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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Feb 12, 2018 13:31:40 GMT
263 Words
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It's not unusual
but when I see you hanging about with anyone
The regret flooding through her system the moment she woke up the day after yelling at Haden consumed her whole day. Her colleague had insisted she take the week off after Ella explained the situation. Since she hadn't used up what would have been two weeks in France of days off, Ella cashed in those days and took the time to craft the apology she had to present to Haden.
Part of her often wondered why she went to great lengths for Haden. Lennox's voice kept repeating the same words of the conversation they had in France and Ella could see where she went wrong. But she couldn't abandon Haden, not just because she felt obligated to stay to show him that not everyone left him. But it was also a show of faith that she was his best friend. Even if their relationship would remain as so, she wanted it.
It wasn't the healthiest of mentalities but it was one she had adopted since they were children. Haden was her constant, she couldn't leave him even if she wanted to.
With her apology in hand, Ella trudged over to his apartment, like most of the times they got into a fight, with her tail between her legs. She wondered how often she had been the one to apologise even when her anger was justified. Was she even worth it to Haden?
Banishing those thoughts from her head, she knocked on his apartment door, hoping he was there. She should have called first, she realised.
"Haden, it's Ella." She said through the door.
It's not unusual to see me cry
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944 posts
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0 likes
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Trix on Feb 12, 2018 20:35:09 GMT
427 Words
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Take Me Home
I'm only happy when I'm with you
Had things been left to Haden, it would have been much longer than a day before he took the liberty of calling and asking her to come over. He might have even gotten on the bus to go to her apartment. But his frustrations couldn't be eased over a day, even if his guilt was suffocating. She'd left him not once, but twice and the first time had been bad enough to make the second a struggle to accept. Sure, he had done the exact same thing, walking out the moment he saw her, but that was because they shouldn't have been talking while she was drunk and he was angry.
Not that it really seemed to make a difference, she hadn't heard him and he didn't want to hear her either. That didn't make being away from her any easier.
Being stuck in the house was making him stir crazy. Not being able to dance was making him deranged. He wasn't sure how long he could manage just sitting there and expecting things to get better. It was all he ever did. Apologies weren't his thing and talking about feelings never got him anywhere. It was the reason Ella was his only friend, the only person that he usually stuck close to. She was the only person he did anything with, the only person he bothered texting. Without her, he was basically left to his own devices and his own miserable self-loathing attitude. He couldn't lie and say that he was a better person without her, that was just a joke.
Maybe it was the fact that he knew she was the only one who'd be knocking on his door, but when he heard it, he was already looking for his crutches and struggling to stand up. Once Haden had his crutches under him, he swung his way to the door and stood there for a minute as she confirmed what he already knew. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted himself so that he could open the door without falling and he moved back so that the door could open. After a moment of looking at her he motioned for her to come in and turned towards the living room where he could sit down on the couch and prop his leg back up. Haden crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back, waiting for her to talk first.
Home for me is where you are.
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962 posts
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0 likes
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Feb 12, 2018 21:20:22 GMT
428 Words
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It's not unusual
but when I see you hanging about with anyone
Ella stepped back when she heard the door finally open and when she looked in and saw Haden, it took everything in her not to just wrap her arms around him. Last night and everything that happened before aside, she had missed her best friend something awful.
His wordless invitation to come in was met with a lip bite and a cautious step in. He didn't even wait to close the door and Ella ignored the steady blooming of pain in her chest. She closed the door behind her and moved further into the room. When she could find any place to sit before, now, everything felt so strange and she was definitely out of place. So she remained standing.
"Yesterday was a mess. I shouldn't have bailed on you. I'm sorry for that." She finally started after a moment's silence. She wasn't looking at him because she knew if she did, she'd just start bawling her eyes out. She could already feel the pin pricks behind her eyes and she tried hard to ignore it.
"And about France...I should have stayed and talked to you, I realise how big of a hypocrite that made me yesterday. Honestly, I have no excuse for that. I was just hurting seeing Blase all over you. It shouldn't have made me act like a child and I'm sorry for that."
She took a deep breath before continuing, knowing Haden wasn't going to respond, which was a good thing at the moment because she just needed to get everything out in the open.
"As for choosing Ben over you, I have no excuse for that either." Lie. "I should have realised earlier that he wasn't good for me. You did tell me that and I didn't want to see it because he made me feel like I was the only one for him for a really long time."
Which was what she had wanted Haden to do for her for a much longer time. Not as a friend. But they kept missing each other. Timing was just stupid.
"I don't expect you to forgive me but just understand that bailing on you is not me. I had a moment of weakness and I hope you can acknowledge that I came back. And I'll keep coming back as long as you'll have me." She released her breath slowly and closed her eyes, pocketing her hands in her jeans.
She felt tears rolling down her cheeks despite having tried to stop it and a hollow laugh escaped her as she wiped her tears.
