Never an Ever After

Swan lake

SONG FOR THIS CHAPTER:

SHOOTING STAR-HALE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

RONAN

My Ellora is reading while sipping her black coffee sitting comfortably in the far end corner of the field. The sun is sets perfectly on her pale white skin that glows, the air is cascading her raven long hair.

The view right here is perfect and out of this world. It is heavenly, to say the least.

That is why every time we practice, I am a herd, because I can see her within my eyes can reach. But her eyes, never landed on me or in my direction. Because her attention was always on James. Sometimes she even glanced at James for a quick second sometimes it lingers longer than what I want, she didn't know I could see her. She didn’t know that I knew the reason why she wanted to be in that place; For her to watch James just like I am watching her.

I did everything I could not to beat James when he jogs to Ellora's direction. I watched James's actions for a long time so that I knew that this was the first time he had approached Ellora, and sat with her comfortably. I wanted to break all the bones he had when he f*****g laid his f*****g dirty hands on Ellora's head and face. But one of the things I've learned in the field of the world I'm dealing with now is that you have to have patience in everything you do, because when the time comes for you it will be worth it. You can't be impulsive and make easy decisions. There’s so much depends on the attachment of my name now that I have worked so hard for. So, if I intend to retaliate against James for approaching and touching Ellora, it is not here and now is not the right place and time.

But that doesn't mean I can't hurt him here on the football field because I can.

I intentionally hit him with a collision while in practice until his whole body became sore. Don't worry, James. That isn't the only one waiting for you. There is f*****g more to come.

Cloud is smirking at me at the bleachers knowing exactly what I am doing.

The practice is done and so is Ellora, I saw her walking with her back that is when James put his shoulder around me “You’re in heat in the practice, man.” He chcukles.

“I f*****g am. Fight club tonight?” I intend to beat the s**t out of him in the Saint Mary’s tonight. And I will never put some mercy just like what I did today. I wanted to break his f*****g hands, the one he used for touching her.

He smirks and shake his head “I can’t. I have plans tonight.”

He tapped my shoulder and carry on his way in the football team’s shower room.

I clenched my fist as thousands of questions is swirling in my mind.

The way Ellora smiles while he’s talking to, he, could he possibly be invited Ellora tonight on some s**t?

Cloud walks beside me instantly “Give me you phone.”

Cloud gave his phone and I immediately dialed Angus’ number “Follow her. Don't let her get out of your sight. " I ended the call, not waiting for Angus to reply because I know he will.

“What is it?” Cloud asked.

"I just feel like James has a plan."

Cloud chuckles "You know there is." Cloud said he wasn't shocked by my suspicion, because it's true. A year ago, I learned of the plans of James and his family. This is where I started getting smarter with the people, I let into the circle I have now. James thought he had fooled me, he didn't know that I am always ahead of him no matter what he does.

That is why I get clouds loyalty, the three of us have been best friends for all we know and here we are figuring out James’ purposes.

That afternoon, Angus texted me that Ellora is still in the ballet studio.

The ballet studio of my Mom. Angus said James is nowhere to be found.

ELLORA

I am dancing gracefully different today, maybe it’s because James talked to me earlier.

This is what I like about ballet dancing. I can release when I’m happy, also seen in my dance when I’m sad. This is more expressing yourself without the need for mouths or words to be able to communicate with the people around you. In ballet, I forget. I forget I am the daughter of a Reverend. I forget my Mother left me for ballet. Even if I wanted to not do ballet, I couldn't. I knew I must be upset because this is why he left me, Dad and me. But I feel like it's already in my blood.

I am called every step, every dance, every sound of song. Ballet is within me. I just couldn't bear to see Papa’s face when he found out I had disobeyed his order. That I am also leaving Pennsylvania to pursue my dream of studying ballet in New York.

Reena prepared everything I need for new york, I just have to graduate here in Nashville.

I owe her everything she did to me. She walked my papers to her acquaintance at New york for ballet school, and she passed on the credentials I had. So, I got a scholarship to Julliard’s school for fine arts. A once in a lifetime opportunity. Chances that I won’t get easily at any more in next few hours or seasons.

I have to do this for myself.

"I think you're really ready to audition next month for Julliard's." Reena compliments me as soon as I stopped dancing.

“You think?” she passed me the bottled water and I drink it, exhausted and tired but satisfied.

She nods “You are. Have you chosen a piece that you will dance for the audition? For us to practice. "She asked.

