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Trix missed her sister, the ache of not having her around was noticeable as she moped around the apartment and curled up on the couch. Her phone would be in hand as she searched through social media for signs of Elle. 

She didn’t have to think twice, Trix stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her sister, holding her close against her. “I get it… and… and I’m glad you’re here…”

Her sister stepping forward towards her and wrapping her arms around her brought her so much comfort. In the same way it had as when they were kids. Beatrix had always been the one who took care of her. Made sure she had clean clothing to wear, food to eat and snack on and even helped her with her homework. She was there more than their parents ever were. It was one of the reason why she had made the trip all the way across the country to be somewhere where she would feel safe.

Her body sank into Trix’s. It was the first time in years she felt as if she was free. She wasn’t under her parents close eye now. She was safe. She was on her own and even though it was scary, she knew with her sisters help she would be able to do it. She just stood in silence, her arms wrapped tightly around her sister trying to hold back tears at the fact she was finally free from them. 

“I won’t ask,” Jonah responded with a shake of his head and a light chuckle, he was just glad he wasn’t responsible for any other injuries —- at least, not bad ones anyway. “Nice to meet you, sorry for almost knocking you out,” he answered her gently, shaking her head. “I didn’t ruin your day, right?”

There was also a little library she could buy herself and place outside where she lived. That was if she owned the place that she lived in as she was sure most apartment buildings would now allow it. “ True. I mean it’s always better to support book store too. I know most people are more into audiobooks or reading them on their tablets. “ Elle added as she placed back carefully the couple of books she had grabbed. “ I love it so far.  My sister lives here actually. “ She spoke with a smile her attention back now to the blonde before her. “ Where did you move here from? “ She was curious if it was from Russia or if she came from another state like she did. Honestly running away to Europe had crossed her mind before Seattle. She had a job already lined up and a family member too. “ I’m Elle by the way.“

Jonah’s brows lifted and he laughed at her words a little; not the greatest joke in the world, but it didn’t take much to amuse him. “You reckon they would? Always helpful,” he queried thoughtfully, although he wasn’t entirely serious. He took a moment to look over the book, actually making sure it was the one he wanted now he’d throw it at her. “Jonah. Sorry for scaring you like that.”

“I get it, believe me… Needing to be away from that control.” Trix let out a harsh breath and stepped closer to her sister. She didn’t want to make it all about herself, but the guilt struck her. Maybe if she was still at home, she could have protected Elle, warned her, or even taken her in. Surely Barry wouldn’t have mind. 

Elle knew that their parents would go to Trix as a last resort. Even though she was the one that they should have gone to first. They had controlled Elle’s life for so long. She couldn’t take it anymore and had to flee while she still could. Even down to her phone., she was in their control. Elle was only allowed to contact people who they had approved of. “ I’m sorry. “ Elle apologizing realizing how much their control put a strain on their relationship. They had been so close growing up. Trix had pretty much raised her since she as a baby. Trix was there for her and she had ruined that. 

“ They would barely let me have my phone or text anyone. “ She tried to explain what had happened, why she had missed so much in her life. “ I know it’s really not much, but I am here now. “

Elle didn’t really have any other friends in Seattle yet. She had her sister and Mauve which honestly for her was enough as she tried to get settled. It had been an exhausting week of travel. Elle had spent almost four days on a train from Miami to Seattle and she had to say, it was now her new favorite way to travel. The fact that she was able to see so much of their beautiful country that you were only really able to see if you drove. Elle shook herself from her thoughts as her eyes went to Maeve. A huge smile on her lips that she finally had time to do something fun for once. “ Hey. No, you’re definitely not late. “ Elle said as she made room for the blonde to have a spot to sit near her. “ I was just checking my emails for work. “

“Yeah, if it had been IT you’d have been seeing stars for hours,” Jonah countered with a gentle smile, taking the book from her outstretched hand. “I promise you that knocking you out wasn’t my intention just then.” He was sure she’d know that anyway, but it was always good to drive a point home when you’d almost done someone some damage. “You need some help up or are you staying there a while?” A gentle laugh escaped him.

“…What?” Trix had been so caught up by her thoughts that she almost missed what she said. “You… you ran away? Do they know you’re here?”

Elle was expecting this reaction from her sister honestly, but knew out of anyone she would also be the most understanding. She was not able to take the control they had over her. The way they constantly brided her to do as they say and did with their own lives. So she packed as much as she could into three bags and bought a train ticket from Miami to Seattle. She thankfully had been working on the side with Emerson for a couple months. She had put that money aside in her own bank account for this occasion. 

