Shawn
Ella’s house is not a family home but an estate set on a massive lot that spans farther than the eye can see.
Tall shrubs wall off each side of the property, serving as an extension of the gate that creates a private oasis. When she said her father was rich, I had no idea she comes from this kind of money. And here I thought Ella was more like me than the rest of the students at Strickland University.
Well, I suppose the fact she has to take three buses to and from school each day makes her more like me, despite her family’s overwhelming wealth. For rich people, they sure have neglected the place. Even in the dark, it’s easy to see the brick is crumbling in certain places, vines twist up the white pillars that hold up the porch, and the front steps are in desperate need of repair.
When my foot hits the second step, the wooden board is so loose I almost lose my balance, which causes me to pull Ella tight against my side to keep us both from falling. This place is deceptive. From the street, the grounds and the mansion situated on them remind me of a small palace. But up close, you see all the cracks in the foundation along with every imperfection.
Ella bites down on her bottom lip, before meeting my gaze. “Thanks again for doing this. I appreciate you walking me all the way to the door. You didn’t have to take this much time out of your schedule just to make sure I got home okay.”
“I like taking the bus with you. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time,” I confess, meaning every word.
She taps me on the arm and laughs. “Stop it. We both know that is a lie.”
I shake my head. “Nope, it’s the truth. It was nice to have someone drive me around for once. I also had the chance to enjoy the company of a beautiful woman. It was a win-win for me.”
Ella turns her head away from me, her cheeks growing redder by the second. This girl does not know how to take a compliment at all, which makes her even more attractive in my eyes. Most of the chicks I encounter at school fish for compliments, while Ella acts as though she’s never had a guy hit on her in her life. She has no idea how to react whenever I say anything nice about her.
How is a girl this gorgeous so unaware of her beauty?
Ella glances at the glass front door, nervous and afraid as if someone is watching us from inside. After hearing stories about her stepmother on the ride here, spying on Ella sounds par for the course. I wish there were another way for her to get what she wants and still have a normal life apart from her family.
Once her eyes meet mine, she smiles, and I return her sweet gesture. Ella takes my breath away.
Holding her gaze, I wonder if she will let me kiss her, or if she will blurt out that she’s a virgin again just to keep me from going any further. While I wasn’t the least bit shocked that Ella is so pure, I also wasn’t expecting her to confess something so personal in front of complete strangers. For a girl who seems to have her entire life mapped out, she’s often unpredictable and full of surprises.
Should I make a move again? Am I stupid for thinking this is a good idea to pursue my tutor? What about the masked girl ?
The verdict is still out on whether she and Ella are one in the same. Ella sounds like her, has the same denim colored eyes that lured me in the first time, and she even has the same laugh. Her soft features and flawless pale skin also match the girl in my mind as well as the one in the picture on my cell phone.
For the life of me, I cannot see Ella hanging out at a fraternity house on a Saturday night, especially after hearing about the rules her stepmother enforces. Her stepmother doesn’t want her to date out of fear she might get pregnant, forcing her to pay for another child. From the sounds of it, she cares more about losing her live-in maid than the risk of Ella becoming pregnant.
If she knew Ella at all, she would know that she’s not the type to spread her legs for someone she doesn’t know, even though it sure as hell seemed as if she were ready to give herself to me at the party. Things went a little farther than either of us had planned in the back hallway of my house. I don’t regret a single thing, and if Ella is the girl, I imagine she shares my opinion.
Ella edges away from me, her fingers slipping from my grip, answering my question about wanting to kiss me. If only she would let me kiss her, so I can call off my search party and give back the gold charm.
My mom always told me that I would know when I found the right girl. Her advice was always on point, and this time is no different. We have an undeniable attraction to one another, but what I have with Ella is more than lust. What we share is a deep-seated connection so real it’s like electricity dancing between us, like two live wires fused together to create a perfect charge.
With other women, I hadn’t felt anything more than an itch I’d needed to scratch. But, with Ella, our bond is so much stronger and meaningful.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at the library,” I mutter, peeling my hand from her side.
