Encore

No one dared move. Instead of surprising Ellie, she'd surprised them, and now they were stunned, unsure of what to do. Orion was the first to move, and at that point he had one up on Sean. "Milady," he said bowing before her smirking, taking her hand. Ellie blushed from a rash of embarrassment, surprise, happiness, and anger.

"What are you doing here?" she asked taking his hand and pulling him up before wrapping him in a tight hug.

"I got an email from Marco, Max gave him my email, said you were getting a welcome home party, and thought you might want me here." He answered, and hugged her again," I missed you," he whispered.

"you haven't seen me in a day and a half," she answered, breathing in what smelled like the scent of home as it lingered in his hair.

"I know…" he said, pulling away.

In the far reaches of the room stood Sean, jealous? Yes…very, and it was Emma who picked up on this and gently grabbed his hand, "don't worry about it Sean, it's nothing." Sean looked over at her and smiled, thankfully, at the blonde. Ellie spun around the room, just taking in every face, faces, some she hadn't seen in a month and a half. Some faces she didn't expect to be there. And the first person for her to approach, apart from the man grilling outside, was that man's little brother, "Sean." Sean felt his heart sink a little as he noticed the tears forming in her eyes, and he immediately felt guilty, and a little bit terrible for even thinking that Orion was competition for him. She felt into his arms, and for that moment, it felt as though time regressed for both them.

And Ashley hit the stereo, taking the tension away from the center of the room. And instead of becoming emotional upon the hearing the lyrics to what could be dubbed as their song, Ellie smiled and held Sean tight, "I missed you," she said. Ellie pulled away and looked around the room, "looks like you've been busy."

"how did you get here?" he asked.

" mom picked me up, all happy and pepped to spend time with me, and after about an hour or so realized the bottle was more fun than her daughter." Ellie sighed, "so she's spending quality time with vodka, and none with Ellie." Ellie laughed slightly to herself.

"El…you know you can stay here if you want,"

Ellie smiled, "I'll be fine, I've made it this far right?" Ellie looked around and her eyes fell on Orion who was back to talking to Ashley and Marco, and being introduced to Dylan, "who invited Orion?"

"Marco…he thought you'd want him here…" Sean answered.

Ellie smiled, and then kissed his cheek, "jealousy doesn't suit you Sean."

Sean rolled his eyes, "not jealous, Ellie…"

" Sure you aren't…I'm gunna go mingle" she said sashaying her hips as she walked over to Ashley and Mark whilst Orion spoke with Marco and Dylan. "Hey!" Ellie said excitedly, "long time no see." Ashley smiled as she hugged her friend. And Mark smiled brightly as he too opened arms to hug her.

"Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you pushing Ash into me?' Mark said, chuckling.

Ellie shook her head laughing, "no, but I'm sure you appreciate it a lot." Ellie looked around the room again and crossed her arms in nervousness, "so who made up the guest list?" she asked.

" I did mi amore," Marco said sweetly as he kissed both cheeks, " how are you he asked genuinely.

"I'm fine…" Ellie said, looking at the other side of the room, " Paige? Hazel…Spinner, I mean Jimmy I can understand, he was the only one of the to even email me but …"

" they wanted to come," Marco answered, shrugging.

Ellie rolled her eyes and shrugged, " I guess…" and was suddenly blindsided as Alex threw herself into the redhead. They fell to the floor in a heap, laughing.

"can't hold yourself up vampy?" Jay said offering her and Alex both a hand.

" no, I just like getting down and dirty with your girl." Ellie said smartly. Jay spun his cap around backwards, and smirked.

"Can I watch?" he asked laughing to himself. Alex punched him hard in the arm. "Ow, Lexxi that hurt," he whined as he feigned being hurt.

"suck it up tuff guy."

Ellie looked over at Towerz and nodded, "always a man of many words aren't we?" she asked, Towerz smiled and nodded. Ellie smiled. "No Amy?"

"wasn't invited, personally, she's starting to get on my nerves as it is, if she's not hitting on Sean she's toying with Jay…" Alex answered, looking over at Jay suspiciously.

" Hey baby, come on, you know my pants and all that's in it belong to you," he answered pulling her into him, " heart included."

"sap…" Sean muttered under his breath as he slipped up behind Ellie, "you're brains included in that package?"

Everyone laughed.

Ellie looked over at Craig, Manny, and Emma, "interesting crowd over there," she said.