“ No. I left a note , I didn’t tell them where I was going. I am surprised they didn't call you already and ask if you knew where I was. “ Elle said nervously. She was an adult now and her parents couldn’t really say she was missing because she told them in the note that she was leaving. “ I took the train here from Miami. I couldn’t take them controlling me any longer. “

Elle listened to the girl before she noticed that most of the books in her hands were in Russian. It was impressive that she was able to read full books in another language. Elle herself knew enough of a couple of languages to get by when she would travel with her parents on overly lavish vacations. She considered herself lucky to be have those experiences all things considered. “ That is very true. It’s always hard to find books in other languages, and also can be very expensive. “ Elle added with a nodd. “What about a embassy or maybe you can send them over to schools? “ She also was able to suggest with a quick think of who could need such specific books. “ Or maybe donate them to the library so that way they might have them? “ She said with a shrug of her shoulders not able to think of much. Elle herself was only going to get two books as of right now. She was busy with work and also saving up to move into her own place. “ I believe it. I am only getting a couple to start. I just moved and am saving up for a place of my own. “

“I refuse to believe that there is such a thing as ‘too many books’.” Alyria chuckled, adding another one to the pile she intended to buy. Despite The Story Keeper being such a small store, it always had a whole shelf of books in Russian, which Alyria loved. She’d been reading and speaking English for years, however, reading in Russian always felt easier, and even now, Aly could plough through a book in Russian in half the time of one in English. “You think they’d let me return them once I’ve finished for store credit?” Well, the ones she didn’t love so much that she had to kept, of course. 

It was a odd thing for Elle to be out at a bar on her own. Weeks prior she would have never been found in a bar. Under her parents control she was forced to focus on her school. She was forced to stay on track to go to medical school. One day she was to take over her father's practice and carry on her their family name. It just wasn’t her, it wasn’t who she wanted to be. That was how she ended up here in Seattle. She packed as much as she could in three bags and rode the train across the country to get away from them. This was her first night out alone and though she was nervous, she knew she was pretty safe as of now surrounded by a overly crowded bar. “ Sounds like you had a rough day. I think what you do is really cool and interesting. I mean you have to have the imagination and creativity to do it. “ Elle had a couple shots in front of her now. This really was her first time out at a bar and she wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted and thought shots would be a good place to start. “ Here, take one. We can take it and say fuck that person and their shitty opinion. “

Jonah should have known it would be a problem when he reached up to grab the book a shelf or so above his head. The combination of the height and the fact he needed to lean over someone crouched down looking at something on the bottom shelf, had of course meant disaster was coming. Sure enough, the title slipped from his fingers just as he laid a hand on it, tumbling down to the ground and missing the person who was down there by only a centimetre or so. Immediately he cringed, cursing, and then said with a shake of his head, “That’ll teach me for trying to be clever. I’m sorry. You okay aside from a mild heart attack?”

How long had it been since she had been in the same room with her sister? She couldn’t remember honestly, yet she felt safer here than she did at home. She was forced to still live with her parents, be under there watch like she was a child. It was one of the long list of reasons she wanted to leave. She wanted to be on her own. She wanted to be closer to Luca who also lived in Seattle. She shook her head of her thoughts. “ Am I keeping you? “ Elle would have felt so guilty to keep her sister if she had other things to attend to. “ Uh, no no. I’m okay. “ She paced in small motions before settling to sit down on the couch. She stayed silent as she sat for a long while before she spoke again. “ I ran away. “ She spoke in a quiet voice. “ I couldn’t take it anymore. “

“Wha…” It couldn’t be. 

She opened the door, fumbling at first to unlock it before it swung in. “Elle?”

This was a bad idea. She should have taken Emerson up on her offer to stay with her, then went to her sister. Yet the moment the door opened she knew it was now too late to run. Trix, like everyone was someone she had been pushing away. She lost friends because of it. She closed herself off from everyone but her parents. Just wanting to be in their good graces. It worked until she couldn’t take their constant push to go into medical school and be just like their father. So she ran and now she was here. “ uh. “ Elle said hesitantly as she took a step back away from her the door. “ yea, it’s me. “ Unsure of what else to really say or do at this point. “ can i, can I come in? “ her voice was shaky hoping she could at least kind of explain why she was here.