Ella's Shoes

Chapter Six

Not this unexpected discovery.

After almost fist fighting two nurses that came to withdraw my blood for the test due to my fear of needles,the blood was successfully withdrawn after the third trial. Oh! These girls will pay dearly for this. The results came out negative as expected and by the time I was brought back from the hospital,it was already lunch break time. I had just an hour to dance practice. I hurriedly stepped out of the medical van as it pulled over at the entrance of our grand hall.

"Elen!" Someone called out. How's it hard to differentiate Elen from Ella? Are people this dumb? I turned around and was greeted by Milan playful smile. He fist-bumped me and rubbed the spot where he hit. "How was your interview with the principal?" He asked. "First and foremost, My name is Ella and not Elen" I started.

"Secondly, what do you think?" I concluded and walked away. He sprinted towards me again. Annoying thing! Annoying but cute. "I think you're just a sad little drunkard" he responded, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Look for someone else to annoy,I do not have your time". I told him as a matter of fact.

If there was someone I wanted to be in a tongue-lashing battle with right now,it will be Jane and her stupid best friend Deli. "Chill Elen, being angry will take you no where. Deal with it. Expulsion is not the end of life". He replied. Wait! What? "Let's see about that" I blatantly told him and walked away. With my head high this time around.

As if contemplating to disturb me further he stood for a while. "Hey bro! She's refusing you the second time?" Someone shouted from a particular table where the popular guys in my class sit. I didn't know any of their names and I didn't care to. Others laughed. I was tempted to turn back and look at Milan's expression but another part of me just wanted to enjoy this moment. So I doubled the sassiness of my walking steps silently praying no one disrupts my moment again.

"Hey Ella" someone called from behind me. Not again! I turned back expecting to see an annoying Milan but was met with Max concerned look. We never spoke to each other. Infact I've never spoken to a senior before so I was a bit taken aback. All eyes were now on us.

"Hi Max. How can I help you?" I asked. "Woah" a group of boys chimed from behind us that was when I realised that my reply was a bit harsh. "I want to talk to you somewhere private". He replied. I checked my time. Seems like fify five minutes is still enough time to eat and listen to him. But I still had to be a bit difficult.

"Why?" I asked him. "I'm just concerned about you. That's all". "Awwwn" another set of crowd choruses behind us. Why are y'all so childish! He turned to give them a Stern look and they call fidgeted and continued with what they were doing. Hmmm so manly! I thought to myself. "Fine". I responded. I also wanted to know why he was kneeling in my sister's room this morning.

I followed him as he lead us to a quiet place in the cafeteria. He beckoned to one of his classmates and whispered something to his ear. The boy nodded and left. "Before you ask about me, what happened this morning?" I asked him as soon as his friend left. "I don't think I'm in the right position to tell you anything" he replied.

"Just spill" I told him. "I won't. Let's just face the reason I brought you here". He replied. Wow! "And that is?" I asked. His friend came back with two trays of food. My stomach grumbled immediately the food was placed in front of me. "Eat. You're hungry" Max said to me as he started to dig into his own meal. I didn't know people were allowed to collect meal on our behalf. Or was it because they were seniors? I attacked the sandwich and fruit juice on the tray like they were Jane and Deli. Max was right. I was indeed famished.

"There's something important you should know" He started. No this guy should let me finish my food. I hate interruption when I'm eating. "Hmm hmm" I said while trying to swallow the last lump of my sandwich. "It's about you El" he continued. "Sorry?" I asked confused " You Ella". He answered,sensing my confusion. "Oh!" I responded. That was a nice nick name. I never thought of it. I was always called by my full name because why not? "I'm fine". I replied.

"You're not. Mich told me about how you're being treated over there". I'm assuming Mich was another nickname for Michelle. So this guy literally calls everyone by a nick name. Nice!

"What do you mean by how I'm being treated?" I asked. He was about to respond when a group of girls stormed out table. Audrey was one of them. "So you think you're now a star and you're allowed to cheat on your sister's boyfriend and go scot free. Right?" Audrey confronted me with fury emerging from all over her. One would think she was the girlfriend. I ignored her completely and sipped the remaining content from my fruit juice container.

"Drey, really? I cannot talk to Ella in peace cause I'm with Mich. What's wrong with you?" Max asked her. She got infuriated pushed our table marched away with her escorts.

Thankfully I had finished my meal. She'd have heard a resounding slap. "Are you okay?" Max asked me. "I can order for more food" he continued. How's that possible?! In Misty Falls?! I wanted to scream in excitement. "Yes please do" the foodie in me resolved to being a glutton at that moment or let's just say I was stress eating. I mentally smiled as he made his way to the counter to order for more food. Poor boy,he hadn't even eaten half of his sandwich before the outburst.

As soon as he set another table and placed our meal,I continued with the conversation. "I don't think I'm being treated badly,it's my father's house and cleaning it cannot be wrong" I told him. "I didn't say it is wrong. But you've been limited to a lot of things" he responded. "It's for my own good". I told him in my stepmums voice. It was her reply when our neighbours asked her why I was the only one that wasn't allowed to attend their son's birthday party. He stopped. Looked into my eyes and said three disturbing words that caused me to almost choke of my food and die.

"Audrey did it!".