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City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Inside, Ele was finished with her shower, and had decided to keep her leggings and sweater on to sleep in. Toweling off her hair and running her fingers through the stands to detangle them, Ele left the bathroom light on and wandered out into the kitchen. She was happy to see water in the fridge, definitely needing it to calm her raging headache. Again, she left the kitchen light on.

Back in the bedroom, Ele flicked on a side table light and crawled under the covers. The bed was incredibly comfy, and Ele was exhausted. Letting out a deep sigh, Ele closed her eyes and tried to put Tyler and his words out of her mind so she could sleep.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

"Oh no... Not you too..."

Ele groaned, letting her head fall back and looking up to the trees. They disappeared into the dark night sky above and Ele realized for the first time that she could see the stars here. Closing her eyes and shaking her head, Ele walked a little faster,

"I like my life! I like the city, the crowds, the noise... What is it with all of you thinking that you know who I am and what I want? You. Don't. Know. Me!"

Ele finished with finality as she stomped up to the door of her suite. She slipped out of the shoes she was wearing and handed them to Amber,

"Thank you for letting me borrow these, and the dress. I will have it dry cleaned and delivered to you."

Ele promised, then opened her door and slipped into the safety of the suite.

"Good night Amber, tell Vale I said it was a great party."

She closed the door, and locked it firmly behind her, leaning on the heavy wood. Taking a few breaths, Ele went to the bathroom to take a shower and try to get some sleep.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Ele could hear footsteps behind her as she walked, they were too light to be Tyler's so she slowed for Amber. Crossing her arms over her chest and shivering as she walked, Ele nodded,

"I'm fine. I just didn't need Tyler badgering me! Like how dare he think that just because life for him works out here means it will work for me!"

Taking another breath, Ele shook her head as her suite came into view,

"Why is he so persistent in trying to make me like it out here anyway? I get it, it's beautiful, and nice, and there is life here but he doesn't even know me! Maybe I don't want to leave everything I worked for to come to a town where things might work out well!"

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Taking a large gulp of her drink, Ele listened to Tyler's speech and closed her eyes, sending a quick prayer for patience and for her words to not devolve into venom,

"That is good for you, and good for Vale,"

Ele started, opening her eyes and turning her gaze up to Tyler's. She looked him dead in the eye,

"And good for me too, because I'm the reason I made it to where I am now, I am just as self-made as you, or him! I made the best of my life growing up in hotels, and the backseats of cars, and in strange men's homes where I slept with the light on because...

Ele's voice had risen, but she stopped herself there, closed her eyes again and spoke once more in a softer voice,

"And one day I decided I didn't want that to be my life. I wasn't going to let my mom's poison hurt me anymore so I left. I walked out of the hotel and spent the next three years couch surfing wherever I could and studying as hard I could so I could get scholarships to any school that would take me.

I rejected my mom, and chose to make my life the best that I could so that I would never have to beg, or plead, or borrow from anyone ever again! I clawed my way through a male dominated degree to be the top of the class and entered into a male run career where I did what I had to do to get to where I am. I make the best of my situation and my life every day because I am freaking proud of how far I have come!

So I don't need a lecture from you, telling me to dump the life I built with my own two hands to move to somewhere I have been for one day just because you say so!"

Downing the rest of her drink, Ele set the glass down and glared at Tyler again, angry tears filling her eyes that reflected the years of hurt that she had suffered,

"Because I am sick and tired of men telling me what to do with my life! Especially when they don't know me!"

With that, Ele stomped past Tyler and headed straight for the exit, climbing back up to the empty bar and striding back towards the path that would take her to her suite.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

With Tyler looking at her and explaining all these things to her, Ele bit her lip and looked down at the floor as they danced. In truth, Ele did desperate hate her job. It was stressful, underpaying, her boss was an ass... And Ele was barely getting by in the city, with her rent going higher and higher every year and her salary never increasing. It was far too tempting an offer,

"I've only been here one day."

Ele said, with a chuckle and incredulous shake of her head as she looked up again, bringing her head down from the clouds and firmly planting her feet back on earth,

"This place is beautiful, and I think it is great, but beauty fades and thinking something is good isn't the same as it actually being good. I've been shown that too many times in my life to believe that it could ever be different, just because a stranger makes me a promise that life could be wonderful. My mom believed that every time a man opened his mouth, and we suffered. I won't be the same way."

The song came to an end, and Ele dropped her arms to her sides. The music started the lively jazz tunes again and Ele took a step away from Tyler,

"You're a great dancer Tyler. Thank you."

She said softly, then walked off the dance floor to get her drink.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

He wasn't far off base, Ele realized. Seeing the countryside, and the trees, and everything being so much slower and more intimate here... Ele found it hard to imagine herself leaving in just two weeks. Trying to cover her hesitation though, Ele raised an eyebrow,

"Oh really? Then tell me, oh rum-loving-rc-truck-driving-mechanic man, what could a woman like me offer to people out here? I can't begin to imagine that even your generosity extends too far beyond a day or two of help!"

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Despite the butterflies in her stomach, Ele managed to laugh as she shook her head and looked up at Tyler. He had a good six inches on her, and Ele was not a petite girl. Average to tall for a woman, Ele was usually able to look men in the eye, especially when she wore high heels, but in the flat shoes she wore now, Ele had to tip her head back to see Tyler's face,

"I thought you were crazy the moment you offered to stick around with me! This just confirms it!"

Shaking her head, Ele smiled,

"Seriously, I don't know how I will ever be able to thank you enough for everything that you have done for me."

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

When the song changed, Ele hesitated at first, expecting Tyler to immediately grab on to her and begin leading the dance. When he waited though, Ele took a breath and put her right hand on Tyler's shoulder, and stretched her left out for him to take.

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Ele and Amber were laughing, pink cheeked and bright eyed as Tyler walked over. When he asked for the dance, Amber, who seemed to have it out for Ele, shook her head and stepped towards Vale,

"Oh no, honey. You get her all to yourself!"

She laughed and Ele turned to give Amber a glare, but as she turned back to look at Tyler she softened her gaze and smiled at him,

"Do you still want to dance with just me?"

City Comes to the Country (Tyler Night and Whitelily)

Yeah, sorry. I've been at school and in a staff meeting for work. Give me a little bit and I'll reply.