"Mrs Freeman. Does your clients agree to an evaluation?The courtroom was silent.Ella watched as Mrs Freeman discussed with her clients."No. My clients do not agree to any such evaluation. They are both mentally and emotionally stable. It is just the pressure of this case that has shaken them up." Mrs Freeman finally replied."Well then , we will continue with our last witness." Mrs Sting excused Mr Edwards from the stand.As he entered the witness room he looked at Ella." It is remarkable. It's is no wonder that Brook and Bobby are confused and shaken up. I hope you are as bright as your sister Summer." Mr Edwards said before taking a seat.The last witness was Mrs Star, the principal of the Salt Rock high school. She held a very high position and opinion in the salt Rock community. Born and brought up here in Salt Rock, she never left the town. She was a straight A student and a motivational speaker.Mrs Star stood on the witness stand, she placed her hand on the holy bible and to
"Mrs Star. Please can you tell us, was it just a physical relationship or was it a sexual relationship?"Ella heard those words, she broke away from her father's embrace and stared at the screen.Everyone was on the edge of their chairs now, waiting for her answer.Whispers went around the room as people speculated.Ella held her breath. She knew the answer deep down in her heart but she refused to believe her own thoughts. She knew that he was always in the principals office. Sometimes he would tell her it was because of his bad grades, sometimes it was because he had football to discuss and sometimes there was no explanation.Her heart raced as she thought of all the times he deserted her in the last one and a half months. It was when he turned seventeen that her had started his episodes of awkwardness."Mrs Star. We are waiting for your answer.", Mrs Sting brought her back to the harsh reality.Her face was now a shade of dark red, almost purple. All eyes were glued on Mrs Star,"
"Mrs Star. Ignore him and continue your story!" Mrs Sting brought her back to her senses. Mrs Star was spiralling into her own world of pity but Mrs Sting had now brought her to the harsh reality. She needed to complete her story and try to save her face." I advised him to see the guidance councellor but he had refused. He said he wasn't comfortable with him and that he preferred talking to me. I had believed him. I did not intend on having an affair. I was just concerned at his grades dropping so suddenly and staying at that steady pace." Mrs Star looked around hoping to win her audience." Why did you believe him?" Mrs Sting prompted her."I believed him like any person would. Maybe I was too gullible." Mrs Star shrugged."And then what happened?" " After the third meeting, he touched me in an inappropriate manner. I should have stopped it but it felt so good. It was naughty and gave me an adrenaline rush. By the fifth visit I had given in to his kisses. Eventually it became a ful
" What occasion?" Mrs Freeman just had to ask.Mrs Star already knew that her reputation was now tainted. She might as well make the most of her time on the stand, after all it was both Brook's and Bobby's fault that she was up here in the first place. " Well. Bobby asked me to try something naughty and I did. He brought in Brook and we had a delightful time together in the office. I had never tried it before but I joined the teens who were still exploring their sexualities." Mrs Star stared at Brook and blew her a kiss.Immediately Brook shouted." She is lying.""Silence. You will have your turn to speak." The judge banged the gavel over and over until their ears rang."Mrs Star, you are under oath. Do you understand what you are saying? You are accusing these children of doing adulterous acts. Is this true and correct or are you harbouring hatred towards them?" Mrs Freeman asked if in a sincere yet judgemental tone." Yes. I understand. I have said all that was true and correct."
