Not Your Average Ricky(Ella) Story

And, if it gets worse before it gets better

A/N: Poor Ricky.  He needs a hug from E.J One-word mention of rape but it doesn't happen Ricky just thought about it. Also, I'm going to pretend that Mike Bowen is British to fit this song's vibe.

Song to listen to while reading: Trust Me Mate by Dean Lewis

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I am dreading today. It's Sunday which means that I have to cook a meal for the 3 L's and our guests that are coming over. I don't know who the guests are and I'm not allowed to see who they are. L said that I was not invited to the dinner. I really hope I can get some studying done amongst the chatter.

"Ella, I need you to cook appetizers for the girls' 16th birthday party next month. You are so good at cooking, sweetie pie," L says over the intercom while chewing on something.

I hate it when she calls me sweetie-pie and Ella. Who even gave me the name Ella? Was it Lucy or Lula?

"Wait, didn't they turn 16 two years ago?," I press the button on the intercom and hope she heard my response.

"Shut up! Go clean my bathroom. The toilet is clogged in the girls' bathroom and I need you to buy me more detangle shampoo," L says while spitting something out.

Gross.

Doesn't she remember that I don't have my license or a car? The girls have separate cars. Why can't they go to Target and buy shampoo?

"I'll fix it," I press the intercom button again while sighing.

Welp, my to-do list just got longer. I don't know when I'll have time to eat because I don't get leftovers.

I manage to cook a three-course meal for the 3 L's and our guests, fix the toilet in the girls' bathroom that I share with them, and buy L's shampoo off Amazon using the money I earned from my last dinner shift—all in just six hours.

I hope I don't get yelled at. I even managed to steal some bread and a bowl of chicken to eat in my room.

L asked for a 5-course meal. But my feet hurt from standing, my stomach still hurts from the large bruise I got and my lower region is killing me. I ignored the pain and pushed through though.

"Ella, can you do me a favor?" Lula comes into the attic unannounced while I'm looking for my Pre-Calc textbook in my backpack.

"I told you not to come in my room Lula," I hold back my anger at her since I have 0 % of energy left.

"Can you get me two AAA batteries from the basement? My calculator won't turn on," Lula looks at me with puppy eyes.

"Why can't you do it? My feet and body is are sore, Lula." I sigh while zipping my backpack up.

"I need to finish getting ready for our guests. I need them now, Ella. Nowwwww," Lula begs while making a pouty face at me.

I only said yes to get her to shut up and leave.

"Alright. I will get them. Now, get out of my room before your mom finds you here," I get up and feel might throat dry up.

I need to get a glass of water before the guests arrive.

I walk down to the basement to get her batteries. As I am walking up the stairs I hear a familiar voice and have to wait in the basement for 15 minutes until I hear them walk away.

Why is E.J here with his dad? How did they get an invite to this awful house?

Thank god my dad is at a bar tonight. I don't want E.J to see the mess he is. I definitely don't want E.J to know that I'm related to the 3 L's either. I haven't talked about my stepmom or stepsisters to anyone besides my close friends and their parents. It's not something I want people in school to know about.