on the inside looking out

Kyle was still sad. Staying to himself. Ellie hadn't seen him like this in a long time. It was worse than with Kelsy. Ellie had decided.

She knocked on his door. Still it felt so awkward when it came to being in his room. She slightly remembered the time she'd spent there. Now she was just across the hall from him.

"What?" He was cold. He wouldn't even open the door

"Any word?" Ellie talked through the door.

"Does it look like it."

Ellie guessed not. She went downstairs to the kitchen then where Joan was getting ready to make dinner.

"You think he's OK?" Ellie asked Kyle's mother.

"He's crazy about her." Joan shrugged and went to measure out biscuit mix for another one of her one pot meals.

"I know, and that worries me more, you know."

"He'll be OK."

"OK? Are you kidding me?" Ellie didn't believe that for a second. "Do you see how he puts those energy drinks away.?Do you remember how he was when Kelsey broke up with him?"

"Its was just puppy love," Joan said.

"He's crazy," Ellie had to tell her. "I was afraid he was hurting himself even then."

"How so?" Joan looked at her as if she better have some good information.

"I would see these marks, scratches on his arms. He always told me the cat was doing it, but I don't know."

"Well, I think I know my own son-"

"Maybe he's hiding some things from you." Ellie hated that she'd said it, but it was true.

"Its not like he's sexually active or anything."

Ellie bit her bottom lip. Why were they talking about this. She didn't say that, even. But who did his mother think he was?

"Just-I'm sorry if I said the wrong thing, I care about Kyle, I do. And I'd hate if this whole Roxie thing made him sick. She's just not worth it. And I know that might be mean to say, but if she cared about him so much, why would she leave, huh?" Ellie hugged herself then. Maybe this was a good time to go for a walk before dinner.