Fight Club

September went by far too quickly, same with October, and now it was November. Dina had become increasingly close friends with Ellie, always finding herself missing the taller girl's presence. But as time went by, Ellie seemed to be distancing herself. When Dina asked to hang out on the weekends, she usually gave the excuse that she was busy helping Joel. And on the few occasions that she would agree, her knuckles were always a dark purple and red color. Dina couldn't help but wonder if the girl was in trouble, or if she really just didn't want to see Dina.

But today, much to Dina's delight, Ellie had said yes to hanging out. 

As if on cue, a knock came to Dina's apartment door. She moved into an apartment as soon as she legally could, she enjoyed her father's company, but it was overbearing. So she moved out, but agreed to stay close to home. 

She opened the door, met with a certain tall girl with green eyes and red hair.

"Hey." Ellie said with that lopsided grin. That heart fluttering, lopsided grin. Damn this girl.

"Do you ever dress for the weather?" Dina rolled her eyes as she let Ellie in. The auburn girl was wearing just a black t-shirt and her usual ripped jeans. Even though today was particularly cold for November.

"You said it yourself. I'm a human furnace. I don't even know what being cold feels like -- never felt it once. It's not my fault that you're not as adv-"

Ellie was cut off by a firm finger to her lips. 

"Shut it, Beanpole."

She's adorable when she rants like that.

"I like the tattoos." Dina continued, a fond smile on her face as her eyes wandered appreciatively over the heavy ink that covered her right forearm and up to her shoulder. It obviously covered something though, judging by the way the skin looked warped under the ink. It wasn't quite right.

Ellie's face was a bright red. She was finally able to convince herself to stop covering her arms when she met Dina. But this was the first time she let Dina see her full arm. And besides, the skin popping scars are covered by ink. She wouldn't even pay much attention to them.

"Uh thanks.. Cat did them." She muttered sheepishly, reaching a hand up to rub the back of her neck.

"Who's Cat?" Dina had never heard Ellie mention anyone named Cat. She certainly would've known someone with a name like that.

"My ex back in Boston." The way Ellie said it so nonchalantly, like the girl no longer mattered to her, made Dina's heart drop. If they were to date and break up, would Ellie no longer care about her?

I don't think life is quite worth living if Ellie Williams doesn't care about me.

It's a morbid thought, yes, but Ellie fucking Williams is a powerful storm. A storm so powerful that she's broken down each and every wall Dina had ever put up to protect herself. Powerful enough to even make Dina fall head over heels for her, even if she was already dating Jesse. Just in a matter of months. Ellie Williams is powerful, whether she realizes that or not.

"You wanna watch a movie?" Ellie offers when Dina doesn't respond to her last statement. 

"Only if I get to choose. Titanic." And she grins, knowing she's made Ellie watch that movie five times already. Then her gaze flicks down to bruised and cut knuckles.

I'll ask about her hands this time. I will.

"Ya know, if i had to guess, you only keep making me watch that movie cause you like using my precious clothing as a tissue. Considering how you cr-"

"Shut it."

"Cry every time we watch it. It's okay, really, just shows that you're, you know, sensitive-"

"I'm gonna punch you."

"Are you sure you won't be too busy crying?"

"Shut up, Williams. I might be sensitive, but I'm a black belt in karate."

"Sure you don't mean black belt in crying?"

Dina shoots her a glare that contains no malice and smiles as they fall back into their easy banter, both girls moving to sit on the couch.

I'll just ask her next time.

-

Halfway through the movie, Dina isn't quite sure how her head ended up on Ellie's shoulder when they both sat on opposite ends of the couch at the start of the movie. But maybe that's just why their friendship is so special. The way they're constantly gravitating towards one another and would never admit it. Dina could never feel quite secure unless she was touching Ellie in one way or another. The pull that Ellie Williams inflicted upon Dina Cohen would never quite make sense to either girls.

Dina's eyes moved from the Tv screen in front of them, to the face of the broad-shouldered girl she leaned against, only to find a pair of green eyes already on her. Ellie blushed and looked away, clearing her throat quietly.

"Were you just staring at me?"

"No-"

"I could've sworn that you were just-"

"Nope."

