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"Yeah, I'm sticking around." That's not all you have to say. By this point, you're keenly aware that Ella is upset with you, so you decide to confront the issue rather than talk around. "And I hope you will too, Ella. I know you don't think I listened to you or appreciated your perspective but without you, we would've resorted to violence or theft way more often. Hell, if it wasn't for you, we probably would've failed outright. You helped all of us cling a little tighter to virtue." That last bit is a little cheesy, but you hope that it'll alleviate any resentment she has for you.
By the time that you finished, you can clearly see the ire in her bright blue eyes. The way that she looks at you isn't all that different from how she glared at Harrower, and you expect that she's about to launch herself into another furious tirade. More than once, she opens her mouth to speak only to think better of it and seal her lips once more.
After a few seconds of tense and uncomfortable silence, she eventually deflates and lets out a quiet sigh. Her anger evaporates, any rant that she had mentally prepared is abandoned and the subdued Amish flower that you're so used to returns. Indignation just isn't in her nature, even if it's the righteous sort.
"Fine," she says, with a voice that is little louder than a whisper, "but please, don't expect me to stoop to your level just because I'm staying." You're not quite sure what that's supposed to mean, but you won't pry. If she wanted to go into more detail, she would've done; you're just relieved that she's not leaving.
"I guess you were wrong, Marley; it looks like we're one big happy family after all!" Rather than allow the tension between you and Ella to linger, Alex seems eager to make light of it and move on.
"How can you say that? You were the one who was thinking of leaving us behind in the first place." Isaiah still seems a little upset by that revelation. You better not tell him that you were thinking of going solo as well. The Fury just rolls her eyes.
"Take it as a compliment. If I didn't like you jerks, I'd be long gone."
You talk among yourselves for a while longer, ruminating over the future and all of the opportunities that lie ahead of you. Since none of you can think of a field that your pack really specialises in, you decide to discuss locations that your pack could claim as territory and watch over. Alex likes the idea of Philadelphia, while you suggest Pittsburgh. Your mom would feel a lot better if she knew that you were nearby. Ella and Isaiah both have an interest in returning to Tennyson, but Marley points out that you should probably wait for things to cool down before you go back there. Pentex is probably swarming all over that city right now.
