Eliana laughed bitterly, "Honestly, I don't even know. You certainly won't tell us why your family is so uninterested in your life, so have your pick of any or all of the rumors that made it to my parents."
Things with Eliana had improved a lot as far as Xaiden was concerned, but occasionally, on days like today when she was starting out with a chip on her shoulder, it was easy to fall prey to her baiting remarks. Xaiden stared at the top of the page and began counting slowly while measuring his breaths. It's not worth the energy, he reminded himself, she's just in a bad mood today.
Ewen saved the day again with a well timed interjection, "Els, did you h-hear?"
"Obviously no—"
"The r-radio is finished." Ewen answered his own question before she could finish her snappy response. When it came to dealing with difficult people, Ewen had a type of instinct for deescalation, especially the more he knew and trusted the people involved.
"Oh yeah?" She replied dryly. "Add it to the pile of other useless junk then."
"Jeez, Eli," Jax snapped, "Why'd you even bother coming here today if you're just going to make snippy remarks the whole time?" He regretted it immediately when he saw her eyes pooling with unshed tears before she rushed out of the cabin. "Hey, I didn't mean it like that, Eli." Jax called after her. After hesitating for just a moment, he ran after her too.
"What's the deal with them lately?" Xaiden asked Ewen, who'd lately been mediating between Jax and Eliana more than Xaiden and Eliana for a change.
"U-umm.. I don't think I should talk about it," Ewen responded quietly. "I think it's a b-bit personal, sorry."
"It's okay, I'm pretty sure I already know anyway." Xaiden said, trying to return his focus to the book he was holding.
"W-what do you think it is?" Ewen asked cautiously.
Xaiden was surprised at the question, but perhaps it was the way he got people to open up that made Ewen a great listener to all the different people in the group. "Umm… personally, I think Eliana likes or liked Jax and that Jax doesn't feel the same way she does, even if he does like her a bit more than a friend."
"Hmmm.." Ewen nodded as he thought for a moment. "H-have you talked to Jax about it before?"
"Eh, I mean, only that one time when we were arguing down here, you remember, you were there." Xaiden responded. "That's a big part of the reason I doubt Jax likes her all that much."
"How do you feel a-about Eliana?"