Chapter Two

The next morning, Ella woke up early with plans to make soup. That would last her the entire school week for lunch.

Pulling her long wavy hair back, it really was getting too long and Ella needed to get it cut. Shrugging, no-one saw it, so what was the point? After Ava’s wedding, she planned to ditch the hair spray that dulled her hair and the unflattering black rim glasses that hid her face. 

 Having finished styling her hair into a tight bun at the back of her head, Ella opened her wardrobe, pausing to look inside. Another thing she would stop herself from doing. She had a tendency to buy unappealing and bulky clothing items.

In order to present herself as Mrs Blackwater, Ella had been gradually buying a few things to refresh her wardrobe throughout the past year. Ella made a face. She didn’t need the clothes for marrying into the Blackmore family now.

She would still need them after Ava got married. Because enough was enough. Once Ava was married, then the time was hers. Nothing would change her mind about that. Ella had put her life on hold for far too long.

Ella swiftly put on jeans and a hunter green knitted jumper so large it could accommodate three of her. Wearing her cosy Taos shoes and carrying her bag.

She departed from her one-bedroom loft apartment situated above a corner shop. With limited space, the bedroom could only accommodate a double bed, but it provided her with a sense of personal space. 

It was small, with only a combined kitchen, dining and lounge. The one bedroom with a tiny bathroom leading off it. Three rooms in total. It had one thing going for it. Lots of windows. Making the loft bright and airy. She had painted the walls off-white to give the rooms a feeling of being bigger. Enhancing each room with colourful pillows or a decorative bowl. So it didn’t resemble a hospital.

Ella quickly made her way into town, buying two coffees and chocolate slices along the way. When she arrived at her best friend Emily’s dress shop, Emily was speaking to a customer from behind the counter. “The colour looked amazing on you, and you’ll be the belle of the ball.” Emily exclaimed. As she finished packing up the customers’ purchases and handing the garment bag over.

Emily maintained a stock of her own designs and well-known brands, while also creating custom pieces for special events. Emily had already started working on Ella’s gown for her wedding, but since the wedding got cancelled, she won’t allow Ella to compensate her for the progress made. 

With a huge grin, the customer walked out of the store. Emily’s work accomplished that smile on the customer’s face. She had an innate knack for selecting the perfect fabric, style, and colour. That enhanced anyone’s appearance. 

“Hi lovely.” Emily said brightly, seeing Ella by the door.

“I bought coffee and your favourite chocolate slice.” Ella held them up to show.

“Oh, you wicked girl, you. But I love you for it.” Em said with a cheeky smile. Well aware of Emily’s fondness for sweets and coffee.

Em had a wicked sweet-tooth and limited herself to only having something in the morning before lunch. Emily’s idea was she had the rest of the day to work it off. Ella didn’t know why her friend worried so much. She didn’t have any excess fat on her body.

“What would you say if I didn’t turn up here with them?” Ella put them on the counter near the till, then handing Em’s hot drink over and handing her a slice of chocolate slice on a napkin the bakery had stuffed in the paper bags with the slices.

“I’d send you straight back to get it, so sue me.” Emily’s grin widened. Taking a sip of the coffee before asking. “So, how was the evil bitch last night?” 

Emily and Ella were lifelong friends, and she had a deep hatred for Ava. hating the fact Ella felt the need to change herself to have a quiet life. Ava hadn’t been a nice person at school to anyone.

She had been part of the IT crowd. Total bitch to anyone outside of their group if they were female. Different story with the guys. Unless she deemed them beneath her. They had to be good looking.

“Oh, you know the same. Focused on her wedding and the ball.” Ella told her friend. Ella had had enough of hearing about the wedding. “I will be just glad when it’s all over.”

“You should stop using that product in your hair and embrace your true self instead of hiding behind a facade, instead of waiting.” Em expressed her opinion. It was something she never had reservations about doing. Their communication was always candid.

“I will, once she is married.” Ell promised. They had talked about this before.

A snort escaped Emily. “Do you really think Ava married would make any difference? You have put your life on hold long enough.” Taking a big bite out of her chocolate slice.

