Inconceivable

[Ellen Banks]

Ellen was always....nervous when she talked about this kind of thing ...something that was so personal to her in every respect and that made her so uncomfortable to talk about, and a part of her was still convinced that this revelation was going to be greeting with anything less then scorn and that was a deep fear she had...

So when Piper reacted to the news with nothing but warmth and understanding she couldn't half laugh a little more in relief then anything else and a smile hit her lips...if only more people would approached the subject like Piper was and though she wasn't used to the affection and it confused her that didn't make it any less appreciated as a rare vulnerable unguarded smile hit her features

..and seeing as she knew it was safe now she was much more inclined to talk about Ashley "You know something? I think I am..." She nodded, lucky that was the word to describe it how else would you explain someone like Ash just clinging to Ellen ..certainty there were a ton of nicer girls she could have clung to. Ellen shrugged momentarily "I didn't really pick her...it just sort of happened...She picked me..I don't know how better to explain it. And yes she is"

[Piper Galloway]

Again, Piper hung on every word. It was as of the gospel itself was coming from Ellen's lips. Everything she spoke, from the way she said to to the words themselves caused Piper to scrunch herself up in a fit of happiness. She couldn't help but ball her fists up and shake them about as she actually wiggled a little where she sat. "That's wonderful!" She exclaimed with a sense of pure joy that was able shine through her unnaturally soft tone. Another round of nodding ensued before she sighed contentedly and went back to working on Ellen's hair.

"Well, for what it's worth I think you should be happy you found someone that makes you feel that way." She said a matter of factly. Piper may not have experienced love or anything of the sort herself yet in her young life but that didn't mean she couldn't feel pleased that someone she had already connected with on some level had been able to find it. "So, come on. Spill it." She urged, giving Ellen another poke in the shoulders. With one hand holding the braid she'd twisted Ellen's hair in, the other reached out to get hold of a dark blue bow which she deftly fastened it around the braid, keeping it in place. "Tell me all about her." She insisted, taking a moment to let her fingers run through the hair that was still loose. "How did you meet? What's she like? I bet she's strong willed and independent like you, yeah?"

[Ellen Banks]

She announced that Ash was pretty with a fair amount of pride, like a mother tell another Mom all about the A+ she got on her test, and she really was proud. Ellen didn't talk about this often, but Piper was just so easy to talk to...maybe she wanted someone to talk about this too about this, maybe Piper was right, maybe she was just glad to talk to people about this...for clarity....wasn't that what she said....

...Yes that made sense

Ellen breathed out soothed as Piper continued to play around with her hair clearly relaxed and more then happy to do as Piper said. She knew there was no harm now...it was an odd feeling like the rest of the world kind of zoned out and Ellen wasn't really paying attention to anything in particular besides Piper's voice and her own thoughts. She was nicely zoned out "Well..if you're so curious..." Ellen began clearing her throat "Her name's Ashley, she just arrived at the school, I met her at the stables....There's this horse there that...Well...I ride more then any other and I caught her hanging around him" Ellen paused and shrugged almost apologetically "I like horses" Which is another thing she never said out loud often "She's...." Well, that was the question wasn't it? What was Ash like "She's...kind...She wasn't that strong willed I don't think...but she's gentle, far more gentle then she has the right to be..." Ellen paused and looked off into the distance momentarily "I don't think she likes me exactly...she likes this formed image of me, this idealized version she's created in her head...Maybe I can be that person, maybe not"

[Piper Galloway]

Piper nodded as she took in every word that spilled from Ellen's lips as if if they held the secrets to the cure for cancer. Piper studied the tone in Ellen's voice and let out a thin smile at the way in which she spoke. Yes, there was certainly something there Ellen had latched onto, in spite of what she may have said. This Ashley meant something to Ellen and Piper was pleased the blonde girl had trusted her enough with all this. It wasn't as if Ellen was the type to freely volunteer such intimate details of her life in this way.

"She sounds lovely." Piper said, almost as if she felt the need to convince Ellen of this. "She's lucky to have you." Of that Piper was certain. Anyone would be lucky to count Ellen among their list of companions. Piper hadn't been around Ellen long but she'd yet to hear of her speak of anyone like she did this Ashley. "Are you sure she doesn't like you for you?" Piper then let out a giggle as she reached up with both hands to adjust the bow she'd placed in Ellen's hair. "You don't come off as the type to be easily misunderstood."

[Ellen Banks]

Ellen pretty much wanted to talk about it was just quite uncomfortable to talk about it to most people, so Piper must be commended on doing the impossible and having Ellen open up to this degree. Besides, talking about Ash...had an effect on Ellen...there was a small smile playing on her face as she did and there was a small comfortable warmth in her chest as she did, this was nice...

...She didn't expect this to be nice but unquestionable it was...

"She is..." Ellen sighed a small lazy smile growing on her face, what Piper was doing to her hair might as well be a million miles away as Ellen was lost in her own thoughts "...How did you come to that conclusion?" Ellen asked somewhat surprised that Piper considers Ash lucky for meeting Ellen. She considered herself lucky. Not the other way around

"She might." Ellen pursed her lips in thought "Even though I have no idea why she would" Ellen ran her tongue over the roof of her mouth as she tried to find the best way to describe herself to Piper "....I'm not the most...loving person, I never have been...I don't think I can be soft"

[Piper Galloway]

"Because, silly." Piper giggled and even went so far as to give Ellen a light, playful swat on the shoulder. "Anyone would be lucky to even have you as their assigned peer mentor." And with that Piper absolutely beamed with contentment. "Let alone be what you are to Ashley." She nodded again with that as if her logic was infallible. Of course in her mind it most certainly was. Ellen may not have been the most friendly person Piper had ever met but there was something to be said for those who were honest and straight forward. She admired that in Ellen and with the way she carried herself through the halls of the Academy. Ellen walked among her fellow students as if she was in charge and Piper had yet to see anyone argue this silent assertion.

"Nah, don't say that." Piper said before tutting some again. She almost even wagged a finger at the blonde but felt that would be going to far. "Have you thought that maybe she doesn't want you to be soft? Or that she likes that you're not?" Piper reasoned with a shrug. Her eyes lit up as they were again drawn to the blue bow in Ellen' hair. She was very pleased with how it looked, after all. "Not everyone wants the soft, lovey dovey thing. Some people admire someone who can be strong and stand on their own."