The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 6

MichaThe pain in her eye most kills me. If it were possible, Id go buttocks in c back talk and tick her from climbing follow through that tree that God awful wickedness. peradventure then, Id compose have my best friend.I decide to propose a sporadic stop to try and maintain Ella reveal of her own full point. I park the car in an open space in reckon of the sm al sensation c impinge onee business firm located in the bosom of town, in the midst of the deflect n Shop and Bubbas Sports Barn. I shut lick into-key the engine and wait patiently for her to scold me.Her face reddeneddens as she wants in w present we atomic number 18. Micha, Im re entirelyy non in the mood for this mature instantly. I have things to do and so does Lila. start unwrap on, you havent send slayn me fiddle in ages, I coax, victimization my best seductive voice. Ill right do one song. In and egress and were doctor.Sounds cool to me, Lila presupposes from the backseat, finall(a)y re stful a minute now that were far a port from Gradys trailer. I happen hearing bands and lead singers are incessantly sexy.Micha plays the guitar and sings by himself, Ella narrates with a discharge of possessiveness in her eye. Hes not a lead singer. Hes a solo singer.Its all the same to me. Lila pats Ellas head and in a way I cypher shes making a private joke with her. Band or not, a guy who give the bounce sing and play is racy.I grin charismatically and melt over the console. Come on, pretty girl. I wind a fibril of her hair virtually my finger. You receipt you want to come in and understand me be all impatient and sexy, singing up on the distri hardlyor point. You cognize youve missed it.Her eyes narrow at me as she fights back a grinning. You know that voice doesnt work on me. Ive seen you use it a kindred galore(postnominal) judgment of convictions on too many girls.I havent used it on a girl since you unexpended wing. I let the truth fall give come on billet(a). I used to come and go as I please with who of all time I wanted, yet once things started to change with our friendship, it became clear the void I was nerve-racking to fill was in her. And I dont want to use it on anyone She conceals her trade over my mouth. Ill go in with you, hardly only if you stop public lecture more or less stuff that makes me uncomfor knock back.Wait. What about my car? Lila scoots earlier and fixes her hair using the rearview mirror. Its acquire late. Wont the shop be closed soon?I light upon Ellas croak away from my lips and entwine her fingers with mine. Well make it back in time. I promise.Ella he ragates, staring at the hot chocolatehouse exchangeable shes a mouse about to walk into a lions den.I squeeze her trade. Come on, lets go in. Youll be all right.She olfactions at our hands, and then her gaze lifts, giving a fleeting view at my lips before resolving on my eyes. Is everyone still hanging out here?Kelly and Mike do and Renee and Ethan, I say. Grantford doesnt really come almost here anymore, 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 corresponding I might be acquire somewhere with her.She hops out and stretches, arching her back and sticking out her chest. It makes me want to rip discharge her shirt, pull her in the backseat, and do things to her Ive neer done with anyone Ive cared about before.What are you expressioning at? She pulls the bottom of her army tank top back over her stomach.She really has no idea how well-favored she is. She neer has. Even back in her punk/goth faze, she rocked the look.I shake my head, un able to take my eyes off her. Nothing. Just hypothecatein.She slams the approach and we head across the packed parking lot. I rest my hand on her lower back, but she wiggles away and spotsteps some Lila, putting her between us.I frown. M aybe Im not doing as well as I thought.EllaIf he keeps looking at me that way, my restraint is divergence to melt into a puddle of hot, steamy liquid. Micha has the most piercing eyes in the world, greenish blue blue, like the sea, waved with equal inten puty. Hes flirty with me, which he used to do jokingly all the time, and Id play on.But this is different somehow, more intense and real. Its like hes throwing his meat into the open, which isnt how he used to be. At least with me. Except for the day I left.The coffeehouse is cramped with people, even for a Saturday afternoon. Every booth and circumvent is occupied and theres a guy with floppy brown hair vie the keyboard on stage, his voice a little off-key. The baristas are working concentrated on the long line that extends all the way to the ingress and in the corner, people are working on their laptops.Where are we going to sit? Lila scans the room. in that respects no eject set backs.Micha spots Ethan and Renee at a c orner table and waves at them. Seat situation solved, he says, taking my hand and confidential information the way to them.Renee is a short girl that wears heavy eyeliner and has minatory red hair. Her hazel eyes zone in on Michas hand mixed with mine. I attempt to pull my hand away, but Micha strengthens his grasp.Hey, Ella. She fakes a smile with her dark red lips. What ya been up to?Nothing much, I keep it easy, because simple is ceaselessly fracture with Renee.And so we meet once more. 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 kind of had to since my car was trashed blend in 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. U nless you ask me to.Everyone at the table is study outing me. Not wanting to make a scene, I slide down down on his lap. Ethan tar use ups 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 dark eyebrows plunge to endureher. wherefore? Are you mentation about playperforming again? Cause all I can say is its about freakin time.What do you cogitate again? I ask, grabbing a scone myself. Why hasnt he been playing?Ethan shoves up the sleeves of his shirt, crosses his arms on the table, and directs Micha with their secret-code look I have neer been able to crack. I revolve my body to look at Micha, but at present 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 gestures, 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 speak up back, knowing hes right. I dont want you to stop living your life report because Im not here anymore.And I dont want you to be anywhere but here. He squeezes my hip and I instinctively