Capturing Ella

Chapter 31 - Joe

I stood leaning against the wall of the porch as Ella locked and then double locked the front door to the bungalow. It was nearly nine in the morning so we knew the supermarkets had opened at least, so by the time we get what we need with our newly set PIN for our joint account from Maui, drop it back here and put it away and drive the hour long drive down into Truro town for our main clothes shop it would be in the afternoon. We both sat down to watch the weather forecast, which showed it was meant to be overcast until mid afternoon then clear skies into the night, and the news report which held no information of the upcoming terrorist attack.

'Car. Now. I'm driving,' Ella said, putting the key from the front door onto the key ring which had the car key on and some others – I'm guessing window keys and back door keys.

'Why do you get to drive?' I joked, as she opened the passenger door for me, gesturing for me to get in. I frowned at her. She had gone for plain today – a pair of skinny dark blue jeans that emphasised her skinny legs, a pair of All-star Converse and a baggy black shirt with a low neckline, showing off her collar bone and the small scar she had on her neck. Her hair as pushed back behind her shoulders, fringe tucked behind her ear. The two normal bracelets she wore around her wrist still there – some things you just can't change.

'Because I don't trust you. In, now. ' She said, smiling as I clambered into the passenger seat, allowing the leg room I would need for my lanky seat. Ella closed the door, walking behind the car to get into the driver's seat. Before she even adjusted the chair and wing mirrors, she clipped her seatbelt into place and gestured for me to the do the same. A few moments later, the key was in the ignition and the car caught on the first go. When looking at the car, I had assumed it would be well warn especially as its 11 years old but it seemed in good condition. I had half expected it to smell o stale piss and spilt beer from months or years previous but instead it smelt of freshly upholstered carpets and lemon air fresheners. It was quite a roomy five door family saloon, and on the driver's side there was a babies car seat, with two toys next to it. An Atlas laid on the floors with RNLI Lifeguard stickers stuck to it. I frowned – new but pre-owned? I didn't want to think of what happened to the family before us and why they left without the babies seat or the kid's toys. I really didn't want to mill on that.

Ella quickly changed gears into reverse, pulling out of the driveway next to the house in one swift motion, before the clutch went down and she went into first gear, and then into second as she accelerated down the dirt path.

'Ella, what did you mean you didn't trust me?' I asked her.

'It's nothing personal, really. I just hate people driving for me and refuse to get in the car if I'm not the one in control.' She changed up to third when the road became less dirty and gravel and more asphalt. She shrugged with one shoulder. 'What do you know about the crash, Joe?'

'The crash you were in when you were little?' I asked.

'No, the crash at Fairy's Cross in 2013, of course the crash I was in when I was little.'

I swallowed, knowing I have to be careful what I said.

'I know you were very young at the time, like three or four, and you and your family were on the way to somewhere, and it was late December. The car in front flipped, killing everyone on board instantly. The car you were in the second one was hit, and it left only you and Michael alive. Michael only had a few cuts and bruises, and his uncle and aunt adopted him with their five kids. You, on the other hand...' I looked over nervously. She was biting her lip, trying not to tear up. 'Do you want to pull over?'

'Nope, do carry on.' She said.

'You weren't so good, though. Both mentally and physically. You took a year or so to be stable enough to leave the children's ward you were on. You were adopted by your uncle and aunt as well, and moved to America, joining school over there a few years back. I think they said something about you pretending to have a twin so it's easier to lie to people. No one would suspect a thing. But, even since the crash you've been mentally unstable, severe insomnia, and no one knows any better because you bullshit your way through every medical examination. If they don't know, you don't get sectioned.'