Rita told Garfield to get the F out of here, when he just came and was worried about her. Also, Ellen passed him up when she saw him on the street and didn't ask if he needed a ride.
"Guns don't kill people..People kill people"
Rita had basically lost confidence in herself, mainly because she was already self-conscious and because of Ceasar's beating on her. She didn't think she could do what she dreamed, even with Garfield's encouragement.
Ellen was a bitch, to be frank. I really think so. She was shown to be a weak woman from the start (she gets up and leaves the table just because someone talked about getting stabbed. She couldn't even handle that, never mind handle seeing Trevor's back all scarred up or entertain the thought that he might have killed Benny...who was threatening her! She never even gave him the benefit of the doubt.
But long story short, that's why: she was weak.
"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush."
[deleted]