"We're all still friends right?" Sean asked, "besides, we couldn't help the Manny situation she's going out with Craig again, and Emma helped with the food."

Ellie faked a smile, " Emma helped?"

"she wanted to…she's been a good friend," Sean answered. Ellie nodded.

"How's it going Miss Nash?" Jimmy said walking up to her and nudging her with his elbow.

Ellie smiled, it was starting to hurt, "it's good,…thanks for the email," she said sweetly.

"No problem Nash, we were worried about you…" he said. And for a moment he saw that sparkle in her eyes that reminded him of what he liked about her not so long ago, that spark, and spunk. Ellie blushed. He wanted to protect her, and with the month left of school before summer break she'd need a wall against the slew of rumors that would erupt with her reappearance in the DCS hallways.

Ellie excused herself to go outside and speak with the older brother figure she'd been missing.

-X-

Ashley watched across the room nervously. She was still mad at Craig, disappointed in Manny, and just not wanting to be in the same room as the two together. Mark gently rubbed her shoulders, "Okay sweets?" he asked affectionately whispering in her ear. Ashley forced a smile and turned around.

"I'm fine," she answered.

"Good," he said, "because I have a surprise for you later."

Ashley glowed, "Oh really?" her eyes begging to know what it was.

"Mmhmm" he answered, kissing her gently.

"what is it?" she asked.

Mark laughed, "I can't tell you that," he argued, "then it wouldn't be a surprise."

Ashley sighed, "okay…are you still coming to dinner with my family tomorrow night?" she asked. Her parents were dying to meet this infamous "Mark" that Ashley had been seeing for a few months. She'd be hesitant to bring him over and meet the parents and Toby, not wanting what seemed like bad luck to rear it's head like it'd done with boyfriends past.

Mark nodded, "of course, wouldn't miss it."

Ashley smiled, "my mom's excited to meet you."

"I'm excited to meet your mom and congratulate her on her great reproductive skills."

Ashley punched him in the arm playfully, "don't you dare."

Mark laughed and wrapped his arms around her tightly, "I wouldn't, but I'm sure I'll compliment her beautiful daughter, do you know where I can find her?"

Ashley blushed, "I believe she's right here," she answered matter of factly.

"Oh really…?" he asked.

"Urgh, shut up Mark" she said laughing.

-X-

"Hey stranger," Tracker said as Ellie walked outside, letting the screen door shut behind her loudly. Ellie smiled as she sat on the stairs leading up the shack of a home, watching intently as Tracker flipped veggie burgers, and barbecued chicken. Ellie pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them close as she tucked her wild red hair behind her ears. Tracker set the spatula on the car and closed the grill's cover. He dusted off his hands and sat down next to Ellie, "you okay?"

Ellie looked over at him, "for the most part," she said relaxing and letting her legs revert back to their original position.

"Sean said your roommate…"

"Verity…she killed herself," Ellie answered sadly, before he had a chance to finish his sentence, "I found her that morning, I tried to wake her up, we were late for breakfast. And then Jerzy…" Ellie stopped for a moment and took a breath, "it doesn't matter now, it's all over and done with."

"Obviously it's not over and done with, it still bothers you…" Tracker said, but then changed the subject, "So, the blonde boy in there, I don't know him…"

"Dylan?" Ellie asked, "that's Marco's boyfriend."

"Not him, the other one, with the funny name…"

"Orion?" Ellie asked, " yea, you wouldn't know him, he and I we were at Lake View together," Ellie tried to shuffle around the topic, and Tracker noticed this.

"Why don't you go back inside Red, hang out with your friends, I'll be fine out here by myself."

Ellie smiled at the young man, as he pulled her to her feet and returned to the grill. Tracker watched as she shyly hugged him before turning to go inside, it was then that he noticed she was wearing short sleeves, and no arm warmers, her scars in full view. And it didn't even faze her that others could easily pick out her self inflictions. It was then that he smiled proudly, because she'd learned to except who she was and that her scars were not something to be ashamed of, nor revered, but to be ignored, or worn, just worn like any other article of clothing.

Ellie walked inside and her path to Sean was blocked. One way by Emma who was talking to him cheerfully, another by Orion, and the third way by Paige who stood in her way. "Hi," the blonde uttered.

" Hi Paige…" Ellie responded, trying to find an escape route.

" Look about what happened before you left…I'm sorry."

