The Poor Soul

Nightmares

(Travis's POV)

All of the events of today was beyond stressful, of course my sister would choose a best friend that is so complicated. She never talks so I don't see why Ariel wants to be her friend. Then again, I can't judge. I like her. I want to be with her but how hard would a relationship like that be? Does Justin feel the same way about her as I do? We all know Aron likes my sister, he has never dated because of my sister. I don't see why they don't get together. Is it because he's friends with me?

(Justin's POV)

After finding out everything today, I want to kill who ever hurt Ella. Why do I feel so attached to her? I am starting to think she doesn't even speak to Ariel. Maybe she's mute from the abuse. Why would anyone parents do that to someone? Who abused her? I decide I need to call my father before going to sleep, it's almost midnight, so I don't know if he's still up. I dialed his number and wait for him to answer.

"Hello" My dad's groggily voice comes over the phone, I deffently woke him up.

"Are you awake, dad? Sorry I'm calling so late I just got back from the hospital." I ask.

That got his attention, "What's wrong son? Why are you calling this late? Are you in trouble? Why were you at the hospital?" Dad asks worriedly.

"I'm alright dad, I need a favor." I say nervously.

"Of course, son. What is it?" Dad asks.

"I need you to have the private detective to look up information about the girl I was talking about." I say. I wait five minutes in silence, did he fall back to sleep?

"Why?" Dad asks.

I sigh, "She was abused dad, bad. Who ever has been abusing her tried to kill her earlier today and almost succeeded." I gritted out, still upset about all of this.

"Oh son, alright. What do you know about her?" Dad asks.

"Her name's Ella, I don't know her last name, she's sixteen," I try to continue but Dad cuts me off.

"Sixteen? How? Isn't she at your college?" Dad fires off questions.

"She is dad, she skipped grades and got a full scholarship here." I say.

"Impressive. Continue." Dad says.

"She has aqua blue memorizing eyes, platinum blonde hair and sun kissed tan skin.... Oh she also is majoring for business and lawyer." I say dreamily.

Dad chuckles, "Sounds like your love sick son and two majors at the same time. That's impressive. I need to meet this girl. Her looks remind me of someone but I can't put my finger on it."

"Come over before we start classes dad, I'm sure u could meet her." I say.

"I have a meeting in New Jersey tomorrow, I'll think about stopping by." Dad says.

"Okay dad. Good night." I say.

"Good night son." Dad replies and hangs up. I sigh. I can never get my amazing Ella out of my mind.

(Ella's POV)

I wake up from a nightmare, my uncle shot my parents dead and then tried to drown me at a lake. It was horrible. I stir around In my bed, fidgiting, there is no way I'm going to be able to sleep. I look at the time on my new phone and see it's three in the morning. Ugh. Why can I never just sleep in? Just once would be nice. Maybe a shower will up, I get up and grab my undergarments, black flats, black skinny jeans, white tank top and aqua blue crop top sweater. I grab a towel and my blossom rose shower gel and head to the shower room. I take an hour long hot shower, then get out and dry off, wrapping my hair in a turbun with the towel I start putting lotion on my body and then start getting dressed. When I'm done I brush my hair out and look in the mirror. I'm starting to fill out alittle now that I'm actually eating semi normal. My hair looks more healthy and my eyes shine with alittle light to them. I could actually be happy, if only I can get my Uncle off my back. What did I ever do to him, to deserve the way he treats me? I shake that thought out of my head and pack up my shower stuff, heading back to the dorm room, my dorm room. When I walk in Ariel is looking around, panicked. I eye her trying to figure out what her issue is. It's only half past four, why is she even up? Did my Uncle show up? I start panicking myself and that gets her attention. She jumps out of bed and runs over to me. She engulfs me in a bone crushing hug.

Ariel sighs, "I was so worried, I woke up and you weren't here. I thought he came back and took you away." She says sadly.

I pat her on the back akwardly and whisper, "It's okay, I just couldn't sleep and went to shower." If there were other people in the room no one but Ariel would be able to hear me.

She looks at me stunned, "I'm seriously in love with your voice, I'll never get use to it."

I smile at her and giggle quietly. She looks at me again. "Your laugh is breathtaking." She exclaims.

"You kind of sound like a love sick puppy." I whisper jokingly.

She laughs, "Man if I swung that way, I would be." She says, winking. I gasped and looked at her shocked. She starts bursting out laughing, she's holding her stomach and hunched over for laughing so hard. Before she can say anything back our door flies open, I jump and hide behind Ariel. She stops laughing and grabs a bat from under her bed waiting to hit whoever opened our door. Her brother and his two friends waltz in like they own the place and look around. When they take in the scene, they look shocked and then apologetic. Ariel loosens her grip on the bat and lowers it.

"We should have knocked, sorry." Travis says sheepishly. "But you shouldn't leave the door unlocked either."

"Yes you should have knocked, you just scared the s**t out of us. What if we were sleeping or half naked. Seriously guys, it's not a normal thing to just barge into someone's room." Ariel rants.

Travis looks petrified by the idea of seeing his sister naked, but then also a glint of mischief, wonder what that's for? Aron looks shocked and then blushes a tint of pink, awe he's thinking about Ariel naked. Justin looks confused like he just missed everything said, he probably did. He was looking at his phone till this very second.

