I Think I've Had Enough

Chapter 24: No one can find the rewind button, girl

Ellen was stunned by his apology. She just looked at him. It wasn't like him to give up that easily. He sat still, just staring at her with his broken eyes. A flutter of instinct crossed through Ellen's chest. She wanted to go to him, to comfort him, to simply reach out and take his hand in hers but she didn't. "I-," she began not even knowing where the sentence was going to end.

He broke eye contact, "I'll clean this up. Why don't you go up and see Emilee."

"Okay," her voice was weak. She didn't know what else to say. Ellen clenched away the tingles in her hand. With a small sigh she turned and made her way out of the room.

"So this is your room," Emilee turned to find Ellen hovering in the doorway.

Emilee glanced around at the several boxes still spread across the room. "It's not quite finished yet. Patrick and I are going to clear these boxes out this weekend." She smiled lightly. "Would you like to see my closest?" her eyes lit up.

Ellen giggled, "I would love to see you're closest." Emilee grabbed her hand and pulled her into her large and perfectly organized walk in closet. Ellen felt her hand start to tingle as she held Emilee's fragile hand. She glanced around Emilee's closest, "Wow," she said in a tone of excitement, "This is an impressive wardrobe." Ellen tickled Emilee's stomach; she let out a familiar laugh that gave Ellen chills. It was a strange sort of familiar; again it was a perfect mix between her own laugh and Patrick's. It was like music. She tickled her until she had to catch her breath. When Emilee's laugh went silent, Ellen ached to hear it again.

"Look at these!" Emilee held up a pair of her designer jeans with sparkly pockets

"Oh my god," Ellen shrieked, "those are adorable." She started to sift through the rows of clothing. "Did you pick all of this out yourself?"

"No," Emilee said dancing through the clothes, "Miss Kate helped too."

A strange feeling burned Ellen's stomach. "Oh," she said softly, "that was nice of her." She suddenly realized how close Emilee and Kate must be. Kate was the woman there when she didn't have a mom. The woman who helped her cope with the horrible thing she was going through and adapt to her new life. Kate was the one she could depend on not Ellen. Ellen had let her down again. She realized it was jealousy burning through her stomach. "Do you see Kate a lot?"

"Yeah," Emilee nodded, "Patrick calls her whenever something girlie comes up...or something he can't handle by himself... Which is like every day because apparently I'm needy."

Ellen laughed at her funny little statement, "You are adorable." Emilee giggled.

"Are you girls going to stay in the closet all night? Or do you want to come out and get dessert?" Patrick's smooth voice made them both giggle again. Emilee raced out of the closet and hugged Patrick's leg. "Whoa," he laughed, "don't knock me over."

Ellen glanced to her watch. It was getting late. "I should go," she said softly.

"You're not going to stay for dessert?" Patrick looked up at her with his glittering eyes.

"Please stay Ellen," Emilee's eyes sparkled like Patrick's.

"Oh my god," Ellen looked at Patrick, "as if your mcdreamy eyes staring at me weren't bad enough. Now she has the damn things too."

It sent another painful tingle through Patrick's beating heart but he controlled his emotions. He laughed lightly. Patrick opened Emilee's bedroom door for the two girls behind him. Moments later they were enjoying dessert at the dining room table.

"What do you think of the script Ellen?" Patrick said slightly awkwardly trying to break the ice.

Ellen stared into his eyes surprised that he was making small talk with her. "It's amazing. You are perfect for James. I should have known it was you the moment I opened the damn thing up."