Chapter 16

Mrs. Darcy took it easy on Taylor and I for missing her lesson after we told her that we were on detention. In fact she said that she was excited to see how well we will perform the upcoming tests the following week. Taylor assures me that we will review and ace the test.

Aside from that, Mia has invited me over to her home for the weekend. I do not refuse her. I like her and I do want to meet her family. I tell Fine that I will be out of school and stay with Mia for the weekend. She says she will miss me and helps me out to pack my little luggage for my departure. By Friday evening, Mia picks me up from dorm and we leave after bidding Fine bye and listening to her ''enjoy, have the time of your lives! life's too short'' speech. Taylor drives us to the house. It is a 45 minute drive to her house. The two of them assure me that there is no dog at the house after I ask them. They laugh at my fear for dog but it is totally normal. I am sure many children have had a race with dogs before. I am one of those children. Mia informs me that she is an only child, and that she has already told her parents about me. I really hope her parents do not be bothered by my presence.

Taylor stops the car at duplex fashioned house. Mia's house. There are large vases harboring pink and yellow roses. in it were tiny white stones for decoration purposes. It is bigger than my mother's house. Simple. He parks the car in a garage and three of us walk to the front door. Mia pushes the door open and walks in with us following behind her.

''Mom, dad, were here.'' she announces. A woman who looks to be in her late 30s hugs Mia. She has wavy blonde hair but slightly than Mia's. It's Mia's mother. She is short too. They are a striking resemblance. Mia's mom then hugs Taylor then approaches me with an honest smile.

''You must be Becky. My daughter has told me so much about you.'' then she hugs.

''Yeah I'm happy to here Mam.''

''Oh you can just call me Lara .'' she smiles.

''Okay Mam. Lara.'' I correct. Just then another man walks in the living room. He could be mid 40s. He's tall, tanned skinned, grey haired, he is my friend's father I think. I introduce myself to him and he tells me that his daughter has said a lot of good thins about me. He ushers us in the living room. Taylor fills in the school life details. Of course the good side. We are already in a reforming school, imagine how disappointed they will be to hear that we are not changing. We chat on and on. Laughing a funny experiences at Mr. Fisher's office. He is an engineer. Now I know where Mia gets her great brains from. A man at the office slipped on a banana and landed in a dustbin. He is the bossy one in the office and all the workers laughed hard when he emerge out of the dustbin. Actually the whole incidence was recorded and the video circulated to every employee. Mr. Fisher even plays the video for us.

Lara takes a break from the funny conversation to prepare dinner. She still throws in a few words from the kitchen. We feast on a deliciously cooked chicken lasagna.

'' Mia, can you guys please go to the pharmacy and get some painkillers for your father. He's not doing too well.'' Lara requests.

'' Sure mom.''

''Don't forget your sweaters. It's cold outside.'' She brings us each sweaters from our bags and makes us wear them in front of her. Mia takes the money from her mom and we use the backdoor to go to the garage.

''I hope your dad is okay.'' I say as soon as the car is on the tarmacs.

''Me too. He works too much. I hope mom lectures him so that he reduces on the long hours of work.'' she jokes but I know she means it.

The pharmacist prescribes a few painkillers. As soon as we leave the pharmacy, we spot a familiar figure sitting under shade. She looks depressed, sad. She is wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a white T-shirt without a sweater in this cold weather. I walk towards with my friends behind me. The closer I got I noticed that her eyes were teary and lips trembling. What tragedy could have happened to her? Taylor, being the gentleman he is, gives her his sweater. She pulls it over her head and continues crying.

''What's the matter?'' I ask.

''Nothing I just needed a moment.'' She slurs. She is drunk and she is here all alone.

''How did you get here?'' Mia asks.

''With my car.'' she points at her BMW and titters. Yes she is definitely drunk. She looks underage to me and she is drinking?

''Where do you stay Ella?'' I ask the mysterious girl.

''40 minute drive from here.'' she answers.

I turn to Taylor and tell them that I would drop her home. They argue claiming that I do not know her and that she could be dangerous. Yes I do not know her but she is emotionally broken down now and her parents could be worried sick about her. Besides they had to rush home with Mr. Fisher's medicine and I tell them exactly that. They agree after analyzing the situation and placing her on the passenger's seat.

''Promise you will call.'' Mia warns.

''I will it's only..'' I look at my phone screen ''....8:10.''

''Okay bye and take care.'' the two of them wave and go in to their car.

I had no driver's license but I was optimistic on not being pulled over by a cop.

