Chapter 2: Back on my feet

Author's Note!

Hey everyone! Here's just a quick update. Hope you enjoy it. Please review (:

"Ana, sweetie." Kate cooed through the door for the thousandth time. "Won't you at least have something to eat?"

I turned my head back into my damp pillow, closing my eyes because they now stung. I simply had zero appetite to eat. All I wanted to do was to sit here and wallow in self-pity, stay as I was and never leave the room.

Kate sighed and I heard her walk away. I sighed and ravished the familiar comfort of my bed. It was only here that I felt safe; I would not have to face the world outside.

"Come on, Ana." She chanted once more. "I made Mac and cheese. I bet you can smell that."

I grunted into the pillow. It only made me even more depressed. Christian and I had adored Mac and Cheese together. I closed my eyes and found myself staring right into his beautiful grey eyes. It was calming, yet, depressing. I would never see those eyes again except for the newspapers or magazines he would appear on.

The thought nibbled at my heart and I sniffled. He would eventually appear on those forms of media with girls. Brunette girls with blue eyes that have replaced me. It would lead me on a stalker trail to determine if they were subs or if they were his actual girlfriends. I hated the thought all together. It was depressing.

What if he turned up with Leila? My inner goddess threw a snowball of salt into my bleeding wound.

I wished she would just shut the hell up. It was painful enough thinking of all the other girls. It was just going to be a truckload of raw emotions spilling onto the sidewalk if Leila was to be the one. The one that won Christian's heart.

It was stubborn. But like faith, it was hard to kill. The small part of me that craved Christian's arms around me, desiring for his touch against my skin. I had just seen him a few hours ago, but it felt like a millennium and a lifetime added together.

In a way, I felt sorry for myself. Here I was under a dark cloud over a guy I barely new for a month. Surely I was pathetic. Thank goodness I never started serious dating when I was younger. If I had, without a doubt, my grades would have suffered.

"You can't go in there!" I heard Kate snap, annoyed. My ears straightened up as the noise ensued. "You can't just do that."

Christian? I was groggy. But still able to draw the parallel between this and the past time Christian had barged in. There was a stubborn hope in me. After that, we had somewhat made up. Maybe… just maybe there was a glimmer of chance that we could still be together.

"I'm telling you, she wants to be alone!" Kate squealed.

My door creaked open and I jerked my head up to find Ethan in the doorway. "I don't care if it's some rule out of the girl handbook, Kate." Ethan growled at his sister, stepping in and then closing it after him.

His back was faced to me. Ethan. I sighed inwardly, a secret part wishing it would be Christian instead. With exaggerated slowness, Ethan turned and flashed me a wide smile, "Hey beautiful."

I blinked and the tears fell, but I forced a small smile. Ethan's smile faded, replaced with a sympathetic and apologetic grimace. "You're going to be alright, Ana." Ethan assured me, lowering himself onto my bed.

Allowing him to sit at the edge, I folded my legs to give him more room. He seized it, crossing his legs and facing me directly. He put a hand on my calve and stroked soothingly, "Don't shut me out, sweetheart."

I closed my eyes and leaned into my pillow a little more. I could care less about anything at the moment. All I wished to do was hide under my blanket and never come out.

My sorrow was interrupted by a soft humming sound. Ethan was singing quietly to himself, his palm still upon my calve. Interested, my ears sharpened to listen to the words he was saying. Ethan had a sweet singing voice, sexy like Jesse McCartney and smooth like Adam Levine's. But he was so soft.

"Hold on, little girl. Show me what he's done to you." I recognized the tune and the lyrics immediately. "Stand up, little girl, a broken heart can't be this bad."

That made me smile a little. When we were younger, I used to sing it in the shower. There were a couple of times when I stepped out and Ethan was listening. He had never agreed to sing for me in return.

"You're singing?" I piped up, rising from the croak in my throat.

Ethan stopped, chuckling in embarrassment. "Just thought it would be applicable."

"You've never done that before." I told him, watching as he looked away sheepishly.

"I can't sing." Ethan murmured.

"You can!" I was surprised at the energy in my voice.

Ethan broke into a cherubic beam, "There's my Ana!" He clapped his hands and reached for me, raising me from my bed.

I fell into his arms weakly, landing against his chest. "Hey there." I mumbled, smiling a little at his enthusiasm.

Ethan's arms snaked around my waist and pulled me in closer. "I'd sing to put a smile on your face anytime."

