He gave Nia a wink as he dropped her hand and sauntered closer to the butcher's stand, slamming down a few coins of his own and grinning at the blonde.
The girl looked him over with a flirtatious giggle, and the pair began talking.
But Nia couldn't hear anything except the pounding in her ears and the echoes of 'I love you, I love you' that she had known were a lie and had been a fool to let herself even listen to.
The pretty girl picked up her bagged purchase, flipping her hair, blue eyes suddenly noticing Nia, who was now talking to the butcher.
"Aww, is she your little sister?" She cooed, moving closer to Nia and patting the top of her head, "She's so cute!"
"Not all of us can be so monstrous in height." Nia muttered through gritted teeth, reaching for Ellis's hand, "We have dinner."
Ellis gave a nervous chuckle, "Well, Niaaaa, you see, I told Callie here that I would, you know, help her home."
Ellis was hungry, and a beautiful blond was on the menu.
"You know that we can't be far-!" Nia hissed through gritted teeth, “And we’re getting this rabbit for you!”
He shushed her hurriedly, glaring a bit, "The old lady said it'd be mostly gone by tonight, and it's been so long since I was around someone who didn't know about me!" He furiously whispered, handing her the bundled up rabbit meat and giving her a gentle push towards Nana's house. "I won't hurt her, pinky promise."
"Be a good girl, little sister!" He called with fake sweetness, "I'll be home before you can miss me!"
Nia bit her lip hard, refusing to argue anymore with him, dashing down the street while Ellis and Callie went the other way.
Nana didn't ask anything when Nia came home, flustered and alone. The old woman simply took the rabbit and tossed it into a bowl, ready to be served to Ellis. It wouldn’t be needed, however, Ellis was getting his full.
Nor did Nana ask anything when Ellis didn't show up for dinner, and Kellen also kept his mouth shut. Though he probably kept silent in fear of setting Nia off on a tirade.
When the awkward, silent dinner was finished, Nia escaped into her room almost immediately, collapsing on the bed and pulling the covers over her head.
Her entire chest felt like it was ablaze, she wondered if Ellis was in any pain either. She wondered what he was doing, where he was, if he was coming home yet, if he'd spend the night in her bed again.
If he would apologize.
But why would he have to?
She sniffled and curled up tighter, half suffocating herself with the pillow.
A sudden, quiet bang of the bedroom door jerked Nia, who must have dozed off at some point, awake. And she quickly threw back the blanket, looking around. But the room was now pitch black and she couldn't see.
She reached out one arm tentatively, and her fingers brushed past the soft fabric that she recognized of Ellis's shirt.
And then there was a swish of the fabric and Nia moved back a bit, trying to force her eyes to see what was happening. Then she was suddenly pressed against the bed, and in surprise she flung her hands up, startled to find Ellis's bare chest against her palms.
"W-what are you doing?" She asked tentatively, her voice betrayed her hurt. At least her heart wasn't aching as much.
"God. Nia, it hurts. The whole time, my heart was hurting so bad..." He muttered.
She turned her face away only to have him grab her and press his burning lips to her own, "I think I love you." He murmured.
But she had heard this before, and she had had enough, "No, you don't Ellis, or you wouldn't have gone off with Cayley."
"Callie." He corrected, “She was delicious. But, it hurts Nia, my heart really hurts, like fire!"
"Cause Nana said it was ending tonight." Nia sighed, “The last bits must be leaving.” When had her voice gone so hollow?
Tonight was the last night that pieces of Nia would be inside Ellis, it was the last night that he was forced to be around her, what reasons would keep them together after this?
"I love you." He murmured again, ignoring anything else she said, and when he began to kiss her, she immediately responded to him, as though it were a habit by now.
"Will you love me later too?" She whispered, betraying herself.
When he answered with a passionate yes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Even though she didn't believe him.
And before she knew it, it was morning, and she was waking up and Ellis was beside her, still asleep.
She shoved him hard, causing him to snort in his sleep before wearily opening an eye, "What is it kid?" He muttered, yawning.
Nia only glared at him, heart racing. Would he remember? Would he care?
Ellis rubbed his bleary eyes, glaring at the hint of daylight trying to seep in through the girl’s window, “Oh.” He said, frown twitching his lips, “Nia there’s something I want to say.”