''Ella right?'' I ask just to be sure that it is her real name and not some name Benjamin faked.

''Yeah.'' she responds.

''Where is your address?'' she tells me and I type it in my phone app and follow the directions.

Ella falls asleep and I drive till I come to a stop at a big gate. A tiny sign had Avocado lane written on it. There were guards at the gate and they let me through after Ella awakens and they recognize her. It is a mansion. I park near a fountain. It is obvious that she is from a rich family. By the time I park the car she is stable enough to walk till the foyer where we see two worried parents sited on their kitchen stools. They rush to Ella and help her sit on the stools and giving her water. The woman's bronze hair is straightened and she is wearing a coat for doctors which slightly exposed her trouser and shirt. I think she is a doctor. The man is dressed in a suit. His hair is grey and the lines on his forehead ease when he hug his.....daughter. They exchange a few calm words that I can not make out from where I am standing. I guess my presence is no longer needed so I turn on my heels to leave but a voice stops me.

''Becky.'' Ella calls out my name. How she knows it I have no idea.

''Make yourself at home dear. I am Ella's mom by the way.'' she ushers me in the kitchen.

''Nice to meet you Ella's mom.'' a woman walks in dressed in a black and white uniform for maids. Ella's mom asks her to make us some coffee after asking me what I would prefer tea or coffee. As soon as I am done drinking the coffee, I thank her and tell her that I am leaving but she insists that I stay.

''No mam I don't want to be a bother.''

''No way you're not a bother dear. It's late and take it as way of us saying thank you for bringing her back home safe.'' Ella's father persuades.

''umm,'' I try make out something to get out of this but nothing comes'

''Sleep over Becky please.'' Ella interjects my empty thoughts.

''Okay.'' I agree.

Ella and I walk through the hallway quietly until I posed a question.

''How do you know my name?''

''I know Benjamin's friends.'' she answers. Well we are not friends anymore. I almost tell her but I decide against it. She opens a door revealing a large room with a queen sized bed, makeup table with it's chair and mirror next to the white walls that were a striking match to the tiles on the floor. The curtains were brown and a forest theme. The lamp shades were huge and emitted enough light making the room look elegantly beautiful.

''Have a seat.'' I sit on her comfortable bed. She hands me a towel then points to a door.

''Here you need to freshen up you must be tired.'' I thank her and head to the doo she pointed at. The bathroom has a strawberry scent. The tiles are brownish but everything here is elegant. I wait for the water to get warm then take off my clothes to shower. The shower gel is strawberry which explains the scent from earlier. When I exit the bathroom, Ella is not around but I find a pair of grey sweat pants and a long sleeved grey shirt well folded on the bed. I'm sure she left them for me. I use her blow drier that I saw on her make up table and hope she has no problem with it. Ella walks in on me right after I pull the sweatpants to my waist. She has a towel wrapped around her body.

I stay quiet and look at a magazine when she is changing. As soon as she is done she escorts me to a guestroom for the night. It is like her room but smaller. The bed was queen sized too just that it had cream and brown sheets unlike the white and blue in Ella's room.

I sit next to the headboard and she sits at edge.

''Thank you for bringing me home.'' she smiles.

''No problem. I don't mean to intrude but aren't you underage to be driving a car or drinking or drinking and driving?''

''I just turned 17 almost 18.'' she tries justifying her actions.

''What happened earlier you were so sad?'' I ask. She hesitates but tells me after I tell her that she can trust me.

''I was at a high school party. I was talking to one of the hottest guys in school. Sera, a popular mean girl at school called me out on that and said I was a bitch because she thought I wanted to sleep with Brandon. That's the name of the guy. Sera insulted me in front of everyone and said that I was a prude and no boy would ever look at me.'' she shakes her not wanting to relive the humiliating incidence. That Sera girl had no right to insult Ella that way. She is beautiful, humble anyone would want to date her.

''I'm so sorry.'' I apologize feeling sympathetic towards her. She laughs

''It's okay.'' she yawns.

''Goodnight Becky I'm so tired.''

''Goodnight Ella.'' she gets up and leaves. I try calling Mia but she does not pick up so I try Taylor but his is off. I hope everything is ok with her father. I send Mia a quick text to let her know that I am safe and will return the following day.

I switch off the lights and shut my eyes. In about 20 minutes, the lights turn on again. I turn on my hips and i am greeted with a...

''What the Fuck!''

''You.'' I speak lowly. Benjamin Wadsworth was at the door. What is he doing here? I am not ready for an argument this night.