Love's Tangled Web (Alex and Ellie)

Ellie lifted her head and looked at Ales with a blank gare, her lips trembling as she said, "Since you know my life is worthless to you, please stay as far away from me as possible." Then she pulled her suitcase and resolutely nimed to leave, Alex's intense eyes were fixed on Ellie's disheveled figure. Even though he was taking deep breaths his chest felt tight and suffocating. Til take you back to change your clothes before going to the airport," he said, holding her wrist Elle didn't say anything, Instead, she used all her strength to break free from his grip.

Alex's neck veins bulged as he tried to restrain himself. He glared as Elie with firrerly red eyes and yelled. "You almost got Haley killed, and you will think you're in the right!"

Seeing the tears Ellie was holding back, Alex went to grab her case. His face was gloomy, but he instinctively lowered his voice. "Come back with me, change your clothes, and I take you to the airport. You're soaked like this. Do you want to catch a cold? This worthless life of mine is not worth your worry" Ellie grabbed her suitcase back and dashed onto the road, flagging down a cab to leave.

"Ellie? Alex shouted, staring in the direction where the cab disappeared. He felt like his heart had been ripped out, leaning him with a feeling of emptiness.

Haley sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window at Alex's bloodshot eyes. He was fixated on the road where the taxi had disappeared, unable to look away for what felt like forever.

Haley clenched the thin blanket with jealous fury. Thankfully, she hail reacted quickly earlier-seeing Alex approaching, she deliberately fell into the river when Ellie pushed her, making Ales think it was Ellie who did it.

In the end. Alex for her sake, not only pushed Ellie into the river but also, knowing full well that Ellic couldn't swim, left with her in his armis, not caring about Ellie's fate.

Haley was sure that after this, he would completely turn againn Alex and never talk to him again. Thinking of this Haley couldn't hide the glee in her eyes. After a moment's hesitation, she suppressed her glee and got out of the car.

"It's all my fault. I know Ellie doesn't like me, yet I insisted on offering her a ride to the airport, trying to please her, Haley said.

Noticing that Alex was still focused on where Ellie had gone, she swayed slightly, as if she might lean against him, "Alex, 1 feel terrible. My head is spinning."

Finding Haley suddenly in his arms brought Alex back to reality. "You're soaking wet. Why did you get out of the car Alex steadied her and checked her forehead for temperature. "I'll take you to the hospital"

Ellie sat in the taxi, catching a glimpse of Alex with his arm wrapped around Haley through the rearview mirror. Turning her gaze away, she sat quietly, clutching a small piece of emerald tightly in her hand

She thought about how Ales had bravely jumped into the river to save Haley just a little while ago, and the fury in his eyes when he confronted her for Haley.

She recalled how he had ruthlessly thrown her into the river before walking away with Haley in his arms, and his harsh words, "Your worthless life can't compare to Haley's"

Instantly, Elhe felt like her body was being slowly cur open by the sharpest knife. At that moment, her self-hatred reached its peak.

She had known from a very young age that this wild hope, hidden deep in her heart, could never come true. Yet she couldn't stop herself letting her heart ache again and again

In the early evening, the sky was covered in a thin layer of guld. Alex stood at the temporary parking area in front of the hospital watching the plane fly away overhead, his eyes unknowingly welling up with tears.

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he answered Haley's call. The spoken with your moen, and she'll be there soon. I have something to do, so I'll come by later." After hanging up, he drove straight toward the overpass,

As dawn began to break, Layton was alumped on a bench along a riverside walkway, struggling to stay awake. "Alex, you've been searching for those emerald fragments all night. I think the missing piece might have fallen into the river? Alex uit wearily at the edge of a flowerbed, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the place in the river where Ellie once struggled. He clenched the emerald

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fragment tightly in his hand.

Seeing Alex's downcast look from afar, Layton came over and sat next to him by the flowerbed. They both lit a cigarette, and Layton glanced ar Alex. 1 could believe it if you told me Haley hir Ellie, but The hitting Haley! That's a tough sell" Alex stared at the calm river, his deep eyes obscured by a light smoke, hiding his emotions. "Not only

it only did Ellie hat Haley, 1 once His voice was mugh, carrying an undertone of helplessness,

but the did it more than

Layton's lips curled into a playful smile. "Ellie's an soft-hearted; if she actually sit Haley, Haley must have really provoked her,"

Noticing the dark look on Alex's face, Layton quickly explained, "I a normal person gets slapper, they'd understand they're not liked. But Haley, with her bossy nature, keeps pushing forward even after Ellie slapped her. What rise is she asking for a call for more!" Alex took a deep drag of his cigarette, blowing out a thin ring of smoke that didnt case the heaviness in his chest. "Haley doesn't want me caught in the middle. She wants to make up with Ellie and keep the peace"

Layton exclaimed. "Even so, you can't just push Ellie imo the river

With a furrowed brow. Alex retorted, I'm not crazy. Do you think I'd push her into the river knowing she can't swim?"

Layton shot back. Then how do you know Elle meant to push Haley?"

Alex glanced at Layton, who gave him a look that screamed. "You're in deep trouble." There was a brief silence before Ales lit another cigarette. Layton said. "You've grown up with Ellie, Alex. If you can't decide, it's better to just see her as a sister. There's no need to end up never speaking

"No way," Alex replied instantly. "No matter how bad things get between us, as long as I choose in, we won't end up like that."

He thought as girls grew up, they were bound to have a few moods. Even if Ellie felt a bit hurt, she wouldn't let things fall apart completely,

They had had countless arguments since they were kids, Ellie has been brought to tears by his countless times, and yet they always made up in the end. Besides, Ellie had liked him for seven years now-it was not just a day or two, but a full seven years. Layton stared at Alex for a long time, feeling like this guy was on a self-destructive pails. Tossing away his cigarette but, Layton contoudly asked, "We've been like brothers since we were kids Can you tell me the truth? Why did you suddenly stan liking Haley?" As Alex chain-smoked without saying a word. Layton spoke his mind. "Honestly, you've known Haley for year. You used to barely glaner at her, so why are you suddenly so fixated on herf

Alex grumbled in frustration, "You just don't understand."

Layton continued, "Yeah, I don't understand. But every time something happens between Ellie and Haley, you always side with Haley. You're even willing to risk everything to save her completely ignoring what Ellie is going through"

Alex replied his voice deep. I risk everything for Haley because she once risked everything to saw IDE

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