The Darkness Behind The Warm Touch

 Ellie Sammuels wanted to help people as much as she could. She didn’t want people to hurt...not like she did. She helped out with every charity in the Cleveland area, she even was able to help in other cities too.  In school she was there to protect the people she was around. Ellie was very awkward. She never had a real friend...or a family for that matter. When she was younger she had lost her older sister to fire caused by her own father. Her father was put in jail and her mother couldn’t face the reality...so she hung herself. 

     Ellie was put in the system when she was six years old, she then found out she had an aunt. Her aunt was kind at first...then things changed. Her aunt became very cruel toward her. Years later when Ellie is 14 all she wanted to do was help. She got bullied in these years for various reasons, being too skinny, being too fat, being too girly, being too boyish...it was always something. Even so her main desire was to help. She had astounding grades and a warm personality. 

     She had gotten beat up time to time only to protect those in need. One day she was walking home and saw a young woman. The woman was being mugged Ellie jumped in to help. She called the police but they weren't coming fast enough. She pushed the thug back as hard as she could. The thug clashed back and hit Ellie in the face bruising her eye. She looked at the woman and mouthed “Run.” The woman did as she was told. Ellie started to run on adrenaline. She caught her balance then looked at the man and said the following “Only a coward would hit a defenseless teenager!” He shoved her to the ground knowing her uncousion. The thug feld and she woke up in her bed.

    As she got up for the morning she saw the puncher wound on her eye. She touched it as she did she flinched. She pulled her hair over her eye and went to school. School wasn’t any better than the usual. Erin Green was her main bully. He liked to push into the locker, usual bully things. Today was different though he wasn’t trying to harm her...he could see she was in pain. She kept flinching in class and every time the teacher walked by she moved closer in her seat. The thug who had bruised her was her teacher. 

     At the end of class Erin had had enough. He’s been trying to check on her the entire class period. As they got out of the classroom he pushed her against the lockers.  He placed his hands beside her head one on each side. As she tried to move he blocked her with his foot. “What wrong Ellie tell me?!” She looked away and her hair had moved slightly away from her eye and saw her bruised eye. He took his hand and moved the hair away from her face. He was shocked. She shoved him and tried to move but he grabbed her by both her wrist. He pinned her to the lockers. She winced as if he were going to hit her. No matter how many times he had bullied her he had never hit her...and he never would. “Ellie tell me what happened, please?” Erin asked softly. “WHAT DO YOU CARE?!” She yelled back. 

   He closed his eyes and asked gently but in an annoyed voice, “Ellie...Who hit you?” She looked down and he tightened his grip. “There was this girl…” Ellie began. “She Was being mugged. I stepped in...it didn’t end the best it could have…” She looked away and he could see all the pain she was feeling. “You know your kindness is gonna get you killed.” She looked at him and smiled and made the haunting reply. “Let's hope it does.” He tightened his grip even more and looked deeply into her eyes. Without thinking he kissed her, She was shocked at first but soon kissed back. She shoved and looked down at herself. 

    He walked back realizing what had happened. “You have a girlfriend...I have a boyfriend...This can never happen again...I am dating your best friend!” She took off down the hall. Erin leaded against the lockers...Why would I do that? He thought as he rubbed his lips...And why do I want to do it again? The agony was killing him. Ellie stopped in a nearby girls bathroom. She looked deeply into the mirror. Why would he do that?! She thought...Why did I like it so much?! She hit herself knowing it could never happen...Could it? 

   As she was walking home she saw a little girl getting “touched” She ran over and hit the guy as hard she could. He beat the living daylights out of her but all she knew was that the girl was safe. As she walks along the sidewalk dripping in blood. A door opened and a boy ran out of the house. It was none other than 15 year old Erin Green. He ran to Ellie's side and helped her to his cough. She looked at him and said “I’m fine Erin leave me alone.” He grabbed the bandage and snapped “Shut up Ellie no you’re not I’m helping you whether you like it or not. About an hour later she was resting on the cough when Erin got a text. He looked at his phone and Ellie looked over his shoulder. It was Erin’s girlfriend and Ellie’s boyfriend kissing at a mall.

   Erin sat back as he looked at Ellie. She was breathing heavily and she had her hands over her face. He took her and pulled her close and held her in his warm arms. They looked at each other then began to kiss. It was a deep kiss that quickly became more. The next morning they woke on the couch next to one another. Erin smiled and said “Well that’s one way to get over a break up.” They both laughed and Ellie pulled Erin’s shirt over her shoulder and proceeded to get ready for school. They walked to school and entered the classroom. There was a new teacher there turns out their teacher had got arrested for assaulting a minor. 

     Erin and Ellie began to date and they had what they thought was a great relationship. One day however Erin’s ex kissed him in front of the whole school and said “Thanks for helping me embarrass that little brat that thought you would ever date her. Ellie listened to her sweet sweet speech. All Ellie wanted to do was help and there was only one way she thought she could help now...and that was by leaving. She ran to the roof and Erin followed. Ellie started to cry but quickly wiped away her tears. She looked down the five story building and...JUMPED. Erin screamed and cried now to this day he still cries at night at the thought of that lie his ex told...I should know I am Erin after all. All she ever wanted to do was help.