"You've got me." (51)

[Warning: blood and swearing]

Instead of feeling pain, I felt a strange rush of euphoria, as if the world had slowed down just for me.

My head spinning with a mix of confusion, making it hard to focus on anything clearly.

My view of the world became clearer only when, a few moments later, I saw a redhead pushing through the crowd toward me.

My heart was dancing in my chest at her sight.

Bella was now in front of me, reaching out her hand, her eyes filled with worry.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

She scanned my boby from top to bottom.

I took her hand, and she held me tightly to help me stand.

How I missed her warm touch.

"Yeah, it's okay, I'm fine. I've just stepped over something." I lowered my gaze, as I quickly hid my injuried hand behind my back, keeping my face neutral.

Bella's worried look focused on that gesture, which she obviously noticed.

"Let me see your hand, please." She urged.

Her voice soft but sharp, like she knew something was off.

"It's nothing, Bella."  I replied, smiling. But she wasn't convinced.

Without saying a word, she stepped closer, her eyes searching mine before she gently reached for my hand.

"Show me, Ellie." She insisted, her fingers brushing over my arm.

Reluctantly, I let her take my hand.

That glass had cut me deeper than I thought, now that I looked at it more carefully.

The moment Bella saw the blood, her jaw tightened.

Her eyes flickered, but she quickly hid it, keeping her expression calm.

"It doesn't hurt me." I stated.

Which is weird but it's the truth.

"We need to get out of here." She affirmed, as she keep scanning first my hand and then around her.

Bella's fingers trace gentle patterns along my waist, holding me close.

"Let's go somewhere quiet."

She led me through the crowd, her hand firm on my waist, her eyes already planning the safest path for us.

I was too focused on the way she was touching me to feel any other pain.

This is how she makes me feel...

We slipped into a quiet corner, away from the noise and the people.

She spotted a chair and tugged it toward me.

"Sit." She ordered softly.

I obeyed, sinking into the chair as my hand was starting to throbbing.

Bella grabbed something from a near table and then knelt down in front of me. My heart skipped a beat.

Her face closer now, her eyes shifting worriedly between my wound and my face.

"We have to press it," She informed me as she put some napkins against my wound.

"This might hurt a little..." She whispered.

I give her a reassuring nod.

Bella pressed it gently but firmly, the urgency in her movements grew as she tried to understand if the bleeding would stop.

I watched her every move and my eyes softened.

"Bella, I really need to tell you that thing, as we haven't finished talking..."

"Not now, Ellie, please." She begged, cutting me off.

She pressed the napkins bandage around my palm, her hands trembling just slightly, like she wasn't sure if she was doing right.

I bit my lips.

"Yes, now." I urged.

Bella raised her gaze and I could see the worry she was trying to hide—it was in the tightness of her jaw, the quickness of her breath.

"Listen... when we're together, everything feels right and without you... nothing makes sense." I smiled, my heart pounding.

Her eyes melted, becoming glossy, reveling both her vulnerability and her concern.

"I'm done second-guessing, I'm done thinking about anyone else's needs before us. I'm done holding back my feelings... there's a thread that connects us, Bella, invisible but undeniable, and we both know it's there."

Her eyes were glistening now.

There was a softness in the way her brow furrowed slightly, as if she were trying to show both her fears and hopes.

"It is, Ellie. Of course it is." She whispered.

"Thank you for everything you said, you don't know how much it means to me." She affirmed, making an effort to smile.

I could tell her mind was on my wound.

Her gaze slowly lowered to my hand, and her eyes darkened immediately.

"Does it hurt?" She asked me, her voice trembling.

"No, it's fine."

"We need to wrapped it up..."

I could see the concern in the way she spoke.

"Okay..."

She sat back on her heels, letting out a sigh.

She was still watching me, still making sure I was okay.

"I don't know if..." She whispered, interrupting herself.

"It's okay, Bella. Go on."

"Tell me if I hurt you..." She pleaded.

She wrapped the bandage around my palm.

The cut throbbed in my hand as the blood stained the napkins.

I bit my lips.

"I'm sorry..." Bella sighed, sensing that I was trying not to show any strong emotions.

I looked into her eyes and smiled, "Don't be, I've got you. Keep going."

Her leg was tapping nervously on the lawn and her breath quickened.

"I'm fine, Bella, I can take this." I affirmed.

Her eyes scanned me, tilting her head in worry, as she wasn't sure of my words.

My other hand reached her out, still unsure how to act... as if it were no longer used to touching her... how I missed this sensation.

It slipped, trembling, through her soft red hair, as I my fingers gently moved the strads away from her frown.

Bella's breath softened as she moved closer, leaning into my touch.

I kept rubbing her scalp as her worried eyes shifted toward me.

"I need to tie a knot..."

I gave her a nod of approval.

"I don't want to hurt you, Ellie..." She gasped.

"No, you won't." I reassured her.

The heat I was feeling quickly intensified as she pressed it. That hurted.

