn't care, though. I did as much as I could to help him.* She started to feel angry again. *Paige, of course, was right again. I should've talked to somebody instead of cutting. Sean was a bad person to hang around with. She must get tired of always being right.* Ellie knew she shouldn't care about what Sean was going to say to her, but she began to feel sick. *I screwed up. Not as bad as he did, but I should've found him before admitting the truth to Ms. Hatzilakos.* Ellie saw a bobby pin sitting on her dresser, and remembered how good it felt the last time she had pulled it across her skin. She closed her eyes as she contemplated what to do. *I need to find him.*
"What the hell are you doing here?" Sean was shocked. He steadied himself on the kitchen counter to keep himself from falling over.
"Tracker called us and said that you ran away," Mrs. Cameron answered. At that moment, Tracker came in, carrying two suitcases.
"You're back," Tracker sighed as he dropped the bags and ran over to give Sean a hug. Sean shoved him away.
His parents walked over to sit down on the couch, "Why did you call them?" Sean whispered to his brother.
"I thought you were gone, Sean. I know what a stubborn little . . ."
"Why did you call them, Tracker?" Sean interrupted angrily.
"They deserve to know what is going on with their youngest son," Tracker defended his parents.
"No. They don't deserve that," Sean started to raise his voice, but lowered it when he realized his parents turned to see what was going on, "Tracker, we're fine by ourselves. Remember, we agreed to take care of each other."
"I thought that, too, Sean. But when my little brother is coming home almost every night drunk off his ass, I begin to wonder if I'm holding up my end of the bargain. You have no idea what it's like to wonder if you're going to come home. I'm not talking about today, either. I'm talking about all those times when you're gone for two or three days, and I have no idea where you are."
"You think they're gonna help? Tracker, do you think they're really gonna help?" Sean saw his brother's eyes were watery. *Is he going to cry?* In all of his life, Sean had never seen his brother cry.
"I don't know how to help you anymore, Sean. I don't know if they're just going to make our lives worse. But maybe having them here will be a good thing. They're not drunks anymore, Sean. After you came to live with me, they tried to stop. I haven't spoken to them in a while, but I think they're doing better. Just give them a chance Sean."
Sean glanced at his parents who were sitting on the couch watching TV, "Fine. But Tracker, if they screw up again . . .well, I dunno how much more I can take."
Tracker watched as his little brother walked away from him, and into his room. Tracker turned his back to the livingroom, and faced the kitchen window. *Please let me have made one right decision.* A single tear rolled down his face.
Ellie knocked on the Cameron's door. *Please be home. Please be home.* She pleaded. She was shocked when the door was flung open by an elderly man that wasn't Tracker.
"And you are . . .?" The rude man asked. *I bet he's related to Sean.* Ellie assumed.
"I'm a . . .a friend of Sean's," Ellie replied."
"Hey, Sean!" The man yelled into the house, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Not currently," Sean called back as he approached the door.
"Well, there's a girl here to see you," the man stepped away from the door, so Sean could see.
"Ellie? What're doing here?" He was fairly certain that she would never want to talk to him again. The man, still standing in the doorway, cleared his throat, "Oh, yeah. Ellie, this is my dad. Dad, this is Ellie Nash."
Ellie stuck her hand out, "Nice to meet you Mr. Cameron."
The man looked at her clothes, not returning her handshake, "Don't really go for the conventional girls, eh Seany?"
Ellie glared at Mr. Cameron as she pulled her hand back. Sean glowered as well, "Ellie, let's go for a walk."
He closed the door behind him, and pulled the hood of his sweatshirt up, "What're you doing here?"
"I thought you didn't live with your parents," Ellie stated.
"I don't. Tracker thinks they might help us," Sean scoffed, "They're just gonna make things worse. I know that. But it doesn't matter, because Tracker doesn't know." Sean shook his head, "What're you doing here?"
"Did Ms. Hatzilakos call you?" Ellie was afraid to bring it up, but she knew she had to.
*How did she know about Ms. Hatzilakos?* Sean thought for a second, then realized it wasn't Towerz who had ratted him out. *The bracelet! She recognized the bracelet! Crap! Ellie's probably pissed! They probably accused her of taking it!*
Sean stopped, and turned to face Ellie, "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done it."
*He's apologizing?* Ellie thought he would be angry at her for ratting him out. Then, suddenly, she realized he should be apologizing. *He should've been caught! He broke into a house, and stole jewelry! Then, he gave me that stolen jewelry! What a jerk! I was feeling horrible for telling the truth, but I shouldn't have. He did screw up!*
Sean kept apologizing, "I'm sorry Ellie. If you don't ever want to talk to me again, I'll understand."
"At first, I actually tried to cover up for you," Ellie admitted.
"What?! Why would you do that?!" Sean was shocked that anyone would risk something for him.
"I was afraid, that they might take you away," Ellie looked at the ground as she bit her lower lip. *Now I remember why I felt so sad.*
"Why would they take me away?" Sean wasn't exactly sure what Ellie meant.