"Again? Paige, look you don't need to apologize to me." Ellie looked over at blonde who looked like a defeated puppy, she sighed, "apology accepted Paige, would you excuse me, I need to…" Ellie looked up and over the girl's shoulder, Sean was still occupied, "Orion…" Ellie said, and began walking over to the tall boy who stood lingering in the corner.

Orion swirled his plastic cup of soda and watched as the bubbles rose and carbonation escaped into the air. "Hey you," Ellie said bumping him with her hip. He looked up and smiled. "How are you?" she asked.

" good…you?"

"as well as can be expected," she answered.

" Wooo, PARTY!" a voice shrieked.

Everyone looked to the front door, " Amy, what are you doing here?" Sean asked.

" I heard there was a party," she slurred drunkenly, "and we know it's not a party unless I'm here." She began to sway her hips from side to side, despite the fact that the music didn't match the misery she was creating. Sean grabbed her arm roughly, and tried to lead her to the door when she pulled back violently, "I wanna stay!" she shrieked, "let go!"

Sean released his grasp on her arm and walked away angrily. Emma from the corner of the room walked over to the Amy and immediately found her place, right up in Amy's face. "You need to leave," Emma stated as calmly as she could. The music was turned off and the room went silent. Amy rolled her eyes as she attempted to stand straight.

"look PETA back off…"

"you're ruining the party, that you WEREN'T invited to."

"like it matters, it's just a party…" she looked around the room, and then her eyes fell on Ellie, and she laughed, "well well well," she said pushing her way past Emma and over to the redhead, "look who's back." Amy took a swig from the flask she carried her jacket.

"Hi Amy," Ellie said grabbing Orion's hand for support. Sean watched from across the room, Ellie looked scared, and he wasn't there to protect her. Instead of grabbing his hand, her hand was in the grasp of another.

"what are you doing here?" Amy asked, " I though you did the world a favor and killed yourself." Ellie squeezed Orion's hand tighter, Amy looked down and noticed this, Ellie squeezing so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She scoffed, "looks like I struck a nerve."

Ellie glared, and pulled her hand from Orion's, "yes, you're vexing me." Orion chuckled to himself as she used terms of his that rubbed off on her, leaving Amy obviously confused.

"speak so I can understand you Vampy," Amy argued, getting frustrated.

"Vous m'ennuyez. Vous dégoûtant le morceau de déchets." Ellie said simply, smirking as she spoke in the language of which Amy failed the class three times. Amy groaned, "do you prefer English?" Ellie asked. "I said, You annoy me. You disgusting piece of trash."

Amy's cheeks burned with both embarrassment and anger. " I hate you," Amy said drunkenly.

" good, because I'm not fond of you either," Ellie said, " do you think I didn't notice you trying to move in on Sean?"

" he doesn't care about you," Amy slurred, " he likes me more."

Ellie laughed, because for this moment she was never more confident, "no…he doesn't."

Amy groaned, "you think you're so much better than me," Amy took a step closer to her, "you're not better than me, look at you, you're disgusting, you cut yourself because why?" Amy sneered, and began to mimic Ellie in a whiney voice, "Oh look at me, pity ME, my daddy's in the army, my mommy drinks too much, and my life sucks." Amy changed to a more confident tone, "oh whoa is fuckin' me, how about I cry out for more attention like a spoiled little brat, I'm better than everyone else, and want people to pay attention to me, even though there are other people with more serious problems." It was then that Ellie noticed Amy was crying, as she reverted to mocking Ellie, "atleast my daddy comes home, atleast all my mom does is drink instead of doing lines of coke on the bathroom floor while my baby brother is crying,"

"Amy," Ellie reached out to comfort her but Amy flinched away.

"Don't fuckin' touch me you bitch," Amy sniffled, "You took him away, the only thing stable in my life, and you took him from me."

"no" Ellie said shaking her head, "you lost him."

"No! you took him from me, All he'd do is watch you, during lunch, he'd stare at you, when you were gone, he'd talk about you constantly,…your name gives me migraines, Ellie Ellie Ellie!"

