Page 80 of Christmas off Script
Leo ran forward, watching in horror as Zach and Ella spun together towards the edge of the stage.
At the last second, Zach let go of her, pivoting and pushing her back to safety, then fell backwards off the stage to the floor with a sickening crack and a cry of pain.
The music stopped and everyone rushed to his side.
Leo leapt onto the stage to Ella. She sat on the floor in a sea of foam, rubbing her elbow.
‘You okay? You hurt?’
‘I don’t think so. Just my arm a bit.’
Zach screamed, and Ella’s face went white.
‘I’m calling an ambulance,’ Henry shouted.
Leo helped Ella to her feet, and they went to see what had happened.
Zach was on the floor, his face twisted in agony and his right leg bent at an unnatural angle.
‘Oh my god,’ Ella whispered, her knees buckling.
Leo held her up, fear cutting into his chest. Was she remembering the accident? The injury to Michelle’s leg?
‘L-Leo,’ she stammered, her teeth chattering.
Hoisting her into his arms, Leo rushed to the rear of the stage, down the steps at the back, and whisked her out of the ballroom through a side door.
Ella clung to him, her clothes damp from the foam, as Leo strode through the manor. Fear and anger fuelled his feet as he jogged up the stairs, going straight to her room and sitting with her on the edge of the bed.
‘Th-thank you,’ she whispered.
‘Can I run you a hot bath?’
She shook her head. ‘Just hold me.’
So he did, rocking her in his arms whilst planning exactly how he was going to murder his father.
‘It’s not his fault,’ Ella murmured.
‘Huh?’ Was she thinking about Zach?
‘Your dad. He gets overly excited about things. That’s all.’
‘Well—’
‘And it’s not Zach’s fault, either.’
‘Are you reading my mind?’
She poked his arm. ‘We’re telepathetic, remember?’
The corners of his mouth twitched. ‘I didn’t know your skills were as highly attuned as mine.’
‘Yes, they are,’ she replied, her voice sounding stronger. ‘Right now, you’re thinking “how far can I push it before she starts tickling me?”’
The snort of amusement came out before he could stop it. ‘That’soneof the things I’m thinking about.’
Twisting her head so she could gaze up at him, Ella gave him an open-mouthed look of astonishment. ‘You can think about more than one thing at once?’
