Disclaimer: I do not own Gone With The Wind or its characters, I'm just borrowing them for awhile;)
Authors Note: If you read my story So This Is Christmas you may consider this a sequel of sorts as it is a glimpse into the future.
The Edge of Seventeen
Chapter 1 – Good Girl Gone Bad
September 1883
The sun's rays filtered through the curtains of sixteen year old Ella's ivory and lavender colored bedroom casting a soft glow on the desk where she sat with her diary open in front of her. She smiled at the words she had just written at the end of the entry she had just composed. Ella Lorena Reid, Mrs. Jonathan Reid. She sighed happily as she raised her gaze from the leather bound book. Her eyes traveled around her spacious room that her mother had allowed her to redecorate to her taste two years before. Tomorrow it would no longer be hers she thought to herself as her gaze landed on the closet door were her carpet bag was packed and hidden. Anticipation filled her and she looked at the clock for the thousandth time and willed the sun outside her window to set. Tonight Johnny would come for her and she'd make her escape. She would become his wife and no one was going to stop her; not her mother and certainly not Rhett Butler who seemed to think that being her step-father gave him the right to hold her captive and tell her who she could and could not love. Well they'd see come tomorrow when they found her gone, her goodbyes in a letter left on her pillow.
Turning her attention back to her desk she closed her diary and pushed it aside. Her school books caught her attention reminding her that she was supposed to be writing a composition for class and solving several arithmetic problems. She bit her lip and reached for the books only to push them away once more. What was the point in doing homework when she wouldn't be going back to school? Of course leaving school and getting married also meant giving up her dream of becoming a teacher but she wouldn't think about that now, she told herself; she'd think about Johnny and about being his wife, besides he was right she was a wealthy young woman who had no need of a job. Wade had gained control of his bank account at the age of eighteen and Johnny had told her that once she was married her parents would have to give her access to her account as well regardless of her age. With her money they'd be able to live comfortably until he could find a more stable job. He didn't make much hauling things for people but he'd find something different he assured her and everything would be fine.
A part of her conscience nagged her and she wondered briefly if she wasn't rushing things but she quickly brushed off the idea. This was the only way she could be with Johnny and there was nothing she wanted more. She had met him last September when he was still a student. It had been love at first sight that day when she had run into him in front of the school. He was handsome with his light brown hair and sparkling blue eyes and his smile made her heart flutter. She would have never thought that he would give her a second look but he had walked her home that day and from then on her heart and mind belonged solely to him.
Jonathan Reid was exciting and witty and everything that the boys she had come into contact with up until that point was not. He was carefree and daring. He had been thrown out of school for fighting and he had spent the majority of his time since then getting into trouble, although he usually always convinced Ella that whatever happened wasn't his fault and she felt confident that once they were married she would be able to make him settle down.
Her only wish was that she didn't have to run away, that her parents weren't so against Johnny. If they'd only try and get to know him the way she did, they would see that there was nothing to worry about but they were to set against him, thinking only the worst of him and arguing that he was no good for her and had done nothing but cause her trouble.
Of course, she reasoned, she wouldn't be in trouble so much if they would quit issuing those silly rules forbidding her to see him. How can you not see the one you love? They wanted to control her, Johnny had said. They wanted her to marry someone boring and predictable, and as Johnny had said, someone of their specific choosing when they felt the time was right for her to marry.
Those thoughts bothered Ella and made her angry inside. She was a grown woman capable of making her own decisions regarding her future and whom to spend it with. She was tired of being the good girl, tired of being careful and tired of being reminded that she was to be someone better than her mother. Every rule she broke empowered her, every time she slipped out after dark to meet with Johnny and made it back without being caught brought her exhilaration. Every lie she told striped away the image of the perfect daughter Scarlett and Rhett had thought they had. She was doing the right thing, she told herself; it was the only way to take control of her life.
Excitement pulsed through her, the thrill and adventure of what she was going to do washed over her in waves making her heart beat faster. She had to tell someone, she couldn't stand to keep this secret to herself for much longer. Good news and happiness deserved to be shared and finding someone to share it with would help the time pass more quickly. The question however was who could she trust? Who could she divulge her secret too? "Helen," she thought to herself. Helen had been her best friend since they had began their school days and she could trust her to not only keep her secret but to be happy for her as well. Yes, a visit to Helen would be just the thing to pass some of the time. She stood from her desk and stretched before crossing the room and retrieving her shoes. Her diary lay unlocked on the side of desk, forgotten in the midst of her daydreams as she laced her shoes and exited the room.
