A Reason to Love

“Hey beautiful,” I said as Bella got in my car as I picked her up from school today. She’s been texting me all week about a crush she has on a girl at school and I can tell it’s really stressing her out. I decided that it is my job as her big sister to take her out and just talk it all out with her. She just nodded her head and stared out the window after buckling her seatbelt. Once she was secured I started the car backup and began to drive. I first stopped at our favorite froyo spot and we each got frozen yogurt and then I drove us to our favorite hill.

This is the same hill I’ve been taking her to for as long as either of us can remember. It is where we go to have our most important sisterly talks and I knew instantly this would be one of the most important. I got the blanket out of my trunk while she held our froyo. Once it was down we both sat and began to eat the half melted froyo in silence. I was the first to finish and when I did I turned to face her.

“Tell be about her Bells,” I said to my thirteen year old sister. She sat there and waited until she was done with her froyo and then took another three minutes before answering.

“What do you want to know?”

“Tell me everything and anything. What’s she like? What are her interest? Why her?” I could tell that the last one made her think and I let her think for as long as she needed. I was not here to rush her, I was here to listen to her.

“She is like the little ray of sun on a rainy day. She’s a little hope on the days where I feel totally insane and like the world could collapse any minute. She’s the only one who doesn’t treat me differently. She could care less about who you are, who dad is, who Eli is. She likes me for me and I feel safe with her, sis,” Bella said.

“How does she make you feel?” I asked her as I watched the smile on her face grow.

“She makes me feel like the most important girl in the world and that my voice and opinion matter. I feel like I could talk to her for hours about anything, no matter how odd the topic is. She really is my best friend,”

“Come here,” I said opening my arms and my sister scooted into them and I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her while she rested her head on me.

“I say you tell her how you feel. If she doesn’t feel the same then you know what it’s okay. It’s okay because you’re cute, you’re an amazing girlfriend, and your dad’s the hulk,” I said and she laughed at this. A couple years back she told this to my dad when a girl at school didn’t like her.

“I also have an amazing big sister,” She said smiling up at me.

“And I have an amazing little sister,” I told her before letting her go. The two of us sat on our hill just talking for about three more hours and that’s when I got a text from our dad asking us where we were. I told him we’d be home within the next hour. I picked up the blanket and put it back in my trunk and then told Bella to get in the car and to text the girl seeing if she was busy.

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to take you to her house,” I said and she got a wide smile and sent a text. A couple seconds later Bella said she wasn’t busy and then gave me her address. It took me twenty minutes to get to her house and when I pulled up Bella gave me a nervous smile.

“I don’t think I can do this Ellie,”

“You can. Just remember I will be right here. It’ll be fine Bells,” I replied and she nodded her head before getting out of the car and up to the door. When the door opened it revealed a girl about the same height as bella with red hair. Bella turned and gave me a glance before walking inside the house. The whole time she was inside my heart was beating at a very fast pace. Even though I have confidence in my sister I don’t want her heart to be broken. Nobody ever wants their siblings to get hurt.

“Well?” I asked Bella as she got into the car ten minutes later.

“I have my first girlfriend,” She said and I let out a cheer before hugging her and she just laughed.

“That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you Bells,” I replied as I started the car and began to drive.

“Thank you Ellie. I wouldn’t and couldn’t have done it without you pushing me. Don’t tell anyone yet. I want to be the one to tell them,” She said and I nodded my head. When we got to my dad’s house I parked the car and the two of us went inside.

“Ellie!” Odette said as she ran to hug me.

“Hey pretty lady,” I said picking her up and kissing her cheek and then carrying her into the kitchen where my dad was sitting at the table with Keen.

“Three of my favorite girls,” He said standing up to hug Bella. I sat Odette down and she went back to the table to work on her homework. While Bella went to the table to join the other two in doing homework my dad came to hug me.

“Everything ok?” He asked me.

“Everything is okay, Papa. She’s okay,” I told him and he nodded his head before kissing the top of mine.

“Can I talk to you out back for a second?” He asked and I nodded my head. He told my siblings he would be back soon to help them if they needed it and then the two of us went out back to talk.

“I was wondering if the kids could stay with you this weekend while I take Sunrise to LA for a weekend get away,” He asked.

