Under Pressure (53)

Hurried footsteps broke the silence between Bella and me, just as we were about to speak.

"Ellie." Joe broke in.

FUUCK, I'm so fucking tired of HIM interrupting us.

He passed me some things to eat and to drink but my eyes were still stubbornly fixed on the redhead in front of me.

Joe suddenly laughed at Bella's nervous expression.

"What's wrong with you, red?! I don't think you actually need this right now..." He sneered, looking at the coffee he held.

"My name is Bella, you douchebag," she corrected him sharply.

"Shit... calm down. I see you're a little pissed off, but don't come at me." He mocked, amused.

"Yes, I will. I have every reason to." She affirmed.

Joe laughed dismissively and sharply, making me feel uncomfortable.

"Yeah?! And how so? Come on... tell me."

"Because you piss me off." Bella replied immediately.

He made an annoyed gesture with his hand, attempting to cut her off.

"That's your fucking problem, not mine. Grow up already."

Bella took a quick step towards him, making my heart race.

"Why don't you grow a pair, huh?"

Joe frowned, his anger rising. "What the hell are you implying?!"

"Oh, you know exactly what I'm talking about." Bella affirmed harshly.

The air was getting more tense, and Joe made it heavier as he approached her with an irritated grin on his face.

My heart racing for Bella, a mix of worry and something stronger.

"You're really starting to piss me off, red"

That's it.

I hate him.

I stepped between them as they dangerously closed in on each other.

There was barely any space for me.

Bella raised her eyebrows challengingly to him.

"I thought you were used by it by now."

As they faced each other, I couldn't help but see the physical disparity between us. Joe is taller than both me and Bella—and really muscular.

She seemed not to care about it, but it was starting to scare me.

"You like causing trouble, don't you? You're a fucking pro at it." Joe smirked, his words dripping with venom. "Too bad you're so good at it, maybe that's the only thing you're good for."

"Stop Joe. This is enough."

My voice trembled slightly, though I tried to keep it steady.

I grabbed his arm, trying to push him back, but he didn't even look at me, let alone listen.

Bella didn't flinch under his eyes.

"You don't know shit about me, and I'm just getting started, you better keep up."

Her voice had never sounded this cold and uncomfortable.

It makes my heart break for her, seeing her stand there so strong, but I know every word from him is hurting her more than she shows.

Joe's eyes narrowed in anger.

"You keep PUSHING IT! You keep pushing everyone! This is your damn fucking problem and you—"

"Stop." I ordered.

Bella fell silent as Joe's words clearly struck a nerve, her sore spot. Her eyes filled with rage and emotion, though she tried to pretend it didn't bother her.

"No, I don't fucking stop, Ellie! She has to learn the lesson, because she can't control her—"

"STOP! Stop talking, Joe. Don't fucking say another thing." I cut him off.

He looked at me, his eyes wide with rage and confusion.

"Why? WHY?! You're fucking under her influence! You are not lucid, Ellie!"

Bella snapped, no longer able to contain herself, charging at him with all her anger. "How dare you, you assh—"

"Bella..." I spoke softly, placing a hand on her chest.

I felt so bad for interrupting her, but I had to.

My eyes met hers, begging her to not give him that satisfaction before it was too late.

The tension in my shoulders, the slight shake in my hands—my fear was all there.

I watched her face flicker with uncertainty, before she closed her lips and took a deep breath. She understood me.

Bella wasn't scared of Joe, I could tell, but both she and I knew exactly what pushing him too far could lead to.

"Got something to say, huh?! Say it again if you have courage!" He insisted, leaning in dangerously.

"I already did." Bella replied in a lower voice.

She was fighting hard not to let Joe get the better of her.

Her eyes burned—literally—with every kind of negative emotion towards him.

I hate him for making us go through this.

"Come on, Ellie, she has nothing to say..." Joe smirked. "Let's go to our room," he demanded, squeezing my arm.

Bella glanced a very worried look at him grabbing my arm.

I immediately freed myself from his disgusting grip.