"Your social worker. I figured if you were got stealing, then she send you to a foster home, or something. I thought I wouldn't get to see you again."
Sean didn't know if it was possible, but it felt like his heart had just grown. He closed the small distance between himself and Ellie, and circled his arms around her waist, "There's something different about you Ellie Nash. I don't what it is, but for some reason, I have to be near you. You make me feel better about myself, like I'm almost worth something."
Ellie blushed, and realized how serious the conversation was getting, "Wait a minute. I should be pissed at you," she laughed as she pushed against his chest.
He reached up to hold onto her arm, and felt a raised surface under her long-sleeve-shirt.
Ellie bit her lip, as Sean's face became grave. He slowly turned her arm over as he stared her in the eyes. He rolled up her sleeve, never once breaking eye contact. As she looked down at her arm, so did he.
There were two band-aids on the underside of her arm. Ellie waited for Sean's reaction. She was surprised when he said, "I'm so sorry."
He kept looking at her arm as she tried to look at his face. He carefully peeled one band-aid off. It was a thin, jagged, bright red line. He could see where whatever she had used to cut herself hadn't completely broken through the skin.
Sean carefully traced the bumpy line with his index finger. Ellie still couldn't see his face. Suddenly, she felt something wet on her arm, she looked down, and saw a drop of water on her arm. She realized it was a tear. Soon, another one dropped from Sean's face.
"Sean? Sean, what's the matter?" Ellie didn't know what was going on. She carefully lifted his face so she could see him. His cheeks were streaked with tears as he silently cried.
"Ellie, I'm so sorry," he apologized again. As he cautiously pulled her sleeve back down.
"Why are you apologizing?" Ellie put one hand up to cup his face.
Sean leaned closer into her hand, "I shouldn't have let this happen."
"Sean, it's not your fault,"Ellie reassured him.
Sean shook his head as he put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, "I won't ever let this happen again. Okay? I'll be there anytime you need me. I'll be there for you."
Ellie felt a tear roll down her face. *Great, now I'm crying, too.* She wrapped her arms around his neck, "I'll make sure you never feel alone again, Sean. I promise I'll never let people make you think they're better than you. Cause their not, Sean. You're so much better than them."
It began to rain as they stood together, just staring into each others eyes. Slowly, Sean leaned in, and deeply kissed Ellie.
A/N:
Today was grade prep., so there was no school, giving me lots of time to write. I'll try to update as soon as I can. Hopefully in the next couple chapters I'll be able to describe the complicated and confusing relationship I've made Sean and Ellie have. Thanks to Michelle, Poppyseed, UHm, PsYcHoJo, Ali-Chan1, Ellectra, sayinjin7, BaLLin BaBi GrL, and anyone else who has taken the time to read this story! :)
~*~Sammi~*~
"What the hell are you doing here?" Sean was shocked. He steadied himself on the kitchen counter to keep himself from falling over.
"Tracker called us and said that you ran away," Mrs. Cameron answered. At that moment, Tracker came in, carrying two suitcases.
"You're back," Tracker sighed as he dropped the bags and ran over to give Sean a hug. Sean shoved him away.
His parents walked over to sit down on the couch, "Why did you call them?" Sean whispered to his brother.
"I thought you were gone, Sean. I know what a stubborn little . . ."
"Why did you call them, Tracker?" Sean interrupted angrily.
"They deserve to know what is going on with their youngest son," Tracker defended his parents.
"No. They don't deserve that," Sean started to raise his voice, but lowered it when he realized his parents turned to see what was going on, "Tracker, we're fine by ourselves. Remember, we agreed to take care of each other."
"I thought that, too, Sean. But when my little brother is coming home almost every night drunk off his ass, I begin to wonder if I'm holding up my end of the bargain. You have no idea what it's like to wonder if you're going to come home. I'm not talking about today, either. I'm talking about all those times when you're gone for two or three days, and I have no idea where you are."
"You think they're gonna help? Tracker, do you think they're really gonna help?" Sean saw his brother's eyes were watery. *Is he going to cry?* In all of his life, Sean had never seen his brother cry.
"I don't know how to help you anymore, Sean. I don't know if they're just going to make our lives worse. But maybe having them here will be a good thing. They're not drunks anymore, Sean. After you came to live with me, they tried to stop. I haven't spoken to them in a while, but I think they're doing better. Just give them a chance Sean."
Sean glanced at his parents who were sitting on the couch watching TV, "Fine. But Tracker, if they screw up again . . .well, I dunno how much more I can take."
Tracker watched as his little brother walked away from him, and into his room. Tracker turned his back to the livingroom, and faced the kitchen window. *Please let me have made one right decision.* A single tear rolled down his face.
Ellie knocked on the Cameron's door. *Please be home. Please be home.* She pleaded. She was shocked when the door was flung open by an elderly man that wasn't Tracker.
"And you are . . .?" The rude man asked. *I bet he's related to Sean.* Ellie assumed.
"I'm a . . .a friend of Sean's," Ellie replied."