“Harry will be here Friday, but of course I’ll watch them. Does Keen have a game?” I asked him. One would assume I would try and have my brother’s soccer schedule memorized by now, but I don’t.

“He does, but we’ll be here for that. We’re leaving right after the game though,” He said and I nodded my head.

“Sounds good. Harry and I will come to the game and then I’ll just take them home with me,” I said.

“Awesome. Thanks so much Ellie Noelle,” He says giving me a hug once again. My dad has been called a bear that everyone loves to hug, and that is the God honest truth. My dad gives the best hugs and I could probably hug him all day.

“No problem Papa. I love having them around,” I said before the two of us walked inside.

“I have to get going so I can get ready for our interview later tonight,” I said once we got inside. My dad and I are currently starring as father and daughter in my new movie with Ansel Elgort. In the movie Ansel is my love interest, but he isn’t ready for a committed relationship. It’s really cool because not only did I get to work with my dad, but my stepmom, Sunrise, played my mother in it as well. So everyday on set was like a family affair. This also means that is is one movie that my siblings will watch since they don’t like seeing our dad married or in love with anyone else, as well as being anyone else's’ daughter.

“I should too. Sunrise is getting prepped and once she’s done then I’m going to. Are you performing tonight?” He asked and I nodded my head. My band, Allo Hearts, had a song on the soundtrack of the movie so we’re performing.

“Yup. We’re going to perform Over My Head,” I said and he nodded his head. He was actually in the studio with us when we recorded it and he loves it.

“Okay, well I’ll see you later,” He said as I went around and hugged all my younger siblings. Once I hugged them I left and drove to my condo. I put my purse down and showered. I changed into jeans and a bra. I didn’t put on the blue tank top I had picked out yet simply because my hair was still wet. I blow dried it and then put it up in a cute messy ponytail. I then put on my tanktop and did my makeup. By the time I was finished Eliot and Madison were waiting out in the car for me. I grabbed my phone, keys, and purse and then hurried out to the car.

“Nervous?” Madison asked as I got into the back seat. Some days it’s really cool that my brother and best friend are engaged, but other days not so much.

“A little, but it’s the usual nerves,” I said and we rode in silence the rest of the way there. Once we entered Thirty Rock we were ushered into the green room where we found the rest of our band along with their girlfriends; Peyton, Kiara, and Sydney. I hugged each of them and then sat down on the couch while waiting for my dad and step-mom to arrive.

“I’m really excited to hear your new single,” Jimmy said poking his head into the greenroom.

“Thank you. How have you been?” I asked since he and my dad are sort of friends.

“Great actually. The girls miss you though,” He said and I laughed. I sometimes babysit his daughters and I love them to pieces.

“Once I’m done with press for the movie I’ll be sure to stop by soon,” I promised him.

“Great! I guess I’ll see you all out there soon,” He said before leaving. A few minutes later papa and my step-mom walked in.

“Smom,” I said hugging her since I didn’t get a chance to see or talk to her earlier today.

“Hello little lady,” She said hugging me back before letting me go so she could hug Eli. Ever since Sunrise entered our lives Eli and I have called her Smom for step-mom and our mom is okay with it and it works for our family.

“Hey Mr. R,” Andrew said going and hugging my Papa. Thankfully Papa enjoys all of my friends so there was never any tension there.

“Hey Andy. Found a girl yet?” He asked and I rolled my eyes. Papa is always trying to set Andy up and it never ends up well for either party.

“Not yet, but I’m not searching right now anyways,” Andy said and papa nodded his head before the two went off on a completely different topic. Soon Papa, Sunrise, and I were called out onto the stage and the audience clapped. I sat down in the chair next to Jimmy’s desk while Papa and Sunrise sat down on the couch, with Papa between us.

“Aren’t you guys a lovely looking bunch,” Jimmy said once the audienced calmed down a bit.

“Thank you,” Papa said speaking for the three of us.

“I’m just going to go straight to the movie since it has lead me to my follow up questions. So in the movie Elliana plays a teenager named Poppy, who is dating Hayden, who is played by Ansel Elgort. Mark and Sunrise play Elliana’s parents, Arnold and Brandy. What was it like having your real life daughter play your daughter?” Jimmy asked my dad.

