ripping band-aids

Ellie felt free yet so crappy at the same time. She probably didn't say the right thing. It was all wrong. Why hadn't she thought about it more before she broke up with Eric.

"No, you just have to do it... like ripping off a band-aid," was Nick's advice. "And you did ask for my advice." He reminded her after her Eric encounter.

"Yeah, but I should have listened to what he had to say or something." She was on her cell with him. She felt guilty about that too, since she'd just told Eric she wanted to just be with herself.

"No." Nick told her. "You tell him you're done. End of story. Just don't get caught up in that. It does no one any good."

"All right," Ellie was going to make an effort. "You're right."

"So you won't try to call him? You won't take his calls?

"Right."

"Good."

It was quiet then.

"I'm not trying to ask you out or anything, but if you want to, you could come over tomorrow night, and we'd just play video games. If you want. You know, if it would take your mind off things," Nick then said.

"Maybe I should just-"

"You can't stay home sulking about it. You have to get out and do things." It sounded like an order. "But no pressure. Its just, you know, we could hang out."

"I guess so."

"Yes!" He sounded excited, but then very subdued. "I mean, its just video games. Honest."

"Video games." Ellie couldn't remember the last time she played video games.