"What are you doing Granz?" I hear Nick speak.
"Just taking a few snaps of this lovely moment dear, look at you two all cuddled up with each other." Carla says as I hear a few more clicks and flashes, probably Carla taking more 'snaps'.
My eyes are closed and I'm pretending to be asleep but let's just say, I'm wide awake right now. Me? Cuddled up? With Nick? Oh hell no!
"Granz! She's sleeping, you're going to wake her up now. And please give me the camera, i need to delete the photos before she sees them! This is so embarrassing!" I hear Nick growl as his hand moves from my waist to my upper back.
Chills spread throughout my body as a quick shiver escapes through my mouth.
"Oh dear I'm sorry. Be quiet Nick, you're going to wake the girl up with all your growling. I'm going to the bakery now. I'll be back late at night." Carla whispers as I hear her footsteps lead to the front door as it opens and then closes with a small bang.
This is my que to wake up but before I do Nick slowly lifts me up from the couch we were sitting on last night and takes me to my room, I think.
My heart is pounding against my chest as I slow down my breathing doing my best not to make it obvious that I'm a awake. I'm plopped down on my bed as the sheets cover me up to my chest. I then hear the lights switch off and the fan turn on, making it peaceful to sleep.
I feel a pair of eyes burn holes through my head, making me want to open my eyes but I can't do that for now so I turn over to my right so he doesn't see me as I lightly snore.
Just what I used to do in middle school when mum would check up on me at 1am, I was always on my phone watching YouTube videos and scrolling through memes, that would make me laugh and cause mum to check up on Cayden and I.
Good times that'll never come back
Even though Cayden would cause trouble and dad and mum would fight sometimes, we still had great memories when both my parents were sober.
A single tear slips from my right eye as I bury my head into the pillow, doing my best not to bring back the memories that'd never return, that'd stay like a fictional memory where it belonged, even though I longed for the times when mum would stroke my hair when I'd sleep in her bed because I had watched a scary film, whilst dad had a late night shift.
The times when Cayden would hurt me, but come up to me and quiet me down as he'd share his last chocolate piece with me and later on would tickle me until I had forgiven him.
Snap out of It Ellie
A few more tears make their way down my face as my eyelids feel heavy on me, and soon I'm deeply asleep.
•Forming Tears•
"Well? What'd he say?" I ask, leaning into him as he watches the curiosity plaster my face. "You met him, told him about me and then what happened? Spill Nick, spill!"
"Well, I told him about you and suddenly it was as if his soul returned into his cold harsh body as if it were there the whole time, waiting, or should I say, expecting something, or someone." Nick says as he sips on his mug of hot chocolate.
I breathe in as I sit back on my chair. "And? He, he didn't say anything?" I say waiting for an immediate answer.
"He stared at me, and threatened to take my life if I didn't tell him where you were, or if you were safe. He also asked about some dude named Cayden I believe." His words rang through my ears as I repeated everything he just said in my head.
"Nick, listen. " I say holding his wrist.
"Tell Tyler to meet me at Hensley Park at 6pm 2 days from now alright, please?" I say hoping for the answer I want, except, he questions me.
"And if I don't? What would happen if I don't tell him that?" He says leaning in as he whispers.
"Then I'm doomed." I say, looking him in the eyes. He lifts his right eyebrow up, motioning me to continue.
"He's the only person that can help me stand up on my own two feet, someone that'll help me get a job and someone that can help me with my life and death secret." I say, as I close my eyes.
"I can help you."
"No. That'd be the last thing I want. It's only fair that I repay you and your grandma back for your generosity and for letting me stay. I cannot ask for more than you've already given me. I don't want to be greedy Nick. And I'm thankful, I really am. Once I get a job, I'll be able to repay your family, before I leave, before times over." I look down at my lap, tears prickling their way as I blink them back.
"Leave? You're going somewhere?" Nick questions but I put down my mug, "I need to go now, see you at Carla's house." I say as I leave with my purse.
Nick calls my name but I head out of the café towards somewhere I don't know. As long as I move away somewhere quiet and free, somewhere no one can see through me, where I can cry till my heart finds a little rest.
I stumble upon an old park as I sit on one of the swings. It's getting dark and the street lights are turning on, and people are heading home, soon to have no one around the park.
I slowly swing as I look at my almost ending future. If only I have enough time to pay off all my debts with the Mayers family, if I had enough time to tell my family what's really going on, even though they could care less, and if only I had time to explain that I didn't mean to stab him, I really didn't. But will there be enough time? Will I be able to do all these things? Will my last days be enough?
•Forming Tears•
I head inside as I close the door with a small bang as i walk in to see Nick laying on the couch, rolled into a ball as his eyes are shut.
He wiggles as his eyes open to see me in front of him, he takes a sitting position as his eyes take upon my body. Nick walks up to me with a small blanket as he covers me in with it whilst taking me to the fireplace.
"Remind me why you aren't wearing a coat, and that you look like you slept in a grave made out of icy snow?" Nick says, fixing the blanket on me as he passes me his mug of green tea. "And also please do tell me why you stormed off and came back at 12 almost 1am?" He says as he looks at me, folding his arms.
"I lost track of time." I whisper.
"Yeah right and I'm Gordon Ramsay's long lost son." Nick rolls his eyes. "Come on, speak up."
"I was just thinking and I didn't realise it took me so long." I tell half the truth. I mean yes I did a whole lot of thinking, crying, and looking for a job as a babysitter or maybe a waiter.
"Alright. I'll pretend to believe you Ellie. I think you need to get some sleep now because you look scary." Nick stated.
I glare at him as he chuckles at me whilst standing up. "Come on. Daddy'll tuck you into bed." Nick holds my hand.
"Excuse me? Did you just call yourself my dad?" I lift my eyebrow at Nick.
"You heard it. Now come on, get to bed, I won't be here tomorrow since I have college to go but stay safe kid and don't carelessly go out by yourself. It's dangerous." Nick says as he takes my mug away from me and let's me slide into my bed.
We're the same age idiot
"Yeah yeah. Now get going. Bye loser." I say as I turn to my right and fall asleep.
• • •
Hey! Sorry for the long wait! I was going to make the chapter longer but I knew it would take me more time and y'all won't be happy for the even more longer wait so I updated! Please do vote and comment it makes me happy to see what you think! Thank you!
YOU ARE READING
•Forming Tears•
Short Story#394 Short Story She didn't want to hurt him. She didn't want to stab him. She was only trying to keep safe. ••• Ellie Garner ...
