Ethel

Fantasy.

I woke up as the sun hit my face. i got up suddenly, looking beside me. he was not there. practices?but if yes then even i'll have to go. 

I got up worried, only to find him playing outside with Winston.

"weren't you supposed to CLOSE the glass doors?i woke up!!"i say, running to him. 

"oh that..i'm sorry but girl, we need to buy you clothes first!"he says, tugging on the t-shirt.

"oh yes. of course. we should. i will ask Ashley or Harper to come and hand me a pair of jeans and a tee. "i say, my phone in my hand.

i call Ashley and tell her the same. she promises to be there in a minute.

"you should go inside. i will send her in if she comes."he says, picking up Winston in his arms.

_______________________________________________________________

After almost a century, Ashley came in with Harper. i was so happy to see both of them, all the times when we three used to go for fishing together ...their memories were still alive.

they sat on the kitchen table as i prepared breakfast.

"how is Cha-"i was asking Harper when Ashley held my hand tightly.

"what?"i said, struggling to loosen her grip."you are hurting me!"

"what you did was wrong yesterday. you should have stayed. we cannot handle this alone!"she says, leaving my hand. her eyes were completely filled with hate.

"but you need to know, that Cris lives here completely alone!he was the one hurt last night!Charlie will soon discover that it was just his desire to make this happen as soon as possible and so he took a crazy step last night!"i said, sitting next to Harper.

"how is he?"i asked again.

Harper replied this time."he is miserable. he never lets us in your room. he stays there by himself. this is starting again. know what/when you were away, the boys were into a fight daily because Ronaldo came daily to check on your Mother.your Mom loves him, i must say!"she says, excitement in her voice as she started again."why don't we give time to both of them to think about it?it's their fault after all. falling for just one girl. Charlie always has Meg, too."

she stops when she sees the deadly look in Ashley's eyes."i don't care what you do...but choose wisely.i have seen two men fall in love with a girl and trust me . it's not the sort of thing that end well."she says, getting up to grab her car keys.

"are you going somewhere today?"she says, handing me the clothes she had got.

"yeah...he is taking me for some shopping."i say, waiting for her reaction. she seems happy.

"remember we love you, Ethel. don't think of me as the devil. it's just...the clan is supposed to be forever. your choice is ours!"Ashley says as we get into a hug. 

as they step out into the garden to the parking, i watch them from the house. they cross paths with Cris and give him a hug too. the best thing that has ever happened to me is The clan. and i won't let it go.

_________________________________________________________________

"so where exactly are we going?"i said as the car took on speed.

"The golden mile market. i think that's the best place for you to shop."he says, handing me the coke bottle.

"how do you know SO much about shopping?and fashion?"

"i have dealt with a whole lot of models in the past. it gave me a good experience of when and where to find what!"He says, his hand reaching up to the music player, turning on the songs."i'm pretty good at learning lyrics, so you know."

"guess what? me too!i never really figured out why i couldn't remember a single word from courses but all my favorite summer songs are always in my mind, fresh to sing and scream!"

"I think it happens with everyone. they are much more pleasant to hear then Mr. Perkins!"He says, laughing.

"who is that?"i so wanted to know more about him.

"that, my girl is the worst Mathematics jerk you could ever come across!I mean why do difficult algebra when we never will come across those questions in our whole damn life!"he says, looking at me to make sure i understood.

"i know, right?i'm a maths freak too. it's really annoying when the way i solve math is not even an option in the answers! but the main problem is the same-WHY math?"and at this , he pulls my cheek.

"what?"i say, annoyed.

after he is done laughing , he says"you are too cute for me, Ethel!really too cute for your Age!!!!!!"

"hey!i'm fine!tell me more about you , though."i say, turning to face him. his eyes are still fixed on the street ahead but his expressions tells me he is up for telling a story.

"I was really afraid when I came to Madrid from Lisbon.and i was HORRIBLE at English. and they were afraid of my accent, too. but i learned life here. i got everything i ever wanted. football, my passion of these cars and i made everyone proud. but then there was never anyone in my life. until you, of course!"he says, smiling now.

I thought about it for a while. how easily we misunderstand people we don'y know much. how casually people call him arrogant. well, spend some time with him and you will know. he is the most lovable person to be with.

"know what?why i love knowing about you?because I feel blessed to know the reality than being with the shadows. i want to tell the people how good  you are but i won't."i say, looking at him. he will surely ask why. and he does.

But the answer for this question has been in my mind for years.

"If i tell them why I love you so much, they will fall for you too!"

And he laughs like never before. 

___________________________________________________________________

"Trust me I will look like a chipmunk in this!"i said, raising the green dress he had just suggested.

"no. try it on. green suits you!"he says,checking the other dresses too. 

"i have never worn green before!especially no green dress!"i said, hanging it on his shoulder.

"whoa, girl. you cannot stay in your tee's and jeans your whole life. show people what you got!you are beautiful but it's time to show that now! you are no less a celebrity.by the way, we HAVE to buy a dress. you are going to Paris this month's end! there is this event we are invited to."

As I heard him say Paris, all i could think of was Elemer. I had to find Jaxon . and save them, of course.

"when are we leaving for Paris?"i ask him.

"um..four days later?"

"I want us to leave day after tomorrow. i have some work there. i will tell you about it later.can that be done?"i said, hoping for a yes.

"yes. sure...i will call my manager for the changes-but only if you try the dress on. take this red one too."

i take both the dresses. after all, everything has a price!

(it's strange how i never knew that green suits me well.)