"Thought we could all go out, maybe bowling or something fun, to you know, forget about yesterday." Travis says nervously. He has a slight blush. Why is he acting like that?

"I think my brothers crushing on you." Ariel says really loudly. I widen my eyes in shock and then hide my face in embarrassment.

"Seriously Ariel." Travis groans and everyone laughs at our expense, except Justin that looks now upset.

I go to Ariel's ear and whisper almost inaudible, even to her, "Well Aron and you have the hots for each other and won't do anything about it, you would be the cutest couple and have adorable babies."

Ariel turns to me with wide eyes, that looks like they are going to pop out of her head. Her face is a bright tomato red. Everyone chuckles.

"I'll get you back for that." She says jokingly.

Travis and Justin look at each other at the same time and then turns back to us, "What did she say?"

"Nothing." Ariel says. Then turns to me, "Ever been bowling?" I shock my head no and she sighed, "Okay then let's do that, then we can go see a movie, get our nails done and then dinner." I nod my head yes to her and then she turns to the boys, "That's what we are doing today, you can tag along if you want." They all nod in agreement.

"Dad and mom will be joining dinner." Travis says.

"Same, my dad will be at dinner. Olive garden is where we made the reservations. Good?" Justin says still typing on the phone. Travis gets on his phone probably letting his parents know the restaraunt.

Ariel nods a yes, "Want your parents to meet your girlfriend?" She asks them. They both look up with wide eyes. Aron laughs. "That's a good one Ariel, to bad they both aren't good enough."

"Who's their girlfriends?" I ask whispering in Ariel's ear, she looks at me stunned. Probably because of the sound of my voice again and then she bursts out laughing.

"What did she say?" Aron asks, deffently wanting in on the joke but I didn't remember telling one. Ariel whispers in his ear and he falls to the floor laughing like a crazy person. What just happened?

Ariel calms down alittle and turns to me saying, "You Ella, They are both trying to be with you." I widen my eyes and hide behind Ariel. "It's okay Ella, I won't let the two players become anything more than friends." I nod my head and both guys groan.

"This isn't funny, sis, stop."Travis says.

"Seriously Travis," Ariel says. "I won't let two man whores try to get with my best friend. So don't even try or I'll tell our parents and your dad that your trying to take my best friend." They both widen their eyes and nod their heads. They are kind of adorable I smile and giggle lightly. I'm sure only Ariel and Aron could hear.

Aron turns towards me, in shock, "Wow, did you hear that Ariel? It's almost like it's a Melody, it captivates you and pulls you in a trance." Travis and Justin look confused.

Ariel giggles at Aron, "Her voice is even better and I would love to hear her sing, it's got to be soothing." She says dreamily.

"If I didn't know any better I would say you were in love with her." Travis says, smirking.

"If you heard her voice, you would be too." Aron shot back, defending Ariel.

"Okay okay," Travis said with his hands up chuckling. "Let's go."

We all head out of the room and Ariel made me leave my hand bag again, something about like a date, guys have to pay, don't worry about it. We continue to the parking lot till we are in front of a silver four door lifted Chevy pick up truck. I look at it with my mouth hanging open, I love trucks. Not that I have ever tried to ride in one.

"Do you like my ride?" Travis asks while chuckling. I nod my head and then smile. He takes a sharp in take of breath. These guys are weird.

"Do you want to sit in the back with Aron and I?" Ariel asks. I start having a flash back of my two year old self in the back seat while our car flipped and flipped and my mom and dad held my tiny hands tight. I close my eyes tight trying to get those images out of my head. Someone touches my shoulder and I jump.

"Hey it's okay, why don't you sit in the front with Travis." Ariel says with her hands up. I nod my head in agreement and climb into the passenger seat with Travis's help.

(Travis's POV)

The car ride to the bowling alley was so quiet. I turned the music on to my sister's favorite pop station and kept glancing at Ella, she's shaking slightly. I grab her hand in mine and she jumps slightly, then turns her head towards me. I give her a re assuring smile and she nods in appreciation. We pull into the parking lot and I don't want to let go of her hand.

Ariel sits forward, "Are we going in?" She questions while staring at Ella's and I conjoining hands. She whispers something into Ella's ear and she turns a tint of pink and widens her eyes. Next I know she pulls her hand out of mine and jumps out of the car. Ariel laughs and follows Ella's suit. Of course she would ruin a moment like that.

(Justin's POV)

We have gotten our shoes and started a game of bowling, I can't believe Travis held Ella's hand in the car, she's mine. Ella is watching everyone bowl intently. It's finally her turn and she shakes her head no.

"I can help." I say to her. She looks at me skeptically and then nods a small yes. I help her up and wrap her up from behind positioning the pink ball in her hand right.

I whisper in her ear, "Walk forward, I'll guide you on how to throw it." Her body shivers. She starts walking forward and I help her swing the ball back and roll it down the lane. Strike. She turns smiling. I am about to cup her face and say how great she did but before I can, Ariel pulls her away and wraps her in a hug. She whispers something in her ear and Ella blushes and hides her face. Ariel giggles. Why does she have to ruin everything. We finish the game and then head back to the truck, Ella still in the front with Travis. Why do I have to compete with my best friend? Can't he understand?