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.
Ella
The longer I sit inside this room, the denser the air becomes, and I cannot breathe.
Judging by the sunlight that creeps through the blinds every morning, four days have passed since my date with Shawn. Until now, I had only missed a few days of school for the flu back in junior year. I pride myself on showing up on time and making good grades.