His Midnight Shadow

!Chapter Ten!

"Eleanora you were supposed to be home hours ago," Gabriel said, smoothing out the hair of his eyebrows. "What is the reason for your delayed returnal home?"

Ella straightened out her spine and took a step forward, "My friend had no one to walk home with. I lost track of time and I ended up eating dinner at her house. Her mom cooked for me so I didn't want to be rude."

"The only people you have been rude to is your own family and I heard that it wasn't a house of a girl friend you might have but it was a boy who walked you home," Gabriel shook his head and began to become louder. "I've been letting the likes of you and your brother leave the house more and this is how you repay me? Rebellion, seeking out to go and see boys, and worst of all the lies."

"I'm not lying to you father. I-"

"If you're not lying then why are you dressed in a zip up hoodie? It's too large for you and definitely something I didn't design. Elenora what has gotten into you? I get that you are going through the loss of your mother, but so am I, and your brother. Yet he still proves to be a better son to me than you are a daughter."

"But I was walking home with a friend of mine it was her-"

"That's it Elenora!" Gabriel yelled walking closer to her. "I'm sick of this!"

"But I did nothing!" Ella cried but before she could continue Gabriel slapped her hard across the face making her head snap to the left.

Gabriel straightened out his suit then walked back to his working station, "You will now only leave this house for school or any other approved events by me. This will only start to change when you start showing more respect but it'll start off slowly with friends coming over to the house then maybe you'll be able to go out more again. Now leave."

It wasn't until after Ella shut the door to her bedroom she allowed the tears to fall. She kicked off her shoes in a fit of rage before collapsing onto her bed. Though her face quickly dried as she began to taste blood from where she was biting her cheek. She bawled her hands into fists then pulled down on her hair and shook her head as she recounted the series of events.

Ella wasn't suppressed by her father acting this way as he always tended to be angry with her ever since she was little, comparing her to her brother and always asking the question, "Why can't you be more like him?" Though she never imaged of a day were he would actually physically hurt her, it became a reality when a crystal ball was thrown at her head a few nights before. Though it didn't process what was truly happening until tonight when his hand met her face.

Ella lied still in her bed, eyes wide open pointed towards the many draping fabrics above her head and she stayed like that. It wasn't until the sun softly started to peer through her windows that she tilted her head ever more closely to the darkness. Even her alarms reused to sound; it wasn't until Nathalie came knocking on the door that reminded Ella of the idea of school.

"Ella! It's half an hour past 7. Your brother is already waiting for you in the car. Are you ready?" Nathalie called from the other side of the door.

Ella looked around for her bag as she slipped of her skirt and slipped on a random pair of jeans, still wearing Luka's hoodie. She put on her shoes and left, without even saying a word to Nathalie. She hurried past her father's office not wanting to even catch a sight of him but her wishes were soon crushed the moment she entered the car. Though not a word was spoken to her when she entered the car but he onced her over with a disapproving sigh.

Adrien exited the car but before Ella could, her door locked and Gabriel looked back at her, "Elenora, remember you're to come home after school."

Ella tried to leave once again but the door remained locked, "Yes, sir."

With that she exited the car but was all alone, as Adrien had already headed inside. Upon entering she found Luka and headed towards him with a bright smile but it begins to fade once she sees a hand on his arm belonging to Marinette she turns around to leave but before she could get too far she bumps into someone causing them to stubble backwards.

Ella looks at the girl before her, black hair briefly skimming her neck with bangs hiding the majority of her eyebrows. She wore a red off the shoulder pencil skirt dress paired with a black belt. Though she continued to keep an impressive balance even with heels on.Ella realized that it's Kagami she bumped into once looking into her eyes and they both start laughing.

"Ella! If you knew how much effort I put into this look you would've been more careful," Kagami teased elbowing her friend.

"Oh really? What's the special occasion? I swear I haven't seen you in heels like that since the charity ball a few years ago," Ella said as they began up the stairs.

"Well those my mother forced me into. I don't even know why she cares what I wear she cannot see me in it anyways. Although I am happy I bumped into you..."

"What is it?"

"So remember last year how I wanted to ask someone out but I didn't," Ella only laughed and shook her head causing Kagami's cheeks to loom a light pink. "Well I was wondering if he maybe has talked about that crush he had on me or does he still have it?"

"I feel like I'm not the best person to even answer that question. You might know more about him than I do now, it's hard when I mostly only see him in passing. After mom's passing it's just been hard with us opening up to each other once again. I could ask Nino for you, him and Adrien have become really close he has probably let something slip about his feelings. Do you want me to ask?"

"If you must, I just want to know an answer. It has been plaguing me for a while now. I wanted to say something today but I most likely will only talk to him. Oh Ella, it annoys me how timid I am," Kagami exiled, throwing her head backwards.

Ella smiled lovingly towards Kagami and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Be annoyed all you want but you're one of the strongest and boldest people that I know. I become scared when feelings become involved and so do many others but at least you don't wait and sit around doing nothing about it."

"Thanks Ella," Kagami hugged Ella as the bell rang then the two parted ways.

Upon entering the class Ella discovers that she still has four minutes left until class officially starts. She takes the opportunity to speak with Marinette who is sitting alone, "Hello."

Marinette looks at her and her face slightly changes as she tilts her head to the side though she clenches her hands together underneath the table, "Hi."

"I know you don't like me but I wanna change that or at least understand why," Ella smiled sitting next to her.

"Is any explanation truly needed when you are friends with a person like Chloe. She terrorized everyone in this school including me. Then there is Lila as her name cursed her from the start as she is a liar, she lies about everything and only cares about herself. I know I don't know you but I'm not sure I really want to know you, people have said good things but people also praise Lila and some now even Chloe ever since you got here," Ella's demeanor changed as Marinette finished her ramble.

"I don't understand where I'm the villain in all of this. Chloe can sometimes not be the best person and Lila has issues as well but I bet you do as well and so do I. They are becoming better aren't they? I'm trying to help my two best friends show everyone else what they have shown me in