Chapter 10
“God, this is going to be a long night…” she sighed as she tore her gaze away from the duo, her hands gripping onto the guitar a little tighter as she fidgeted on the spot, everything around her had practically been zoned out as she stared at the floor, lost in her own little word that she didn’t even notice the person ahead of her finishing up their performance and then the fact that it was her turn. Erin was only brought out of her trance when she was nudged by someone, her eyes blinking a few times as she raised her gaze. “Huh?” She quickly spoke curiously as she shook her head.
“It’s your turn to go on,” the voice spoke, even though it was still a little distant.
“Oh…” Erin trailed off with a blush as she held onto her guitar tightly, so much that her knuckles started to turn white a little. “Thank you,” she mumbled as she dragged herself up onto the stage, waving a little at the crowd, the cheering from her friends dancing its way into her direction and she couldn’t help but smile. At least they were making her feel a little better.
“Uh, hey everyone, my name is Erin McLeod and tonight I will be playing a song that I wrote myself, it’s basically for someone who I’ve come to know recently and is a little special to me, so… I hope you all like it, please go easy on me with this one, this is the first time I will be performing it,” she cracked a smile. The crowd clapping in support to let her know they were behind her on this and she was appreciative of it.
-----
Meanwhile, Ella was lost in her own little world talking to Anthony that she hadn’t even realize that the performances ahead of Erin had all been complete and that it was the Canadian’s turn up on the stage, the little speech that she said went completely over the American’s head as she laughed again at something the guy next to her had said. Ashlyn, Whitney and Carm instantly turned their gaze to Ella, the minute Erin said it was about someone a little special to her, but when she didn’t even flinch at the words, the three other girls looked between one another with a worry filled gaze, still wondering who on earth this dude was.
With the way things were going, the group surely thought that Ella was going to miss Erin’s performance altogether, their gazes flickering from the American to the Canadian and so forth, until they shrugged and just kept their eyes glued to Erin, showing her the support that their friend wasn’t giving her at the moment as she stood up there on stage and begin to strum her guitar.
However, the moment that she began singing, something in Ella instantly switched and her gaze quickly darted from Anthony and to the stage, instantly being drawn into the performance of the Canadian. Her voice captivating the American within an instant, her words filling her senses. Anthony stopped what he was saying the minute it happened, his own eyes moving towards the stage and then back to Ella and so forth, a smile pulling onto his face as he noticed the look in the music store worker’s eyes. He could tell she definitely had a major crush on the woman on stage.
Ella’s cheeks started to heat up as Erin continued to sing, the realization of what or more importantly who the song was about hit the American hard and she couldn’t help the smile that started to grow brightly on her face, this honestly was one of the sweetest things that someone has done for her and it only made her fall for her even more.
With the song coming to an end, all Erin could hear was the cheering and clapping of the crowd, she glanced at her friends briefly, not even bothering to look at Ella, because she was sure that she was still fixated on the boy she was with and then turned her gaze to the rest of the people in the audience, smiling and offering them a wave of thanks. After saying thanks, she took her leave off the stage, smiling at the people who came up to her and told her how great of a performance it was as she made her way to the table with her friends.
Ella’s grin never once left her face as she saw the other woman coming towards the, but when Erin didn’t pay attention to her, it started to drop, everyone around the table praised her while she took a seat in between Carm and Megan. Ella was confused as Anthony’s voice sounded off to the side.
“So, that’s the girl you’re kinda crushing on, huh? She’s really pretty and has a great voice,” he smiled.
“Yeah, she is and she does,” Ella’s blush only deepening, looking back to Erin, she leaned forward.
“Hey, you were really good, Erin,” she spoke over into the Candian’s direction, finally grabbing her attention for a split second.
“Thank you,” Erin’s response was simple as she only glanced at Ella before turning back around to the next performing, the smile completely dropping from the American’s face this time.
About ten minutes had gone by where Ella tried her best to get Erin’s attention, but she was basically having none of it and Ella honestly couldn’t understand why she was ignoring her. Then suddenly Erin stood up from her chair.
“I’m going to get a drink, anyone want anything?” She asked around the table, but ignoring Ella and the guy. A majority shook their heads no, as they still had some drink from earlier, while Pinoe and Carm asked for another beer. Nodding, she took off to the bar.