His heart pounded in his chest," Miss Summer Ray...........she was a good person........but......."Everyone in the room became silent when he said but, it looked like they all anticipated the worst."But I had never seen Miss Summer Ray in a councelling session. She was always so bubbly. I had known her history of her mother being a single parent and her father walking out but there was never a day that Summer Ray let it get to her. She was an A student. She took her work seriously. I don't know anything about her love life. I mean they are teenagers, she kept it private so even if she had trouble in that aspect of her life, no one would ever know. As far as I am concerned, Miss Summer Ray was a good kid that wasn't suicidal." Mr Boyle said in one breath."So you don't know about her love life. Do you think she was suicidal because of Mr Bobby Styles?" The judge asked. She couldn't help but be curious.Ella stared at the television, she couldn't believe her ears, they were accusing h
" That's a lie. I am no killer. Summer Ray is alive!" Broom stood up and pointed at Mr Boyles." You will regret this. I am no murderer. I have nothing to do with that b**** and her gone missing. She isn't dead. That isn't her in that grave. It is her mother! Sheila Ray! I had seen her face being ripped off by a wolf. I don't know how she damn got into a freezer but she did." Mrs Freeman grabbed Brook by the hand and tugged her back onto the chair.In the witness room, Ella grinned widely. Brook sounded like a crazy lunatic that said anything that came to her mouth. She knew she was telling the truth, but the truth sounded crazy."Miss Freeman. Please control your client." The judge requested.She looked at the time. It was already four o clock."Court adjourned until next Monday. It is set for final trail before the jury delivers their verdict. At this time the defendants will remain in police custody." The judge banged her gavel for the last time and left to her chambers.Everyone s
Ella looked around the restaurant, it was still busy and her mind was working on a plan to make Brook go nuts. She wanted her to atleast be in an asylum if not a jail cell. She knew that Brook's father , the captain, would make life easy for her. She would be living a good life, as if she was in a hotel.Ella wanted to just blurt out her idea but the journalists that sat in the restaurant had their ears, recorders and pens ready. Anything that they heard would be interpreted into something negative. Her father was the face of real estate in the town, if he received negative media, the town mayor could use the opportunity to milk him for more than it's worth."Are you ready to order?" The chinese girls with long, black straight hair asked with a wide smile.Ella picked up the menu and stared at its contents," what do you suggest?"She wasn't very familiar with the names."I would take the seared lobster tail with pepper and onion sauce." The girl suggested. Ella admired her hair," You
"Ella. Enough of this childishness."Patrick Ray sternly warned Ella before whispering," you are attracting media attention. Can't you see what he is doing?"Ella could not she what he was doing, she was drawn in by his smile and his sea blue eyes. There was something about him that made her want him more and more each time they crossed paths. She couldn't quite figure out if she was in love, lust or just plain infatuation with the person that just saved her weeks ago from a gargoyle or if they had a bond.Patrick clicked his fingers in front of her face which brought her back to the current reality.Officer Duke had left the restaurant yet she was still staring into that corner as if he was still there.She noticed a piece of paper on the table next to his empty glass and excused herself to the ladies room."I will come with you." Her mother offered but Ella hurriedly walked towards the ladies room. Passing by the bar, she picked up the piece of paper.Entering the stall, she opened t
"Trust you?" Ella choked out. She was a mix between furious and panicked. She was worried about Tyler , scared of Brook and now the person that betrayed her is asking her to trust him."Yes. Ella. I am sorry. I know I can't change the past but I can protect you now." Bobby inched his way closer to her." My sister wouldn't have needed protecting if you just stayed faithful to her. "Ella stepped back.From the corner of her eyes, she watched Brook start to sit up on the ground. " Her heart pounded in her chest and her hands shook.She started to bang the gym door frantically, screaming for Tyler." No one is coming for you Ella. Trust me. I will keep you safe from Brook. " Bobby grabbed her arm tightly.Ella screamed loudly as he began to pull her towards the forest behind the university.A loud bang, the gym doors swung open and a large silver grey beast jumped out. He sprinted across the park and toppled Bobby onto the grass.Those green eyes were unmistakable.Bobby let out a large
Three o clock came and Ella walked to the library. She felt like a disgrace for not being a team player and letting Tyler do all the work. She decided that although she didn't like him, she would just have to stick it out. Maybe she is wrong about him but only time will tell."Ella. You are being weird. I don't know why you don't like Tyler but eventually it will affect your grades." Mary stood behind Ella who was standing outside the library doors and looking in."Mary. It isn't what it seems." Ella said as she struggled to move her feet into the library. It was if her legs were jelly. Her mind was unwilling to go in no matter how much she persuaded herself."Oh no. Not this again. My Luna had been suppressed for so long and now I had to have a trigger." Ella thought to herself."Ella. We don't have all afternoon. If your aren't going to go in atleast step aside. Justin and I have an assignment to do." Mary snapped.Ella drew in a deep breath, calming her nerves. Her legs had now re
