The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 6

MichaThe pain in her eyes nearly kills me. If it were possible, Id go covert in time and s crownwork her from climbing put down that tree that God awful shadow. Maybe then(prenominal), Id still slang my best friend.I decide to make a sporadic stop to try and land Ella tabu of her own gunpoint. I park the gondola in an open space in front of the small coffee shop located in the smell of town, between the Stop n Shop and Bubbas Sports Barn. I shut off the engine and wait patiently for her to scold me.Her face reddens as she takes in where we atomic number 18. Micha, Im genuinely non in the mood for this right now. I have things to do and so does Lila.Come on, you havent seen me play in ages, I coax, u render my best seductive voice. Ill honourable do one song. In and come aside of the closet and were done.Sounds cool to me, Lila says from the backseat, finally relaxing a little now that were far a dash from Gradys trailer. I love hearing bands and lead singers are f orever sexy.Micha plays the guitar and sings by himself, Ella says with a flicker of possessiveness in her eyes. Hes not a lead singer. Hes a solo singer.Its all the same to me. Lila pats Ellas head and in a way I compute shes making a private joke with her. Band or not, a true cat who jackpot sing and play is hot.I grin charismatically and incline over the console. Come on, slightly girl. I wind a strand of her hair most my finger. You know you require to come in and watch me be all hot and sexy, singing up on the order. You know youve missed it.Her eyes narrow at me as she fights back a smile. You know that voice doesnt work on me. Ive seen you use it too many times on too many girls.I havent use it on a girl since you left. I let the truth fall out. I used to come and go as I disport with whoever I wanted, s simple machinece once things started to change with our friendship, it became clear the void I was trying to fill was in her. And I dont want to use it on anyone S he conceals her hand over my mouth. Ill go in with you, solely only if you stop talking about(predicate) stuff that makes me uncomfortable.Wait. What about my car? Lila scoots forward and fixes her hair using the rearview mirror. Its getting late. Wont the fink be closed soon?I move Ellas hand away from my lips and entwine her fingers with mine. Well make it back in time. I promise.Ella hesitates, staring at the coffee rest home care shes a mouse about to locomote into a lions den.I squeeze her hand. Come on, lets go in. Youll be okay.She looks at our hands, and then her gaze lifts, adult a fleeting glance at my lips before resolving on my eyes. Is e actuallyone still hanging out here?Kelly and Mike do and Renee and Ethan, I say. Grantford doesnt really come around here any more, though.Her plump lips curl to a grin. Because you punched him in the face.That might be part of it. I return her smile and let go of her hand to climb out of the car. It feels equivalent I might be getting somewhere with her.She hops out and stretches, arching her back and ride outing out her chest. It makes me want to rip off her shirt, pull her in the backseat, and do things to her Ive never done with anyone Ive cared about before.What are you looking at? She pulls the bottom of her tank top back over her stomach.She really has no idea how beautiful she is. She never has. Even back in her punk/goth faze, she rocked the look.I shake my head, futile to take my eyes off her. zipper. Just regainin.She slams the door and we head across the packed parking lot. I rest my hand on her lower back, but she wiggles away and sidesteps around Lila, putting her between us.I frown. Maybe Im not doing as well as I thought.EllaIf he keeps looking at me that way, my breastwork is going to melt into a puddle of hot, steamy liquid. Micha has the most piercing eyes in the world, aqua blue, like the sea, waved with equal intensity. Hes flirty with me, which he used to do jokingly all the time , and Id play a farsighted.But this is different somehow, more intensified and real. Its like hes throwing his heart into the open, which isnt how he used to be. At least with me. Except for the twenty-four hours I left.The coffeehouse is cramped with slew, horizontal for a Satur mean solar day afternoon. Every booth and table is occupied and theres a guy with floppy brown hair playacting the keyboard on stage, his voice a little off-key. The baristas are working hard on the long line that extends all the way to the door and in the recession, people are working on their laptops.Where are we going to sit? Lila s derrieres the room. Theres no empty tables.Micha spots Ethan and Renee at a corner table and waves at them. commit situation solved, he says, taking my hand and leading the way to them.Renee is a short girl that wears heavy eyeliner and has dark red hair. Her hazel eyes partition in on Michas hand tangled with mine. I attempt to pull my hand away, but Micha strengthen s his grasp.Hey, Ella. She fakes a smile with her dark red lips. What ya been up to?Nothing much, I keep it simple, because simple is always better with Renee.And so we meet again. Ethan