"When you lose someone, it stays with you. Always reminding you of how easy it is to get hurt"
It had been 8 months since gilbert left. But ella was still not healed completely. She still missed him. Him walking her to school everyday. Him making her laugh every time. Him sneaking her out of the house late at nights. And ella was right, the gold was not real.
"ELLA"
"ELLA"
"ELLA!"
"ELLA SMITH!"
"WHAT!"
"Why weren't you responding to me!" my mother screamed at my face as she stormed upstairs.
"What do you want?" ella asked, rudely.
"For you to get of the house and stop showing me that attitude!"
"I dont want to now please get out of my room."
"Ella elizabeth smith you do not use that tone with me. I want you down in 5 minutes and if not, I'll make you stay outside for 5 hours whether you like it or not!"
"But thats not fair!" she protested
"What do you mean! Ella you havent been outside in weeks! Today you're going to school and thats final! And also jack said he is going to a little late today so you can walk with james."
"Fine. I am coming down!" she said with tears in her eyes. This week, last year, gilbert surprised with her favourite book and they both took long walks down the streams, while talking about life.
Her mother just stared at her and then left the room. Thats when her uncle came downstairs as ella walked down the stairs, frustrated.
"Now, now, whats all this commotion this early in the morning?" her uncle asked.
"Uncle william! Mother's making go to school! She doesnt understand!" I yelled
"What does she not understand my dear?" he asked
"Everyone hates me! And this week gil- nevermind" ella quickly said.
Uncle william held her hand and made her sit down as she just cried.
"Do you remember when you said, I am not ashamed of standing up for whats right, even if it takes for everyone to think I am crazy, I know what I did was right. Then why are you so scared now, the ella smith I knew loved fighting and owning whats different about her. Not her backing down just because this world loves to judge?"
Then he wiped her tears.
"Now, you'll go out there, with your head held high and not give a damn about anyone!" he said
Ella smiled and hugged her uncle.
"Goooooooooddddddddd morninggggggggggg avonleaaaaaaaaa" a raspy morning voice said of her cousin jacob.
"You're so lucky you dont have to go to school." james, my real brother said as he ate his breakfast.
"Well paying for your expenses is way worse my little baby brother" jacob said chuckling.
"Jacob, ah, my boy" my father said.
"Have you started looking for a lady for this handsome boy yet william?" my father asked.
"Handsome? More like racoon" ella said laughing as james burst out laughing, spilling all his milk.
"Not very nice sissy" jacob said fake frowning.
"Well, no, not yet. I want jacob to find himself someone he loves, not a boring wife. I know he'll find someone interesting" uncle answered.
"Well you're already 21 boy better start finding someone soon" my father said.
"Anyways, Am I supposed to drop these two animals there stuff again today" jacob asked, sipping his tea as ella and james furrowed their eyebrows.
"Yes jacob no excuses" my mother said.
"Well, well, well, we'll show you what animals we are. Just wait big b" ella said smirking.
Ella and james had a plan.
They knew what kind of girl jacob wanted.
And they had just about the right person in mind.
Jacob looked confused but ella and james just smiled.
Once they finished breakfast. They were off to school.
"I am scared" ella told her brother james.
"About what?" he asked
"About everyone, they're going to judge me and then I dont have anyone to talk to either. Not anne, not diana, not gil-n-no one"
"You can say his name you know" james said
"I dont want to"
"I know you miss him"
"Of course I do dummy he was my best friend"
"Just best friend?"
"Y-yeah j-just best friend"
"You never stutter ella" his brother pointed out.
Then her brother decided to change the topic.
"So, what about ava? You sure she is going to be meeting us at school when jacob comes?" he asked
"I am pretty sure she would come to pick up her sister so yeah. And besides, jacob's gonna fall in love with her even if he made eye contact with her for 2 seconds." she said laughing.
"Right" james laughed too.
Then they reached school.
Ella saw anne and diana talking about her hair so ella went to anne and whispered "Remember what I said yesterday?"
She nodded, took a deep breath and entered the clss.
As ella made it to her seat, she was stopped my billy.
"Billy I am really not in the mood" ella said emotionless.
"Aw, is the princess missing her prince. The one who defended her. And didnt let me kiss you!"
"Billy you should shut up" she said as tears formed in her eyes as she heard gilbert's reference.
"Oh come on princess, talk to me. Look at me right in the face and tell me. You dont like me."
"Well thats easy" ella said and looked at him right in the eyes "I. Dont. Like. You" she said
"And you like that worthless piece of garbage gilbert?"
"Billy this your last chance for shutting up or something really bad will happen"
"That mindless little boy."
"Shut up" She said as tears trickled down her face.
"The one who left you and doesnt care about you"
"I said shut up billy" I raised my voice a little.
"Or the one who's father died and he cried like a baby"
"I said shut up billy!" she yelled and punched him.
And he was on the ground bleeding. His head was bleeding as he hit the pole. Ella stared as her mouth dangled open on what she just did.
Tears trickled down. Everyone gathered around and apparently anne, diana and jack saw everything. But worst of all.
"Ella?" that voice whispered again.
And more tears trickled down.
She turned around. And she saw him.
And she just ran out of the house. She ran and ran. Until she reached it.
John blythe's grave.
"Do you still feel like I am the right person to protect him?" she said hoarsely.
She usually came here when she didnt want anyone to judge her. John blythe was like a father figure to her. She loved him with her whole heart.
"I figured you'd be here" that voice again.
"Go away. I dont want to talk to you" she said without turning around.
"Ella-"
"No! Dont you understand! I dont want to talk to you gilbert!"
"Ella please-"
"You left me! You left me! I had no one! No one! Diana was forbidded to stay with me. Anne wasnt here! Everyone hated me but I knew one person would never. And then I got his letter too. I didnt eat or sleep for days gilbert! But why would you care? And no! How could y-you think or even i-imagine that I could replace you with those gits charlie and billy. They arent special to me! And you know why they arent! Because they are not you! They're not you...."
And he just stood there speechless.