Kenny rub me down.
As I pull the bathroom door open, the waft of freshly baked cookies hits my nose, and my mouth waters. Unable to resist, I embark on the long-ass, painful task of getting myself down to the kitchen.
Ellen knows I can never refuse one of her cookies.
I wonder halfway down if that's why she's made them, to lure me out of my pit, as she put it the last time she came up with supplies for me.
"Ah, here is he." She shoots me a knowing look. I've been played. "Take a seat. They'll just be a minute to cool a little. Would you like a glass of milk?"
It makes me feel like a five-year-old, but I don't care because I agree, greedily gulping down the white stuff when she passes it over.
I devour six cookies before she cuts me off.
"I'm sure your girl wouldn't be happy if I allowed you to ruin your physique." She eyes me with a wink as she deposits the remaining cookies into some Tupperware.
"You don't need to worry," I say, tapping my hand to my stomach and instantly regretting it when pain shoots out from my ribs. I thought I'd broken at least one, but when James’ doctor friend made yet another visit to the house to check on me, he confirmed that they were just bruised, although even days after I'm not sure I believe him.
She shakes her head and chuckles at me as she begins cleaning the already spotless and clean kitchen once again.
"You owe that girl, you know that, right?"
"I do," I agree. I owe her more than anyone realizes. If it weren't for her, then I probably would have ended up hurt fighting long before now.
"So what's the plan? Once you're moving a little easier, of course."
"I... uh..."
"Oh, come on, Conner. I know for a fact that you've got a better imagination than that."
"Kenny has never been one for grand gestures. She's a quieter, understated kind of girl."
"So do something understated. I know you might want to climb up on the school roof and declare your love..." I raise a brow at her. "You would, and you know it."
"Yeah, okay, you got me."
"But do something that'll mean something to her. She's been through hell. She has no family and is stuck with this crazy lot—"
"Hey," I complain.
"Oh, come off it. You're the craziest one of them all." She laughs.
"You know, I used to like you, Martha," I say with a wink using the nickname I gave her when we first arrived in the Bay.
"Just think about her, not you. You'll come up with something. And if you need anything, you know where I am."
"Thank you, Ellen. I have no idea how we'd have survived without you these past few months."
"Oh, I'm sure you'd have managed."
I give her a grateful smile before making the slow climb back up to my bedroom.
By the time I fall back on my bed, it feels like it was hours ago that I had that conversation with Ellen.
Grabbing my cell from my nightstand, I find five missed calls from Kenny, but before I call her back, I glance at the time and realize that she'll be back in class already.
I opt for a message instead.
Conner: You've got a date on Friday night. Dress casually. He'll pick you up at 7 x
Excitement trickles through me that I'm going to get to spend some one on one time with my girl in a few days. I might even be able to convince the others to leave us alone for the entire weekend so we can make up for lost time.
I make my way down to the pool house in time for everyone to appear after school’s finished, getting comfortable on the beanbag and blasting Bring Me the Horizon through the wireless speakers.
"Well, well, well, look who's feeling better," Ace says, walking through the door a few minutes later.
"Where's Remi?" I ask, looking around for her as if she's about to appear out of nowhere.
"She's gone out with Hadley and Kenny. Apparently, Kenny has a date Friday night and the girls insisted that she needed a new outfit." He rolls his eyes at their antics, but, as ever when he thinks about his girl, his features soften.
Remi is hands-down the best thing that could have ever happened to Ace. While Kenny might have saved my life time and time again, Remi most definitely saved Ace's ass from the state pen.
"Soda?" he asks, pulling the refrigerator open and reaching