Ellie shivered as she stepped out into the brisk air. It had been a beautiful ceremony. She and Neal were late of course so she had to sit crammed in the back of the church. The outpouring of grief was not lost on her though. A pair of warm arms wrapped around her from behind. She looked back to see Neal smiling at her. "Hey babe, how you holding up?" He asked.
"Been better." Ellie sadly replied. She had still yet to see her brothers. She had seen the back of Jack's headup at the front ofthe church but that was the closest she had come to her brothers.
"Well, I am going to let you catch up with your brothers. I am going to go see some family in the area. I'll meet up with you later?" Neal asked.
"You're not coming to the cemetery?" Ellie asked as she turned around in his arms to face him and put her hands on his shoulders.
"Well, I figured that was more of a close family thing." Neal said with a shrug.
"Yeah, okay, I guess." Ellie replied rather confused.
"Hey it looks like your brothers are looking for you." Sure enough she saw Jack, Jerry and Bobby scanning the crowd.
"Well do you want to go meet them?" she asked Neal with a smile.
"I'm sure I will get a chance to later, my cab is here." Neal said as he nodded his head in the direction of the street.
"Your cab?" she questioned.
"Yeah I didn't want to leave you car less" Neal said simply as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. "See you later" Neal quickly walked off towards the cab in the distance. Ellie watched him go a little taken aback, when did he call a cab?
Ellie turned around only to be once again enveloped by a pair of arms. "Jackie!" Ellie squealed. Jack smiled back at her and lifted her up and spun her around.
"Hey college girl. Where were you?" Jack asked Ellie as he set her back down on her own two feet.
"My plane was delayed so I got here late and sat in the back." Ellie answered as she went to hug Jerry. "How are my nieces, Jerry?"
"They're good, they're good. Excited to see you." Jerry replied. Ellie turned to Bobby who was kind of hanging back.
"Who was that guy, Ellie?" He asked in a gruff voice as he stared off in the direction Neal had disappeared.
"Who? Where is Angel?" She tried to quickly distract as she went and hugged Bobby.
"He should be here." Jerry answered, "His plane probably got delayed too."
"Come on guys, we don't want to be the last ones to the cemetery" Jack said as he put his arm around Ellie and started walking towards their cars.
At the cemetery, Ellie stood next to her brothers and watched the coffin as it was lowered into the ground. Jack was standing closest to her and she could see him trying to hold back tears. She moved closer and slipped her arms around his waist. Jack in turn put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer. She always felt the closest to Jack, they each knew the best ways to comfort each other. They just understood each other on a level that the other brothers never truly understood. Maybe it was how close they were in age or maybe it was their similar background. Whatever the reason, they definitely were the closest of the siblings. When they were in school Ellie would always do her homework in Jack's room.
Ellie sat on the floor with her back against Jack's bed. She was trying to finish her math homework before dinner. She had really started to pay attention in school and put her best effort into doing well. After she had taken the practice SAT colleges had started sending her letters and she had never seen her mom prouder. She wanted to do everything she could to make Evelyn proud so this past semester she had started studying more and paying attention in class.
Jack was sitting on his bed lightly strumming away on his guitar. The sound soothed Ellie and she loved studying in Jack's room. Her room was always so messy with clothes strewn everywhere. "Don't you have homework to be doing too?" She asked Jack.
"Probably" Jack answered with a shrug. Ellie just smiled and returned to her homework as she and Jack slipped into a companionable silence. Jack loved it when Ellie studied in his room as well because the other brothers wouldn't dare bother her when she was studying and it gave him a safe haven of sorts from their teasing.
Jack pulled Ellie in for a quick hug as they began covering Evelyn's coffin with dirt. The siblings turned to leave the cemetery, all looking worse for the wear. Jerry was having a get together at his house after the funeral so they all headed towards their cars.
Ellie stood in her old room unpacking. Jerry's house had been nice but she was relieved to be away from it all. Neal had just called her and told her that he would be over later that night. She still hadn't told her brothers about him and now that she had let it go so long she was starting to get nervous. Well, there was no time like the present she thought as she put the last of her clothes in her drawer. She opened her door to the hallway. Her room was the closest to the bathroom and she could hear Bobby in there crying. She wanted to go in there and comfort him but she stopped herself. Bobby didn't take comfortvery well. He barely would accept help.
Bobby had just gotten home from lord knows where and he was obviously all beaten up. His lip was bleeding and he had the beginnings of a black eye. "Bobby are you alright?" Evelyn called from the kitchen. "Fine mom" he yelled back as he headed for the stairs. Jerry was on his way down the stairs and met him midway. "Hey man what happened to your face?" He asked as he surveyed his brothers multiple cuts and bruises. "Can't everyone just leave me the fuck alone!" Bobby demanded through clenched teeth. Ellie heard the commotion on the stairs and walked to her door. She saw Bobby storm past and into the bathroom. Everyone else in the house was giving him a wide berth but not Ellie. She marched right into the bathroom, one of the few times she was happy for the lack of locks in the Mercer household. "What the fuck are you doing in here?" Bobby demanded. "Calm down." Ellie replied exasperated. "Get the fuck out!" He demanded. Ellie just ignored him and walked past him to the cabinet. She reached inside and pulled out the first aid kit. "Sit down." She ordered and pointed to the toilet. She started opening up the first aid kit while Bobby stood and stared at her dumbstruck. "Sit Down" Ellie said again this time emphasizing each syllable and making full eye contact. Bobby finally just gave in and sat down. Ellie disinfected his cuts and bandaged what she could. Bobby just quietly sat there while Ellie worked quickly in silence. When she was done she gave him a quick kiss on the forehead and left him to himself. Later that night as Ellie was laying in bed trying to sleep, Bobby walked to her door. "Thank you" he said quietly and then turned and left. Ellie smiled and rolled over to go to sleep.