I leaned closer to Bella, "You okay?" I asked softly. She was the only one listening to my voice.

She nodded.

I wanted to touch her, to kiss her, to tell her that everything is fine, but I can't, I can't right now.

"Ellie, what are you doing now?!" Joe demanded as he saw that I wasn't moving an inch.

"I want you to tell us the truth about what the hell happened to you tonight, Joe," I tried to keep my voice low.

"What are you talking about?!" He laughed forcefully.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Bella and I saw you and Leo arguing with a guy." I insisted.

"We can talk about it in our room, Ellie."

How he likes stirring the pot...

"No. Bella has the right to hear, since Leo is involved in all of this too. Am I wrong?" I demanded.

Bella took a quick step toward me, giving me an understanding look. "Yes, you're right, Ellie..." She smiled at me, then turned to him. "Spit it out, if you have the courage."

I adore her.

Joe was stuck now, between me and Bella and I could sense the weight pressing down on him.

Suddenly, he was quiet.

Bella leaned her back against a wall, next to me, with her arms crossed, her beautiful dress hugging her figure.

Hot.

"You can start now..." She suggested, teasing him.

Joe rolled his eyes and looked at me.

"Leo and I were waiting for that guy... he had a thing we wanted."

"What thing?"

"But that fucker—mocked us. We confronted him, he got scared and ran away."

"What did you want from this guy, Joe?" I insisted.

"Just a little bit of weed, Ellie." He replied, shrugging nonchalantly, his tone still tensed.

Bella let out sharp sigh.

"Hm. So here's why Leo just ran off after that. He is too scared to face me."

"Since when do you smoke weed?" I asked. I was so confused.

"You know that I'm very nervous about the wedding and a lot of other things, Ellie..." His tone casual but irritated.

"When you're nervous, you do different things! You don't go buy weed from a fucking drug dealer! Do you even understand how you put us in a very dangerous situation?!" I snapped.

By 'us' I was just meaning Bella and me. That was the only thing that mattered to me.

"You are just overreacting." Joe said to me sarcastically.

"I'm not overreacting! I hate this and how you—"

He interrupted me. "Stop being this dramatic, Ellie. You just need t—"

"Stop talking over her." Bella cut him off.

"You stay away from this!" He shouted.

"I'm not staying away with anything, as long as Ellie wants."

Joe called me out, demanding to stop the situation.

"Bella can talk as much as she wants." I affirmed.

She looked at me and smiled softly as if sharing an unspoken agreement.

"This a fucking JOKE!" Joe protested, pacing back and forth.

"Yeah it is. And I'm very tired to hear your bullshit," I said back.

"Move on, Ellie! The weed was just a fucking little thing that I needed to have fun."

"Such a nerve to say that." Bella hissed.

"Move on? I always move on with you, Joe, and now I'm fucking tired of doing that!" Words escaped my mouth naturally.

"I don't want to hear her anymore, Ellie, let's go to our room!" He demanded once again, grabbing my arm.

Bella was already coming toward me even before I cut him off.

"I'm not coming with you." I said.

"What?!"

He was so pissed off now.

Good.

"I said that I'm not coming with you."

"And what the hell—"

"Go and calm yourself down, because you're starting to make me really nervous. And while you're at it, think about all the bullshit you've done so far."

His eyes wide with disbelief.

"Are you serious?!"

"One hundred percent." I insisted.

Feeling literally trapped, by me and Bella's threatening look, Joe took a step back.

His face was still red from the drinking and his anger, and I thought he might blow up again any second... but he just walked away.

Without saying a word and without looking back.

I waited until he was completely gone, then took steps toward Bella— she mirrored my movement.

She looked deep into me, her eyes melting, both of us smiling tenderly as my heart fluttered.

"Bella..." I said softly, yet trembling.

"Please... you have to tell me what exactly happened with Joe at work, because I'm terrified now that he did something to you."

A/N

Ellie and Bella FINALLY beating Joe's ass!!! 🙂‍↕️🥳

Next chapter gonna beee...🦋🥹❤️