Ellie flushed pink, and then red, " I didn't know…"

"No you didn't, because you're an attention seeking bitch…"

" Amy…"

Amy stared maliciously at the redhead and then spun on her heels before tripping and stumbling to the door where she fell out onto the gravel and threw up. Everyone was silent. Everyone was in shock, except Sean, who despite how annoyed by Amy's affections he was, or how much he despised how she treated herself, knew what she went through. How her father does nothing except send monthly child support, how her mother literally gave up being a mother, and Amy practically raises her baby brother, Josh. He'd be the supportive backbone, a good friend to her, but what she did to herself was something that he couldn't stand, and he distanced himself from her self destructive behavior and fed on his own. She had no respect for her body on a sexual level, constantly giving herself away to other guys when they were together, when they weren't, when ever she felt the need to be loved. He stared at the empty door frame as Alex stepped up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "maybe you should talk to her" she said. Sean turned around.

"why can't you?" he asked, pleading, his eyes begging her not to make him.

"because she was half tolerable when she was with you," Alex answered, "and because you seem to get through to people."

Sean sighed and made his way to the door.

"We're all lucky to have a friend like that" Emma mentioned to Ellie as she stood behind her. Ellie turned around and silently agreed.

" I think he does a lot more, and means a lot more to people than he knows," Ellie said watching the door.

-X-

"Amy?" Sean asked as he walked down the stairs and squatted down next to the vomiting girl.

She looked up and wiped her mouth. And started to fall apart. She fell back and landed on her rear end and took off her sneaker and threw it at him. Sean ducked as the sneaker barely missed his head. Sean looked to Tracker for help, but he seemed to have gone inside with some of the grilled food. Sean walked over to wear the shoe had landed and picked it up. He walked to wear Amy sat in the gravel driveway looking defeated. Squatting down he handed her the sneaker she'd thrown and she greedily tore it from his hands and slipped it back on.

"Go away" she said, her voice racked with sobs.

"Amy, do you know why I don't want you around me?"

"because of her?" Amy spat.

"No, because you're a good person who's whoring herself around to anyone who's willing to take a ride." He said trying to sound as compassionate as he could while being as hard on her as he could.

Amy sniffled and wiped her nose. "what makes her any better than me Sean? She mutilates her body to feel good."

"and you practically give yours away," he said angrily, and then he sighed as he sat down on the gravel, "she tries to get better, she works hard and she doesn't give up, you brought yourself here Amy, you could have stopped abusing your body through sex at anytime, but you didn't…"

Amy started crying, " I don't want to be like this Sean,…"

"No one does, and no one wants to see you like this, not me, not Alex…no one."

"I can't help who I am."

"that's shit and you know it!" he shouted, "do you want to end up like your mother?" He stood up and stared down at her, he was furious "the woman who could give two shits about Josh and spends her free time trading sex for drugs?"

Amy looked up at him, wiping her eyes, "no" she answered softly.

"then stop walking down that road."

"then stop hating me!"

" I don't hate you Amy" he said laughing angrily, "I hate what you're doing to yourself,"

" I need help…"

"then get it," Sean said simply.

" I need help"

"no…"

Amy stood up shakily, "why the hell not, you help that bitch but you can't help me."

" I don't…" Sean swallowed, "help her, she helps herself and I'm just the backup."

"back me up then."

"that…I can do" he said offering her an arm to steady herself, "you can come inside, if you're going to behave."

Amy sighed, and taking Sean's arm she walked back inside and joined the party, lingering close to Alex and Jay.

-X-

"You okay," Orion asked as Ellie made her way back in his direction after throwing herself at the guacamole dip that Sean had made.

"Why is everyone asking me that?" she said in between bites.

" because we care about you?"

"I'm fine."

"great Milady," he said, "care to dance?" he asked.

"I think I'm gunna just stand here and watch."

"alas Lady Eleanor tis not a party unless thee give into dancing with thine self."

"cut the crap Orion…"

He laughed and Ellie gave into the smile and walked out with him into the living room between Paige and Spinner, Jimmy and Hazel, and various couples and danced to her heart's content, shaking her violent red hair until it whipped everyone else with it's fire.

Suddenly Mark dropped to the floor.

A/N: gave it a quick run through, shouldn't be any terrible mistakes. This took me a good few days to write, and push out while in class and inbetween working on assignments. I'm already working on the next part. It should be up before the holidays...(p.s. I keep forgetting Terri is around, for reading purposes she was out of town on a photoshoot, and will possibly be moving to support her career in plus size fashion)

Let me know how you think it's turning out, that's what reviews are for, let me know if there's anything you want to see, apart from Sean and Ellie getting back together