Love's Autograph (17 page)

“
Hi, how is she?” Ellie asked as her face grew red.

“
Well, she sure listened to
you
,” Ria answered.

“
And?”

“
The crisis team was here and cleared her as safe to stay here. She took her medication. She's still playing guitar. She can barely keep her eyes open but she's playing.”

Ellie looked around the apartment for signs of Gwen.

Ria said. “You look, wow, amazing. What, did you get married or something?”

“
Yeah, you didn't get the invite?” Ellie was looking around anticipating Gwen's presence at any second.

“
She's not here,” Ria said.

“
Huh?” Ellie asked.

“
Gwen, you're looking for her right? She's not here,” Ria said.

“
Oh, okay,” Ellie said. “Can I see Maggie?”

“
Yes, of course,” Ria pointed to Maggie's room. “Just don't—”

“
Enter the room, I know,” Ellie answered. Ellie walked down the hall and to Maggie's room. She could hear the sweet, smooth chord progression, as well as some brief finger-picking. She turned the corner and saw Maggie sitting on her bed with the guitar resting on her right leg. Her eyes were closed. She seemed calm and content. Ellie watched for a bit, and then knocked on the door frame. Maggie opened up her eyes and saw Ellie standing in the doorway.

“
You came!” Maggie exclaimed.

“
Yeah, I came. I told you I would.”

“
Some adults lie,” Maggie said as she walked across the room.

“
Well, if I say I'll do something, I try my best to do it. Can I go back now?” Ellie asked as she pointed her thumb over her shoulder and pretended to leave.

“
It's over now, isn't it?” Maggie asked as she grabbed her tablet.

Ellie said,
“Yes, it's probably over or close to it. I was kidding.” Maggie put down her guitar and walked over to give Ellie a hug. Ellie wrapped her arms around Maggie and patted her on the back and ruffling her hair.

“
You smell weird,” Maggie said as she pulled away.

Ellie answered as she sniffed her shirt,
“Yeah, I know. I didn't have much of a choice in that. I get dressed by a team of people.”

“
That is okay.”

“
So, what was tonight about?” Ellie asked. “You being a drama queen or what?”

“
You can come in and sit down if you want. I am tired,” Maggie said. “By drama queen are you saying that I overreacted?” Ellie stepped into the room as if stepping onto thin ice. It felt strange to be in the room that she was previously forbidden to enter. Last time she was in there, she was stabbed.

“
Well, everyone has a time when they’re a drama queen or overreact,” Ellie said. “Would you say you overreacted?”

Maggie picked up her guitar,
“Well, I don't know. Gwen has been not such a nice person lately. I had enough. Who does she think she is anyway?”

“
What happened?” Ellie asked.

“
It is her. I know she does not like me. You know she's trying to get Mom to send me away?”

“
Oh, yeah? Well, still, hurting yourself or threatening to harm someone else will only get you sent away. You know that?” Ellie asked.

“
Yeah.”

“
Do you want that?” Ellie asked.

“
Mom would be better off that way,” Maggie said. “You and I know that.”

“
Now that's absolutely wrong,” Ellie said. “I’m willing to talk with you, but not nonsense. She'd be lost without you.”

“
You think?”

“
Yes, and if you would actually think about it, you would know too. Remember you mean the world to her?” Ellie said. “So, what are we going to do so you don't lose your cool again?”

“
I don't know,” Maggie said. “The guitar is like magic. It calms me down.”

“
That's a start,” Ellie said. “We'll have to come up with some more ways for you to calm down.”

“
Yes, I suppose,” Maggie said. Silence fell between them.

“
Well, you owe me a bundle of money after tonight, and you probably have to write me a letter of excuse for Robert.”

“
Robert?” Maggie asked.

“
Yeah, my manager. He’s going to kill me,” Ellie said.

“
Is he the one who tries to get you publicity?” Maggie asked.

“
Yeah,” Ellie answered.

“
Well, he is probably happy. He was being interviewed by everyone,” Maggie said. “And the host even made some joke about you having to leave early. I forget the joke but it was pretty funny. It was something about Cinderella. It's on your website already.” Maggie put down her guitar and hopped off the bed.

“
Not tonight,” Ellie said. “Don't you think you should go to bed?”

“
I want to stay up and talk,” Maggie said. “I miss you.”

“
I miss you, too,” Ellie said. “But I'm exhausted.”

“
Well, I won't go to sleep unless...” Maggie said.

“
You’re getting very demanding and manipulative,” Ellie said.

“
Yes, both,” Maggie said. “Can you sleep over?”

“
I don't know, I’d have to ask your mom,” Ellie answered.

“
I'm okay with it if you are,” Ria said as she turned the corner and stood in the doorway. Ellie smiled at Ria. Ria had slipped into sweatpants and a t-shirt. Her hair was left down and fell over her shoulders.

“
Okay, this is great. We'll have pancakes, and—” Maggie started to say.

“
Whoa,” Ellie and Ria said at the same time. Ellie and Ria both smiled and locked eyes at the coincidence.

“
We’re not done talking about this episode,” Ria said.

“
I know, I know,” Maggie said. “There will be consequences.” She seemed to be mocking Ria.

“
Yes, and now it's late, and we should all go to bed,” Ria said.

“
I'm going to go brush my teeth,” Maggie said as she jumped off the bed and ran into the bathroom.

“
Door unlocked!” Ria yelled after her.

“
I know!” Maggie yelled back.

