"You are extraordinary." (31)

*warning: eating disorder*

"Are you hungry?" Bella asked me looking right into my eyes.

I lowered my gaze: "I'm still full from breakfast..."

She sighed slowly, "Ellie, you didn't eat that much breakfast..." A strange discomfort ran through her voice.

I smiled, but in a nervous way: "Yes, I

did..."

Bella tilted slightly her head, as if I was telling a big lie.

Her eyes seemed to look inside me.

How does she does that?

"I'm just trying to help you..." She whispered.

I crossed my arms, sighing deeply.

Defensiveness ran through my body.

"Sorry... I'm not used to... talk about that..." I whispered like a fragile truth.

Bella sighed softly, as she were really trying to understand my deepest insecurities.

"I'm right here if you want to talk about it. Take your time."

I still have this big lump around my throat and it wouldn't go down and I fear she understood that.

I remained silent for quite some time.

Bella didn't ask me any questions, she didn't force me to talk about it, yet her eyes spoke louder than words.

It's like she sees right through me.

And in that moment I felt ready.

I want her to know.

I trust her... I have this feeling since our eyes first met.

I swallowed hard, trying to regain my breath.

"I know that sometimes I don't eat like a normal person." I begin to talk.

Bella froze.

She stopped doing wherever she was doing and gave her undivided attention to me.

"Sometimes I have to... control it."

My heart is pounding as I said those words.

Pain gets hard.

"I am not going to judge you, Ellie." She affirmed.

A smile returned to my face.

"I know you won't, that's why I'm talking to you right now..."

Her hand reached mine: "I just want to help you."

I shivered at that contact.

I smiled softly, "You are already doing that, Bella. I wasn't used to talk about it before you."

She squeezed my hand, still not taking her eyes off me.

"I understand that you find facing this very difficult, it takes a lot of courage to admit that something is not right, Ellie.

It is already very important."

I was about to cry but not with sad tears.

Someone is finally understanding me.

Bella smiled sweetly.

"Sweetie, you will get through this. Everything is going to be alright. I will be happy to support you."

I burst into an emotional smile as she pressed our hands together.

"You make me feel this weight less heavier." I whispered.

Her smile widened as her eyes got teary too.

"You don't know how much that makes me happy, sweetie."

She sighed slowly, her hands trembling.

"It breaks my heart to watch you go through this but I believe that with the right support... you can feel so much better."

Her voice was soft and soothing, almost a prayer as she spoke, full of warmth and sincerity.

I looked into her candid eyes as I took a deep, reassuring breath, feeling that the worst had passed thanks to her and her unwavering support.

I paused.

"...I'm willing to have a support through that." I finally admitted.

I have finally found the courage to say this.

After all this time.

"That's a fair decision, Ellie. You will not regret that, I promise you." She affirmed.

Her eyes got suddenly sad as she rested her other hand on mine.

I feel like she wanted to talk but she was carefully choosing her words.

"Who made you think you are not enough?" She asked me.

Her voice was confident, but broken a little at the same time.

Her eyes were so empathetic and sincere, yet they darkened.

I was stunning.

For some strange reason, I tried to pull my hands back, but she squeezed them tighter, not letting me go, as she didn't want our contact to break.

I was so glad she didn't let me go.

"I don't know..." My voice trembled.

"I guess sometimes I struggle with the way I see myself... or maybe... maybe, I'm just like that..." A ragged sob came out from my chest at that moment.

I feel like I'm sinking.

Bella looked straight into my eyes, her eyes sparkle.

"You are extraordinary, Ellie.

Your beauty shines not just on the outside, but also from within. Your strength and kindness are what make you truly extraordinary. No one can make you feel any different than that."

That last sentence. She said that like she really mattered that.

My eyes got wet.

How could she think such beautiful things about... me? Me!? I felt my heart beating fast for her.

No one has ever said these words to me.

Anyone, but my mom.

"Oh, Bella..." I was about to cry as I shook my head, smiling in embarrassment.

I still don't know to handle with this kind of new fuzzy feelings she makes me feel... that was too much, sometimes.

I caressed the back of her hands realizing how soft her skin was.

I smiled spontaneously.

"I'm so happy you are right here with me. I have never felt more lucky than that."

I lowered my gaze, smiling slightly.

"I wouldn't want anyone else."

For that lunch I ate everything that was on my plate and I was okay with that.

I was okay with everything that happened, as long as she was with me.

At the end of the lunch, I smiled towards her. "Do you want to go get some ice cream?"

Bella leaned over me with an insecure smile.

"I really want that." I affirmed.

She jumped up from her chair nodding happily at me.

~

"What ice cream flavors do you want?" Bella asked me staring thoughtfully at the sign above us with all the ice cream flavors.

"Strawberry and cream... like always."

"I will get chocolate and vanilla. Like always." She winked in my direction.

We eventually sat on a bench near the beach with our ice cream.

"How much longer will we have the car?" I asked her pondering about it.

"For a couple more hours, but if you want, I can–"

"No, that's perfect..." I smiled at her.

Bella wrapped her arm around mine, I leaned softly in her shoulder.

"Do you have something in your mind?" She asked me, intrigued about it.

"Before coming to Hawaii, I did a little research about some places to see here and... I'm quite sure that not too far from where we are now... there is park with waterfalls..." I said.

Bella smiled at me.

A kind of smile you maybe meet once or twice in your life because it was too good to be true.

I did a quick search on my phone.

"The nearest Waterfalls are exactly 25 minutes away from us..." I spoke hiding a pleasant smile.

"It couldn't be more perfect, Ellie." She affirmed.

She suddenly leaned over me and kissed my lips urgently.

Our tongues made contact in a slow, sensual movement that sent me chills down my spine. It was a deep, unexpectedly intense kiss.

Her face got all pleasantly surprised for some reason...

"Mmh. I like strawberry and cream. It tastes good on you."

She raised both her eyebrows licking the internal of her mouth as if nothing happened.

Her warm, sensual tone of voice lingered as she quietly said that.

I remained breathless... and yearning for more...

Oh shit.

Bella smiled pleasantly, she gently grasped my chin closer with her fingers and gave me another passionate kiss, deliberately leaving me her taste on my lips.

A reminder of her undeniable presence.

"Yours is good too..." I whispered in a very low voice as if I were still too stunned.

I blushed almost immediately.

I can't believe I actually said that.

Bella obviously giggled at my reaction, then reached my hand again.

"I'm glad you think so; I only want to leave you wanting more..."

She whispered.

Shit.

"We should start going, Ellie..." She said casually, as if  the tension was too much to handle.

"Definitely." I agreed.