Ella
"Aye, you graduated! I didn't think you actually would!" Ben teases me as I walk inside the house, holding Antonio's hand. I glare at my 12 year old brother. Actually, he's not even my brother. He's AnnaMarie's son and she's the woman who adopted me when I got out of jail two years ago.
"Of course I graduated!" I snap and smack the side of Ben's head.He pouts at me and runs away. I roll my eyes and walk into the kitchen, holding up my diploma, high and proud. "AnnaMarie! Look what I have!"
AnnaMarie looks up and beams. "Oh! Ella! I'm so proud of you! I'm sure Antonio is too! Right, Tony?"
"Yes, I am, ma'am. I'm very proud of my fiancee." he smiles down at me and kisses my head.
I blush and smile, punching his arm. "Oh, shut up."
"Elle Belle, is that you?" Cori calls.
"Yeah, sweetie!" I shout to her, smiling at Antonio.
She runs in and throws her arms around my waist and then hugs Antonio. Antonio grins and picks her up, throwing her over his shoulder. I laugh as she squeals and tries to squirm away from him, giggling. He winks at me, carrying her out of the room. I roll my eyes at them and sit on the counter by AnnaMarie.
"What time is the party tonight, again?" I ask her, stealing a sliced apple off the cutting board.
She gives me a "mom" look as Antonio calls it and smiles. "Six, why?"
"Oh, no reason. The others, Antonio, and I just have something we need to do tonight so we might be a bit late. Is that okay?" I say, smiling hopefully.
"Well, don't be too late. This party is for you kids, so...." she trails off, smiling at me. She tucks hair behind my ear and kisses my forehead. "You look more and more like your sister everyday."
My smile fades some as I remember Justice, as I do sometimes. "Everyone says that, AnnaMarie."
"I know. You must get sick of hearing it. I'm sorry, sweetie." she pats my cheek and goes back to slicing apples and green peppers.
My phone goes off and I jump off the counter. "I gotta head out now. Antonio and I will be back with the others later, okay?"
"Don't get into any trouble, Ella May January!" AnnaMarie warns me, waving her knife around. It's actually not scary, just comical so I laugh and wave goodbye, walking into the living room by Antonio and Cori.
He's tickling my sister and she's attempting to kick him so he'll stop. I roll my eyes and wrap my arms around his waist from behind. "Ready to go, baby?"
"It's time to go already? We just got here!" Antonio exclaims, looking over his shoulder at me.
YOU ARE READING
No Way (#Wattys2015)
Roman pour AdolescentsShe's a street rat. He's a rich boy. She's a fighter. He's a lost soul. Both are so different but so in love. When Antonio Cortez and Ella January first met, neither of them expected anything big would come out of it. But when both of them lose peop...
