Starting Over

Chapter Five: Smelly Elly

With her hair all tightly wound around the world's oldest hair rollers, Elle was finally released from her mother's clutches.

"Oh, Elle, be a dear and take the bin out for me, please," Melinda asked.

"Yes, Mother," Elle said drearily enough to sound like Norman Bates. She grabbed the bag of rubbish and carried it outside.

It was late in the evening, but still light enough to take in the beautiful scenery. It was a gorgeous neighbourhood with tall, mature trees. Jacarandas and maples lined the quiet street, and the manicured lawn and hedges gave the property a lush, regal feel. She tossed the trash into the bin and pulled her phone out of her silk pyjama pocket. No missed calls or messages. Not that there was any possible chance that she'd have missed a call from Brandon. She kept her phone on her at all times, and checked it several times a night.

"Well if it isn't Smelly-Elly."

Elle raised her head. She hadn't heard anyone approach, but just a few meters from her stood a man walking a longhaired Maltese. It was her old neighbour, Ryan. he was a year older than her and they'd been quite close as children, but for some reason they loathed one another during high school.

He was staring at her waiting for a response.

"Well if it isn't. . . " she paused. "If it isn't Dryin'-Ryan."

He blinked a few times and smiled. "That doesn't make any sense."

"You don't make any sense." She cringed internally.

He frowned slightly but somehow managed to remain smiling. "I see you're still as fast as ever with your comebacks."

"And I see you've finally hit puberty." She stared at his short beard.

Again his brows lowered, but his smile remained. "And I see you just bypassed puberty and went straight to old-age. good for you."

"Huh?" Elle frowned then glanced down at her pink silk pyjamas and realised her hair was in her mother's rollers. She cleared her throat. "I like your cat."

"It's a dog actually, but easy mistake I guess, not everyone has a high IQ, or even an average one, evidently." Ryan bent down and gave the dog a pet.

Elle inhaled slowly through her nose and raised her chin.

"And Monty isn't my pet, he belongs to my parents." Ryan tilted his head towards the large house next door.

"You still live at home with your parents." Elle smiled dryly and nodded slowly. "Of course you do."

Ryan smiled up at her from where he was squatting beside Monty, stroking his shiny coat. "And where do you live at the moment?" There was a glimmer in his eye, like he was enjoying her misfortune. He probably knew all about it. Gossip travelled fast in this town. He was probably going home to sit around the imported cherrywood dining table with his parents as they carved a whole suckling pig and laughed about Elle's demise.

"Well it's been nice catching up, but I really must go," Elle said as she spun on her heel and stalked back up the walk.

"Say hi to your parents for me," Ryan called.

Elle didn't answer - or look back - but she was certain she heard him chuckle.