16 The House Of Cards pt.1 the collecting

"Regan?" Ella asked, tapping her friend's arm, "Are you ok?"

Regan looked up at Ella and gave her a hug.

"Yea, I'm fine," Regan whispered, holding tightly to Ella, how could someone who has been here for me this long ever become like that. She would never leave me, she would never leave anyone else to take her away from me. And I will never leave her behind either, no one will separate us. Regan buried her face into Ella's shirt taking in her perfume, she never wanted to let this friendship-

"-go," Ella said.

"What?" Regan asked snapping out of the clouds.

"I have to go," Ella repeated, she moved away from Regan and started packing up her stuff.

"What do you mean you have to go?" Regan stammered.

"I have to leave," Ella repeated, "You know those friends I told you about? They planned a surprise trip to an amusement park for me."

"I thought you said you didn't want to go to an amusement park when I asked where you wanted to go for this trip," Regan asked, her voice trembling even more. She didn't like where this was going.

"I just.. Didn't want to go with you and Damien," Ella replied, "I remembered you saying you didn't like places like that."

"But, you know I would go anywhere if it was to spend time with you," Regan stammered.

"I- I'm sorry but I need to go right now and unless you want to come I'm leaving," Ella sighed.

Regan watched her best friend walk away, before she turned around and smiled, "I'll be back by night so we can spend the rest of the night together and go home tomorrow."

"No," Regan sobbed, talking as tears rolled down her lips the salt from her tears stung her tongue almost as sour as her heart ached, "you aren't going anywhere."

"What?" Ella asked looking back at her immature friend, hints of laughter lingered on her words, "what are you my mum?"

"I'm your best friend, not one of those other friends," Regan growled, directing a piercing gaze at Ella through her tears, "you can't just leave me alone on a trip I have been planning and waiting for for weeks, months even. You will not leave me for your other friends."

"Regan, I gave you the option of joining me, you have never interacted with others outside of our friend group. You can't rely on me forever," Ella sighed.

"Why can't I? WHAT'S WRONG WITH WANTING TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU AND DAMIEN ALONE? why… Why can't I rely on you? Isn't that what you are for?" Regan yelled her voice cracking with desperation, "someone to comfort me when I fall apart, someone I can lean on as my pillar. My best friend, that's what you're supposed to be."