Chapter 2: A Familiar Voice On The Other End

CRASH!

Ellie's eyes snapped open and sighed, not having to guess what the cause of the sound was. It was a sound that was all too familiar to her. She contemplated whether or not she should go downstairs and help her mother. Chances were that she had gotten up to grab another bottle of vodka and it slipped out of her hand.

Reluctantly, she got out of bed and started to walk downstairs cautiously.

"Mom?"

Ellie continued to walk until she reached the living room and saw that her mom was just starting to lie back on the couch after she set the bottle of vodka on the coffee table beside her.

"I heard a crash...are-are you alright?"

"What...? Oh, I'm fine, Ellie. I just dropped the empty bottle...did you do your homework?" her mother slurred.

She nodded but realized her mother couldn't see her. "Yeah, umm...you told me that you were going to get help. When do you plan to do that?" Ellie asked lightly.

Her mother didn't reply but instead took a long drink from the bottle. "Your father called, Ellie. He said he'd call back sometime so you talk to him. You talk to your father..."

She rolled her eyes but was grateful that her Lieutenant Nash was still alive and well, and cared enough to keep calling. She walked into the kitchen to grab a snack and glanced at the calendar. Ellie wouldn't see Craig again until tomorrow and it seemed so long until then. She wasn't sure how long she could hang on.

Suddenly, the telephone rang. Almost simultaneously, Ellie heard her mother moan.

"Get that, Ellie!"

She quickly picked up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the soft voice of her father.

"Hey Little El, how are you and your mom doing?"

Ellie slid down the wall of the kitchen and lowered her voice so her mom wouldn't hear her.

"I'm alright. Mom's doing okay, I guess. She's had her ups and downs but she's doing better," Ellie lied.

"That's good to hear, kiddo. I've been trying to get home early but it's been an impossibility for me. I swear to you that I'll be home for Christmas, alright?"

Ellie smiled weakly and nodded. "It's alright, dad. We just...we really miss you. How is it where you are?"

There was a long pause before he spoke again. "To be honest with you, Ellie...it's been horrible over here. At least three of my friends have been killed and wounded. It's not pretty over here, baby girl. I'll just be grateful when I'm out of here."

"I bet. Please come home safely, daddy."

"I'll try, sweetie. Can you put mom on the phone?"

Ellie looked over at her mother who looked passed out on the couch. "I don't think so. She's a bit busy right now. I'll tell her that you called."

Another pause.

"Alright, Ellie. I have to go now but I'll keep in touch. Stay out of trouble, kiddo. I love you."

She could feel tears well up in her eyes but tried to hold them back. "I love you too, dad. Stay safe."

"Bye."

She forced the tears back and sniffed. "Goodbye."

The only thing that was left when he hung up was the dial tone. She hung up the phone and decided she should get ready for school. She trudged upstairs and put on her fishnet stockings, black combat books, her red and black shirt and then her arm warmers before grabbing her backpack and walking out of the house.

Ellie was the first one in class, even before the bell rang. She had no interest in trying to find Craig at school. It was a good possibility that he was with Manny at her locker, blabbing to her about how pretty she looks. Pretty wasn't the word for her though. The word slut and backstabber was more like it, but of course Craig wouldn't tell her that. He didn't have enough balls to tell her to her face, anyway.

Mrs. Kwan looked up at her from her desk and then looked at her watch. "Ellie, you're here a little early. I'm not complaining or anything but you still have ten minutes before the bell rings."

Ellie smiled a bit and shrugged. "You know me, Mrs. Kwan. I'm eager to learn."

The English teacher smiled back at her and went back to her work. Ellie focused on the clock for what seemed like ages.

About ten minutes later, the homeroom bell rang right on cue. The second the bell rang, Ellie Nash knew that it would be a long day.