“
When she has these episodes we have to make sure she keeps the door unlocked and stuff. Hey, do you want something to drink or eat?” Ria asked.

“
Now, that you mention it, I'm starving,” Ellie said. “Do you have some leftovers or chips, or we can order out?”

“
Order out? No, not on my watch. You should know better,” they walked out into the kitchen and Ria piled a bunch of vegetables on the counter and started chopping them.

Ellie pulled out her phone and texted Jazzie,
All is good. You should go home.

Jazzie texted back,
Glad to hear it. Call later.

Ellie leaned against the counter opposite Ria and was looking at the floor. The adrenaline had drained and she was exhausted. Before she knew
it, Ria had turned around and had her arms around Ellie. “Thank you so much,” she said. Ria's arms had slid between her jacket and shirt. She held tightly to Ellie. Ellie wrapped her arms around Ria and held her close.

With all that
has happened tonight, I had somehow forgotten that this is the first time I have seen Ria since I told her that I loved her.

“
You’re welcome,” Ellie said. Ria was sniffing back her runny nose. She was crying. “Don't cry. It’s okay. It’ll be okay. I think. I guess I don't know what to say.”

“
Don't need to say anything,” Ria said. “Your actions say everything.”

“
Where were you?” Ria asked. “You smell weird.”

“
New York, and Maggie said I smelled weird too. Sorry.” Ellie answered.

Their embrace was broken by the sound of swooshing in the hallway. Ria and Ellie curiously peered around the corner and down the hallway. Maggie was pulling a queen sized mattress out of Ria's room.

“What are you doing?” Ria asked.

“
Moving your mattress in here. I couldn't move the whole frame,” Maggie answered.

“
Well, why?” Ria asked.

“
I would need a screwdriver to move the frame,” Maggie said.

“
No, why are you moving the mattress?” Ria asked.

“
So you guys can sleep in here,” Maggie said.

“
I can sleep on the couch,” Ellie interjected. “Don't worry about me.”

“
No, you guys said yes to a sleepover and that should be in my room,” Maggie said. “When I go into the hospital due to being a danger to myself, I have to be watched more closely. That is what the doctors, nurses and social workers say.”

“
Maybe you're right,” Ria said looking at Ellie. “I don't think any of us should be sleeping alone on such a tough night. What do you say Ellie?”

“
As long as you guys don't snore,” Ellie said.

“
Snoring? Stinky Gwen is not here so…” Maggie said.

“
That's not nice Maggie,” Ellie said.

“
Well, she does snore,” Ria laughed. Maggie started to giggle, and they all started to laugh. “Why don't you and Ellie set up the bed. Put new sheets on it, and I'll cook something up for Ellie to eat.”

“
And sometimes, Mom snores,” Maggie pointed at Ria. “You didn't have dinner yet?” Maggie asked. “Would they have had dinner at the awards ceremony?”

Ellie raised her eyebrows at Maggie's slip about the awards ceremony. Ria had already turned to go to the kitchen and did not seem to hear Maggie. Ellie and Maggie set up the bed, and Maggie slipped into her bed. Ellie headed back
to the kitchen.

“
I know I keep saying this, but she really likes you,” Ria said. “You know?”

“
Yeah, I like her too,” Ellie said.

“
She hardly ever lets me in her room, and she hasn't let Gwen in yet, and Gwen lives here,” Ria said.

“
Sometimes it takes time,” Ellie said.

“
Time? Maggie bonded with you rather quickly,” Ria said as she turned and handed Ellie a plate of vegetable stir fry.

“
If you're going to go through life comparing your girlfriends to me, you're never going to be happy,” Ellie said.

“
Especially when you look like that,” Ria laughed.

“
Dressing to impress you,” Ellie said.

“
It worked,” Ria said. “You look...”

“
Tired?” Ellie asked.

“
I was going to say gorgeous,” Ria answered.

“
Okay, easy killer,” Ellie said. “Kid in the house.”

“
I'm just saying. Wow, you look amazing,” Ria said. Ellie devoured her dinner, and then rested her head on the table.

“
Tired? Let's go to bed,” Ria asked.” Ria loaned Ellie shorts and a t-shirt for bed. They both walked into Maggie's room. Maggie had put a blanket on the bed and a stuffed animal on each pillow. Maggie was lying face down with her arm around her guitar.

“
Play some guitar,” Maggie mumbled to Ellie.

“
Okay one song,” Ellie said as she grabbed the guitar. Ria walked over and kissed Maggie on the forehead. Ellie started strumming lightly and ran the pick up and down the guitar strings. She then tuned it.

“
Sing something,” Maggie pleaded. “
By Your Side
.” Ellie nodded.

“
I'll teach you to tune this sometime,” Ellie said. Once the guitar was tuned, Ellie started strumming. She sat at the foot of Maggie’s bed. Ria slid under the blanket of the mattress on the floor. “Sing with me?” She asked Maggie. Maggie shook her head no. Ellie sang
By Your Side
. She finished the last few chords and then leaned the guitar against the wall.

“
Good night, Maggie,” Ellie said.

“
By your side, belonging by my side
,” Maggie softly sang as she drifted off to sleep. Ellie turned and faced Ria. Ria lay on her side with tears streaming down her face. Ellie mouthed 'you okay' and Ria nodded as she wiped her tears. Ellie crawled into their eight-inch-high bed. She slid under the covers, making sure to keep her distance from Ria.