Shapeless

Ch 21 refusal

refusal

Ella yawned, blinking away sleep from her eyes. Last night she had trouble sleeping, knowing things that she shouldn't. She couldn't get the thrashing image of Skyler out of her mind. And the vision. It meant terrible doom. She knew without a shadow of a doubt that this was Saturday, the day of Braxton's party. She gasped in realization. I have to stop him!

She threw on a pair of shorts and a pink T-shirt. Flying down the stairs, she slammed into someone at the bottom. Flung on the floor, she looked at Anthony who was sprawled out next to her. Oops. she had wanted to save her brother not give him a concussion! Jumping to her feet, the blonde helped her brother up.
Anthony looked at her, rubbing his head. Crap maybe I did give him a concussion!
She waited for something bad to happen but it didn't. She sighed in relief. It must have just been bruised.

Anthony blinked. "Wow Ella-phant. Did you even bother looking where you were going?" he sounded amused. Ella shook her head guiltily. "No. i'll help you clean that up." she offered. Anthony frowned. "Clean what up?" he sounded confused.
Ella used her leg to knock over the coffee table behind her. A mug of hot chocolate teetered off, shattering on the floor. "That."
Anthony gaped, fetching a broom and dustpan. Ella smiled. "Give me the broom, I'll take care of it." she insisted.
Anthony shrugged, walking away. She blinked in alarm. If he wasn't occupied then he wouldn't have any reason to stay! She felt panic rising inside her. "Wait!" she called the college student back.
Anthony sighed in exasperation, standing in the doorframe. "What?"
Ella looked at the ground. "I need someone to be the dustpan." she said cheekily.
Anthony gave her a weird look as he bent down to help. Ella gulped nervously. He knew as well as her that she was completely capable of doing it herself. She wasn't a four year old after all. But she had to keep up the act for as long as possible. Anthony could not leave the house tonight!

Ella spent the next five hours making messes where she could and begging him to help her when finally Anthony turned around. "Okay, what is going on."
Ella laughed nervously. "Nothing." She lied. She was bad at keeping secrets. Actually it was kind of weird that Skyler trusted her with any!
Anthony wasn't convinced. "Why are you following me?" he asked with a bit of annoyance.
Ella shrugged innocently. "What are you talking about? I'm not following you." she glanced around. "I'm uh staring at this painting." she pointed. When that didn't work, she started scooping small green things into her mouth. she mumbled around a mouthful. "See!"
Anthony stared at her in shock. Peas were not her favorite at all. In fact she hated them. Anthony knew this. Crap i'm overdoing it! Now he knows that something is up. She thought nervously, trying not to gag on the vegitables.
"Okay seriously! What is up?" he asked.
Ella sighed, unable to keep eating the nasty stuff any longer. "Okay the truth is. You can't go to the party tonight."
Anthony narrowed his eyes. "Why not?" he demanded.
Ella's heartbeat quickened. "Because if you do! You're gonna die!" She tried to explain.
Anthony didn't listen. "I know you like spending time with me but you have to accept that I have my own life." he lowered his voice. "Now get out of my way, I need to get ready, it's getting dark out."
Ella's eyes widened. That's exactly what happened in every horror movie! Driving in the middle of the night towards the killer.

"No! I can't let you do this!" she begged, blocking his way. Anthony scoffed, stepping around her.
Ella was overcome with despair. "Please don't go!" she felt a tear slip down her cheek.
Anthony looked back sympathetically. "Don't worry Ella, i'll be back before you know it." he promised, making his way to his room.
She fell to her knees when she heard his door shut.
I knew I couldn't do it! I knew he wouldn't listen to me! She yelled silently. Now Anthony was going to die and it would be all her fault.

Suddenly, her thoughts cleared and as the grinch once put it, she had a wonderful awful idea.
Sneaking up the stairs, she made her way to Anthony's bedroom door. With a smirk, she twisted the lock with a click. Anthony heard the sound and rushed to the door. "Hey!" he jiggled the doorknob.
Ella grinned to herself at the brilliant plan. "Sorry big bro, but this is for your own safety." she apologized, feeling somewhat like Cinderella's evil stepmom.
Guilt filled her but it had to be done.
Anthony pounded on the door. "Ella! Come back here right now!" He demanded.
Ella backed away quietly, running down the stairs.
She made herself a bowl of cereal now that she could breathe. She had done it! She had kept him home and now he would be fine. A few hours of silence passed when
The sound of footsteps upstairs made her freeze. Her parents had heard the racket!
They made their way to the door, unlocking it. "Why is it locked?" Her father's voice sounded.