"I'm thinking of Swan lake by Nate Fifield." The song held me in so much emotions, I really wanted to dance because once I saw Mom’s mixed tape that she left at home, and when I played it. She's dancing in the same song. And he was my inspiration. That’s where my obsession with ballet started, the moment I watched my Mom on an old mixed tape dancing with all her hearts out, dancing with the Swan lake song. I want to dance the piece too.

“That’s—That’s a very complicated piece. Are you sure?” Reena asked.

I nod “I will do my best to learn the piece.”

She nods too and pressed my shoulder “I trust in you. I should probably go; can you lock the studio up when you leave?”

I nod “Off course, I’ll just dance one more time.”

She smiled “Sure.”

Once she left, I played the Swan lake piece and tried to copy every movements of my Mother in that old mixed tape.

As soon as I finished, I hurried to close the studio and go to the parking lot where my brown 1972 Vauxhall Firenze 2300 is. It's Papa's gift when I was seventeen years old, he said that on my eighteenth birthday he would replace it, but I don't want to. I love the car so much.

I had so much fun dancing and I didn’t even realize the time, I never changed clothes so I am only wearing my ballet yoga pants and my black fitted ballet crop top. My hair is messy and I smell like sweat.

When I was in front of my Car and just looking for the key inside my bag, the hairs on my neck stood up, and I looked around. The parking lot is empty and dark. I feel like someone is looking at me but where? Anxiety crept inside me so I hurried to find the key inside my bag, It's only eight in the evening but Reena’s ballet studio is in a hidden place. That is when I heard a footstep stepping closer and closer. I got scared and I am literally shaking right now and I didn’t even bother to look behind me, A cold metal hit me on the neck and a foul smell engulfed my space as well as calloused dirty hands circled around me from my behind.

“Hello there, baby girl.” It’s a man. A man growls so close in my ears that I cried instantly.

The metal that is on my neck has sunk a little more that I flinched, It's a knife.

“Pl—Please.” I sob.

"Don't cry, I just want to taste you, baby girl." He chuckles darkly and licked my cheek, I could do nothing but cry. I feel like I'm at the end. Maybe it's my karma because I'm fooling Papa.

I can feel his hands roaming all over my body, I just closed my eyes and beg him to stop while crying.

Until he stopped, he also lost his hands that were holding me as well as the knife in my neck. I didn't dare to open my eyes first because maybe he was in front of me, I heard a very loud thud and a grunt. Not a usual grunt, but a guttural in pain. I snapped my eyes open, as I see the man already on the floor, bloody as someone sits on top of him that I can’t see, stabbing him relentlessly until he loses his life. I did nothing, I just stood there stunned by the scene that’s unfolding in front of me.

The man who killed him stood up and I already know this silhouette.

It’s Ronan.

He killed a man.

He just killed a human.

In front of me.

He tried to walk in front of me, but I stepped back. I am afraid, scared even more. I know he just saved me from that man, but the point that he can kill a man without hesitation makes me scared even more. He proved the fear I felt for him that started many years ago.

“Get in the f*****g car, Ellora.” His growls, his voice is low and thick even more in the dark.

I just nod and hurried into my car, while looking at him. I saw that he even stabbed the man and blood splattered on the windshield of my car, I gasped and covered my mouth with my hands. Ronan just stood outside and picked up his cellphone and called someone. What happened to Ronan so many years ago and he can kill someone alive? I shakes my head repeatedly, I should be thankful, Yes, I should be thankful. He saved my life from the evil heart that attempted my life. But I am scared, I am shaking and crying inside my car.

Ronan got in the driver seat of my car, and I backed myself into the far end corner of the passenger seat. He sighed and looked at me.

“You—You-kill him.” I sob.

“I did.” He swallowed hard, in here I can see his features, even the blood on his hands and face.

“How can you do that, Ronan? You might go in jail.” I sob.

“You’re shaking.” He attempts to hold my face but I flinched.

“You kill him.”

“I f*****g did, Ellora! And he f*****g deserves it for touching you!” he shouts that I stopped crying and shaking.

“What are you going to do with him?”

“My men will handle him. Just calm down and try to breath.” He said and I nod.

“I want to go home.” I look straight.

“Just relaxed and calm down, you don’t want your father to know about this, do you?”

I know he’s getting impatient. “Why are you even doing her in the middle of the night alone?