The school bell rang just as Ella entered the building. She quickly grabbed her English Literature textbook and hurried to class.
"You're late Miss Ekalfwons." Mrs. Keffel stated,"So, Ella, whats today's excuse?"
"None today, ma'am," Ella replied.
"Sit down, Snowflake," Eva Kelly ordered. Ella had always been a loner since seventh grade. She was especially casted out by Eva, who was the richest girl in Augusta, Maine. Her family owned an extremely successful fishing industry. She always had her jet-black hair pulled back into a bun which Ella found strange for a girl living in one of the coldest places in the country. Ella had always thought of Eva as the human female equivalent of the Boogeyman. Ella had never been accepted at Agusta High. And she liked it that way.
"Miss Kelly, I will be the only one giving orders around here," Mrs. Keffel stated, putting Eva in her place,"Sit, Miss Ekalfwons."
"Yes, ma'am." Ella took her seat and pretended to pay attention to Mrs. Keffel's lecture on Shakespearean times. She was absently drawing a snowflake on her notebook and wondered,'What would it be like to live like a snowflake?' Since Ella's last name backwards was Snowflake, it became a nickname.
"Can anyone recite one famous line from this playwright? Miss Ekalfwons?"
"'A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet' Romeo and Juliet- William Shakespeare," Ella recited. As an aspiring actress, Ella had to learn certain things from certain playwrights.
"Yes. Very well stated, Miss Ekalfwons. No homework for you tonight," Mrs. Keffel said. After about three minutes of Mrs. Keffel going on about how Ella should consider a career in liberal arts- on which she fully intended- Ella went back to her drawing.
Winter had always been her favorite season, something that she figured was acquired from growing up in Maine. She often found herself drawing a rose, and, if she had anything to color with, a frosted rose. Miss Antoinette, the art teacher from France, often competed with the drama director for Ella at the end of the term.
The bell rang, signaling the end of first hour. Ella was heading to algebra, when Eva and her henchmen appeared.
"When were going to tell us about you and Emmett?" Maya Eldridge asked.
"What in snows name are you talking about? You guys said it yourselves, I'm too weird for anyone," Ella retorted.
"What she means, Smella, is that we saw you KISSING Emmett," Eva said defensively.
"Why are you talking to me about it? I've never kissed anyone."
"Girls, I think Snowflake here needs to learn where exactly on the social ladder she belongs," Eva stated.
"Give it a rest, Eva. I know your secret."
"What are you talking about?" Eva said cowering into her notebooks.
"That day at the market."
"Look, my life is my life. I have nothing to hide."
"Strong words for a poser," Ella said with a smirk. Great, she was turning into them.
"Ella, what did you see?" Maria White asked. Ella was shocked to see Eva's second in command so eager to hear.
"About a month ago I went to the market, and I saw Eva selling fruit," Ella said, giving them time to process what she had said before continuing,"What rich girl would be selling fruit unless..."
"I got cut off, okay? My parents decided that my credit card was overdrawn, whatever that means. I don't draw my credit card," Eva stated shamefully.
"Well, maybe you'll think twice before insulting me," Ella said, then she blew imaginary snowflakes into Eva's face, leaving the smell of mints- or was it victory- in the air.