flashes a dimpled grin at Lila and pulls out a chair for her. You decided to stick around here for a while.Lila looks up at him as she takes a seat. Thank you. I multifariousness of had to since my car was trashed outlive night.Micha drops down in the last empty chair at the table and starts to pull me down to sit on his lap. My eyes sweep the room in search of an extra chair, but its so packed that people have to stand near the walls.I dont bite, Ella May. There is a challenge in Michas eyes. Unless you ask me to.Everyone at the table is ceremonial occasion me. Not wanting to make a scene, I sink down on his lap. Ethan targets Micha with a bewildered look, which Micha ignores and steals a scone out of a basket in the middle of the table.He pops it into his mouth. So what times Open Mic?Ethans da rk eyebrows plunge together. Why? Are you thinking about playing again? Cause all I toilet say is its about freakin time.What do you mean again? I ask, grabbing a scone myself. Why hasnt he been playing?Ethan shoves up the sleeves of his shirt, crosses his munition on the table, and directs Micha with their secret-code look I have never been able to crack. I revolve my body to look at Micha, but instantly regret it. His eyes are too intense and Im thrown out of my element for a second.You stopped playing? I ask him. Why would you do that? Isnt it your dream still?He shrugs, snaking his arms around my waist. Its not the same without you here watching me.There were times I didnt watch you play. I put my hands on his shoulders. Even when I lived here.He shakes his head and wisps of his blonde hair fall across his forehead. Thats not true. You never missed one.I think back, knowing hes right. I dont want you to stop animate your life because Im not here anymore.And I dont want you to be anywhere but here. He squeezes my hip and I instinctively jump at the shudder heat that spirals down between my legs.What can I get you? The waitress interrupts us. We all withdraw off what we want, and the waitress gets particularly giggly when she writes down Michas frame, even though Im sitting on his lap.Her name is Kenzie and Ive never liked her. She used to help Stacy Harris torment this girl we went to school with, who was in a wheelchair. I casually bung back against Michas chest, as if Im doing it by accident. No one seems to notice except for the waitress. And Micha. His heart beat speeds up as if the nearness of my body is driving him mad.She frowns and tucks the order book into her apron. Ill be right back with your drinks.I wait for Micha to call me out, but he stays quiet and keeps his hands on the tops of my spare thighs. I know its wrong and that hes not mine. I made that clear the day I bailed, but I cant seem to help myself. Ever since we were kids, I alway s felt the need to keep him away from girls who arent well-grounded enough for him.Old habits die hard.MichaEthan is looking at me like Im an idiot. Probably because Im smiling like an idiot, but I cant help myself. Ella got territorial with the waitress. Shes never done that before, not even before she left.This bands interesting, Lila hollers over the banjo band playing up on stage. Is this the cast of music you play?Ethan, Renee, and I burst out laughing. Even Ella covers her mouth, trying really hard not to laugh.No sweetie, this isnt what I play. I gulp my coffee. Mines moreHot and sexy, Ella says and I stare at her. She ignores my gaze and adds, Think more along the lines of Spill Canvas.Lila brushes some crumbs off the table. That band youre always listening to when youre canvas?Ella nods, but shifts awkwardly. Thats the one.It makes me feel better that she still listens to the same music. At least that hasnt changed. I keep one hand on her leg, afraid if I poke her compl etely, shell run off again. I steal another scone from the basket and pop it into my mouth. Lila starts lectureting with Ethan and Renee gets on her cellphone.I sweep Ellas hair to the side and put my lips to her ear. So you think Im hot and sexy, huh?She bites back a smile, pretending to be deeply immersed in the banjo song. No, I said your music is hot and sexy.Its all the same. I dare a kiss against her shoulder, relishing the softness of her skin, wanting her so God diddly bad Im getting a hard on just thinking about it.Ella notices it too and squirms around in my lap, making it worse. Down boy, she jokes with a nervous laugh, then presses her lips together and starts to stand up.I trap her down by the hips and conform her backside onto my lap. We fit together so perfectly its mind blowing and all those feelings I felt for her before she left come rushing back to me. I need more of her. Now. Oblivious to everyone around us, my hands gradually slide up her thighs.Micha. She pr otests with a quiver in her voice. Dont. There are peopleI silence her as my fingers brush the touchs of her skirt. I cant stop Ive been carrying this sexual tension for ages. I started having these feelings for her when we were about sixteen. I ignored them for as long as possible, because I knew shed freak if she found out. There were a few stolen kisses that I played off, but the night