I was late.

I could just hear Ella yelling at me already. She told me to be at her house at three o clock but it was now almost 4.

I was bad with time, it's not my fault. I was ready and about to leave when Zach got home and then I got to talking to him and then before I knew it I was in his apartment.

I rushed to my car and sped all the way to her house.

Our project topic had been approved last week and Ella thought it would be good to start working on it early. I wasn't really complaining I'd rather get it over with anyway.

I knocked on her front door and a boy not too much older than me opened it.

"She's going to kill you." He laughed.

"I know."

"She upstairs, first door on your left." He said and pointed to the stairs.

"Thanks." I said and marched up the stairs.

When I reached the top I didn't even need to know where her room was because I could hear music playing out of the room.

I peaked in to see she was sitting in front of a keyboard. She had her back to me so she didn't know I had gotten here. She played a slow and soft rhythm.

"When you're weary, feeling small," she sang.

"When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all

I'm on your side, when times get rough

And friends just can't be found, like a bridge over troubled water, I will me down." She sang out.

Her voice was beautiful. I just stood there stunned. I didn't know she could sing like that.

"When you're down and out, when you're on the street

When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you

I'll take your part, when darkness comes and pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down."

I felt like I was intruding. She was putting so much of herself into this song and it felt personal. The emotion behind her voice was causing me to be speechless.

"Sail on silver girl, sail on by

Your time has come to shine, all your dreams are on their way

See how they shine, if you need a friend, I'm sailing right behind.

Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind."

She was belting out the end of the song. And all I could say was that it was beautiful.

"Damn." I had no other words.

She whipped her head around and looked like she got her hand caught in the cookie jar.

"You're late." She stripped the emotion from her face and gave me an emotionless stare.

"I didn't know you could sing." I brought the conversation back to her voice.

"You weren't supposed to see that." She started pulling out her school work.

"Why not?" I pressed.

"We have work to do." She didn't answer the question.

"You have a lot of talent, you should share that with people." I knew I shouldn't be pushing her but I did it anyway.

"Will you just let it go." She snapped.

I took a step back and just stared at her. She yelled at me, not just like how she would when I was late or annoyed her but she looked like she might kill me.

"Can we just work on the project?" She sighed.

I nodded.

—

"Can we take a break?" I complained.

We had been working for what felt like years.

"It's only been twenty minutes. Trevor we are never going to get this done if you don't actually put some effort into it." She gave me an annoyed look.

Twenty minutes? Damn those were the longest twenty minutes of my life.

"So is that a no to the break?" I shot her my best smile.

She groaned and threw a pillow at my face.

"No need to be violent." I used the pillow to prop my back up against the end of her bed.

I went back to my research and basically just scrolled through random articles until Ella decided to give me a break. I had been looking at articles and research about the French Revolution for too long. I needed a break.

"We are going to take a break." Ella give up.

She threw down the book she was reading.

"Wow I thought it would take you longer to give in." I laughed.

"Have you found anything?" She peered at my laptop.

"It's our break." I cut her off and closed my laptop.

"Fine, do you want to grab food? I might have something in the kitchen." She rambled.

I hopped up and then offered her my hand to help her up.

"Thank you." She smiled.

"Just being a gentleman." I shrugged.

I followed her downstairs to the kitchen.

"You making food?" The guy that opened the door asked Ella when she got downstairs.

"Not for you Jackson." She glared at him.

"Not even for your favorite brother?" Jackson gave her a sad look.

"You're my only brother."

"Come on I can't my meds on an empty stomach." He begged.

"What do you want?" She caved.

I watched as he smiled and gave her his order. She trudged into the kitchen and I followed behind her.

"What do you want?" She looked at me.

"I can take care of myself just tell me where everything is." I shook my head.

She seemed to let out a sigh of relief when I said that and gave me a quick tour of the kitchen.

Ella made her brother pasta and put a small bowl together for herself. I just grabbed some chips and salsa.

After Ella delivered her brother his food we went back upstairs.

When I sat back onto her floor I felt the exhaustion hit me all at once. I was so tired, I hadn't been sleeping lately.

My parents were extra into each other lately and our bedrooms shared a wall. It was honestly sickening, I'd rather have parents that loved each other but I didn't need to hear them all night. I had also been spending many nights at Zach's either helping him with his mom or just steering clear of my apartment while my parents got it on.

I felt my eyes start to close and I didn't even bother fighting it.