Capturing Ella

Chapter 19 - Ella

Three days later, July.

'We do have some conditions for this trip of yours Ella,' Mom said and I nodded, taking a sip of my hot chocolate I managed to get from free from the local Costa. Turns out, the barista who works the 6am morning shift has a massive crush on me, and as I'm the only one ever to come in six in the morning into a small town Costa chain, it gives us time to talk. He seems like a very sexist pig, saying quite a few "females belong in the kitchen" comments, so I took my free hot chocolate with marshmallows and whipped cream and left. Even though it was cold, it still was pretty good and gave me the motivation to follow this conversation through.

Karla was sat in her dressing gown on the other side of the table, with her morning cup of coffee. She said we needed to have a talk after Michael said the investigation could last up to four weeks, so I would have to be over there for that amount of time and wouldn't be able to come back until we're done and got a form of conclusion. Even though I've spent longer in England with Michael, for some reason I still had to have the conversation. Not only that, Xav and Crystal had forced themselves to be up at half seven in the morning just to listen to this morning bollocking, and leaned against the kitchen counter in their pyjamas, their coffee sipping strangely synchronised.

'You'll behave over in England, like you did last time.' Karla asked, and Crystal laughed into her coffee mug. Xav elbowed her in the ribs, before putting his arm around her waist so they looked completely normal when Karla turned around.

'I'll behave.' I grounded out, as both Xav and Crystal made some very rude gestures of what could have happened when got drunk. I still couldn't remember that night, which was both relaxing and nerve racking. I kind of assumed my memory would come back as it crept away but nothing. At least, if I had no memory, I wouldn't walk around regretting it but I think we probably all know what I was stupid enough to do that night, and it was those kinds of signs Xav and Crystal were making. I swallowed my laugher, trying not to show any emotion to my brother and Crystal.

'You won't get in any trouble,'

'When have I ever got in trouble,' I asked, smiling sweetly.

'Darling, you do have a track record for being impulsive and thinking of consequences after,' Karla said sweetly, touching my hand as if it'll soften the comment. 'Okay, so we got over the trouble comment you also have to promise me that you'll take care of yourself.'

'I double on that one, as well.' Xav said, pointing his mug at me slightly. Crystal just looked at him slightly, before leaning into him. I watched as Xav put his arm around Crystal's waist, muttering something to her and her nodded response before he kissed the top of her head. They were so cute together, I wanted to punch myself in the face. I wished it could have been like that with Joe and myself, but there was no chance. Not only did I bugger it up by leaving him in the hotel room, but I accidently ignored the text message he sent me mid-April, a week after I came back from. It simply said "Hey x", but I didn't bother replying. Mainly because I blushed so hard and just locked my phone, incredibly happy he cared enough to talk but I cocked that up by forgetting to reply – and by the time I noticed it was like three days later and it was too awkward to reply.

'Ella,' Karla said, clicking her fingers as I jumped back. I raised my eyebrow at her. 'You were daydreaming- again.'

'Was I?'

'Yes, have you got something on my mind, Eleanor?' Mum asked, and I shook my head and shrugged at the same time.

'Of course not, I'm good. Just the case... it's a bit odd.' I said, playing with the grains of sugar on the table. Overheard, I heard Karla say something to Xav and Crystal about giving up some space, and the two love birds filed out the room, pushing each other gently as a joke as they closed the kitchen door.