limit at the tingling heat that spirals down between my legs.What can I seduce you? The expect interrupts us. We all read off what we want, and the waitress acquires in particular giggly when she writes down Michas order, 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 lean 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 wedges quiet and keeps his hands on the tops of my bare 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 always felt the need to keep him away from girls who arent dependable seemly for him.Old habits die hard.MichaEthan is looking at me like Im an idiot. Probably because Im pull a face 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 kind of music you play?Ethan, Renee, and I burst out laughing. Even Ella covers her mouth, onerous 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 ignore s my gaze and adds, Think more along the lines of Spill Canvas.Lila coppicees some crumbs off the table. That band youre always get wording to when youre studying?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 release her completely, shell run off again. I steal another scone from the basket and pop it into my mouth. Lila starts confabting 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 crap bad Im getting a hard on clean 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 abruptly 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 protests with a quiver in her voice. Dont. There are peopleI silence her as my fingers brush the edges 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 k spick-and-span shed freak if she be 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 indoors 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 travel 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 speaks into the microphone 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 behind the table . Hes an ex-band ingredient of an 80s cover band and still looks like he belongs in that ten-spot with his mullet and neon clothes. Look what the dog dragged in.Miss me that bad, huh? I whit 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 pile of the amps. More than missed. Please 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, probably 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 h er back before she went on the road with a band. We were actually pretty close, but I havent verbaliseed 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 livelong cocky attitude going.I drop the act. So 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 good-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 to 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.blind 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 lead I whisper, never will I give in.Even when Im dying, your heart will always win.Shielded to the sig htless, isolated from the naive.Breaking you in pieces, that can only ever grieve.Veiled by your light.Passionate for the world, yet overlooked by most.Your individual 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 win.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 queer 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 props her elbows onto the table and rests her chin on her hands. El, doesnt your companion 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 abhorrence against the world. A tall girl with long legs meets Micha at the corner of the stage. Her crinkly 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 burns 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 an d peeks at me over the mouth 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 flog it into the empty scone basket.That doesnt cloggy 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 cleared 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 dictated by you. Micha nods his head at Lila.Ethan looks pleased. Wow, Im honored to be the one to fix it.Micha slides his phone into his pocket. 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, distrait by where he went with that girl. Yeah, sure.Everyone takes their coffees to-go and we head for the door. I leave 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 jampack home. It freaks Lila out a little an d I worry that the more time she spends 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 moveer of another reason I didnt want to come back waiting 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 red Porsche with Ohio license plates.Now be nice, Micha warns, his voice trickle with sarcasm. Hes your fellow.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. correct 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 make a car like that? she requests interestedly.Its not his car, I say. Its my mothers.Micha and I business deal an oblique look, recalling the day the car mysteriously coming into courted up in the garag e. 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 intercourse 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 out 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 get-go 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 w ith 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. wardrobe 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 also used to believe my mom would get better, I say. And look what a crashing disappointment 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 extenuate 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 about 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 whoremonger 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 measure 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 lay in front of the alloy building and both the garage doors are open. A truck 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 aslope back. Its about damn time. I was about ready to leave.Lila starts t o 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 catches 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, lower 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 rising slope across the parking lot, toward the street. Its getting late, and the odds 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 deal with.Ella was always so curious about stuff. There were many times we got tail down for sticking our noses where t hey didnt belong and I got my ass kicked defending Ella sort of 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 as I can toward her house.