"Are you sure? Cause that definitely seemed like you were just looking at me for an unprecedented amount of time."

"Dina-"

"It's totally okay if you were, i can't even blame you-"

"Okay.Yeah. I was staring at you." Ellie said in such a firm tone that made both girls lock eyes.

Dina could only stare back in silence, taken aback by the tall girl's sudden confession.

"I was just staring to figure out how you got so much uglier since the last time I saw you." Ellie said smugly, that lopsided grin adorning her features.

"I hate you."

"You love me."

I do.

-

By the end of the movie, just as Ellie had predicted, Dina was clutching tightly at the hem of her shirt and sobbing into her chest. 

"He just-... They," Dina mumbled, overwhelmed by another sob, "loved each other.. So much.."

"She clearly could have made room for Jack on that stupid door. Rose obviously didn't like him." As cruel as Ellie pretended to be in that moment, she still wrapped a reassuring and comforting arm around Dina's shoulders. Her thumb rubbed an idle circle on the shorter girl's bicep.

Dina lifted her head from Ellie's chest and scowled at her through tears in a way that made Ellie want to laugh. 

"You just don't get it." Dina glared, quickly returning her face to Ellie's chest just so she could feel the way her chest vibrates when she spoke.

"Get what? Cause what I clearly get is that Rose could have easily slid over to make room for Jack."

"I'm inclined to believe that you have no heart and feel no emotion, Ellie Williams." Dina mumbled, finally composing herself.

"You're absolutely right. How did you know?" Ellie said in a monotone voice, clearly her best attempt at sounding robotic.

Dina laughed, rolled her eyes, and lifted her head from Ellie's chest.

"You're annoying, Ms. Robot Williams."

"Ms? It's Mrs to you." Ellie said with a glare and a fake stern voice. "I'm married. Obviously."

"Oh yeah? Married to who?"

"My microwave. Bertha." Ellie said this with such seriousness and finality, Dina had to process it for a few moments before she burst out with laughter, rolling her eyes.

"I'm seriously going to murder you." Dina shook her head as she stood from the couch, offering her hand to help Ellie up. They both knew she wouldn't need it. But she took it anyway. Ellie's hand was so warm, it was veering towards burning hot. But it was simply comforting to Dina. 

"I'm hungry." Ellie said flatly.

"That's no surprise, considering how skinny you are. Beanpole."

"Shut up. McDonald's?"

"Only if you're paying."

"Wha-"

"Aw, thanks, El. You're such a sweetheart." Dina grinned, reaching up to pinch Ellie's cheek.

"I hate you. And you sound like my grandma."

"Does Bertha know how rude you are?"

-

When they pulled up to the drive-through window to grab their food and Ellie was halfway out the window trying to grab the bag of food, Dina slammed her hand on the horn. Ellie shrieked, jumping and hitting her head on the window as she leaned back into the car.

"I fucking hate you.." Ellie grumbled, only fueling the laughter that erupted from Dina. The shorter girl's face was a bright red, tears streaming down her cheeks as wheezed.

Ellie rolled her eyes, pulling out of the drive-through and turning in the opposite direction of Dina's apartment. 

"Uh, El? Wrong way. Stupid." Dina grinned, reaching over to turn the radio on.

"We're not going back to your apartment yet, stupid. I'm taking you to a spot."

"A spot? Have you always been this vague, or is it just recently?"

"Gotta keep it vague so you don't catch on."

"Catch on to what?"

"That I'm taking you out to a secluded place so I can murder you for that stunt in the drive-through."

"Well," Dina paused, thinking about her next words for a moment, "at least you bought me dinner first."

-

Ellie didn't lie, as her old truck pushed on over the dirt road, Dina realized it was a secluded spot. She almost swooned when Ellie's truck stopped at a large lake, the setting Sun's colors reflecting vividly against the water in a beautiful chaos of colors.

"You know, I didn't think you were serious about killing me, but now I understand that you were." 

And then, Dina realized Ellie's true intentions that explained why the tall girl slapped Dina's hand away from the bag of food every time she reached for it. Ellie wanted to eat dinner in front of a beautiful sunset and lake. It was a strangely intimate and romantic act on Ellie's end, but Dina felt like she was on cloud nine with her head in the stars.

Am I in love?