Tristan squinted before turning to Xavier again. "Ellie was attacked again while you were gone," he said sharply. "You may think that she isn't helpless, but it would have been nice for her to not be alone in here. Very convenient that you were gone while it happened." * * * "Take deep breaths."
She looked irritated, tugging the sleeve of her pajamas down anxiously. “It wasn’t a big deal,“ she muttered hastily. “I am fine. Nothing happened.” *** “I have a girl. I can’t break her heart.”
He still looked worried. "You should have told me, El.." *** She took his hands. "Hm. Fine. Can we go out in the snow? I want to have a snowball fight to win."
Tristan scoffed, rolling his eyes. “She didn’t tell you any of it? Why do you think she doesn’t trust you enough to tell you?” “Back off,” Ellie said sharply to her brother. “That’s not what this was.” “Oh, really?” he retorted, advancing and pulling up her sleeve. Xavier would see that her arm had been bandaged heavily, the gauze covered by the fabric of her sleeve. *** He laughed out loud. “We can. You won’t win.”
He faltered, his brows furrowed. "Ellie.. Why didn't you tell me?" *** She nodded, going to the door and grabbing her coat. "We'll see."
She looked over at him, her harsh expression softening. “It was nothing, Xav,” she said quietly. “Trust me, it wasn’t a big deal.” “Wasn’t a big deal?” Tristan bristled. “You just didn’t want to tell him because you were scared that he already knew.” *** He followed her, Logan trotting after them faithfully.
He took her hand with a frown, looking concerned. He ignored Tristan. "I won't leave again, okay? I'll make sure no one will hurt you again." *** She slipped on her shoes and coat, opening the door.
She watched him gratefully, squeezing his hand. Tristan spoke again. “You scare her,” he told Xavier quietly. “You know that, don’t you? You terrify her.” *** A snowball hit her back.
He said nothing, looking down as his grip loosened. *** She looked back with wide eyes. "We haven't even started!"
Ellie’s head jerked up at Tristan and she looked furious. “Get out of here,” she said angrily, standing up and opening the bedroom door. “Leave Xavier alone.” Tristan raised a knowing eyebrow before leaving, closing the door behind him. *** He looked incredibly smug. “Sorry. I don’t make the rules.”
She turned to look at him, frowning again, the happy look she had earlier completely gone. “Why are you sorry?” *** He yelped, ducking away from the attack.
She came back over to him, slipping into bed next to him and slipping her arms around his waist. “It isn’t you,” she said gently. “He’s just been on edge since my father died.” *** Logan ran at her, barking playfully.
She laughed a little before holding up the necklace that he gave her. “Would you put it on for me?” *** A snowball shot at her from Burke.
He nodded, taking it and going around, carefully clipping it. "There you go." *** She ducked with a gasp, looking back up and throwing one back.
She let go of her hair, turning to look at him with a smile. "Thank you. I really love it, Xav." * * * It hit him in the chest and he yelped, looking down. "So cold!"
