Lost and wounded heart

“Wait, seriously? You’ve never been to the drive in?”

Ellen shook her head slowly.

Ellen chuckled and shook her head, she couldn’t imagine tripping anyone. It had been an accident, that was all, and she was completely fine. When the man reached her his hand she shook it politely and smiled as she fished a paper card out of her pocket with her free hand, it was one of the ones she always carried around in case anyone talked to her. Hey, my name is Ellen. I’m afraid I don’t speak, sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. 

Mason did not like people, still a few always found their way into his heart. Not only had Ellen done that she had also changed his life. A smile was rare from him, but she pulled it out of him along with a kind of kindness he once believed was lost. And maybe along the way he started to love her and now, he was hopelessly caught in that feeling. Mason watched for the cab, but his eyes fell to her notebook as she passed it to him. He smiled at her words, he leaned over to kiss her cheek before handing it back to her. “You have that effect on me. You make me want to be a better person.” He told her as he rested his hand on her back. 

Ellen smiled as her cheeks took a brighter shade of pink where she stood beside him. She still sometimes felt a pang of guilt when Mason made her smile, but not as often as before. It didn’t feel so wrong to be happy anymore, although she still occasionally felt that she was somehow betraying Ethan by having a  good time, and simultaneously by dealing with everything as poorly as she did. Either way, things were better, much thanks to this guy who made her blush like this. She’d told him about Ethan, but only to briefly explain why she didn’t talk, they’d never really talked about him. You are an amazing person. she wrote. You just need to see it.

Miles frowned. It was clear she wasn’t exactly having an amazing day, but what could he do? “Y'know, sometimes it’s therapeutic to vent to strangers,” he tried, shrugging his shoulders. “From an outside standpoint and stuff. If it’s worth talking about, at least.”

Ellen sighed and shook her head again before reaching into her pocket. This very message she’d written down on a little card that she carried around, to explain the situation to strangers without having to write it down over and over again. With a shy smile she handed the card to the boy. It said: I don’t talk. Sorry for any trouble this may cause.

Miles sat down with his coffee in hand, dropping his bag on the floor beside him and taking a deep breath. He rubbed his forehead and groaned, willing the headache to go away before looking at the person beside him. “It seems like a rough day for everyone,” he noted. “It’s making me feel more generous. Can I buy you a coffee?”

Ellen looked at the boy, he was right, it was a rough day and he could probably see it on her where she was sitting, face pointing down as she was looking at her hands. At the boy’s offer she simply shook her head, but looked up and offered him a weak smile.

Words weren’t necessary, if anything, they both seemed to say more without them. He learned her expression, subtle things she did that told him everything he needed to know with her saying anything. He liked this though he never minded the texts or being her voice. “Cab it is, I’ll call one, now way I could hail one on a night like this.” As they headed for the door, Mason made a quick call for a cab as they headed out into the night. He held the door open for her as they walked out into the night, the rain falling softly on the city. Mason ushered the girl under the covered store front of the store next door. “Guess the cab was a better idea than we thought.” He smiled, looking at her for maybe a little too long. He took off his jacket, placing it around her shoulders. “I don’t need you to catch something out here waiting on a cab.”  

When he put his jacket around her Ellen smiled gratefully at him. It was sweet how he always looked after her, making sure she was alright. She leaned against him, just wanting to feel him near her. She looked down at her notebook, it had some drops of water on it from the rain. Smiling she wrote, you’re really sweet. You know that? and handed him the notebook so he could read it. They could be standing here for a while, if there were a lot of people taking cabs today, but she didn’t mind. Not when she was in his company. 

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He laughed, giving her hands a light squeeze. He set his stick against the pool table before walking away from the table, his smile bright as he looked back over at her. “I found this place on 5th, best kept secret in the city. I’ve got to warn you, you might not want to leave.”  He laughed, the rare happiness he felt seemed to radiate from him. The girl had that effect on him and it only seemed to get worse over time. She made him happy. “Real question is are we walking or taking a cab?”

Mason’s laughter was beautiful. In the beginning he hadn’t laughed much, but as they spent more time together it seemed to happen more often. She understood, she was more relaxed around him too now than she had been at the beginning. It was easier to communicate with Mason, even if she still didn’t use her voice. It felt natural to write him notes and text messages, something she usually only did if she had to with other people. She smiled up at him and scribbled in her notebook, as much as I’d love to walk with you you’ve made me really curios, so I’ll go with a cab this time.

Mason shook his head, moving away from the table at her decline. He was playing alone now, after the last guy lost pitifully. No one else seemed to want to risk the chance of being made a fool of. “How about we go do something more your style?” He offered with a soft smile. “It’s not fun when I keep winning.Come on, I might know a place.”

When Mason stepped away from the table and suggested they do something else Ellen nodded and smiled warmly at him. She didn’t mind so much what they did, but he sparked her curiosity when he said he knew a place more her style, she wanted to see what he had in mind. Still smiling she reached out and took his hand in her own. 

“Promise it’s not as hard as it looks. Grab a stick and I’ll try to teach you.”

Ellen shook her head, she preferred watching Mason play. She would definitely make a fool out of herself if she tried, besides, she enjoyed watching him while he played against other people. Especially when he won. 

“Thanks or maybe next time I could go with you?” He offered, knowing she could take on the city just fine if she watch her back a little better. But at the time, he wanted to be there for her. He wanted to protect her. she was his first real friend and he couldn’t lose her. “I don’t need another excuse to see you, but it’d help me feel better.”

Ellen smiled and nodded, she wanted Mason around. She liked having him around, he had a way to make her happy. Okay, so it was a crush, and quite a major one at that. Mason was perfect, she blushed slightly and scribbled down Thanks, I’d appreciate that.

“Nothing you can’t replace,” He shook his head lightly the smile still breaking through.He hated that she could bring out that side of him, but he always welcomed it. “You’re too nice for a city like this, Ellen. You’ve got to be more careful, next time it might be more than the purse.”

Ellen nodded, she knew she was too naive and trusting for this city, but it wasn’t something she could just quite. She would be more careful though, or at least try to be. She offered Mason a reassuring smile and scribbled down I’ll be more careful. Promise.

“And what made you think that was a good idea?”

Ellen blushed as she wrote her response on a note and handed it to Mason. Well in hindsight it might not have been brilliant, but the he seemed like an honest guy. Until he ran off with her bag that is. Luckily there wasn’t anything important in it.