"Hey, Sean!" The man yelled into the house, "Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Not currently," Sean called back as he approached the door.
"Well, there's a girl here to see you," the man stepped away from the door, so Sean could see.
"Ellie? What're doing here?" He was fairly certain that she would never want to talk to him again. The man, still standing in the doorway, cleared his throat, "Oh, yeah. Ellie, this is my dad. Dad, this is Ellie Nash."
Ellie stuck her hand out, "Nice to meet you Mr. Cameron."
The man looked at her clothes, not returning her handshake, "Don't really go for the conventional girls, eh Seany?"
Ellie glared at Mr. Cameron as she pulled her hand back. Sean glowered as well, "Ellie, let's go for a walk."
He closed the door behind him, and pulled the hood of his sweatshirt up, "What're you doing here?"
"I thought you didn't live with your parents," Ellie stated.
"I don't. Tracker thinks they might help us," Sean scoffed, "They're just gonna make things worse. I know that. But it doesn't matter, because Tracker doesn't know." Sean shook his head, "What're you doing here?"
"Did Ms. Hatzilakos call you?" Ellie was afraid to bring it up, but she knew she had to.
*How did she know about Ms. Hatzilakos?* Sean thought for a second, then realized it wasn't Towerz who had ratted him out. *The bracelet! She recognized the bracelet! Crap! Ellie's probably pissed! They probably accused her of taking it!*
Sean stopped, and turned to face Ellie, "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done it."
*He's apologizing?* Ellie thought he would be angry at her for ratting him out. Then, suddenly, she realized he should be apologizing. *He should've been caught! He broke into a house, and stole jewelry! Then, he gave me that stolen jewelry! What a jerk! I was feeling horrible for telling the truth, but I shouldn't have. He did screw up!*
Sean kept apologizing, "I'm sorry Ellie. If you don't ever want to talk to me again, I'll understand."
"At first, I actually tried to cover up for you," Ellie admitted.
"What?! Why would you do that?!" Sean was shocked that anyone would risk something for him.
"I was afraid, that they might take you away," Ellie looked at the ground as she bit her lower lip. *Now I remember why I felt so sad.*
"Why would they take me away?" Sean wasn't exactly sure what Ellie meant.
"Your social worker. I figured if you were got stealing, then she send you to a foster home, or something. I thought I wouldn't get to see you again."
Sean didn't know if it was possible, but it felt like his heart had just grown. He closed the small distance between himself and Ellie, and circled his arms around her waist, "There's something different about you Ellie Nash. I don't what it is, but for some reason, I have to be near you. You make me feel better about myself, like I'm almost worth something."
Ellie blushed, and realized how serious the conversation was getting, "Wait a minute. I should be pissed at you," she laughed as she pushed against his chest.
He reached up to hold onto her arm, and felt a raised surface under her long-sleeve-shirt.
Ellie bit her lip, as Sean's face became grave. He slowly turned her arm over as he stared her in the eyes. He rolled up her sleeve, never once breaking eye contact. As she looked down at her arm, so did he.
There were two band-aids on the underside of her arm. Ellie waited for Sean's reaction. She was surprised when he said, "I'm so sorry."
He kept looking at her arm as she tried to look at his face. He carefully peeled one band-aid off. It was a thin, jagged, bright red line. He could see where whatever she had used to cut herself hadn't completely broken through the skin.
Sean carefully traced the bumpy line with his index finger. Ellie still couldn't see his face. Suddenly, she felt something wet on her arm, she looked down, and saw a drop of water on her arm. She realized it was a tear. Soon, another one dropped from Sean's face.
"Sean? Sean, what's the matter?" Ellie didn't know what was going on. She carefully lifted his face so she could see him. His cheeks were streaked with tears as he silently cried.
"Ellie, I'm so sorry," he apologized again. As he cautiously pulled her sleeve back down.
"Why are you apologizing?" Ellie put one hand up to cup his face.
Sean leaned closer into her hand, "I shouldn't have let this happen."
"Sean, it's not your fault,"Ellie reassured him.
Sean shook his head as he put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, "I won't ever let this happen again. Okay? I'll be there anytime you need me. I'll be there for you."
Ellie felt a tear roll down her face. *Great, now I'm crying, too.* She wrapped her arms around his neck, "I'll make sure you never feel alone again, Sean. I promise I'll never let people make you think they're better than you. Cause their not, Sean. You're so much better than them."
It began to rain as they stood together, just staring into each others eyes. Slowly, Sean leaned in, and deeply kissed Ellie.
A/N:
Today was grade prep., so there was no school, giving me lots of time to write. I'll try to update as soon as I can. Hopefully in the next couple chapters I'll be able to describe the complicated and confusing relationship I've made Sean and Ellie have. Thanks to Michelle, Poppyseed, UHm, PsYcHoJo, Ali-Chan1, Ellectra, sayinjin7, BaLLin BaBi GrL, and anyone else who has taken the time to read this story! :)
~*~Sammi~*~