They Don't Know About Us

|5|

Jill left the room I'm guessing because she already knows about my past. All of it sadly. We all moved to the beds. I was sitting in between Christen and Tobin on my bed. Tobin was still holding me close, refusing to let go but I wasn't complaining. Alex, Kelley and Mal were sitting across from us. No one has said a word since Jill left. I decide to bite the bullet and start, "I'm sorry you had to see that. I was hoping none of ye would ever see that happen".

"Elliot what was that?" Mal asks her voice barely above a whisper. "I had a panic attack" I explain. There was silence for a bit before Christen ask me a question, "How long have you been having them?". I sigh before explaining, "My parents died when I was 12. They were killed by a drunk driver. They were coming to watch me play in a match and they got hit at an intersection where the driver ran a red light. I was put into foster care. It was hell but I got by. I was adopted a year later by this couple, but then they moved us to England. I was with them for 2 years before I was I left. I've been getting panic attacks ever since then". "What sets off these panic attacks?" Alex asks. "Usually talking about my parents or family. Like I had a panic attack this morning after I dashed out of the room and i just had one just there". "So this morning when everyone was teasing us about us looking like a family?" Christen asked. I nod, "it set off a panic attack"."How did you calm down from the the panic attack from this morning?" Kelley questions. "I called Danielle and she was about to talk me down before I pasted out" I say.

I can see the girls glance at each other and I already know what they're going to ask, "You said you were with them for 2 years before you left. Why did you leave and where did you go?" Alex asked. I take a deep breath knowing what I'm about to talk about. Christen sees me struggling, "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to". I shake my head, "No it's alright. I trust all of you. You all have been nothing but supportive since I've arrived, even if I haven't been the easiest to deal with". I untangle myself from Tobin and stand up. I play with the end of my shirt before lifting it up over my head. I can hear them all gasp as they see my back and stomach scattered with different scars. I shrink under their gaze and I can remember all the horrible things my foster parents use to say to me.

"Ugly" "Pathetic" "Worthless" "Useless" "Waste of Space"

I see Kelley slowly stand up and walks right in front of me. We stare at each other for a second before she pulls me into a hug, "You didn't deserve any of this. Those people were sick for what they did to you. You are an amazing beautiful special girl who was dealt a shit hand. But this doesn't change anything. You are still Elliot Griffin. This won't change how we see you. If anything it showed how much stronger you are that you survived all this because I know I wouldn't have". I start to sob at what she says. I can feel all the others join in the hug and the other wrap their arms around me as I sob in the middle of the room. Finally when I stop crying Tobin still holds onto me and looks in the eye, "They didn't know how lucky they were to have you. They didn't deserve to have you in their life. Elliot I've only known you for a short time but I knew you were going to make a huge impact on our lives. We're your family now. And that will never change". "We'll always be here for you Ellie no matter what" Mal says through teary eyes. Even though I had lost my parents, I knew then that at that moment I had found a new family to love.

......................

Ever since that day where they helped me through my panic attack, I've grown closer to the team. Especially Tobin Christen Alex Kelley and Mal. I joke and dance with Emily Rose and the other youngsters. I skill and nutmeg with Tobin. I talk fashion and media with Alex. I talk to Christen about life and normal stuff. And pull pranks with Kelley. Camp has been great I can tell I've already improved a lot and I fit in great with the team. Although I get the feeling that Hinkle and McCaffrey don't like me. They go into for hard tackles against me in training and when I look at me, they seems to be trying to stare me down. I told christen and she said to try and talk to them which I see and all I got were short answers. So then she told me to just be weary of them in training. These two weeks have honestly been some of the best weeks of my life. I have formed friendships that will last a lifetime. But now comes the hard part