Chapter 2
The Weekend
The next morning, the sun peeked through the dirty curtains in Sean's room, spilling streaks of light onto the bed. Sean was still holding Ellie in his arms, her tears dried on her face. Sean gently slid his arm from under Ellie's sleeping body, and walked out to the kitchen. Tracker was putting the last of his junk into a box.
"Hey, Sean. I just stopped by to grab the last of my shit. Anyway, I'll call you sometime Monday. But, please, stay out of trouble. I'll call you after I get off work on Monday," Tracker stood, pulling his coat on.
"Ok. Whatever," Sean yawned.
"Bye. Be careful,"
"Alright, dad," Sean replied sarcastically.
"Not funny. Bye," Tracker walked out, waving to Sean as he got in his friend's car.
Well, thought Sean, at least I get two days all to myself. Sean walked back to the bedroom to wake Ellie. He almost ran into her as he turned the corner into the hall.
"Ellie! You're awake!"
"Yeah,"
"You just missed Tracker, he stopped by to get the last of his shit," Sean said coldly
"Cool. Hey I gotta go home and change and shower and stuff," Ellie tried to smooth her hair back. But it was knotty and poofy.
"You can hang around here until then if you want," Sean looked at her.
"Ok, but I need to get clean clothes, though," Ellie hoped Sean understood what she meant. She liked him. But still… she thought she smelled funny. "Sean do you wanna come with me?"
"Sure. Just let me get dressed," Sean walked back his bedroom as Ellie grabbed her coat from behind the couch.
Sean and Ellie walked into her back yard, leaving the back gate open.
"Hey Sean, can you give me boost up to the roof?" Ellie asked, pulling her coat off.
"Sure,"
"Thanks," Ellie set her coat on the ground.
"Get on my shoulders," Sean got down on one knee, and Ellie sat on his shoulders. Holding his hands for balance as he stood, Ellie tried to keep from falling.
"Ok, now slowly put your feet on my shoulders. Good, now very carefully stand," Ellie slowly stood, grabbing the edge of the roof for balance. Sean held her ankles steady. "Ellie, pick up one foot, good. Now the other," Sean said, holding her feet in his hands. "Ok, when I say go, jump. GO!" Ellie jumped, and Sean practically launched her onto the roof.
"Oww," Ellie said, landing on her stomach. "Sean, I'll be back in a minute. Hide behind the bushes so no one sees you," Ellie opened her window above the garage, and slipped in as quietly as possible.
Ellie pulled her duffel bag out from under her bed, and grabbed some clothes from her dresser; a black tee shirt, a black hoodie, her pajamas, some underwear, and a pair of baggy black bondage pants. She tiptoed out to the bathroom, and grabbed her makeup bag. Throwing everything into her bag, Ellie stopped to write her mom a note saying she was at Ashley's house. She grabbed her journal off her desk and hurried back out the window as she heard her mom stirring downstairs. Once back on the roof, Ellie stuffed her journal in her bag, and called for Sean. He came out from behind the bushes, pulling twigs off his shirt.
"Sean, catch!" Ellie tossed her bag down. Sean caught it and set it on the ground.
"Now you," Sean held his arms out to Ellie. She sat down on the edge of the roof, swinging her legs over, and carefully lowered herself over the edge of the roof. Sean reached up to catch her, his hands sliding up her legs. Ellie grabbed his shoulders, his hands on her hips as he lowered her to the ground. Her face was barely an inch away from his, her mouth right by his. They just stood there, and for a moment, Ellie thought he might kiss her. Sean thought about it, but pulled away, grabbing her coat from the ground and handed it to her.
"Thanks," Ellie took it from him, pulled it on, and slung her duffel bag over her shoulder. They walked back to Sean's house silently.
As soon as they got back to Sean's house, Ellie asked if she could use the shower.
"Hey, Sean, can I use your shower?"
"Go for it. But hurry, the hot water will run out in about fifteen minutes,"
"Ok. Thanks," Ellie walked in to the bathroom, and locked the door. Ellie pulled her arm socks off, and tried not to look at her cuts and scars. She turned the water on, and quickly washed her body and hair. Just as she finished rinsing her hair, the water began to cool. She hurried out, wrapping a towel around herself. She put on her makeup, dried her hair, and pulled on the baggy pants and the tee shirt.
