never again

Eric had just got off the phone with Roger about Ellie. Of course, he knew nothing. He didn't want to be pulled into this, but naturally, Roger put him on a guilt trip.

"This is not my fault." Eric told Roger. After all, he was in the middle of getting dressed. He had work. He felt he'd been slacking off as of late with proms and getting ready for graduation. Invitations had been sent. His father and Ian were coming in for the celebration. And he needed hours at work before then to show them that he was serious about being there. He needed to hold on to his job at the grocery store.

Still Roger had managed to leave him in a testy mood. "This would have never happened if you hadn't given up on her."

Eric so wanted to yell at Roger. Why did Roger have to be on Ellie's side? Didn't he know she had moved on. He felt sure she would have moved on, regardless of what he'd done. But he couldn't explain this to Roger. Because Roger was going to believe what he wanted to believe. Elliot was the bad guy in all of this.

"Maybe he's not." Eric wasn't sure why he said it. "I don't think Ellie knows what she wants. All right? I'm not saying she's a spoiled brat or anything, but-" All right, he did feel the blame in how she was. Perhaps, he'd made her needy, after all said and done. Perhaps, their relationship had been rushed and ended up more physical than anything else. He didn't want that with Olivia. "You're just going to have to let her figure it out." That's all he could say about it. And he wasn't going to be there to help her. He wasn't. This was something she had to do on her own.

"But she's with Ryan!" Roger sounded frantic now. Eric hadn't a clue what he was going on about. He'd never heard of him.

"Ellie's a smart girl. She's capable of making her own choices." He squinted. What more was he to say? They were done. Completely.

He'd gotten dressed quickly, then, putting on the silly bow tie and all. He really did feel tied down to this job, but it was the only one he had.

His cell rang.

"What now!" He almost said the fuck word. He looked at his time. He had to hurry.

"Eric, can you help me? Please!" It was Ellie.

"Why?" He was on his way to his car.

"Something happened."

"Can you quit being so mysterious?"

"I need a ride home."

"I have to go to work!"

"But I'm in South Dakota." Her voice was a little shaky.

"South Dakota? What the fuck are you doing there?" He squinted, sitting there in his car.

"Just don't ask. Just come get me. Please. Its the last thing I'll ever ask of you. I promise." She sounded as if this was the last time she might ever call him.

Did she have any idea how many hours that was away from here?

He got out of his car. Jerked his bow tie off. He definitely wasn't making this trip in this monkey suit.