3 Strikes (This Week) and She's Out: Tuesday WE Week 3 - Ell's Field Trip

Here is my Week 3 Tuesday WE writing 'assignment'

She hesistated a moment before she pressed the 'call' button.  Left hand was sweaty, clutching the phone; right hand had found a pen and piece of paper to doodle on.  She could hear the phone ringing with one ear an at the same time she could hear Jessie downstairs, crying.  Jessie didn't cry quietly, she never had.  Ell tried not to cry at all.  Just one more way she and her twin were different.  Why am I even bothering?  I don't know if he'll even answer.  Hell, I don't know if it's still the right number even. She had dialed the number from memory and although she knew it was the right number, she didn't know if it still belonged to the right person.

"Hello?" Ell jumped and dropped her pen under the desk. She hadn't really expected anyone to answer.  "Hello?  Who is this?"

"Um, hi.  Is, is this Alex?"  She couldn't believe herself.  She sounded like a nervous teenager. "I might have the wrong number, I haven't talked to him in years.  I was just won-"

"Hey, Alex, it's for you.  Some chick."  Some muffled voices came through the other end of the phone.

"Of course it's for me.  It's my phone, genius."  Ell heard what she guessed to be the sound of the phone exchanging hands. "Hello?  This is Alex, who is this?"

"Oh, um, hey, Alex."  She paused for a moment and took a couple breaths.  "Hey, Alex, it's Ell.  Ell Colter."  Before he could say anything she rushed on.  "I was just wondering if your offer was still, you know, out there."

"Ell?  Wow, is it seriously you?  Holy, wow.  How are you?  What's go-"

"Alex, I'd love to talk to you, but now's not the best time.  All I need to know is if your offer is still there and if so, where can I meet you?"  She wrote down the time and place, although she commited both to memory as soon as he said them.  "Thanks, Alex.  I'll see you there."

As she hit the 'end' button, she looked around her room, planning.  She knew that she only really had one chance to get out without a lot of questions and without dealing with her sister.  Lowering her first duffel bag out her window, she felt silly, like a kid running away from home, trying not to get caught.  That's pretty much what she was doing, though, so she embraced the feeling and managed to get out of the house.  Jessie caught her as she opened the door and spent ten minutes bawling on her shoulder, completely oblivious to the fact that Ell was carrying a full duffel bag and her art duffel.  She finally peeled Jessie off and made it to her truck.  She tossed her duffel in the back, set her art duffel on the floor of the passenger seat, and went to find her other duffel bag.  It was in the bushes under her window and she was in her truck, heading down the road in no time.  No radio on, no noises but the sound of the truck on the road and the wind rushing past her open windows.  Lost in her thoughts she never noticed the scenery flying past, didn't notice the blue sky, didn't notice the green fields.  Her thoughts were her own.  They belonged to her and her alone, she didn't willingly share them others.

Damn Jessie.  Why does she always have to do that?  All I asked for was a couple of days of peace.  A couple days to just enjoy life as much as I can.  And she has to go and ruin it.  Whether or not these breakdowns of hers are real or not doesn't even matter anymore.  I just can't handle it all anymore.  Mom, I'm sorry.  Grandpa, I'm sorry.  But I can't do it anymore.  I can't deal with her anymore.  I know I promised, but.......

She pulled into town an hour early and she was in front of the place Alex told her about five minutes later.  Too nervous to sit still she got out and took her camera for a walk.  She hadn't been to this town before, hell, she barely knew it was here, and she needed the distraction.  Alex's meeting place was a block off the main street and she was curious so she headed over.  She smiled at the quaintness of it all.  The storefronts still had that old-fashioned look to it, even though the signs described most of the businesses as modern.  There was a drug store, the offices of Smitt & Marckel, an antique store (her smile grew a bit at this,) and a corner mart.  Then there was the dry-cleaner on the corner across the street, what looked like a craft store, and a couple more small shops on the end that she couldn't quite see.  She was taking pictures and feeling halfway good for the first time in a long time.  Continuing her walk, she crossed the street and passed the dry-cleaner.  She was taking a picture of the side of the building and she stopped and shook her head.  Was that alley there a moment ago?  Closing her eyes, she tried to remember, couldn't, and opened her eyes again.  It was still there.  She glanced around, almost sheepishly, and stepped into the alley.

Ell had to squint a little to see.  The street had been so bright and the alley was in the shadow of the building, the dry-cleaners, she thought.  Her eyes adjusted and she saw something that made her smile even more than Main Street had.  What in the world is that doing back here?  It doesn't even look like it should fit here. She took a couple steps closer, making sure to avoid the line of trashcans under the window, trying to figure out what exactly it was.  Her eyes widened as she remembered.  The carriage house!  Could it really be? She took the last step towards the door and reached out and grabbed the horseshoe knocker.  She knew rapping on the door with her knuckles wouldn't do.  But how do I know?  And how do I know what, or where, this is?  Why is it so familiar and perfect? It wasn't perfect, but in her mind, it felt that and looked that way.  The same way some people can look at a tree and see a tree and others look at it and see something different, something interesting and beautiful.  She looked at this old carriage house and saw something different and wonderful.  Why did I bother knocking?  Alex will be here soon and I can get on with my life.  The door opened and only then did Ell realize that she had been holding her breath.

As she stepped into the scent of chili and the sound of a crackling fire she realized it was ok.  Alex will know.  He'll understand.  I'm finally on my way home.

Week 1 - Introducing Ell
Week 2 - Ell's Letter