"How is it...?" Bella asked me once again.

"Bearable." I smiled slightly.

"You are doing great, Ellie. You are doing so well. You've got me."

I was on the verge of crying. And not because of my wound.

I watched her every movement as she struggled, the napkins too small to cover my whole hand.

"Shit, fuck." She cursed in despair.

She sighed sharply.

"This thing won't fucking knot..."

"Let me see..." I reached out my other hand, but her instinct cut me off.

"No. Ellie, please." She ordered softly, blocking my hand.

I took a deep breath, realizing she was acting out of concern, trying to keep me safe, even if it meant hurting herself emotionally.

"Okay, I won't... you've got this." I whispered softly.

I ran my fingers through her hair, trying to reassure her once again.

"Sorry..." She murmured, moved.

"This is not your fault, Bella. You are doing everything you can." I stated.

She just took a long breath.

The humid air clung to our skin, sweat on her forehead as gently brushed the damp strands of hair sticking to her face.

Bella looked at me, her eyes begging.

"Hold still, Ellie, please, we are almost done..."

I wanted to pull my hand back in that moment because it was starting to hurt more, but I didn't, and I didn't say a word.

I could see Bella holding into me with the instinct to help and the fear of causing me more pain.

"Please, almost over..."

"Look at me, Bella, just for a second."

She did as I asked.

"I just wanted to tell you that you are doing enough."

"I'm trying to do more, Ellie..." Her voice trembled.

"But I'm failing."

I reached for her wrist. "I know it feels like that right now, but you're more than enough. Your effort matters more than you realize."

She bit her lips, the storm in her eyes slowly calming down as she met my gaze.

I gave her a sweet smile.

In that moment, I heard footsteps approaching... us?

I saw Bella roll her eyes at them, irritation and resentment on her face now.

I turned my face toward those footsteps— fuck, it was Joe.

Did he finish arguing with...? I don't even know his name...

And where is Leo, by the why?

"Hey, what are you doing? I recognized you from afar."

Joe was red, smiling, sweaty, and possibly very drunk.

He was definitely drunk. He was holding a beer.

How surprising!

He slowly approached and searched for my gaze, waiting for an answer.

"I've... I've just slipped over something. Nothing serious." I spoke.

"Is that so?" He asked me, confused about what was going on when I wasn't under his control.

Bella and I both ignored him and after a moment that felt like forever, she managed to make a makeshift knot.

"Better?" She asked me, her voice quieter now, almost fragile.

I nodded, my chest tightened from the intensity. "Yeah... yeah, it's better."

"Can you get me more napkins?" Bella demanded of Joe, but still looking at me.

I could see how stressed she was about Joe's presence.

He leaned down to look at my wound.

"Hm." Was his annoyed response as he turned around.

Bella watched my wound with a strange look in her eyes, and then watched his every move as she quickly stood up.

"Wait a second, Ellie, I'll be right back."

"What are you doing, Bella?" I asked her, almost reaching out her hand.

"Stay here. And press it. Please." She demanded, her voice leaving no room for argument.

Bella was already walking, and from her determined expression, it was clear she knew exactly where to go.

*BELLA'S POV*

That dumbass wouldn't even bother to ask if she was okay.

I swear I'd grab one of my heels and throw it at his stupid face.

I walked faster and stopped right in front of him as he calmly searched for the fucking napkins.

He turned to me, almost surprised.

"It would be better to call a doctor."

I stated.

I couldn't do anything to stop the fear in my voice.

He huffed. "Let me take a proper look at it, before that."

There's no way he could reach her.

I stepped in between to prevent him from getting to her, crossing my arms and pointing my legs to the ground.

"If you have eyes—you clearly saw it's bleeding. I did my best to prevent it, but I'm not a fucking doctor."

Anger rushed through my body.

"Clearly." He complained.

God, please stop me, or I'll punch him.

He opened his lips to speak, but I cut him off.

My irritation grew.

"We are wasting time..." I broke down.

"If you care for her, please, call a doctor."

Desperation tightened my throat.

He stiffened as he clearly didn't expect this kind of worry in my tone.

"Please..." I sighed, my heart raced.

There's something very wrong about how I can clearly see how he enjoys my pleading.

He knows that I DON'T plead people.

I hate how my vulnerability seems to thrill him.

And he doesn't fucking care about Ellie.

"Fine." He smirked, enjoying the power play, but for once, I didn't care.

He could smirk all he wanted.

He pushed past me.

"Wait." I stopped him.

"What now?" He seethed.

"Give me the bandana that's on your wrist."

I held out my hand.

"Why?"

Idiot.

"Just give me that fucking bandana."

I ordered.

He didn't ask any more questions and he passed me what I requested. Rolling his eyes.

I held it tightly in my hand as I quickly made my way back to Ellie, while he went in the opposite direction.

"Fuck you, asshole." I muttered angrily.

Too bad he didn't hear me.

A/N

OKAYY this was rough and tough.

Seee ya, bye 😘🙂‍↕️😉