"A literary passage is an excerpt from a written text. It can be as long as a chapter, or as short as a sentence. Usually, the length of a literary passage is several paragraphs long. This excerpt can be any genre of literature, from poetry to fiction." Tyler answered the question.Ella thought that he sounded like a web browser."Thank you, Mr Style's. That is the correct answer." Mrs Moore clapped again." I guess we have two A grade students sitting next to each other. I am sure you two will get on like a house on fire."Ella rolled her eyes at that statement. There was no way she was going to be friends or even an acquaintance with him.Tyler smiled and looked at Ella who just stared at him coldly. There was tension in the air between them."Let us now dig deeper into the passage. What is this passage about? Who wrote it? Why do you think he wrote it? Does it have a deeper meaning?" Mrs Moore asked.The only two people who actually answered the questions were Tyler and Ella. "You
Ella's blood froze in her body when she heard the words that flowed out of Annie's mouth.Annie was apologetic but Ella was now growing angrier by the second. Annie had gone back on her word.She was supposed to make sure that Bobby, Brook and Jason spent their entire five year sentence in prison and rehab.Bobby and Brook were let off on good behaviour while Jason was on parole.Ella's fists clenched as she disconnected the call.She wondered if that was Bobby or just the boy she had met.Monday morning Ella reached her class and took her seat. Everyone was silent and Mrs Moore called someone in from outside of the class."Meet Mr Style's Tyler Styles.He had just transferred in from another college to complete his final year of journalism with us."Everyone greeted in unison and he nodded back at them.Ella knew that this was the boy from Salt Rock and it irritated her."Please have a seat next to Ella." Mrs Moore pointed to Ella.His surname made her stare at him coldly. She wonder
"Ella. Will you be my girlfriend." Scott whispered lovingly in her ear."This can't be." Ella mumbled to herself.Scott stepped away when he heard those words. He didn't stand a chance to be her boyfriend and she made it quite clear. He didn't want to offend her again by being in her presence after asking her such a question. Her answer was quite clear and Scott walked away.James followed Scott while Mary excused herself to go to the ladies.Ella stood frozen in place.It was dark where she had seen that familiar figure. She rubbed her eyes thinking that she was mistaken but those features were unmistakable. She looked at her phone and up again but the familiar face she had seen was now gone.Her throat was dry and her palms were sweaty.She weaved her way through the crowd to get a closer look at where she had seen that person she thought she knew so long ago.As people danced, Ella tried to maneuver her way through the basketball pitch without getting bumped. She had finally made i
*Three years later*Ella had forgotten about her revenge, she reminisced about the homecoming dance at Palm beach high as she touched the large trophy on the shelf in her dorm room. Although the university was a half an hour drive from her home, she opted to stay at the university. She thought that she would get more work done here than she did at home.She only had this to complete before she would do her practicals at the Palm newspaper firm.She now wondered if she ever did want to be a lawyer or was she just living in some fantasy.She felt as if she had sacrificed too much of herself.Although many boys at the university tried to date her, Ella wasn't much of the dating type. Most of them just wanted a quick fling or a long-term relationship that would probably end up in marriage. It was three years and Annie and Ella had drifted apart. Annie took up the full time job of being the management at the hotel and both their lives had become equally busy.Annie had even stopped tortu
Ella faked a smile. That afternoon she went home with a glum look on her face."Why the long face, Ella bear?" Patrick asked. He was concerned by her almost lethargic behaviour."The day I hate the most us tomorrow." Ella said as she dragged her bag behind her."I am guessing that it is the homecoming dance. We host it every year Ella. I think it will be good for you to go. You get a second chance . This time you might just enjoy it." Patrick tried to brighten her spirits and change her mind. "It's like rubbing salt to my wounds." Ella grunted." I know that it was a horrible experience, but it led you to me. Trust me. This won't be like the last dance. There is no Bobby or Brook. And besides you don't even have a boyfriend. Who is going to betray you? James Wallas? Or Scott Moore? But the most interesting question is, which one of those dodos is taking you to homecoming dance?" Patrick teased. His tone was light and full of giggles."Oh my gosh , dad. You never fail to surprise me w
The year was almost over , it was the last week of school and Ella had made a lot of friends since her book was published. She had written short stories afterwards for many other anthology books in different countries. Her had become so busy that she had forgotten about her past until they had announced a homecoming dance on the last day of school.Memories flooded Ella's brain and she stormed off into the rest room. The overwhelming feeling made her nauseas and she opened the tap, splashing handfuls of water, wetting her hair and her blouse.She patted her face fry with a paper towel and exited the restroom feeling slightly better."Are you alright?" Scott and James asked Ella as she took her seat next to them in the cafeteria.Ella smiled weakly. " I'm alright. I'm just not a fan of the homecoming dance."They both looked at eachother and then at Ella, they decided not to ask." Well, if you aren't going, then we aren't going." James sipped his milkshake."Don't be foolish. You can'
"Chapter Five.A surprise visit."Annie was laid to rest. Everyone returned home. Peter returned to his study to drown his sorrows with a bottle of whiskey. Martha took Adrianna to her room. It was 6pm and the house was silent. Suddenly a loud knock on the door startled Mr Russell. He peeped through the looking glass on the door and sees old Mr and Mrs Walters. He quickly opens the door and welcomes them in, escorting them to the large sitting room. They sat on the large grey and red L shaped couch. It was italian style, soft and very comfortable. They looked around while they waited. The room was designed beautifully. Annie had designed it herself, red and grey curtains. Her paintings hung on the wall. Throughout the house were Annie's paintings. All were unique like her, beautiful and elegant. They massive 85 inch flat screen was mounted above their electric fire place. And a small glass coffee table was in front of them, letters lay unopen on it. Old Mrs Walters instructed Russell