Good. I like this jacket -- if you got barf on it, I was gonna bill you for the dry cleaning.
[ His hands sort of hover around her even when she pulls away to steady herself. Once he's convinced she won't topple over, his hands drop to his sides. ]
[ Once Ellie has gathered herself, she opens her eyes to look at the house in front of her. She can hear the bustling of people, conversations and music, and her stomach sort of starts to sink at the discovery. She tangles her fingers together, face wearing a look of doubt. ]
Um.
[ It's been almost a month since she's arrived here. Nothing bad has happened, no one has come after her. This is the time to get it over with and have a whole night out without Joel, without holing herself up in her room. God she hopes she doesn't have an episode. ]
[ This is legitimately the first time she's left the house without Joel. The last few times she's left the house with Joel, someone has run past her or she's heard a door slam or a car alarm and it's set something off in her head. She's had Joel take her home in the middle of errands, and she's taken fifteen minute bathroom breaks at stores while he waits outside. Ellie's confidence sort of plummets when she reminds herself of this. But her attention shifts when Peter offers his arm. ]
If my buddy gets worried... Yeah.
[ More like she'll get worried and pull a gun on everyone. Maybe. Ellie swallows something thick and decides to take Peter's arm. ]
I'll be okay. I'll be fine.
[ And she says this in a way she's trying to convince herself. ]
no subject
[ His hands sort of hover around her even when she pulls away to steady herself. Once he's convinced she won't topple over, his hands drop to his sides. ]
Ready for this?
no subject
Um.
[ It's been almost a month since she's arrived here. Nothing bad has happened, no one has come after her. This is the time to get it over with and have a whole night out without Joel, without holing herself up in her room. God she hopes she doesn't have an episode. ]
Yeah. Yeah, let's do this.
no subject
If your buddy gets worried-- [ He means Joel, of course ] --and wants you back home, just let me know. I can get you back as quick as you want.
[ This is, of course, a thinly veiled instruction: If it gets to be too much, I can get you out. ]
no subject
If my buddy gets worried... Yeah.
[ More like she'll get worried and pull a gun on everyone. Maybe. Ellie swallows something thick and decides to take Peter's arm. ]
I'll be okay. I'll be fine.
[ And she says this in a way she's trying to convince herself. ]