Pitschen ma en gamba - Small, but powerful [A Band of Brothers Story]

Unexpected Visitor Nr. 3

A/N: Hey guys! How are you? Today is the first day in weeks that we have temperatures below 30 degrees and it's so great! Honestly, the last few days I actually thought I was going to melt.

Anyways, enough about the weather. Thanks for your great response to my last chapter, I hope you like this one, too. We're getting closer and closer to the end of this story...

BUT for those of you who like my writing style: I am working on another Band of Brothers story titled "Women of War". So keep an eye out or shoot me a message so I can notify you when I publish it :)

After her suspension, which she had spent working at the hospital and studying for her college-level classes, Ella returned to school on Monday. Thankfully, her classmates didn't treat her much differently. There was a new form of respect in their behaviour towards her, but otherwise, everything had remained the same.

She was also careful to keep a low profile. She didn't want any attention, she just wanted to make it through the last few weeks before the Christmas holidays without getting into any more trouble.

Her mother had enough on her mind without her adding to her worries. James' abrupt departure from their lives had caused quite an upheaval and had shaken Isabel more than she let on.

Gail came over during lunch break, a relieved smile on her round face. "Hey!", she beamed, plopping herself into her usual seat. "How are you?"

Smiling back, Ella shrugged and replied: "Mh, fine. And you?" Even though she considered Gail her friend, she couldn't bring herself to speak about the things that troubled her. Partly, she reasoned, because Gail wouldn't understand, at least not entirely. But it wasn't the main reason.

"Me too." Starting on her meal with gusto, the dark-haired girl continued: "Say, who are you going to the Winter Ball with?"

Chewing on a mouthful of pasta, the former ranking medic shook her head. "Uh, I didn't plan on going", she admitted after swallowing.

Gail's eyes grew wide as saucers and she gaped at her.

"What?", Ella asked, starting to feel uncomfortable under the incredulous stare of her friend.

"You're not going to the Winter Ball?!", Gail repeated, disbelief colouring every syllable. "You are not going to the Winter Ball?"

Not able to help herself, the brunette quipped dryly: "You know, repeating it over and over won't change it."

Gail sputtered. "But...but, everybody is going!", she cried, waving her hands.

Sighing, Ella tucked a stray lock behind her ear. "I don't really like crowds", she said softly.

Her friend shook her head, dark hair bouncing. "Unbelievable!"

***

"What is?"

Tim sat down next to them, already shovelling pasta into his mouth with one hand. Ella had taken his quirk in stride, chuckling at his ability to juggle his laden tray.

Gail was too shocked to comment this time. "Ella isn't going to the Winter Ball!", she announced, as if it was the biggest scandal of the year. Maybe it was.

"So?", the young man questioned around a mouthful of noodles.

She rolled her eyes and huffed. "Ugh, seriously, what is wrong with you two?", she wondered. "It's the Winter Ball. Everybody is going. You can't just not go!"