After Sean took a shower, they decided to head into town for a while. They walked down the sidewalk, just talking and laughing. Other kids from DCHS stared at them. Sean with his low slung baggy pants, black bandana, white T-shirt, and gray sweat shirt, and Ellie in her punk pants, black shirt, motorcycle boots, black eyeliner, and trench coat. They walked into the Dot, and ordered cheese fries from the waitress. While they were eating, Emma and Chris walked in and sat down across from them. Sean began to get a little irritated, Emma kept glaring at them.
"Ellie, do you wanna leave now?" Sean looked at her with a sort of pleading look in his eyes.
"Ok. Just let me refill my soda," Ellie walked over to the soda dispenser, filled her paper cup, and they left.
Ellie and Sean walked to the park behind the school, and sat on the plastic swings.
"Ellie, do you really want to stay with me, honestly? Or do you just want out of your house?" Sean asked.
"Umm, yeah. I like staying with you. You, you're different than everybody else,"
"How?"
"Well, you don't get all weird about my cuts and stuff. Like, Paige treats me like a baby, as if I need her always asking me about it. And Ashley, she keeps telling me if I need anything, she's there in a minute. But I can't really talk to her. Last time I tried to explain it, she totally freaked. But you listen. And you don't ask questions. You don't pry. It's like I've known you forever," Ellie looked at the ground, falling back and forth beneath her feet as she swung. Sean got of his swing, walked over, and stood in behind of Ellie. She stopped swinging.
"Thanks," He said, holding the chains of the swing. He pulled her back, and then pushed her forward, higher and higher.
"Hey Sean. Did you hear about Terri?" Ellie let her head drop back.
"What about her?" Sean pushed Ellie again.
"Ash said she's leaving at the end of the school year," Ellie dipped her head back to look at Sean.
"Really? I haven't heard anything," he said.
"Yeah. Marco told me. Apparently Dylan told him,"
"Dylan knows before I do? Man am I out of it," Sean laughed.
"Paige probably told him, since her and Ash are such 'best friends' again. Wonder how long it'll last this time," Ellie said dryly and jumped off the swing.
"Who cares about them? Those two couldn't decide if they were best friends or worst enemies in grade school, so why should this be any different?" Sean said, following Ellie out of the park.
"Really? Why am I not surprised?" Ellie scrunched up her face and laughed.
"Gotchya to laugh," he said and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Wanna cookie?" Ellie poked him in the ribs.
"Ouch I'm wounded," Sean doubled over in mock pain.
"You are such a spaz," she said, pulling him off the ground.
Sean was in his room, trying to clean up a little, when he accidentally knocked Ellie's bag off the bed. Her journal fell out, open to a few days after her dad left.
Friday
I hate her so much. How could she? Dad hasn't been gone
72 hours yet, and she's already back to it. Back to knocking
me around, yelling, and barfing. She's such a hypocrite.
Claiming that she's better. If she really was, she wouldn't
be drunk now. I hate her…
Sean tried to put it down, but he couldn't. He flipped ahead to a few days ago.
Wednesday
God. We're at this again. I do not believe I'm doing this again.
Mom's collapsed on the couch. I don't think that vodka
stain is gonna come out of the carpet. I hate my life. I wish I
could leave. Anywhere. Even Montana. I'm trying not to cut
anymore, but I don't think it's working. I really wanna cut…
Sean looked at the bottom of the page. There was dried blood drips on the paper. He put the journal back into her bag, and set it next to his bed. He finished cleaning his room, and went out to the kitchen to find something to eat.
Ellie walked in just as Sean was making the couch up as a bed.
"Hey. Sorry I'm late," Ellie walked in.
"It's alright. I was just gonna go to bed. I figured you could have my bed, and I'll sleep here. Unless you want out here,"
"No, it's ok. I don't care,"
"Ok. Good night Ellie,"
"Goodnight Sean," Ellie went to the bathroom and changed into he pajamas, and went to bed.