on the bridge, when I finally put it out there, changed everything. She freaked out just like I thought.Right after she left, I slept around, trying to get rid of the hunger inside of me, but after a while, I realized there was no point. Ella had taken something from me and there was no getting it back, unless I had her.So I let my hands sneak up the edge of her skirt and her fingers knead into my thighs. I wonder how far I should take this, since were sitting in a booth in a crowded room, and I almost pull back, but one of her legs falls to the side, and I view it as an open invitation.Alright, its time for open mic. The waitress that undressed me with her eyes give tongue tos into the mike on the stage. If you already havent signed up, you can sign up with Phil over there. She points her finger at the owner, a middle-aged man sitting in the corner next to the speakers.I think thats your cue. Ella quickly gets up, thinking shes off the hook.Before I head up to the signup sheet, I spread my fingers across her lower back and whisper in her ear, Dont think this is over because its not.She shivers and I strut off to the table with a satisfied smile on my face.Well, son of a bitch, Phil says from fag the table. Hes an ex-band member of an 80s cover band and still looks like he belongs in that decade with his mullet and neon clothes. Look what the dog dragged in.Miss me that bad, huh? I tactile sensation down my name on the signup sheet.Are you kidding me? he asks. All weve had to listen to for the last few months is banjo music and a couple of hippies playing on the bongos. I swear its like Woodstock all over again.I laugh, dropping the pen onto the table. Well its nice to know Ive been missed, I guess.Phil fiddles with the volume of the amps. More than missed. enchant tell me youre going to start playing here again. Im in desperate need of some draw-in. This place is going downhill.I smile politely, backing toward the table. Nah, plausibly not. I dont think Im going to be sticking around here much longer. Ive got places to go, people to see.On my way back to the table, I cross paths with Naomi. She is Phils daughter, tall, with long black hair, and shes an awesome singer. I used to play with her back before she went on the road with a band. We were actually pretty close, but I havent talked to her since she left.Oh my God, Im so glad I ran into you, she says and theres a little bit of red lipstick on her teeth.Isnt everyone? I tease walking backwards.She laughs and swats my arm. I see you still have that whole cocky attitude going.I drop the act. S o youre back in town?Yeah, but only for a few weeks. Can we chat up after you play? Theres something I really need to talk to you about. Something huge actually.Howd you know I was playing?She points a finger at the table. I just saw you sign up.Alright, Ill catch up with you later. I wave well-bye, wondering what she could possibly want.EllaDamn Micha. Hes killing me with his touches and longing gazes and now hes going to sing. Ive always had a soft spot for his voice. Wed sit on his bed and hed strum his guitar while I sketched. Those were some of the perfect moments in my life.Ella, whats the matter with you? Lila asks with an accusation. You look a little flushed.I sip my latte and realign the holder in the center of the table, so I cant see my reflection in the stainless steel. Its just a little hot in here. Thats all.Yeah, sure it is. She wont stop looking at me, like shes trying to crack open my head.As Micha steps onto the stage not too far from our table, my heart starts t o chant unspeakable words.Sitting on a stool with his guitar on his lap he puts his lips up to the microphone, nibbling on his lip ring. This ones called What No One Ever Sees.He strums a chord with his eyes locked on me,I see it in your beautiful eyes, like a spot on the sun.The things you want to hide, buried deep inside you.Blinded by your light.It almost hurts to look at, almost hurts to breathe.Never can you look at the things no one ever seesShaded by your light.Please take me inside you, please take me in.Never will I whisper, never will I give in.Even when Im dying, your heart will always win.Shielded to the sightless, isolated from the naive.Breaking you in pieces, that can only ever grieve.Veiled by your light. aroused for the world, yet overlooked by most.Your soul flickers in you, desperate to shine for the worldBut blinded by your darkness.Please take me inside you, please take me in.Never will I whisper, never will I give in.Even when Im dying, your heart will always w in.With one lasting note, he ends the song. The crowd applauds and my eyes dart away from his penetrating gaze, and to the door. I want to run away like the room is on fire.Holy crap, Lila breathes, fanning herself. You were right. That was HOT.I can play the drums. Ethan taps his fingers on the table, and makes drum noises. And Im pretty good.Dont let him fool ya. Renee sips her coffee and a smirk curls at her lips. He can play the drums on Rock Band and thats it.Ethan shoots Renee a dirty look. Would you quit it? Its not funny anymore.Lila looks at me for an explanation.This is how