Ellison Taylor

Ian was pleased when Kingsley left and I scoffed at him.

"Are you jealous?" I asked and looked at him. I was expecting him to deny my accusation but he smiled.

"At least you know how I am feeling, so next time I hope you will remember me before you go out on dates with other guys."

My mouth dropped opened. "You were suppose to deny it?"

"Deny my feelings for you? Why?" He questioned. "I want to let you know how I feel. I thought we spoke about transparency in this relationship."

"Relationship?" My eyes widened.

"This friendship thing. I'm trying to keep up with the friendship and you very well know that I'm trying to be more than friends." He raised one of his eyebrow and I give him a disbelief look.

"You are rushing everything." I pointed out.

"I thought it would be easier to give you more time to think and more time to trust me again, but with guys hovering around you. I'm losing my patience." His anger was evidence in his eyes.

"No one is hovering around me except you."

He laughed. "You are so oblivious Ellison." He sighed. "You have no idea about your surroundings."

I stood up, "if you don't mind please excuse me. I would like to go home and relax."

"I do of course mind." He pointed out as he stood up and stepped out of the booth and waited for me to come out.

"Unbelievable." I said as I stepped out. "Do not follow me." I hissed as I stormed out of the place towards the office's parking building.

He followed me anyway and I huffed in annoyance. "Ellison." He sighed as he caught up with me.

"Ian." I snapped. "You don't get to behave like this." I stopped to look at him.

"I know." He whispered. "I'm trying."

I'm scared, I'm scared my walls will break and I will fall for him all over again. I don't want to be vulnerable again.

"Slowly?" I said looking at him with uncertainty.

"Like babies' crawl?"

"You can say that." I smiled and he smiled too.

"One step at a time." He said. "But I can't promise I will be nice to men who are hovering around you like bugs."

"You're funny." I said.

"Glad you find me entertaining."

"Your jealousy is so unusual."

"I am a possessive man, Ellison. I protect what's mine."

"But I'm not yours." I challenged him. He took a step forward and leaned down our lips almost touching.

"Not yet, but soon." He smelled of coffee and him and having him close brought me memories of our close moments.

"Are we too over confident now?" I whispered.

"I like challenges." His eyes twinkled with delight and I pulled away from the intimacy.

"Right." I said. That's what happened last time, he was too confident to win the whatever bet he was thrown to and he won. He must have caught the change in mood in me and he panic.

"I will try not to do anything stupid this time. I want you for real- this time no games. I promise." He pleaded and I shrug. "All I need is one more chance to trust me."

"It takes times for trust." I reminded him and he nodded his head. "I'll see you tomorrow, then?" I asked.

He rubbed his neck awkwardly and that's one of the things I've noticed about him- he does it when he is nervous or guilty about something.

"I'm sorry, I won't be coming here for a while. I will be in E.T"

"What is E.T?" I asked.

"It's my gaming and photography company. We are launching new games and boxes. I will be focusing on that for sometime, but we can meet in one of the evenings?" I know he is busy, but he's trying to make time.

I shake my head, No. "We can meet during weekend? I don't know." I have no idea why I'm even making a plan with him.

"We can meet up on Friday evening?" He asked. "And we can hang out on Saturday as well."

"Two plans?" I asked amused.

"Well,I need to spend time with you for you to trust me." He said and I give him a small smile. He walked with me inside the parking space. He didn't leave until I pulled out of the building.

I don't know if I'm ready to start all over again, he is different compare to when we were younger. He shares his feelings openly now and seemed much more responsible and reliable, but I just met again for like a couple of times- I shouldn't be so sure about it. I need time to process and figure out whether I can do it. Brent will definitely freak out when I share this information with him and so will Claire. I think I should let them know, ASAP. Brent was upset when he found out about my crush thing, years back and I don't want him to learn from someone else or worse, finds out himself.

I texted Brent when I reached home to call me when he is free and within two hours, after I showered and finish my lunch prep for tomorrow.

"What's up, El?" He asked concerned.

"Are you free to talk?" I asked.

"Yes.. I'm actually getting ready to go home."

"That early?" I asked surprised. It was 8 pm. He usually stays much more longer.

"I've been granted transfer." He said and paused. "I'm starting to move some of my stuffs already."

"What?" I screamed in delight.

"The hospital is bigger compared to this one. I'll be getting a chance to intern some students and also I will be closer to you." He said.

"You will be moving here, then?" I asked.

"That's the reason why I asked for transferred."

"Thank you so much.. it's a big step. You have been working there for so many years and you deciding to move.." I was overwhelmed by his love for me.

"Downtown is a busy area and you live alone in that big apartment and I'm worried for you. If Claire and you were sharing that apartment. I would have been much more relieved."

"It's difficult for her to commute and plus she doesn't like the crowds over here." Downtown have way too many people and cars, but I've grown used to it and it doesn't bother me much until the rush hours-commute!

"Forget about those, you asked me to call you?"

"Right." I started out nervously.

"Go on.." he pushed me to carry on the topic.

"I'm hanging out with Ian this weekend." I blink my eyes a couple of times. I feel like a teenage girl right now.

"You're what?" He fumed. "Ellison. I told you anyone else but him? What happened to our talks?"

"I know. I want to give our friendship a try."

"It's a NO from me." He snapped. "You don't expect me to say yes to hanging out with the guy who almost ruined your life in high school. " he paused for a minute and too a deep breath before continuing. "Jeez, Ellison. You're and adult now.You surely do know what is right and wrong for you. You want to hang out with you. I won't stop you, but don't think for once that I will be nice to him when I meet him. Nothing has changed for me. All I can say is I will be keeping my eyes on you and him and if he hurts you once again, he will be in so much trouble." He fumed.

"I'm sorry for all the troubles I bring to you." I started.

"You're my sister." Brent interrupted. "I will of course worry about you."

"I won't let him hurt me again." I promised.

"Oh EL, I hope so too.. I will be very mad if you get hurt again because of him."

Author's Note: Thank you for reading, please give this chapter a Vote and a share. Thank yo for your support.