“I think it was a really cool experience for the both of us. It’s very rare when this gets to happen and thankfully Elliana and I have a great relationship so bringing that into the film wasn’t hard for us to do. I honestly go to work with one of my best friends each day,” He explained looking at me when he said that last part and Jimmy and the audience let out an aww and I felt my face heat up.

“What was it like for you Elliana?” Jimmy asked.

“Just like my dad said it was like working with one of my best friends. It made this whole process nerve wracking. I was really nervous since this was my first movie, but having my dad on set with me almost every day made me much more comfortable and confident,” I explained.

“Sunrise was it a stretch for you to play her mother?” Jimmy asked finally bringing my step-mom into the conversation.

“It really wasn’t. I’ve been around Elliana since she was three so it really wasn’t that different than our real life,” She explained.

“Yeah, thankfully growing up both my mom and dad fell in love and both Sunrise and Peter have been amazing bonus parents to Eli and I. They worked with our mom and papa to help raise us so to have her play my mom honestly didn’t feel that different than our everyday life together,” I explained further.

“I have a clip here of the three of you if one of you would like to set the scene up for us,” Jimmy said.

“So right before this Elliana’s character, Poppy, had just informed us that she has been harming herself,” Sunrise said and then the clip played. This scene was one of the most intense for us to film. Once it was done playing Jimmy just looked at the three of us.

“I’d love to talk to the three of you about that scene once we come back from break,” he said and then we were told we were on commercial break. During the break Papa and Smom spoke to each other while I talked to Jimmy.

“We are back here with Sunrise Coigney-Ruffalo, Mark Ruffalo, and his daughter Elliana. Before the break we showed a very intense clip. What was it like that day on set?” He asked us.

“That was a really intense and emotional day. I think it was the hardest scene for me to do because it was hard for me to seperate and rationalize that it was her character doing this and not Elliana. Being a dad you only want the best for any of your children so this scene felt very real to me so all my reaction are natural,” My dad said grabbing onto my hand.

“I remember on the first take when they saw the scars for the first time both of them instantly broke down crying and I saw my dad fill with rage. It felt really real and even though my Poppy shrugged their hurt off I wanted to just embrace them both and apologize. Emotionally it was the toughest scene for me to even do,” I said squeezing my dad’s hand and not wanting to let go of it.

“I don’t even want to imagine what that would have felt like,” Jimmy said and we all nodded our heads. After that the four of us played a game and then I performed with Allo Hearts. Once the whole show was done I gave everyone a hug and then I took a taxi home just because after interviews I enjoy being alone. This is my time to relax and reflect. Once home I put on pajama shorts and a tank top and then I just laid in bed.

I laid there and let the silence consume me. The silence was a catalyst to the calm that I now felt. Interviews always make my anxiety spike up so this is what I have to do each night. If I don’t do it I feel like I’m drowning in my mind and there is now way to reach the top. Mark, Papa, has battled with anxiety in the past so if the silence doesn’t help I usually call him and he helps a lot. Thankfully tonight wasn’t one of the nights where I needed him. I was able to calm down and once I was I checked my phone and saw that I had a missed call from Harry. I called him back and he answered on the fifth ring.

“Ellie,” He cheered into the phone and I knew he was drunk and laughed a little.

“Hey Harry. What do ya need?” I asked even though I knew there wasn’t an actual reason for him to call me.

“I want you to meet Camille while I’m there this weekend. I think you’d like her,” He said as the music in the background grew faint.

“I’d love to meet her Haz, but why didn’t you just call me when you were sober?” I asked.

“Now was the best time Ellie. I would have forgotten if I did silly,” He replied and I rolled my eyes. I swear whenever he is drunk I’m the person he always calls. This is a safe assumption because I’ve talked to all of our other friends and they haven’t been a victim of late night, drunk Harry phone calls.

“Whatever you say babes. Promise me that you won’t drive tonight,”

“I promise mum,”

“Thank you Harry. Please text me when you get home as well. I need to know you’ve made it home safe,” This is how the phone calls always go when he’s drunk. I am definitely the mom friend, but also I want to know that my friends are safe and alive.

“I always do. Bye Ellie I love you,” He said slurring a bit.

“I love you too Harry,” I replied before hanging up. Harry and I have been saying we love each other for about five years now, because we do love each other but only as friends. There was a point where I was sure I had feeling for Harry, but that’s when Alexander was introduced into my life and took over my whole world.

Notes