Before she can respond, the gates at the end of the long driveway open with a loud groan, as if the metal is grinding together. A car comes flying up toward the house, the headlights illuminating the dark path. Ella stills at my side, and the life drains from her face.
I hook my arm around Ella’s back and bring her into my chest. “You okay?”
“I’m sorry for what is about to happen,” she chokes out.
With the dark tint on the windows, I have trouble making out the passengers inside the car. Music cranks through the speakers of the Mercedes, and a pop beat fills the silent air.
“Why are you sorry? I won’t let whoever is in the car hurt you.”
“You can’t protect me from them, Shawn. I wish you could but…” Her voice trails off once the driver and passenger doors fling open.
Whoever has Ella so afraid causes her to tremble, her fear shaking through me. I have nerves of steel, not the least bit phased by the threat. I prepare myself for the worst-case scenario until two girls get out the car and slam the doors shut. They walk side-by-side, chatting about a boy and completely unaware we are standing on the porch, listening to every word.
Even in the darkness, despite their faces not yet visible, their voices sound familiar. Once they come out from the shadows and into the light that shines through the front door, I get a good look at them. Natasha and Anastasia Rivers stop dead in their tracks and stare up at Ella and me.
What the hell are they doing at Ella’s house? Now, I’m even more confused than I was before.
“Finch,” Anastasia says, throwing her dark hair over her shoulder. “Is that you?”
“Oh my God, what are you doing here?” Natasha adds. “How did you know where we lived?”
My mouth widens in shock when I realize they are Ella’s stepsisters who live to torture her. Not that I liked either of them before, but knowing they are responsible for so much of Ella’s pain causes a rush of anger to flood through my veins. While Ella looks as though she wants to jump out of her skin, I am fuming and dying to say something to the girls on her behalf. But I know she would not want my help. She would want me to keep my mouth shut out of fear it would only make her situation worse.
The sisters have a quick conversation amongst themselves where they ask each other if one of their sorority sisters had given out their address. Their discussion lasts a few seconds, before their focus shifts back to me. I get a quick smile from them, but once their eyes land on Ella, their mouths twist in disgust.
Anastasia stands up straight and fixes the bag on her shoulder, ignoring Ella. “You came all the way over here to see us, Finch. That’s too sweet.”
Without hesitation, I say, “I’ didn’t come here to see you.”
She turns to look at her sister. “So, you’re here for Natasha?”
“No,” I correct, “I’m here with Ella, your other sister.”
They both scowl at the same time, but it’s Natasha who speaks first. “Puh-lease, she is not our sister. Gross. How dare you call her that?”
“The feeling is mutual,” Ella blurts out, pushing her hands onto her hips. A minute ago, she looked terrified, but now, she’s bold, more like the girl I have come to know over the past week.
“No, seriously, what are you doing here?” Anastasia says, her tone demanding an answer.
These girls are bullies dressed in designer clothes with too much makeup caked on their faces.
“I brought Ella home. Do you have a problem with it?”
Anastasia gives me a look of death, while Natasha huffs, blowing a chunk of dark hair in front of her face. It’s obvious they want to say something. Instead, they hook onto each other and blow past us and into the house.
“I’m sorry,” I say to Ella.
“You didn’t do anything but stand up to them for me.”
“Yeah, but by doing so, they will give you hell when I’m gone. I didn’t mean to interfere.”
Ella closes the distance between us and slips her fingers beneath my jacket, warming my skin with her touch. “Thank you, Shawn. I appreciate you defending me. Some days, they are like tyrants. It’s frustrating always having to deal with them alone. If you didn’t speak up, they probably would have stood out here and embarrassed me until you left.”
“There’s nothing they could say about you that I wouldn’t like.” I smile, holding her gaze, and take her face in my hand. “So far, I like everything about you, Ella Fitzgerald.”
“You’re almost too good to be true,” she breathes.
Unsure how to respond, I continue stroking her jaw with my fingers and take in her beauty. She’s the girl. With every ounce of my being, I feel it in my bones. If only she would allow me to kiss her, so I can prove that I am right about my theory.