Ellie nodded. “She’s really helped me keep designing, even though most of my designs don’t get very far,” she admitted. Most of the designs that she’d made, well, Ellie had sewn them all herself. She wore some of them. The most practical designs at least. She preferred being able to wear something she’d designed specifically to fit her body.
Ellie smiled at him, unable to stop her eyes from travelling down his chest. Gods did she miss him. She didn’t realise how much she missed him. She thought she was over him. She thought she was done. But no. Five minutes into talking to Sam, she already felt all the old feelings start to bubble up.
“Well, you look even stronger than I remember,” Ellie said, reaching across the table to straighten Sam’s veggies, pushing them into order. “You don’t look as weak as you used to. I mean, not that you were weak. I know you’ve always been strong, just, you’ve sorta grown into your shoulders, and hands. I’m not making much sense am I….” Ellie trailed off. She was rambling. He did look good. Better than she remembered, and he was really handsome back then too.
It wasn’t a popular opinion from her memories, but Ellie had always thought that Sam was more attractive than Alan. She wondered if he grew into himself too. She remembered he had limbs like spaghetti noodles. It was a weird look for the quarterback of the football team. “I would like that,” Ellie said, her cheeks turning pink. She’d always wanted to go those places. Milan too. The more she could see of the world, the better she could make her designs.
At the offer of food, Ellie shrugged, looking down at her tray of minimal food. Sam had always eaten more than Ellie ate in a week for a single meal. “Oh, um, no, it’s okay,” she mumbled, gesturing at her relatively untouched meal. “I have food. See? Orange, carrots, celery, humus, and a granola bar.” She dipped a carrot stick into the humus before taking a small, delicate bite. “I wasn’t going to get the humus originally, but it looked good and it sounded like a good idea.”
That’s right. She didn’t need to not eat to be lovely for Sam. He seemed to like her better when she ate. She’d almost forgotten. Gods. Sam made her feel good. Almost like she wasn’t the failure her mom used to say she was. She missed Sam. She missed the way he made her feel. He was amazing.
What were the chances that Ellie would run into Sam here of all places?
“Well she really liked you, still does. Call her, or send her a letter she’s more than willing to keep helping you.” Sam smiled softly, he still couldn’t get over how much his mother loved Ellie. His mother’s opinion was vital to who he dated and she loved Ellie.
Sam shook his head, “No I get it.” He said ignoring her touching his food to organize it. It was like they were back at his house making tacos with Alan. “Thanks, I’m pretty sure most people here like me too. And just wait the more I keep this up the more I’ll probably look like the rest of my siblings.”
He wanted to give her everything, he wanted to take her shopping for food and watch her be excited to eat. Sam was always so worried about Ellie eating she was thin, too thin like some of the models in Paris before they passed laws on how thin you could be. Sansby had something similar but they calculated out the ideal weight to muscle ratio and how to make sure their models were healthy.
“But you aren’t eating it that makes me think you don’t like it. I know it’s probably better than the food I’ve cooked, feel free to enjoy yourself, clear you plate. I know i’ll finish all of mine.” Sam knew Ellie had tricks that she used to make it look like she was eating, even when she didn’t. It was similar to the way that when Sam was under evaluation for anger management he’d distract the test giver. because the one time he hadn’t he was almost sent to a ward.
“Alan’s here too, and you have a sibling their name is Deryn and they are amazing. my partner actually. Alan’s partnered to this girl, her names Zelda, daughter of Hypnos who doesn’t sleep but she’s really nice. And he’s kind of into her and won’t really say anything. Kind of annoying really, I plan to chase him around with healthy relationship books and throw them at him because it’ll hit him in the face. You’re welcome to join me if it happens.”