I realized it was midnight, and that meant it was July 6th.
Before my mind could come up with any sort of scenario... Bella returned to me.

"Hey, sweetheart, I'm here..." She announced herself as she kneeled down in front of me again.

I noticed the irritation on her face that she tried to hide.
Joe's fault, I guess.

"What did you tell him? Where he is going?" My voice trembling with fear.
"He went to call a doctor." Her voice low yet firmly.
"A doctor?" I echoed.
"Yes, Ellie, a doctor, you need a proper bandage. Trust me, everything will be alright."

I swallowed hard but didn't say anything. Bella's words and gaze alone made me feel reassured and safe.
She made a proper knot with the bandana she was holding, but her face was not relaxed at all when she carefully looked at my hand.

"You did a great job, Bella. Thank you." I reassured her.
I was about to pull back my hand but her instinct wouldn't allow it.

"Can you hold on if I tie it tighter...?"
Her voice was shaking.
I nodded, her hands trembled slightly as she gently squeezed my wrist.

I understood Bella was clearly torn between not wanting to cause me any more pain and knowing that there no other options.

The moment she applied little pressure to tie it, I flinched involuntarily, a sharp pain hit my palm.
Bella froze, her expression caught between fear and guilt.

"I'm so sorry, Ellie, forgive me..." She sighed, biting her lips.

Her eyes closed for a few seconds as if to regain control of herself.
"Hey, it's fine, see? It's all good." I smiled at her.
Bella didn't smile back. She was about to cry.

I reached out, pressing my hand gently on her arm, stroking her hair and drawing her to me.
Bella slowly approached me, then suddenly stopped when the closeness was getting too much.

"Ellie, someone might see us..." She murmured, lowering her gaze.
I met her eyes. "I don't care." I replied softly, defiance in my eyes.

Bella surrendered to the moment.
She leaned forward, pressing her body against mine.
I wrapped her in my arms, holding her tighter as each second passed.

"Come closer, please..." I whispered. "It's all I ask for."
Bella cuddled in my lap, her head softly resting on my chest.

My heart was beating so loudly at the moment.
And I could feel hers as well.

Bella raised her head to me as she finally smiled a little, both in relief and pain.
My heart raced seeing her big, brown, bambi eyes looking at me and melting.

As we draw closer and closer, each breath was filled with a tense anticipation.

Her face moved closer, her hand gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
Every gentle caress seemed to ignite a fire within.

Her red lips just inches apart... I could almost feel her breath...
"Ellie..." Bella called me in the loveliest way.
"Please..." I whispered to her.
She knew exactly what I was pleading for.

We drew closer and closer...

A sudden sound interrupted the delicate tension— a series of footsteps approached in the silence.

I fought back tears, Bella bit her lip, her eyes torn.

We instinctively pulled back—the moment shattering like glass.
That desire now felt like a distant dream.

My lips trembling like a child, my hand instinctively clenched into a fist.
I raised my gaze—the footsteps belonged to two kids.

"Fuck me." Bella muttered, letting out a frustrated sigh.
"No fucking way." She shot back.

"Bella..." My voice was a whisper.

"How the hell is he taking so long?!" She changed the subject.

"Bella..."

In that moment—we were interrupted.
FUCK.

"Here's the doctor." Joe announced, making his entrance.
He looked somewhat proud of himself.

Bella quickly rushed up to make space for the doctor and placed herself to my right.

"Hi, what's your name?" He asked with a reassuring smile.
He was like in his sixty.
"Ellie. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise, so... let me take a look at it."
I reached out my hand, and he carefully examined it, moving it back and forth.

"Did you apply your own bandage, Ellie?"
He questioned, raising an eyebrow with a neutral expression.
"I did it." Bella replied immediately, ready to take her scolding.

He smiled towards her with a lighter expression. "You really did a great job to stop preventing the bleeding."

I smiled at her, moved.
I had no doubt, by the way.
Bella returned my smile.

"We need to change the bandage to a clean one and make sure it heals properly." The doctor said.
"We have to go to the nurse's room, is that fine to you, Ellie?"
"Sure." I raised myself up.

Bella immediately moved beside me, Joe put his arms around my neck.
I pulled back.

"How did it happen?" He asked me.
"We were walking to reach you. That's when it happened." I affirmed coldly.
He was surprised by my honest answer as he suddenly shut up.