It's not unusual to see me cry
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944 posts
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0 likes
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Trix on Feb 12, 2018 21:50:09 GMT
347 Words
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Take Me Home
I'm only happy when I'm with you
At first he couldn't really look at her. It was bad enough that his crutches made it hard for him to even touch her, which was exactly why he hadn't bothered when he opened the door. Of course he wanted to, he wanted to just hug her and wish everything away because that would be easier. Unfortunately for both of them, easier wasn't going to happen, not this time. He was still angry and seeing the guilt on her face didn't make him feel any better about being angry. He knew he didn't have a right to be, not really. And usually it didn't last, but this time it had.
His eyes were glued to his braced leg while he listened to her speak. It was all he could look at in his house because there wasn't much else there. When she mentioned France and Blase, his expression shifted from stoic to annoyed, but it wasn't because of her. The whole tour in general made him a little irritable, but she continued talking which kept him from having to say anything.
He tried really hard to digest everything she was saying rather than immediately reacting. It was hard for him to sit without reacting though, especially at the mention of Ben and how happy he'd made her. It made him sick just thinking about it. Haden pinched the bridge of his nose, "Ella stop. Jesus christ."
After the last ten years together, Haden couldn't do it anymore. He knew he took advantage of the way she was because it was easier for him, but he couldn't do it anymore. "You were mad at me yesterday, where did that go? You're holding back now the way you hold back with everything and everyone. You left France without a word, something you've never done. Clearly I'm missing something more than you being a little put off by me not telling you about her."
Home for me is where you are.
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962 posts
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0 likes
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Feb 12, 2018 22:04:46 GMT
106 Words
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It's not unusual
but when I see you hanging about with anyone
She was ready for silence, or for him to tell her to leave. She wasn't ready for him to ask her what exactly bothered her. She wiped away stray tears and a forced smile made its way on to her lips.
"Ben was cheating on me."
She knew this was the easy way out. It was not the whole truth but it will do for now. "Kind of hard to accept the fact that your best friend has been with someone and not telling you about it." She cleared her throat as the smile slipped off her face. "It hit a nerve. It's not your fault."
It's not unusual to see me cry
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Trix on Feb 12, 2018 22:21:47 GMT
166 Words
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Take Me Home
I'm only happy when I'm with you
The confession didn't come as a shock, although he wished that it had. Haden closed his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose thinking of all the ways he was going to hurt that piece of shit when he was healed. At least by then Ben wouldn't be expecting it. When he opened his eyes again he looked up at her, "You didn't say anything before she came over. Why didn't you just call me when it happened, Ella? I'd have...I dunno, verbally ripped him a new one."
Haden ran his hand through his hair and shook his head, "Ella, come here." He couldn't just let her stand there and be upset, but he also couldn't really stand up very easily either. He moved his crutches out of the way and patted the spot beside him.
Home for me is where you are.
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962 posts
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0 likes
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Feb 12, 2018 22:29:58 GMT
88 Words
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It's not unusual
but when I see you hanging about with anyone
She sighed at his response and laughed. At least he bought it. Small miracles.
She couldn't even describe how relieved she was when he asked her to come over. Ella went over and pulled her knees up to her chest after sitting down.
"It happened after I sent you off." She said after a while. "He thought I was going to be longer at the airport, can you believe it? He's such a moron." She laughed humourlessly.
"What happened with your leg, Aid?" She asked, turning to him.
It's not unusual to see me cry
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Feb 12, 2018 22:51:04 GMT
205 Words
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Take Me Home
I'm only happy when I'm with you
"I'm going to cut him, Ella," He said as she sat down. And that was the least painful thing he was considering doing to her ex boyfriend. If he got his hands on him, well, Haden wasn't sure he'd be able to stop with just cutting him for what he did. Who'd even be worth it to cheat on her with? He took a deep breath and shook his head, "I don't get it."
When she turned to him and asked about his leg, he chewed on the inside of his cheek. He didn't really want to think about the events of the night that his dance career was put in jeopardy. "It's severely fractured. Three to six months of healing in my future," He clicked his tongue and laughed shortly. Longest few months of his life so far.
"You should have seen her face when it happened, you'd have thought it happened to her," His eyes rolled back in his head and he glanced up at her. Haden couldn't help but smirk, "Talk about break a leg, huh?"
Home for me is where you are.
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962 posts
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0 likes
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Feb 12, 2018 22:58:04 GMT
119 Words
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It's not unusual
but when I see you hanging about with anyone
His protective side brought a smile to her face and she shook her head. "He's not worth it. And...Lennox took care of him already anyway."
Listening to him talk about his injury made Ella grimace and his tease at the end made her punch him in the arm.
"Shut up," she hid her face on her knees and laughed lightly. She growled slightly before reaching out to her side to slip her arms around Haden, squeezing him tightly.
"I miss you. I'm sorry about everything. I don't like not being with you. I'm sorry I ruined your tour. I'm just glad you're home." She mumbled into his t-shirt and sighed.
So she was weak. What could she do?
