The Unexpected Best Friends

Chapter 10 – He found out

Dave did in fact noticed the weird looks they were giving Ella. Initially, he thought it’s because her clothing is kind of out-of-place. In this club where most women are wearing skimpy outfits, she is considerably overdressed. But then, one man approached them with a grin and Ella hid behind him. He could feel her trembling hand in his.

“Ella, you’re back to the club, I see. But why didn’t you change your clothes? Is this your new kink or what?” He was grinning and Dave could see how malicious his expression is.

The heck? Ella couldn’t bring herself to face the guy. She’s extremely embarrassed. When she tried pulling her hand out of Dave’s grasp, he merely tightened his hold on her.

Something’s going on here, he can surmise that much.

Another man sidled next to the first one. He has the same mocking expression.

“You lasted quite long. How many months has it been? Do you finally miss the grinding? Come out, I’ll make you feel good.”

Does this man even know how to read a situation? The first guy elbowed him.

“Are you blind? She’s with Dave. Are you her current boyfriend, then? Or is this just a fling? No strings? Line up properly, dude. Can I be next when you’re done with Dave?”

Ella felt cold all over. Is this how they really view her before? She would admit that most of her relationships don’t last very long and she’d been with many men from the time she learned to date. Yes, when she’s available, she would flirt with just about anyone and make out with them.

“I think… it would be best if I don’t see you in my club anymore. Both of you.” Dave didn’t like their words and though he looked clueless earlier, he’s not about to let them disrespect Ella. Finally noticing his anger, the two guys stepped back.

“Hey, man… don’t take it seriously. We’re just… It’s Ella. This is nothing to her. She’s used to it. Right, Ella?”

If she could go back and slap her past self, she would. She almost chuckled. She really let them disrespect her that much, didn’t she? She thought nothing of it back then. They’re just words and she played along. Now, though… she’s seeing it very differently. It’s something she clearly doesn’t like and she won’t have it repeated.

Being addressed like this, Ella thought she should make her position clear.

“I don’t like it. Stop talking to me like that.” She managed to say without quivering.

The guys were stunned to hear her deny it. Or contradict it, more like.

“You heard her. Now, go. We don’t want to talk to you.”

Their expression as they left didn’t sit well with Dave. It looked like they’re harboring ill intentions and the way they glanced at Ella wasn’t friendly.

He tugged Ella forward to his office. He’s questioning now why he gave people access to the second floor. Sure, it’s where couples could privately make out without causing a scandalous scene on the dance floor. Clearly, he hasn’t thought it through.

Ella was silently crying as she followed behind Dave. Thankfully, there’s no more people in that area. Within a minute, they reached his office and he slammed the door behind him. She trembled from anxiety.

“What was that about?” His tone was very controlled, but she could hear the anger beneath it.

She couldn’t look at him. Plopping down on a chair behind her, she covered her face with her hands. Before she did so, Dave got a glimpse of her tear-stained face and his heart ached. Just what happened?

“Ella?” His voice softened but he chose not to approach her.

“I’m sorry.” She stated as she continued to cry. She repeated this phrase a few more times.

He let out a huge breath as he watched her.

“Explain to me, what’s going on? What are those guys talking about?”

Ella bit her lip at being asked directly by him.

“That was…” She started. What is she supposed to tell him?

“That’s who I was in the past. I was that girl before.” Her voice broke near the end of the second sentence.

“I don’t want to be that girl anymore. I am no longer that person.” She could feel something squeezing her heart. Recalling their words, she cried again and refused to look at Dave. What must he think of her now?

Dave took a while to understand her words. He really… he couldn’t imagine her that way. An Ella in skimpy clothes, making out with random guys she met at the club… Damn it.

His image of her crumbled. He thought she’s an innocent and he’d been very careful even when just kissing her. He treated her with the assumption that she’d never dated anyone before, that she’d never been in a relationship before…

“Why did you lie?” He would have never thought the things she said were just lies…

“I didn’t… not exactly. I just… I didn’t want you to know about my past. You saw how they treated me. I’m sick and tired of that. I wanted to be treated like a proper girl.” She was openly crying now and glanced at him a few times.

“I was… I was easy to get back then. They don’t bother making the effort to treat me well, because they think I’m fine with anything. I was the girl they turn to when their girlfriends aren’t being agreeable. Or when they break up. Sometimes I don’t even know that they haven’t broken up yet. But they never treated me the way they woo their girlfriends. No dinner dates. No dates in general. No flowers. No chocolates. Nothing. Not even proper conversations to tell me they’re serious about me. They discard me quickly when they’re tired of me. I just… I wanted to experience what it’s like to be courted. To be treasured. To be pampered. To be given a guy’s time and effort.”

Dave didn’t know about this part of her life. He had no idea. In a way, he’s hurting for her. But at the same time, he didn’t like the fact that he didn’t know… that she hid it from him.

“Am I wrong in wanting that? Is it too much to ask?”

His heart broke when he heard her ask these questions.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you.”

“It’s just… I don’t want to be judged by how stupid I’ve been in the past. If you knew… you wouldn’t even… I bet you wouldn’t even bother talking to me.” She smiled despite herself. Her life is just… so pitiful right now.

Well, at least she’d been able to experience being treated as someone special. Thanks to Dave, that is.

“It’s funny, though. In all the times I’ve been to this club, why is it that I’ve never seen you before?”

There was silence between them after that. Ella was biting her lip, preventing herself from crying more.

Dave couldn’t think how to proceed. He has this image of Ella in his mind, and now… is it not her? He does remember that she was uncomfortable coming here. That whenever he talks about his club, she would seem uninterested. It hurt him a little back then, thinking she’s not interested in something that’s clearly his life and livelihood.

He tried to sort things out in his head. He did this in silence while looking at her figure. She has an embarrassing past. One she’s clearly not proud of. One she doesn’t want him to know. She doesn’t want to be judged based on it. She wanted to be treated properly. Preciously.

He let out a huge breath again.

It hurts to see him like this. Her heart is breaking. She should just leave and cry her heart out when she gets home. She knew this is gonna happen eventually. Just… not this soon.

Ella stood up and this caught his attention. She tried to smile. “Thank you. For all this time. For letting me experience all those things. And… I’m sorry.”

When she turned to go, he finally spoke. “Where are you going?”

She shrugged. Where is she going? She should just go home.

Before she could open the door, though, he already stopped her. He held her wrist.

“Ella… sit down first. Let me think, then we’ll talk this through.”

Hearing him say that made her want to cry again. It’s as if he’s considering… he’s not exactly chasing her away immediately. He’s going to think and then they’ll talk about it.

It made her think that he’s truly different from all the others she’d been with. Jamie is right. All those people were scumbags.

She couldn’t stop herself from crying. Seeing her that way, Dave pulled her into a hug. When he did, she cried even more. She can’t help feeling hopeful. Maybe there’s still a chance? She put her arms around him and hugged him tight. She didn’t want to let go of him. He was, undeniably, the best thing to ever happen to her.