Bella caressed my arm, noticing that Joe's presence was already upsetting me—us.
I smiled towards her.
We step into the room together, and the doctor told me to sit on a bed.

"You can wash your hands over there, young lady." The doctor suggested Bella.
Jesus. Her hands were stained with blood... my blood.

Bella did that, but when she turned to face us, she suddenly threw the wet paper away in frustration.
In that moment, she paused, as if weighing her next move.

I know what's holding her back.
Joe's here—standing right next to me, and the tension was palpable.
I know Bella is afraid that she may be extra...

I catched her eye, I gave her a reassuring smile, my eyes silently begging, telling her that I couldn't do this alone.
I needed her there with me.
I didn't fucking care about Joe.

Bella understands. She always does. Without a word, she walked toward me.
I couldn't help but admire her beautiful dress and the way her heels clicked on the pavement, confident and graceful.

My heart danced for her.

The doctor unwrapped the bandage, revealing the wound.
"It's going to sting a bit." He warned, applying disinfectant.
It was throbbing terribly.

Bella's fingers nervously tapping against her knee a she shot me a worried glance.
I didn't move, I just tightened my grip on the edge of the bed.

"Just breathe, Ellie." Bella spoke calmly.
"Nothing is going to happen to you."

I thanked God she was there, because her presence alone made me feel no more pain.

Joe applied pressure on my shoulder, pulling me closer to him.
I tried to push him back.
"Come on, don't tell me this is too much—right?"

I ignored his stupid words as I gathered my attention to the redhead next to me, who gave him a death look before looking back at me.

The doctor finally finished treating my wound.
"Your hand is all patched up, you should be fine, but keep an eye on it."
"I will, thank you." I got up and the doctor raised an eyebrow, keeping an eye between me and Bella.

"Also, you'll want to get some rest and eat something, to regain your strength..." He suggested.
I fell silent.
"We'll make sure to do that. Thank you, doc." Bella affirmed, offering him an handshake to emphasized his words.

Joe coughed irritably, clearly feeling left out, he drew closer to me.
"Ellie, you should have been more careful..." He was still red in the face.

Bella turned to that scene, frowning in disgust and annoyance.

"Joe..." I whispered as we left the nursery room.
"Can you get me some food?"
An excuse to get rid of him.

"Fine—Where are you going?" He demanded.
Bella smirked, cutting him off. "A coffee for me. Would you mind?" She demanded.

I always like her strategic moves, it's a playful yet calculated way to maintain control over him.

Joe's eyes narrowed with hate, a look Bella obviously returned.
I placed my hand on her elbow and gently guided her to the exit, allowing Joe to go in the opposite direction before they start fighting.

Bella turned to me and her eyes softened.
"Are you sure you're okay, Ellie? Does it hurt?"
I smiled. "I'm fine, Bella, no more pain."
"Thank you for staying." I affirmed. "It means everything to me."
"You wanted me to?"
"Yes. I really wanted that."
"I wanted it too." She smiled sweetly.

I knew it was the right moment to talk about us.
"Bella... about what happened before... before we were interrupted..."
"Go on." She said with anticipation.
"I want that too..." I whispered.
"I want that too, Ellie." She affirmed.

I squeezed her arm urgently, looking around.
"There is one thing you should know before he comes back, Bella..."
Her eyebrow furrowed. "Do tell."

"Joe told me you and he had a big fight at work."

"True." She immediately replied.
"Why didn't you tell me...?" I immediately asked.
"What did he tell you first?" She shot back.

I sighed, remembering all the lies Joe told me.
"His storytelling was actually confusing, but he said that you were acting like you owned their society, and when he told you to back off, you kind of lost it. But, Bella, I don't—"

"Wait a fucking minute, Ellie." Bella cut me off, her voice not sounding good.

She stepped closer. "So that jerk told you this bullshit, and now you're here to confront me about it?" She scoffed.

"You are misunderstanding, Bella. I'm clearly not here to do that!" I stated, but she was stubborn.
"But I bet you believe his story, Ellie. Yeah, I bet you think that just because I lost my shit with you that means I can lost my shit with him too."
She wasn't having it again.

"Wait a damn minute." I interrupted her.
She flinched slightly at my firm tone.

"I NEVER said that, Bella. You didn't even let me finish. You're so stubborn, you're assuming something I DIDN'T even say."

She fell silent.
And that silence lasted for many, MANY seconds and my heart raced.

This can't be happening again.