Ella

Ella sat blinking as Mr. Figgs, the English teacher, wrote on the blackboard. She groaned. She saw her pleasure-filled weekend vanish in a cloud of smoke, leaving only dull drudgery in its wake. Why did he have to assign a stupid book report, anyway? Why was every teacher on the face of the planet determined to give her homework? On the weekend? She had plans! A full weekend of nothing but snacks, and Sims, and more snacks, with a brief distraction wandering off into Potter land. She was going to work on her legacy! She was going to update her blog! She was going to wow her legions of fans with the well-crafted and vibrant story of her Sim family! The Jetsons are on their third generation, and she felt like she would die if she could not get them to generation four. She would just die. Why? Why in the name of all that is holy? Why?!

Not likely now, with a mountain of homework staring her in the face. She felt the icy cold trickle of dread go down her spine. Trust school to wreck her entire life. Normally, she liked english, well, well enough. But was it so very wrong to one little itty bitty weekend for what she wanted to do for a change? She didn't think so!

To cause her little cup of suffering to overflow, her twin, Bella, was already scribbling away. Probably already making an outline or something equally dull. Figures, Mrs. Perfect is showing off again.

She glared at Bella's back. It was bad enough to have to do homework, she mused to herself, but the knowledge that her perfect little twin was probably going to do like twenty times better is nervewracking. It was the final touch to make her woe complete. Slumping into her seat she crossed her arms and sulked. "This is the worst day of my life!"

Bella

This is the best day of my life!" Bella said, grinning to herself as she put her school things in her locker. True, the assignment was not exactly mind-shatteringly important or anything, but it did give her a chance to read one of her favorites. That in and of itself did not make for a perfect weekend. But the victorian fair in town sure did! She has been looking forward to it for months. Mother was away for a business trip, leaving the twins to their own devices. She had it all planned out, even allowing time for possible homework assignments. But to think, that the homework would meld so well with the fair! If she picked a victorian novel, she would be able to combine the festival and the book review and make a happy whole. A very happy whole indeed!

"Hey! Bella! Where are you heading so fast?" Called Mary, one of Bella's friends. A second later, the blond was by her side, as Bella continued her headlong purposeful stride.

"Looking for Ella. We planned to walk home today."
"Better change that plan. Weather calling for a major thunderstorm. It could hit any moment."
"Hey, thanks for letting me know!"
"Not a prob."

"Where are you heading?"
Mary grinned. "Hello? The festival is starting tonight. Unless it gets rained out. I hope not. The opening night is a high tea." She made a gesture as though holding a tea cup, with pinkie properly extended. "Care for a spot of tea, M'lady?"
"That would be simply divine," Bella grinned and the two clinked invisible teacups.

"I really hope we will miss it, though," Mary added, after a minute, as they neared the main entrance.
"What? The Festival?"
"No silly! The storm front."
"Oh, right. Right. I agree." Bella nodded, frowning worriedly. "I hope so too. I have been looking forward to this weekend for months."
"Well, duh! It's like the biggest event for history nuts! At least in this town."
"I know. Sometimes, I wish I was in somewhere big. Like Boston."
"Yeah, or even Concord."
"Well, yeah. Or New York."

"Even Charlottesville."
"Yeah….wait. Charlottesville?"
"You know? The university of Virginia? Monticello? The big TJ Stomping ground?"

"Oh. Right. The three president houses there. I guess so. But that's more colonial history."
"Yeah, well, in my mind, history is history. Besides it was actually given a miss in the Civil War. General refused to burn it."
"I can agree to and respect that."

"Uh oh."
"What is it?" Bella asked, glancing at Mary in confusion with an eyebrow raised inquisitively.

"Well, we were talking about thunderstorms, right?"
"Right. What's your point?"
Mary pointed to the brick wall that surrounded the main entrance of the school. "Well, there is a major storm front directly ahead. Approach with care."
Bella sighed and shook her head. Mary was right. There was a huge storm front there, and its name was Ella. Her twin sister.

"Well, I better go face it. I'll see you later tonight?"
"Weather permitting. No, I'll come over if it was rained out. Deal?"
"Just...be safe, okay?"
"Right-o. Salutations, Ella!" she added as they neared the entrance. With a parting wave and a victory sign for her friend, Mary headed off at a fast walk. Her hair and shirt whipping about in the strong breeze.

Bella watched her for a second, then paused and smiled at her sister, who only frowned back. Her own smile slipped a few degrees at the lackluster reception. "What's wrong with you?" She asked, trying to roll her eyes.

"How dare you ask me that? My weekend is ruined. Completely, totally destroyed."

"Come on, aren't you being a tad dramatic?"

"No. I am being real here."

"Real…" That time she did roll her eyes. "Come on, it's only a book report. We can get started tonight, and baby-step it from there."

"I have a report. And math. And I got to read a chapter in history."

"Oh. Okay, maybe you do have some cause for woe."
Ella shook her head, then blinked and looked up at Bella with accusing eyes. "Wait, you and I got the same math class. Don't you have that to do too?"
"Finished it in study hall."

Bella watched as Ella slumped into herself and started walking out the door. Her own great mood ebbed away into frustrated impatience. Ella muttered something as Bella caught up with her. Bella had chosen to ignore it.