they are, I explain with a heavy sigh. They fight like cats and dogs.Lila hold up her elbows onto the table and rests her chin on her hands. El, doesnt your brother play drums?Yeah, Dean did, I say. A little bit, anyway.Now Deans hot, Renee remarks, aiming to get under my skin.Micha collects his guitar and clears the stage for the next singer, a girl with pink dreads who looks like she has a grudge aga inst the world. A tall girl with long legs meets Micha at the corner of the stage. Her wavy black hair flows down her back, her grey eyes are striking, and her smile is bright. Her name is Naomi and shes the daughter of the owner of the coffeehouse, who Micha played with a few times.She says something to Micha and he laughs. A flicker of envy burn in me, but I suppress it quickly. She leads him off the stage and Michas hand roams toward her back. He flashes me one last glance, before he ducks behind stage. I cant read him at all and that frightens me more than when I can.Lila drinks her soy latte and peeks at me over the brim of her cup. I dont care what you say. That boy is in love with you.I stay silent, tearing up a napkin until its shaped like a heart. He might be, but not the kind of love youre talking about.So, Ella, Ethan interrupts and I swear he does it intentionally. If he did, Im thankful for it. Hows the city life?Stupendous. I ruffle up the napkin and toss it into the e mpty scone basket.That doesnt sound very convincing. Ethan drapes an arm on the back of Lilas chair and places his foot on his knee. Dont you like it there?I force myself to cheer up and sit up straight. Actually, its pretty nice. Theres a lot to do and the school is great.Youre acting weird. Ethan eyes me, rubbing his chin. Somethings got you all wound up.Im completely okay, I say in denial. Although, the excessive questions are a bit much.Lila peers over at me as she licks froth from her lips. Hes right. You look upset or something. She feels my forehead. Youre not getting sick, are you?Micha returns to the table and the coffeehouse has clear(p) out a bit. He grabs a vacant chair, pulls it up to the table, turning it backwards, and then sits down in it.So what are we up to for the rest of the night? Ethan asks while Micha checks his messages on his phone.I got to take this pretty lady over here to get her car fixed by you. Micha nods his head at Lila.Ethan looks pleased. Wow, Im recognise to be the one to fix it.Micha slides his phone into his bulge. We have to swing by Ellas house and pick it up, so meet us at the shop in like a half-an-hour.Absolutely. Ethan waves the waitress over to give us the check.What do you think? Micha asks me. Does it sound like a plan?I shrug, distracted by where he went with that girl. Yeah, sure.Everyone takes their coffees to-go and we head for the door. I apply mine behind, along with something else, but Im not sure what.Perhaps a piece of my new identity.***Micha and I dont speak the entire drive home. It freaks Lila out a little and I worry that the more time she exits here with me, the less time shes going to want to spend with me on campus. When we pull into the driveway that routes the side of my house, there is a painful reminder of another reason I didnt want to come back hold for me near the garage.Whose car is that? Lila scoots forward in her seat. Its gorgeous.Why is he here? I grimace, scowling at the shiny r ed Porsche with Ohio license plates.Now be nice, Micha warns, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Hes your brother.But it doesnt make him less of an asshole, I mutter. And he swore when he left, he was never coming back here ever again.Thats your brothers car? Lila asks. Good God, what does he do for living?I press the tips of my fingers to the sides of my nose. Who knows?Well, how does he afford a car like that? she requests interestedly.Its not his car, I say. Its my mothers.Micha and I switch over an oblique look, recalling the day the car mysteriously showed up in the garage. She never would tell anyone how she got it, and for a while, Dean and I expected the police to show up and arrest her for car thievery. It never happened and as time went on, it became like a game to my mother. Not just with the car, but with life. We never knew if she was telling the truth or not.After she died, Dean took the car. He acted like it was his right and maybe it was. He wasnt the one whod snuck o ut of the house that night and left our mother alone.And that gorgeous car over there is yours, I remind Lila, diverting her attention elsewhere. You should probably go get it fixed, before Ethan wanders off from the shop.She slumps back in the chair. Id really like to meet your brother first before I go.Im sure hell still be here when you get back. Actually Im hoping hell be gone.Come on, Lila, well make it quick. Micha opens the door. We can drop it off and walk back. It isnt too far.When I climb outside, he captures my gaze over the roof of the car. Are you coming with us?I think I need to stay. My eyes travel to the back door. Who knows why hes here and what hell say to dad? And I dont think dad can handle his crap. jam his hands to the roof, he leans over. But