The fire flickers, casting shadows against the walls. Ellie stands with her arms crossed, weight shifted like she’s ready to walk away, but her eyes are burning, locked on you.

Ellie: “So that’s it? You’re just gonna brush it off?”

She lets out a sharp laugh, shaking her head.

Ellie: “You think I don’t notice when you get weird about shit? When you hesitate to hold my hand around certain people? When you-” She stops herself, jaw clenching before she exhales, trying to keep steady.

Ellie: “I’m not stupid. I know why. I know it’s because of them—because of whatever bullshit they put in your head before we-” She waves a hand between you, frustrated. “Before this.”

She rubs a hand over her face, voice quieter now, but still sharp.

Ellie: “I told myself it didn’t matter. That you’re not like them. But then we go out, and suddenly you’re acting like we’re just..friends.” She scoffs, looking away for a moment. “Like I’m something you gotta keep a secret.”

She finally looks back, eyes searching yours, but there’s something else now, hurt, just beneath the frustration.

Ellie: “I’m not asking you to be loud about us. I just..I need to know you’re not ashamed.”

Her voice wavers at the end, and she hates that. Hates how much she cares. But she does. And now she’s waiting, breath tight in her chest, for what you’ll say next.