Ellie decided against going into the bathroom. Bobby might reluctantly accept help but not comfort. Ellie went to Jack's room instead. Bobby would come when he was ready. As one would expect Jack was sitting on his bed strumming his guitar. She smiled at him and took her place at the foot of his bed. She just sat there and let the music flow through her.
Ellie jolted awake asJack's foot jabbed her in the ribs. "You crying you little fairy?" Bobby's voice demanded. Ellie must have drifted off while sitting on Jack's bed. "Man give it a rest." Jack replied, too tired to take the bait. Jerry walked in the door joining the rest of the group. Ellie figured this was as good a time as any to let them know about Neal. She better tell them now before he actually showed up.
"Hey guys, my boyfriend Neal is on his way over." Ellie preferred the direct method. No pussy-footing around as Bobby would put it.
"What? Is that the guy I saw you with at the funeral?" Bobby turned on her.
"Yeah, his name is Neal. He lives with me up in Madison." Might as well get it all out there in the open.
"He lives with you!" Jack and Bobby both questioned in shock.
"You are too young to be living with some guy. What would Mom say?" Bobby continued. Ellie couldn't believe he was pulling the mom card.
"Mom knew!" Ellie yelled outraged.
"Mom knew what?" Angel asked as he walked in the door.
"That Ellie is living with some guy in Madison." Jerry informed as he shook his head in amused disbelief.
"What guy?"Angel questioned, his interest suddenly peaked.
"His name is Neal, he is coming over later and you can all meet him then." Ellie sighed already exasperated with the whole ordeal.
"Yeah, we'll see." Angel grumbled. Angel was always tough on Ellie's boyfriends. She remembered when she first started dating a guy named Zach in high school.
Ellie slammed in through the front door. "I'm home!" She yelled to the house in general. Angel was sitting on the couch with his girlfriend of the moment making out. Ellie just rolled her eyes and ran up the stairs to her bedroom. As soon as she was out of ear shot Angel's girl came up for air and started chuckling. "I heard your little sister was hooking up with Zach Miller. He is the biggest player at Eastside." She said, repeating the high school gossip. "What? Where did you hear this?" Angel demanded. "I don't know, I thought it was common knowledge" she replied obviously not expecting Angel's reaction. "I think it is time you go home" Angel simply told her as he got up and stormed up the stairs. "Well fine then." his girlfriend huffed as she grabbed her bag and stormed out the front door.
"Ellie!" Angel yelled up the stairs.
"I'm in my room" she answered. Within seconds Angel burst into her room. "Hey, what's up?" she questioned, a little wary of his mood.
"What's this I hear about you and Zach Miller?" Angel immediately started in.
"Is that what that stupid girl just said? She is such a gossip!" Ellie began.
"What is going on with you and Zach Miller?" Angel repeated.
"What's going on with you and whatever her name is?" Ellie countered.
"Answer the question, Ellie. What is going on with you and that guy?" Angel demanded, he had no patience for her games.
"Not that it is any of your business or any of your girl's business, but yes, we are talking" Ellie answered.
"Talking? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Angel yelled outraged.
"He is a nice guy and we might be dating."
"Oh no you ain't! You are breaking things off with him right now! You are not allowed to see him again!"
"Not allowed? When did you suddenly become my father? I don't think so Angel, I am going to see whoever I want whenever I want." Ellie couldn't believe his audacity. He hooked up with random girls all the time and here he was criticizing her and her choice of boys!
"If you talk to that boy again I'll..."
"You'll what?" Ellie challenged.
"I'll tell Bobby, that's what!" Angel replied as he crossed his arms over his chest signally his victory. Ellie broke up with Zach the next day. She didn't like him that much to begin with and he definitely wasn't worth an all out war with her brothers.
"It's a little heavy in here. I think I am going to step outside and get some fresh air." Angel stated. Ellie was happy the conversation about Neal was over. She knew that wasn't the end of it but at least it was over for now.
"Man don't even play like that" Jerry said shaking his head. It was obvious that 'air' was the last thing on Angel's mind.
"Don't even bother going to see La Vida Loca. She's got another man now. You know what? She's got hard dick in her right now - she's screaming someone else's name and ain't givin' a shit about you!" Bobby joked.
"Man! Why you gotta come at me like that? I'm telling you, I swear, I AM NOT GOING TO SEE HER!" Angel declared as he stormed off.
Ellie bust out laughing. "He is getting his ass kicked tonight!"