can you handle his crap?Ill be fine, I assure him. Just get her car fixed. She needs to get out before she gets sucked into this place.This town isnt that bad. Micha closes the door. You used to think the same thing.I als o used to believe my mom would get better, I say. And look what a crashing mortification that was.From the back of the car, Lila blinks at me, stunned. Ella, I didnt know your mom was sick.Michas expression is guarded. Lets go, Lila. Ellas right, if Ethan gets too bored, hell bail.They head for Lilas car and I head up the driveway, wishing I could run back into Michas arms and alleviate the hole in my chest.MichaI worry about Ella the entire drive to the shop. Dean was never a good brother and at the funeral, he blamed Ella for their mothers death. He basically tore her to shreds. Maybe it was his way of mourning, but it was still a shitty thing to do.So whats up with Ella and her brother? Lila asks, resting her arm on the console.I think thats something you should probably talk to her about. I turn the car into the parking lot of the shop. Its not really my story to tell.Lila unclips her seatbelt. But Ellas never really told me much about her life. She has always been so quiet abo ut it and I just thought it was her personality, but the way everyone talks about her around here, I dont think it is.She used to be pretty loud spoken. I reach for the door, but hesitate, needing to get it off my chest. The Ella I knew was not the prim and proper girl youve been hanging out with. She had this fire in her and she didnt put up with anyones crap. It got her into trouble a lot, but she was also the kind of person who would take the fall, even if it wasnt her fault.I think I saw that part of her when we stopped at a bathroom when we first got to town, Lila muses. There was this guy there who was giving me crap and Ella nearly beat him up.I try not to smile. She did, did she?Is that how she was when you knew her? Like a total badass? Lila grins and I realize shes not as bad as I originally thought.Yeah, she was always kind of a badass. I shove the door open and my boots scuff the gravel as I climb out.There are a few cars parked in front of the metal building and both th e garage doors are open. A motortruck is parked inside and the owner of the shop Ethans dad is working under the hood.So what do you do? Lila asks as we head to the entrance.A little of this, I joke. And a little of that.So its a secret. She picks up on my vibe.I swing the chain attached to my jeans. For now, it kind of is.Gotcha. She doesnt press and I like her even more.Ethan is waiting for us in the lobby, slouched back in a chair with his shoes kicked up on the counter and his head slanted back. Its about damn time. I was about ready to leave.Lila starts to giggle as she takes out her phone from her purse. You guys werent lying.Ethan lowers his feet to the floor and stands up. Whats so funny?Nothing. I shrug him off, resting my arms on the counter. Ella and I just told her that if we didnt hurry up youd get bored and leave.So you were talking about me behind my back. He walks around the counter by Lila. You got the keys or did you leave them in? I toss him the keys and he cat ches them. Wheres Ella?Her brother showed up, I explain. Shes back at her house.Ethans eyebrows shoot upward. And you left her there alone with him?Only to drop this off, I say. Lila and I are going to walk back.Lila glances back and forth between Ethan and me. Is something wrong with Ellas brother?Shell be fine. I lean against the glass door with my arms folded and check my watch. But we should get back.I think I should stay here, Lila says, frowning at her phone.Are you sure? I ask. Ethan will take good care of it.She looks upset as she tosses the phone into her purse. Yeah, I need to make sure everythings taken care of properly.Alright, can you find your way back to the house? I nudge the door open.Ill make sure she gets there, Ethan offers with a shrug.Lila adjusts her purse on her shoulder and gives him a small smile. Thank you.Alright, if its okay with the both of you, then I guess Ill see you later. I hike across the parking lot, toward the street. Its getting late, and the o dds of Lilas car being fixed by the end of the day are pretty fucking low. I take out my cell phone and text Ella.Me Just wantin to make sure ur ok?I walk down the sidewalk fenced by houses and dried out lawns. There is a drug exchange going on at the corner between a group of kids that still look young enough to be in high school. This side of town is pretty crappy, which Im okay with now, but when Ella and I were kids, it was harder to make love with.Ella was always so curious about stuff. There were many times we got chased down for sticking our noses where they didnt belong and I got my ass kicked defending Ella quite an a few times.But Id do it again in a heartbeat because when it all comes down to it, its just me and her against the world. Always has been.My phone buzzes inside my pocket and I check the message, surprised to see Ellas name on the screen.Ella No, I dont think I am.Without a second thought, I run as fast(a) as I can toward her house.