Clockwork Daisy

Chapter 15

Ellie

Chapter 15

"You're telling me you lost your virginity when you were fourteen?" My head was whirling as I tried to focus on Beth's distraught face. 

"Yes." Beth confirmed. "You have every right to judge me."

I scooted closer to Beth, placing a sympathetic hand on her knee. "Beth, I'm not judging you or Deacon. My mind never even went there."

Beth forced a smile, but she still looked flushed. "He's a good guy, Ellie."

My blood suddenly ran hot with curiosity. "Tell me more about him."

Beth attempted to relax, leaning on one of my over sized pillows. "He's shy."

"Really?" I asked sarcastically. "I couldn't tell."

Beth suppressed a giggle. "He's been through alot. His dad left when he was little and his mom's job is barely getting them by." Beth's eyes wandered to my window. "To help out, Deacon works in the clock tower."

I raised my eyebrows, intrigued. "The clock tower?"

"What? You don't believe me?" Beth questioned. "Someone has to take care of it."

I shrugged. "I guess I never thought of it like that."

"Knock knock!" In reality, there was no physically knocking on my door. My mother thought that swinging an unlocked door open and shouting 'knock, knock' always sufficed.

"Hello mother." I crossed my arms across my chest. "What do you need?"

"I border on the cuspt of being rude," My mother began, swirling her wine glass. "But I'm afraid Beth has to leave. Your father and I have something important to discuss with you."

"Mom-" I started to protest, but Beth placed a hand on my back, stopping me.

"You're not being rude at all, Mrs. Wells." Beth said, causing my mother to break into an adoring smile. Beth stood up. "I should probably get going anyway so I can walk home while it's still light."

I showed Beth to the door. "Thanks again." Beth said as she started down the porch steps.

I fidgeted with the door lock. "For what?"

"For not judging me." Beth's voice shook a bit.

"You're too good of a person to be judged on one thing." I told her.

Beth, adding nothing else, seemed pleased. She gave me a small gesture of a wave and started walking down the hill, the sunset riding on her heels.

"Ellen!" My mother's voice snapped. "Come sit down for dinner."

There were still stray pieces of bubble wrap and plastic floating and sticking on the mahogany dining table. As I took a seat in front of a pot roast, salad and potatoes, the table felt foreign and cold. It didn't feel like the same table I'd shared so many meals at with my parents. It didn't fit in California.

"Are you excited for Friday evening?" Mother had already laced her plate with miniscule portions. So this was the discussion she made Beth leave for.

"To be honest, I'd almost forgotten." I admitted. It was no lie.

"Your mother says they're nice people." Father scratched his stubble. I'd barely noticed his presence up until then.

"Well I don't doubt that." I said, picking at my lettuce. "But this all feels a little...forced."

My mother's eye twitched when the last word slipped out of my mouth. She set down her silverware and folded her hands over her plate. "Ellen, darling. I just want to insure that you have a fitting escort for your Gala. Appearance is everything."

"Yeah, to you." I mumbled, staring into my roast.

"What was that?" Father asked, scraping his knife against the china.

"Nothing." I waved my comment away.

"Montgomery." Mother said suddenly after a sip of water.

"What?" Father and I spoke at the same time.

"That's their last name. Lawrence and Kate Montgomery." Mother re-folded her cloth napkin. "And their son, Jesse."

Jesse. A name for a rebel.

When I cut out of last period to use the restroom, I wasn't expecting to find Deacon and Trevor tossing flailing hits at each other beside a bank of lockers. I hadn't spoken to either of them at all that day. I had shared a passing look with Deacon in English, but that didn't count.

Trevor, greased with hair gel, was the first of the two to spy me. "Hey there, Ms. Wells."

Trevor had been a bit of a snotty jerk the first day, but he was growing on me. Like moss. "Hello, Trevor." Then I turned my attention to Deacon. "Deacon, nice to see you." A fear crept up in me that I was sounding too formal.

I could tell I made Deacon nervous. His eyes got wide and refused to blink. He took a few lingering seconds to respond. "Listen, Ellie. I'm sorry about my mom. I didn't know she'd be working for your family..."

I knew I had to silence him. Immediatey. There was no need to feel guilt. "Your mom is lovely. I didn't, and will not, judge you for your mother's job. She works hard. She deserves the money she makes."

A smooth smile crossed over Deacon's lips, signalling he was grateful. It sent shivers up my spine. "Thank you, Ellie."

"No thank you necessary." I responded. I contemplated leaving, but I couldn't stop myself from what I said next. I needed him to know. "And just so you know, Deacon, I wouldn't judge you for anything else, either. What's past is past."

I took my time as I abandoned the boys. Either Deacon wasn't paying attention to the words I said, or he got my message loud and clear.

I knew what he had done...

but I still wanted him.