This action caused Ella to quickly stand as well. “Want a drink?” She asked him, but he shook his head no. “Alright, I will be right back,” she smiled as she took her leave to the bar as well, stopping beside Erin.
Feeling a presence beside her Erin quickly looked to the side, her small smile dropping the instant she saw the American.
“Hey…” Ella spoke cautiously.
“Hello,” was the only thing Erin responded with as she turned her gaze back to the bar.
Frowning, Ella shifted on the spot. “Erin?” She tried.
“Hm?” Erin hummed not turning her attention to Ella.
“Why are you ignoring me? Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” she simple replied as she ordered the three beers.
Sighing, Ella brushed the back of her neck. “Obviously I have done something wrong, if you won’t even look at me or give me more than a one word response.”
“You haven’t done anything wrong,” Erin rolled her eyes. “Oh, look I gave you a five words response, happy?” she let out, bitterness lacing her tone.
Erin’s response caught Ella off guard and she bowed her head in confusion. “Uh… okay…” she mumbled out as Erin’s beers were placed in front of her.
“Just go back and continuing having fun with that guy, eh,” Erin muttered finally as she grabbed hold of the beers and headed back to the table.
“Wha—“ Ella began, confused even more by what Erin had said as she followed the musician’s figure back to the table then she looked to Anthony and it finally dawned on her what she was talking about. “Shit,” she mumbled.
“What can I get for you?” The bartender’s voice breaking her train of thought and she quickly turned and ordered herself a beer.
-----
For the rest of the night, Ella tried to get Erin’s attention, but it was no use, because Erin just continued to talk to everybody else. Everyone, including Anthony, noticed the tension between the two, but they didn’t know what to say and they also didn’t want to make a scene about something that couldn’t honestly be nothing at all.
As the night finally came to an end, there was of course some awkwardness around the group. Anthony thanking Ella for keeping him company and wished her luck with the musician, Erin eyeing them with jealously until they all finally went on their way home.
----
“What was that tonight?” Ashlyn wasted no time in asking once the door closed behind them.
Ella’s eyes widened slightly at the sudden question. “What?” She quickly let out. “What was what?”
“Ella,” the blonde articulated as she gave her a look.
“What!?” She spoke again, still thoroughly confused with what Ash was trying to say.
“What was with that guy?” Ashlyn made clear.
Scrunching her face up, she finally realized what she was talking about. “Oh," she whispered. “Nothing!” She sighed. “He was just a guy that got stood up by his date and wanted some company, he recognised me from work.
“Yeah, got stood up and wanted ‘company’,” Ashlyn rolled her eyes.
Whitney just continued flicking her gaze between the two, not wanting to get involved with the situation.
“Oh my god, Ashlyn. It was nothing! The guy he was supposed to have a date with him, texted him and said he couldn’t make it,” now it was Ella’s turn to roll her eyes.
“Wait, he got stood up by a guy?”
“Yes…”
“So, he is…”
“Yes, Ashlyn, he is gay, maybe if you took notice of him some more you might have figured it out,” she sighed.
“I wasn’t even really focused on him personally, was more focused on the two of you.”
“Yeah, well, I got that now,” Ella shook her head.
“Think we all got the wrong impression.”
“Including Erin…” Whitney finally piped in.
“Shit, Erin,” Ashlyn spoke.
“And she won’t even talk to me, so I can’t even talk to her about it,” she sighed again. “You all just blew that whole situation way out of proportion.”
“Well, you did look like you were enjoying yourself.”
"Just because I was laughing or whatever with him, doesn’t mean I like him like that, I only just met the guy,” she ran a hand through her hair.
“We know that now.”
“But, hey, least we know Erin likes you quite a bit that she got really jealous,” Ashlyn shrugged.
“Not helping, Ash,” Ella pursed her lips. “I have to try and talk to Erin,” she continued as she grabbed her phone and headed towards her room, she was done with the conversation with her tow best friends, she just wanted to be alone.
[11:48pm] Ella: Erin, what happened tonight wasn’t what you thought, can we PLEASE talk… please, let me explain and clear things up with you.