#ellie.

“oh, i’m sorry,” ellie muses, feigning concern. a fake frown hung over her lips like she actually cares.

you laugh at her clear smugness, head rolling back before you turn to look back at her. “don’t give me your pity. we both know you don’t care,” you find it quite ironic that she seems to give the impression that she does truly care for your heartbreak, but in reality she’s been praying for it. for her own benefit that is.

“oh no, trust me, i care.” she concedes.

“…for? my relationships? people i date or talk to?” you lift your brow, gaze drilling into her eyes like you’re trying to see what’s behind them.

“mmmh, yes.”

“why? humour me.”

“because i care about you.”

the words are thrown at one another like three quick snaps. one. two. three. and you watch her mouth open again, “haven’t i told you that before?”

your chest tightens at her words, face dropping in fear that maybe there were some unwanted ears around. you swing your head to one side than to the other looking to see if maybe there had been. to your fortunate surprise there wasn’t. thanks whoever because if your brother heard her say that you don’t know what he would’ve done.

“don’t say that, ellie.” you stop her, voice loose of the confidence it once had.

“why not?” she indulges even though she knows why. you’ve heard stories from people—friends, and most importantly your own brother. he’s warned you to stay as far away from ellie as you possibly could. such a strange thing to hear about a girl you’ve known since you were 5 and she was 7, the same girl that would wipe tears from under your eyes after you feel off your bike.

ellie was not the monster that everyone made her out to be. not with you at least. ‘she plays with hearts like they are cards’ tomfoolery you thought, ellie is sweet, teasing but kind. but just because she was soft towards you doesn’t mean she wasn’t the card player they called her.

“that’s a stupid question.” you give her an annoyed eye roll, because you both knew it was a dumb thing to ask.

“he doesn’t have to know.” she tells you, scooting closer to you now. her arm round the back of the couch, one leg up on the cushion, and the other tapping against the carpet on the floor. when she shifted closer to you you felt her knee press against your thigh and her face was now much closer to yours than it was before, noses practically touching. “he won’t.”

“you…” a whisper, breathing hitting her face. her eyes drift down to your lips and you watch as she licks her own. the tension is as thick as it’s ever been. “…don’t know that.”

“i do.” ellie reassure you like she already has the answers for everything. and you have to give it to her because one thing you’ve always known about ellie that stayed true was that she was good at convincing you.

and after what feels like forever(about 47 seconds) of silence she moves her face close enough to plant a kiss to your lips. it may have not been the first time but it sure felt like it was. lips gentle as ever, tongue poking into your mouth.

“i won’t let him know.” she whispers against your lips, her palm coming up to cradle the side of your face. you eyes slide shut and you melt into her touch and lose your mind to the contact of her lips.

“okay.” is all you manage to say before completely letting ellie win just like she always does.