Elly’s vision spun, just as it had when Sunny showed her Aaron’s painting. Lucia’s face hovered right above hers, and Elly felt the walls closing in. She was fainting, she had lost control. She uncurled her palm slowly. Maybe on her way down, she could claw her face. She raised her hand, just as her knees began buckling. Oh, let me smack her before I go……
“Elly?” Elly’s head jerked up. Isaac stood in the doorway, an Ada’s hot chocolate in his hand and his guitar strapped handsomely across his back. He eyed Lucia with disdain. “What’s going on? Elly, are you okay?”
He strode over to Elly and took her arm in his soft hands, pulling her away from Lucia. “You look upset.” He peered into her eyes. “Sweetie, are you about to faint? Your pupils are going crazy - what’s wrong?”
Thank you, God, Elly thought, for this incredibly naive, incredibly romantic and gorgeous man. Isaac gathered Elly in his arms and circled defensively around her looking right at Lucia, who was staring, mouth open at his imposing presence.
“Why were you poking her? Who are you?”
Lucia’s bright red mouth gaped open like a fish. “Er, um, my Mom is waiting for me in the car.”
“Is she dropping you off at the mall?” Isaac laughed out loud and Lucia turned and fled, the bells clanking angrily behind her.
He gently trailed his finger down Elly’s cheek and kissed her chin. “Who was that girl? She looked like she was bullying you or something.” He pulled Elly into his shoulder, where she breathed in the cool, clean smell of his shirt. “Are you sure you’re alright? You’re pale and sweaty.”
In that moment, Elly had never appreciated Isaac more. His hair hung over his eyes, and his bright teeth curved up in a half smile. Here he was, her knight in shining armor. If Lucia was the hurricane ripping through her life, than Isaac was the calm breeze keeping the storm at sea. She wanted to disappear into his arms forever, and hide in the crook of his neck until this whole thing dissipated. Elly looked into his deep brown eyes.
“Elly…” he started. Her gratitude overwhelmed her, combining with a wave of anger towards Lucia. Together they hurtled Elly towards Isaac.
“I love you” she whispered. His face melted with happiness and he pressed his lips against hers. Her heart ached with guilt. I’m sorry, Elly whispered in her head, but I need to believe that now.
That afternoon after the consultation, after Lucia had stomped out the door, and after Elly had stopped Isaac’s attempts to grope her, she headed back up to her apartment. She was thoroughly wasted, so tired that she could feel it in her bones, her eyes. She swung open the door, ignoring Cadbury’s wildly swinging tail, and headed straight for her bedroom. Shutting her door behind her, Elly pulled off her blouse and had started to pull off her camisole when she heard an “Ummmm?” Elly screamed loudly and bolted for the door. It had locked behind her. She pulled at it frantically. Oh God, oh God…..
A figure rose up from the bed and moved towards her. Elly whimpered and banged on the door. There was a moment of silence, and Elly anticipated the feel of a knife being buried in her back.
“What the heck is your problem? I swear, sometimes I think you’re crazy. Why are you so jumpy?” Elly turned around, to see Snarky Teenager standing next to the bed. She had on some of Elly’s blue flannel pajamas, which hung loosely around her, giving her the appearance of an overgrown child. She spun around “Look! I had to find some ribbons to hold them up! They’re really cozy though. Wearing your pj’s is like wearing a blanket.”
Elly leaned back against the door, trying to calm her thundering heart which was threatening to burst out of her chest. “I forgot you were up here. Was it so hard to call out to me when I came in the door?”
Snarky Teenager rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I was sleeping. I didn’t feel good when I came up here.” She sat down on the bed. “That woman was awful.” she looked up at Elly. “Lucia is the devil.”
Elly nodded and sank down to the floor, sitting comfortably against the door. “I know. I’ll have to tell you about what happened when Sunny left.”