“I know you’re right. Just give me time, Emily. I have lived this lie for a long time.” Ella pleaded, looking down. Playing with the lid of her coffee cup. Ella set the cup on the counter and leaned against it.

“Part of it isn’t a lie Ella, you can be shy around people you don’t know. I do not know how you ended up engaged to Stephen.” Em reasoned. grabbing Ella’s hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.

“Stephen and I had a deep connection, but I believe it was primarily a friendship. If there had been more, Ava wouldn’t have been able to take him away so easily.” Ella didn’t feel enough about Stephen to be deeply hurt.

When it had happened, the genuine pain she had felt was by Ava’s actions. This person should have been her perfect match. Her other half. Instead, Ava was the primary source of Ella’s pain throughout her life.

“Still a bitch.” Em snapped. her friend was more than willing to go toe to toe with Ava. It was only Ella that kept her under control.

Ella provided reassurance to her friend. “No really, Emily, she did me a favour. I wasn’t in love. I realised I should have been more hurt and upset.”

“I hate the fact she already acts like the lady of the manor, and now it will only get worse. She will love rubbing everyone’s nose in it. Thank god Andrew was already married.” Em remarked.

It was true, since Ava had shared the news of her wedding with the town. She had been lording it over people. It had been a significant source of embarrassment for Ella.

Everyone knowing that Stephen had been her fiance first. Initially, there were sympathy smiles and awkward silences. Eventually, people moved on. Like she had.

Ella would never be with Stephen again, even if Ava left him for any reason. Everyone her sister had been with was off limits in her mind. She refused to be compared to her sister by any man. Thinking that Stephen would compare them was completely pointless. To begin with, she chose not to sleep with Stephen. Both of them had decided to wait until their wedding night.

The Blackmore family were lovely people. Stephen’s mother would have hated the scandal of Stephen swapping brides. Such old fashion thinking. The Blackmores had a standard to uphold within the community.

“Everyone in the Blackwater family dislikes Ava, except for Stephen.” She informed her friend.

“Not surprised. No woman in Ashwell likes her. Despite being your twin, I’m confident she ended up with the less appealing portions of the egg you both shared.” Emily’s comment wasn’t new, and she had nothing to say to defend Ava. It still brought a smile to Ella’s lips. Some things that came out of Em’s mouth about Ava were truly funny.

“So, have you changed your mind about the ball?” Em steered the conversation towards a different topic.

“No Em, you know I never go.” It just wasn’t Ella’s thing. Plus, the next time she dressed up to go somewhere, she didn’t want to play down her looks. She wanted to be herself. Ella made a promise to herself that when Ava got married, she would unleash her true self. Her aspirations exceeded the current state of her life. Yes, she had done it to start with for a simple life. That was about to end.

“But before bitch troll stole your man, this year you had planned on it.” Em reminded Ella.

“Yes, to help Stephen and be there for him. Now I don’t have to. That’s Ava’s job.” Ella explained. It was true she had planned on attending. For the Blackmores.

“The only person Ava helps is herself. I was hoping we could go together.” Em told her. She pouted at Ella.

“Maybe.......in a few years.” The pout having no sway with her.  

 “You say that every year. It’s Masquerade. We can make you up, so no one knows who you are. Pretty please.” Em put her hands together in a begging motion. 

“I don’t have a dress. Sorry Em.” Ella apologised to Em, took a last sip of her coffee, and wiped her hands clean of any remaining chocolate slice. 

“Yes, you do.” As Em took the now empty coffee cups and rubbish. Placing them in a bin behind the long glass display counter. 

“What are you talking about?” Ella questioned. She didn’t have a dress worthy of a ball being held at Blackwater Manor. She bought some clothes to update her wardrobe, but not to that extent. No ball gowns. Just casual clothes that fit her body and not dwarf her.

“Your wedding dress. It was almost done. I could dye it and vamp it up to be more sexy.” Emily pointed out. Ella could see her friend was really hopeful she would change her mind. Ella just wanted the next eight weeks over with.

Shaking her head, Ella said, “Sorry, Em, it’s just not my thing.”

Em pouted. “Spoilsport.”