more than you know • mileven

four.

"morning el!" ella chirps as el smiles and watches her get into her car, "morning my little ella."

"here is your lunch, hold onto it safely please." el hands her a bag as ella smiles widely, "what is it!?"

"you have to wait till lunchtime, baby." el starts the car again as ella whines, "tell me, el. tell me!"

el chuckles to herself, "i made you your favourite egg salad burrito wrap. theres a cookie in there and a juice box to go with it."

"chocolate chip?" she asks, her eyes shining as el nods, "yes, chocolate chip. i'll pick you up a bit later today though so don't leave your playground till you see me."

"how much later?" ella tilts her head.

"not long. only about thirty minutes, maybe even quicker." el informs, "just don't leave with anyone, okay? you must see me and me only and you better have a finished lunch."

"yes, madam!" she does a salute as el giggles and smiles, "good."

arriving at the school, el helps ella out of the car safely and carries her bag out for her. in an instant, el holds ella's hand and looks around, "has anyone hurt you lately?"

ella shakes her head, "nu-uh, i am ella."

el laughs and ruffles her hair, "okay, but you know to tell me to tell another boy off, right?"

ella nods, "i know." she comes to a stop outside of the school, making el kneel down in front of her, "now how late will i run today?"

"thirty minutes or less." she nods.

"good," el smiles and cups her cheeks, "i love you, have a good day." she kisses her nose and whispers, "remember how much i love you?"

"infinity!" ella cries happily and hugs el tightly by the neck, "i love you infinity too!"

el picks her up and giggles, "you're so cute! okay, go in now before you're late." she puts her down and stands up, "eat all of your lunch because i need you to grow all big and tall and because i woke up early for that."

"i will." ella smiles up at her as el ruffles her hair, "run on in then."

"no." ella shakes her head, "i need to kiss you goodbye first."

el laughs, bending down for her, "go on then, i don't want you to be late."

"i won't, i am—"

"el?"

the voice cuts ella off and both el and ella looks up.

"mike." el says, "oh.. what are you doing here?"

ella furrows her brows at her sudden voice change. her sudden mood change as well and how el suddenly pulled ella closer towards her.

mike smiles, walking over to them and el notices the small girl next to him.

"your.. your sister?" el asks as he nods, "yep. the one and only troublemaker wheeler. yours?" he asks, pointing at ella as ella giggles and looks up at el.

it wasn't the first time someone assumed ella was el's sibling. sometimes they assumed she was el's daughter and gave dirty dirty looks.

el had to admit she acted like a mother towards her sometimes but that was because ella's parents never really cared for her.

el did know that they at least made some food at home and ella did say that they weren't always drunk but still, el was worried.

she even considered adopting ella but she knew she didn't have the capability considering what was going on with her.