It's not unusual to see me cry
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Feb 12, 2018 23:12:31 GMT
249 Words
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Take Me Home
I'm only happy when I'm with you
Haden had to laugh at the thought of Lennox getting ahold of him. She was definitely much more terrifying than he could ever hope to be. He almost wanted to ask her what she'd done so that he could revel in it, but they weren't that good of friends. Or friends at all. Better Ben than him. "Why am I not surprised that she'd go all British Intelligence on him?" Bond, Lennox Bond. Sounded about right.
He raised his hands in a surrendering gesture, "Whoa, whoa, I already broke my leg. I'd like to not be bruised on top of it." She slid his arms around him after he raised his and he let out a long sigh. It was impossible to stay mad at her. His arm draped over her shoulders and he gave her a light squeeze.
It was harder now that he'd said exactly how he felt to her the night before without her even noticing, but he tried to ignore it. Haden kissed the top of her head, "You didn't ruin anything, pretty sure I made the mistake all on my own. Better yet, we can always just blame it on the shitty partnership." It wasn't like it affected her at all, she got put with the sub principal and, well, that was that. "I missed you, too, Els."
Home for me is where you are.
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962 posts
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0 likes
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Feb 12, 2018 23:49:01 GMT
159 Words
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It's not unusual
but when I see you hanging about with anyone
Ella laughed and shrugged, accepting that that was probably the closest to a compliment that Haden would ever pay to her girlfriend. She would never understand their animosity but she was glad they had her in common.
Squeezing her eyes shut when he kissed her on her head, Ella had to stop herself from moving her face up so those lips were on hers. He didn't need it. It was unfair to him. She had broken his heart by walking away not once but twice. Admitting to her feelings when he didn't have any for her was going to do more harm than good.
At least he admitted that Blase was wrong for him too. But she had to wonder why he would let her call herself his girlfriend.
Breathing Haden in, Ella sighed before she turned her head so she was looking down at his injured leg. "Don't let me drink anymore." She said after a moment's pause.
It's not unusual to see me cry
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Trix on Feb 13, 2018 2:14:58 GMT
172 Words
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Take Me Home
I'm only happy when I'm with you
"I don't know, I kinda liked it," He had to smile. At the time, obviously it hadn't been good for either of them. But the fact was, she'd been more upfront with him then than she ever was when she was sober. He didn't like the struggles between them, and he knew he was usually the cause of it, but she never made him wait long before she came to him.
Haden rested his cheek on her head and rubber her arm, "Why do you always come so quickly? I don't deserve it, you have to know I don't." It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it, he did more than he'd be able to express to her. With that said, he hated that he could get away with treating her the way he did. The way Lennox thought he did.
"You're too good for people, Els."
Home for me is where you are.
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962 posts
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Feb 13, 2018 4:01:09 GMT
140 Words
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It's not unusual
but when I see you hanging about with anyone
She smacked his stomach playfully at his response. She had been such a heinous bitch, as far as she remembered. It had been such a stupid night. She closed her eyes as he rubbed her arm. His question and immediate remark caused her to stiffen briefly before she took a deep breath and pulled away.
Crossing her legs on the couch, she propped an elbow on one knee with her chin in her hand and looked at him. "Apart from Lennox, you're my family, Haden. That's not even...a question." She turned her head slightly in her hand and regarded him.
"You must know that. Family means nobody gets left behind." She gave him a small adorable smile, quoting her favourite Disney movie. "You deserve a lot better. You just got it into your head that you don't deserve anything."
It's not unusual to see me cry
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944 posts
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Sept 17, 2019 4:43:32 GMT
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Post by Trix on Feb 15, 2018 7:09:06 GMT
213 Words
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Take Me Home
I'm only happy when I'm with you
While he appreciated the quote, he couldn't quite get behind her words. She gave him so much credit for the few things that he did for her. But he loved her the way she loved him because he only had her for his family. She was his home and even in the months that they'd been apart, that hadn't changed. If anything, he'd felt completely lost the last few months without her.
Haden patted her leg and quirked his lips at the side, not quite reaching his eyes, "I'm glad you think so, Ella. One of us has to." His eyes dropped and he leaned his head back against the couch. He wanted to believe it, that he was worth something more. That he could deserve more. But that was the whole problem with his love life, he settled for what he thought was good enough for him, even if he knew it wasn't good at all. He settled for less because that was what he felt he deserved.
"So, is Lennox plotting how she's going to kill me, too? Since she already took care of Ben?"
Home for me is where you are.
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962 posts
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0 likes
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Authored by
Nu
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Sept 19, 2019 9:40:59 GMT
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Advanced Member
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Post by Nu on Feb 15, 2018 10:58:30 GMT
90 Words
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It's not unusual
but when I see you hanging about with anyone
Ella scratched her forehead and sighed when Haden responded with a negative connotation. She didn't care what Lennox thought, Haden deserved the world. He'd been dealt a rough hand and had acted the only way he knew how.
"You two have got to stop this feud." The Aussie pressed both her hands against her face and sighed. She rubbed her face before running her fingers through her thick curls in mild exasperation. "I'm so tired being in between you two, can't you just get along for my sake at least?"
It's not unusual to see me cry
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