when you're not there

"So, do you want to talk about it or not?" Kyle asked. Hoping not, but Ellie did look upset.

"No, I don't want to talk about it," but she looked miserable about what ever was on her mind, and she didn't look like she'd get to sleep anytime soon. It was late. A school night, and really Kyle was ready to drop. He would if he sat down, but there she was in his room, and he guessed he better stand.

"I see, then why aren't you asleep?" He crossed his arms and almost yawned.

"So how was your Valentines day?" She looked at him as if she hadn't seen him in months.

"Pretty crappy, thanks to Dylan," Kyle shrugged. "Because of him, Amanda got sick and well, so much for that."

"But you did do something?" As if he'd saved the holiday somehow.

"Yeah, I hung out with Derrick and we played video games."

"I wonder what Eric did?" She was touching some of Kyle's stuff now. His school books, assignments that were started but never finished.

"I heard he hung out with Cory and Roger." Kyle winced wishing she wouldn't look through his stuff even if it wasn't all that important.

"Really?" Ellie looked a little shocked as if she just might stumble out of her pink bunny slippers then, but caught herself last minute.

"What did you do?" Kyle gave her a stare that she better not lie. But he knew if she did, it would be her lying to herself, the most.

"Nothing much."

"Uh, huh." Kyle blinked to keep from sleep. She wasn't going to tell him. Really, it wasn't that much of a mystery to him. "So everything is OK?"

Ellie nodded as if were.

"Good." But he was doubting it even as he smiled. "I hope you can get some sleep."

Ellie looked sad though.

"Hey, it probably wasn't that bad, was it?" He had to ask before she left.

She just shrugged, saying nothing. Kyle just looked at her wishing he knew what to say, but he didn't.