"Thanks, Ethan." I chimed, once again grateful for such a great companion.

He pressed his lips into the back of my head and we stayed like that for a long time. When my eyes began to flutter close from exhaustion, Ethan piped up. "Ana, sweetie." I tilted my head up so our eyes could meet, I was too spent to open my mouth and speak. "Would you like to take a trip with me? Just the two of us?" He asked, excited for his idea.

A trip with Ethan Kavanagh. My inner goddess thought it through and spread out her arms to signify freedom.

Freedom from this black hole of doom that I now found myself in. Seattle had turned out to be a bad idea. Christian was everywhere. I was going to have to resign. Even thinking about these things made me increasingly depressed.

"Yes." I whispered. A trip away with anyone would liberate me for just a while. I needed a breather, some time away from Seattle and all things Christian. A trip away with Ethan would be even better, someone I was more than comfortable with.

Ethan beamed and laughed, happy. "Washington. I was telling you I needed to go down and settle some University stuff. So I thought maybe you'd like to come!"

"That sounds great." I returned his smile, giving him a nod in encouragement. I had only visited Washington once when I was younger. This would be a good opportunity for me.

"I can't wait to take you to places!" Ethan's chest shook with excitement as he clasped me tighter. "Georgetown Cupcakes just opened in the city too, so I'm sure you'd love the cupcakes there."

I have heard of Georgetown Cupcakes. Kate and I used to spend eons watching DC cupcakes on the television all through university. We had originally planned to take a trip up to taste them for ourselves.

"How are we getting there?" I flashed him a smile, the best one I could.

Ethan laughed, "I was thinking car, a road trip would be-"

"Perfect." I finished for him. A plane ride would definitely be detected by Christian and it would not be as fun as driving up with Ethan.

"But I'm warning you, we'll be living in motels all over the place." Ethan chided at me as if I was a spoilt child.

I giggled. Even better. Hotels were not exactly on my desire list at the moment. Christian visited hotels on a constant basis. If he appeared at our motel, it would be clear that he was following me. But then again, I highly doubt he would come after me after such a horrid break up.

"Ones with huge cockroaches?" I said in mock horror.

Imitating my expression, Ethan nodded and threw his hands out like claws. "The biggest!" He dived, tickling my sides as I thrashed in a fit of giggles. "I'll protect you!" Catching his hands, I squeezed them and let them go.

"When do we leave?" I hummed, my words slurring as exhaustion invaded my system once more.

"When you wake up." He said. "I intended to leave tomorrow once I knew you were alright. But since you'll be coming with me, today will suit just fine."

That seemed to waken me slightly and I forced my eyes open, "I haven't packed! What time is it?"

"Sleep, sweetheart." He soothed, giving me a comforting smile. "Kate and I will pack, just get some rest."

Very gently, he helped me back under my covers and onto my pillow. I relaxed and drew comfort from the bed once more. Kissing my forehead, Ethan tucked me in and slowly vanished.

In my state, I heard the door click.

"She's coming with me to Washington." Ethan sounded vaguely proud.

"What? When do you two leave?" Kate did not sound too pleased, worried even.

"Late afternoon, could you help me pack?"

"Of course. But Ethan, this trip... Are you sure?"

"Even if he comes after her, she'll have me. Now." Ethan sighed, slightly irritated with either his sister's behaviour or the looming possibility of Christian's descend. "Will you help me pack?"

There was a pause. "I suppose a trip out of this town will do her some good. The luggage is in the cupboard." There was the sound of footsteps as I inched closer to sleep.

Kate opened my squeaky closet and I heard her ruffling through my clothes. "Thanks Ethan. Now, we're going to try and hide this trip from Christian."

"Yeah. Hence the road trip and motels." Ethan confirmed my suspicions.

"The man has eyes all over the place." They spoke in hushed tones.

"I like that orange dress." There was a smile in his voice.

"We'll do our best." Kate convinced him. "Yes, your eyes always sparkled when she wore this."

"It brings out her eyes, don't you think?"

"Ah, Ethan. I'm not the one in love with Ana. Here, fold these." The sleep washed over me like waves, pulling and sucking me into and under. "Take care of her, Ethan."

"I will."

I fell into slumber, knowing who my real friends were.

Carolina Liar ; I'm not over

Skinny Love ; Birdy

Open Arms ; Journey

You and I both; Jason Mraz

Mr Big; To Be With You