Ella placed the plate of pancakes in front of Jen the following morning.
"Come on, hon. You have to eat something." She begged.
"I dont know if I can stomach anything. I just feel so sick. I mean, I slept with Daniel Pierce Logan." Jen groaned, laying her head flat on the table.
"I dont know where you're from, but here on planet earth, that's something to be proud of."
"No its not. Everyone slept with that guy. I feel so used. I'm not even sure if he used a condom. Who knows what kind of sexual organisms are brewing inside of me."
Ella rolled her pretty blue eyes. "Whatever. Its I that should be worried. I just chased off the most gorgeous man on the planet . . . right next to Daniel of course."
"You dont get it."
"I know."
They both broke off as Jenifer watched Ella shovel food down her throat.
"You see there's another difference about us." Ella reached over and seized her friend's plate.
"What?"
"When i'm upset, I eat. When you're upset, you starve yourself."
"Yet you're still skinnier than me." Jen murmured from under her breath.
"I know right? Its a blessing from God."
They were interrupted by the sharp knock on the front door. Jen faced her friend. "Are you expecting someone?"
Ella shook her head no and headed into the front. She looked at herself in the mirror, something she always did out of habit, out of learning that you never expect what life would throw at you. She straightened her slightly tousled hair before throwing open the door.
A slight gasp drove itself from her lips when she saw the tall dark figure over her. Looking up, she saw the smile, and then she looked down again and saw in his hands were a little bouquet of white roses.
But the thing that caught her attention the most, was the cluster of people behind him, most holding cameras - professional cameras - others had little note books, their fingers flying over the pages. Looking back up, she saw the sheepish grin on Eddie's face and then a flash went off.
She pulled him into the house by his shirt.
"What the hell is going on?" she hissed, making her way over to the window and peering out before turning to him which was a big mistake.
He was clean shaven and smelled of after shave and a scent that was pure man and he oozed sexuality. His hard and toned body was visible under tight white t-shirt her wore, and he wore a pair of dark denim jeans low on his hips. The simple ensemble was enough to drench her panties, imagining the night he was pinned on top of her, so she turned her back to him and repeated her question.
"I'm so sorry about them."
"Who?" she didn't turn.
"The paps. I didn't know that they were following me until it was too late." he said sincerely, his husky voice doing numbers to her body.
"I-its cool. You've said what you need to. I just want to say sorry about what I accused you of and I hope that we can still be friends."
"Are you kidding me?!"
She flinched under his yell, listening when he drew in a deep breath and let it out shakily. "I'm sorry. That's just - not what I came here to hear."
Ella did turn that time. "Well then what the fuck did you come to hear? I'm sorry that i'm not the most perfect girl in the world, and I wasn't made for this type of drama Eddie."
"So what we did yesterday and the night before was nothing, right?"
"I dont mean it like that!"
"Then tell me what you mean it as. Listen, i'm no mind reader Ella and I really really like you and I want to see where this goes! I really do. Why not give it a chance?"
"Because . . ."
"Because what?" Eddie yelled frustrated. Could she not see how much he liked her?
She obviously didn't because she turned and fled upstairs, spilling tears as soon as she was on the first stair. Eddie was about to storm after her when someone said "Hey," from behind him.
He turned to see Jenifer, looking at him sadly. "Whats her deal?" he asked.
"Listen, Ella's been hurt ALOT in the past. Just give her a while to adjust to idea of you. She really does like you. Yesterday when she saw how you stood up to your . . . friend about her, she just kinda lost it a little. She didn't know if you meant it or not." Jen sat on the couch and Eddie sat next to her and ran his hand through his short brown hair. "You need something to drink?" she offered.
"I'm cool, thanks. How long will she be up there?"
"Just until she gets her thoughts straight."
"How long will that be?"
"Not long at all. She'll be down soon enough to raid the fridge. She's a stress eater."
"Oh." Was all Eddie could say as he did a once over of Jenifer. She was quiet and looked shy, but had offered him help anyway. She was also incredibly beautiful. "You're beautiful." he blurted out.
She looked at him and laughed loudly, a blush rising up to her cheeks. "Thanks." then her smile faded.
"Whats wrong?"
"Its just - never mind. You'll think i'm retarded or crazy."
"No, tell me."
