Shawn
Ella hasn’t been to school in three days.
I’m worried sick about her and in need of answers. If Ella had a cell phone or any form of modern technology at her disposal, my concern might have lessened by now. My anxiety escalates with each day I don’t hear from her. When I spoke to Natasha and Anastasia on Monday, they had assured me that Ella was home sick and would not make it to school.
Tuesday they gave me the same story about how Ella was home puking her guts out. Maybe what they say is true, but even so, I am worried about her. If something were wrong, she might have called a friend, or so I had hoped. For all I know, Ella never made it into her house after our date. Or maybe something else is going on at that house of horrors.
Strolling into the cafeteria with a purpose, I make a beeline for Natasha and Anastasia, who are sitting at the end of my usual dinner table with their sorority sisters. None of my teammates, except a handful that uses them for sex, even want them here. I sure as hell have no desire to look at their smug, entitled faces while I eat a meal.
Angry, I press my palms on the wood, shaking the table in the process. I draw my friend’s attention at the other end. They wave or nod hello. But my focus is on dealing with these girls.
“Tell me what is going on with Ella right the fuck now,” I growl, keeping my voice low. “No more games. Something is wrong, and I want to know.”
Natasha flicks her dark hair over her shoulder and sneers at me. “I have no idea what you are talking about, Finch. Ella who?”
“Don’t play dumb with me.” Annoyed with Anastasia, I turn to her twin and say, “Stop fucking with me, and just tell me what is wrong with Ella.”
Anastasia shoots daggers at me and drops the fork clutched between her bony fingers onto the plate in front of her. “I’m sorry. I don’t know anyone named Ella. Are you sure you have the right name?”
“Yes, you fucking do,” I shout, unable to control the rage brewing inside me. “You live with Ella. Quit acting like I’m crazy and tell me where she is and what is going on with her.”
Bash walks over to me and grips the collar of my shirt. He tugs on the fabric just enough to get my attention. “Calm down, man. You are causing a scene.”
“They know where Ella is and won’t tell me. I need answers. Someone had better start talking.”
“Do you hear yourself?” Bash shakes his head. “Ella is home sick. I’m sure she will turn up soon.”
“You wouldn’t say that if Tori hadn’t shown up to school all week,” I counter.
“If you’re that worried, then go to her house.”
“Easier said than done.” I walk away from the table to speak with him alone. “A gate surrounds her entire property. Ella’s stepmother won’t let anyone in without an invitation, and I am not getting one.”
“There has to be another way of finding out this information without harassing girls. No way are they going to tell you a thing. You will only look like more of an ass if you keep this up. If you want answers, then you go find them.”
Mulling over his words, I realize Bash is right. Anastasia and Natasha are never going to tell me any more than they did on Monday, especially not when they are around Harper and the rest of the Mean Girl Squad.
* * *
The back roads to Ella’s house are hard to navigate without any light. I pass by her house once, before I turn around and park between her gate and Mrs. F’s. Not a single light is on at Ella’s house. As per the usual, Mrs. F has her gate open and welcoming, while Ella’s is scary and uninviting. Choosing the path of least resistance, I turn the wheel and pull up the long drive to Mrs. F’s house.
She answers the door after the first ring of the bell with a dog in her hands and a smile on her face.
“Have you seen Ella?” I choke out, desperate for answers. “She hasn’t been to school all week. Her stepsisters won’t tell me where she is or if she’s okay. They keep telling me she’s—”
“Darling, slow down,” she interjects. “I’m an old woman. I can’t keep up with your ramblings. You must be Shawn.” I nod, and she continues, holding her arm out, as she opens the door wider for me to enter. “Why don’t you come inside and have some tea with me, and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
I walk alongside her, through the dining room, past the living room, and into the kitchen. She orders me to sit at the round table by the window, and I do as she instructs, waiting for her to fix us our tea. She slides a cup across the table to me and takes a sip. The silence between us is maddening.
After waiting all week, I have to find out what is going on with Ella. I keep asking myself if I went too far with her on Friday night.
Does she not want to see me? Did I do something to upset her?
I dismiss the thoughts almost as fast as they enter my head. I have too much free time on my hands now that football season is over and my girl has gone missing. I had no one to study with all week, and no bus rides to the suburbs to get my peace away from my fraternity house. But I do those things because of Ella.
“Have you heard from her?” My tone is impatient, upset, even.
Not having Ella around this week has affected my mood. One day at a time, I fall more in love with her. I need to see Ella, hear her voice, and know that she is okay.
“No, I’m sorry, dear. I haven’t seen Ella since the night she borrowed the dress, and I helped her sneak out.” She sets her cup on the saucer with a concerned look on her withered face. “You dropped her off here after your date I presume.”
“Yes, of course. I even waited until Ella disappeared up your driveway.”
“It must be that stepmother of hers. What a foul woman that Clarissa.” She shakes her head in disgust. “I bet she has her locked away inside that house.”
“Well, we need to find her,” I say, looping my finger through the handle of the cup.
“At my age, I won’t be of much use to you, but I can show you how to get through the secret entrance between the properties. Maybe you can find a way to free our Ella. That poor girl deserves so much better than the hand she has been dealt.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” I sip the warm liquid down in a few gulps and wait for Mrs. F to finish. “Would you mind showing me the way? I have to know if she’s safe.”
The corners of her mouth turn up into a tiny smile. “Of course, my dear.” She grips the edge of the table to stabilize herself, and I get up to help Mrs. F to her feet. “Ella was right about you.”
“Does she talk about me a lot?”
“You are the reason we had met in the first place. Ella was only going to that party to see you.”
Her words bring a smile to my face. “Thank you for helping Ella. If we had never met, I don’t know where I would be right now.”
“You were meant to find each other. Things happen for a reason. I strongly believe in that. I’m glad she found you. Otherwise, I’m not sure if she would have found the strength to disobey Clarissa.”
Unhooking my arm from Mrs. F’s, she insists that she walk on her own and without my help until we reach the front door. She grabs a winter coat from the closet and a flashlight to lead the way.
“I didn’t mean to get her in trouble. All I wanted was to take her out on a real date, the kind of date she deserves. She misses too many things with being locked up inside that house all the time. I guess I shouldn’t have talked her into doing that, huh?”
“She could have said no. Love makes you do stupid things.”
“You think she loves me.”
I can’t see her face in the darkness, but I catch the slight bob of her head. “I just met you, and I can already tell how much you care about Ella. You love her, too, don’t you?”
For as many times as I have thought about my feelings for Ella, I have yet to say them aloud. “Yes, I do.”
“Be good to my niece. Make sure you treat her right. Girls like Ella are tough but also fragile. She needs someone even stronger than her to be the force in the relationship.”
“Not a problem, Mrs. F. I would never do anything to hurt Ella. I will be the strength she needs.”
She clutches my arm and stops in front of a tall row of hedges that reach up to the tree line. “That’s good to hear. Now, go get our girl back.”
I thank her several times before I sneak onto Ella’s property through the makeshift door, hoping to find Ella, so I can tell her how I feel.