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“Which is weird, ‘cause I don’t see why she’s so likeable.” Sam had said off-handily while being interviewed at the police station.
At the time, he really didn’t. From what Sam had seen of her over the years, Ellen didn’t really seem like the most approachable person in Bremin. She had an almost permanent glare on her face, ready to snarl at anyone who even slightly ticked her off, which was pretty much everyone. Except Felix and Oscar, for whatever reason. It might’ve been because of how old they were when they met or the close proximity of their houses, but Sam was pretty sure it was just one of those ‘the right place at the right time’ kind of things. Especially considering how Ellen was with Mia in the alternative universe.
Sam had always tried to befriend or at least be nice to the people around him, but with how the other Ellen interacted with him for almost two weeks and his far and few-between experiences with his universe’s version of her over the past 15 years of his life, he wasn’t exactly sure how well that would work with the goth girl.
He knew that Ellen wasn’t all that bad, she couldn’t be if she was best friends with Felix in one universe and with Mia in another. And she was alright once she knew what was going on when Andy disappeared. Maybe she just need time to warm up to him, without magic being involved.
***
“Ellen, your friend is here!”
“What friend-“ Ellen cut herself off when she saw him. “Oh.”
Sam waved. “Hi, Ellen.”
“Um, hi. Felix isn’t here.”
“Yeah, no, I know.” Sam nodded. “I was wondering if you wanted to hang out?”
Ellen blinked. “Uh…” She quickly looked at her mum, who looked excited at the idea of her daughter having more than one friend. “Yeah, sure. Bye mum.”
***
“So…” Sam began.
Ellen nodded. “So…” She replied.
Sam had to admit, he didn’t think he’d get this far. “Do you… have any... hobbies?”
“Hobbies?” Ellen laughed.
“What? I’m trying to start a conversation.”
“By sounding like the school counsellor?”
“I do not!” Sam stopped. “Do I?”
“Yeah, you do.” Ellen pressed the button at the crossing lights before crossing her arms and leaning on the post. “So, what’s this about anyway?”
Sam furrowed his eyebrows. “What’d you mean?”
“You, me, hanging out,” The light turned green. “doesn’t really happen.”
“Uh, no, no it does not.” Sam said as they began to cross. “And I was thinking we should change that.”
“Okay, why though?” Ellen asked. “And what are we going to do?”
Sam jumped up onto the concrete border of the playground they were passing. “Cause I’d like to know you better and become actual friends, you know, not just when there’s danger around. As for what we’re going to do…” He jumped off the concrete. “I have no idea.”
“No idea whatsoever?”
“Nup.” Sam shrugged. “Didn’t think I’d actually get this far, to be honest.”
“Why would you thi-“ Ellen thought about it for a moment. “You know what, fair enough.”
Sam looked over at the playground. “What about here?”
Ellen raised an eyebrow. “The playground? What are you, five?”
“I would say more like eight, thank you very much. And why not?” Sam asked as he approached the swings. “Playgrounds are the best!”
Ellen crossed her arms, but smiled.
Sam smiled back. “We can just go on the swings if you want.”
Ellen sighed. “Alright, only 'cause you asked so nicely.”
“Hell yeah! See, we are going to be great friends.” Sam said, gesturing between the two of them.
“Yeah, yeah, okay.” Ellen replied as they sat down.
“But I am going down the slide at least once before we leave.”
Ellen grinned wickedly. "And I'd be happy to push you down."
"Alright!" Sam pushed himself back but stopped when he caught on to Ellen's tone. "Wait..."
"I wouldn't actually push you, Sam."
"Oh, yeah, no, I knew that."