Trapped In Lace

Seventeen

"Get in points system" Alex says

"No, I'll walk" i say

"Fine" he says before driving away

I thought that he'd protest more.

Dickhead.

Urgh, he's so infuriating.

To be fair i told him to go...

"Hey baby" a voice says and i turn around to see Issac

"What do you want Issac?" I ask him

"I want you to get over your pride and go out with me" he says

"Just one date" he says and i look at him

"If I agree, will you stop nagging at me" i ask him

"Yes, just give me a chance. Just one date and if it's not for you, I'll leave it alone" he says and I raise my eyebrows

"Okay" i say

"Great, I'll pick you up on Saturday at six" he says

"What are we doing?" I ask him

"A meal, do you think I'm made of money?" He asks and I laugh

"Okay, I'll see you then" I say

•

•

"Sorry I'm late Mary, I walked here" i say as I arrive at the cafe

"Alex didn't drive you?" She asks

I shake my head, "he offered but I said no"

"That isn't good enough" she says shaking her head with disapproval and i smile at her

"Alex, come here now" she says sternly

"Oh shit" i hear him mumble and i smile

"Yes Mary darling?" Alex asks

"What's this about you letting her walk?" She asks

"I offered she said no, so I left. I don't see the problem" he says

"Of course you don't, your thick as pig shit" she says and i laugh

"Back in my day, men were polite. Your generation is ruined" she says

"Alright Mary, calm down I didn't come here to get lectured on how I am ruined" Alex says

"Oh shut up and get back to work, from now on your giving her a lift to work" Mary says and Alex just stares at her before walking away and i chuckle

"I don't think he's impressed" i say

"he will cope, they have to learn somehow" she says and i chuckle.

•

•

I'm currently cleaning the tables as the music plays quietly in the background.

"I could have saved myself, time and so much money" i sing quietly along with the song

"Ella you done?" Alex asks and I turn around to see him with his coat on

"Nearly" i say

"They only need a wipe over, you dont have to go all clean freak" he says

"I'm just trying to do a good job" i say and he grumbles something under his breath and i ignore him and he sits down on one of the chairs

"So what's this speech you've done?" He asks me

"It's on the contrasts in development between different countries" i say

"What does that have to do with science?" He asks me

"Well your going to have to wait and see" i say and he just rolls his eyes, "well to be honest it doesn't really have to have anything to do with science. I mean... it's not really got much to do with science but it can be anything I want it to be about really"

"Why do you do all of this charity work?" He asks me

I put the cleaning products back on the table and I look at him.

"Because I like helping people, I like making people happy. It's nice to help people who don't have as much as me. It's an rewarding experience. I don't do it for the credit, I do it so people can live their lives easier" i say

"Have you always done this work?" He asks me

"Yeah, my dads quite passionate about it and we always did it together. My siblings will do it but they aren't as keen on it" i say

I made them sound ungrateful there.

They do more work for scholarships, for example music and education. That's what they like to do, they also visit a lot of hospitals.

"You have siblings?" He asks me

"Yeah, twin brother and sister and then my little sister who's four" i say

"Have you talked to them a lot whilst your here?" He asks them

"Yeah I'll call them every now and again, it's difficult with the time zones" i say and i feel bad for lying but there's nothing that I can do. At least what I'm saying is true, but if he asks me any more questions I might explode.

"What about you, you must be close to people at the..." i trail off

"Care home" he says and i nod, "it's alright Ella you can say it"

"Sorry" i mumble

"I am but only with a few people, everyone comes and goes. There's just a group of us that has been there from the beginning" he says

"What was it like? Growing up there?" I ask sitting across from him

"People think it's awful but it makes you grateful of what you have, and any opportunities that come up for you. It brings you close with people in there, you can relate and support people when they get dumped back there" he says, "it wasn't easy though, you have to fight for things you need, I've been working here for five years so I can build up a college fund"

"I can't afford college so I'm hoping on some sort of scholarship. But I don't even know if I want to go to college, it's so much money and again I don't even know if I want to go" he says, "I don't know what I'd study"

"American Football?" I ask

"I don't know, they have scouts coming around this season. Anyway what about you, are you going to college?" He asks me

"Me university?" I ask and he nods, "no"

I'm getting married instead.

"Why not?" He asks

"I- I" i begin and I shake my head, "it doesn't matter, I already have my future lined up in-front of me and yes I want it but I don't want to do what I have to do to get it"

"What?" He asks confused

"It doesn't matter" I say

"What do you mean, future lined up?" He asks me

"In the uh... the family business" i say

"Family business?" He asks

"Yeah, a lot of legal and humanitarian work" i say

"But you like that stuff" he says

"I do, but it wouldn't hurt to travel and relax. Do something for myself before my life gets turned upside down" i say and he nods

"Come on, I'll take you home" he says

"Thank you"