Joy Elizabeth Butler at the age of seven was very intelligent. She had learned to read at an early age thanks to her older sister and she used that skill to read anything and everything she could get her hands on whether she supposed to or not. Reading came in handy for her latest hobby which was being a spy, an idea she had gotten from a bedtime story her father had told her and little brother. Spying quickly became one of her favorite pastimes. It was in her opinion great fun to hide and learn the secrets of others; especially if those secrets centered on Ella.
She loved Ella, admired her and wished to be like her when she was older. Ella had always doted on her, showered her with love and attention and hadn't minded when she followed her around; but that all had changed when Ella had turned sixteen. Now Ella didn't have time for her nor did she seem to want her around which left her heart feeling wounded and her feelings hurt. Her mother had tried to soothe her feelings telling her that Ella was growing up and needed privacy but Joy wasn't comforted and to get back at her sister she had taken up learning her secrets and then telling them to anyone who would listen.
From her hiding spot in the hallway, she saw Ella leave her room and head downstairs. Joy quickly slipped into the room and went in search of a familiar red leather book. She caught sight of it on the desk and she hurried towards it. Her green eyes lit up happily as she realized that Ella had once again forgotten to lock it and put it away. She was so glad that her sister was forgetful; it made her job as a spy easier. Picking up the book she flipped through the pages to find the beginning of the latest entry and began to read.
Scarlett sat at her desk the stores ledgers open in front of her as she worked to balance the columns of numbers.
"Mama, can we go to the toy store now?" Four year old James asked as he sat on the floor with his toy trains surrounding him.
Scarlett looked up from her books, "I told you we would go when I'm finished."
"But it's taking forever," he cried.
"James Alexander Butler, you stop that whining right now or we wont go at all," she chastened.
Her son pouted and looked as though she had robbed him of all the hope he had for life.
"Those train engines will still be there later," she replied; his forlorn expression causing her to soften.
"All the other boys might get there before me and there wont be any left," he replied; gazing mournfully at the assembly of train cars in front of him.
"You really don't have to worry, James; your father said he would stop at the toy store and tell Mr. Wilson to hold one for us."
The look he gave her showed how unconvinced he was by her statement.
"Are you almost done?" he asked.
She sighed, "Yes darling I'm almost done."
He turned his attention back to his toys and she turned her focus back to her numbers, hoping to balance the columns quickly before her son expired from the need of a new train engine. She had just begun adding the numbers when Ella swept in the room.
"Mother," she said as she came to stand before her desk.
Laying down her pen she raised her head once more. "What is it Ella?" she asked; a mere hint of aggravation in her voice.
"Can I go to Helen's for a little while?" she asked sweetly.
Scarlett leaned back in her chair and eyed her daughter with suspicion. "I don't know Ella, I suppose it depends."
"Depends on what?" Ella demanded the false sweetness disappearing from her face and tone.
"It depends on if you're telling me the truth, after all you haven't been very good about that lately."
"I only want to go to Helen's, not leave the state!" she spat angrily.
"Here is the problem I have, Ella; the last time you said you were going to be at Helen's you weren't and Rhett found you with Johnny Reid after we told you that you weren't to see him again," Scarlett replied.
Ella glared at her mother "I'm not lying!"
Scarlett smiled, "I certainly hope not because you know what's going to happen if you get into anymore trouble."
"May I go?" she asked impatiently ignoring the masked threat in her mother's statement.
"Take James with you, he needs to go to the toy store and pick up his train."
Ella rolled her eyes and fought the urge to throw something. She couldn't understand why her mother was so impossible.
"I don't want to take James with me!"
"Why not? Do you have something to hide?"
The remark caught Ella off guard and she had to force herself not to panic. It wasn't possible for her mother to know of her plans for that night, she reminded herself. She just had to act natural and no one would suspect a thing.
"Of course I don't have anything to hide; I just don't see why I have to drag James along."
"I don't see what's wrong with taking your brother along. He needs to go to the store and you need to go to Helen's; it's perfectly reasonable for the two of you to go together and complete your errands," Scarlett answered keeping her tone even.
"I'm not taking him with me! Besides it isn't like he needs anymore trains they're all over the house as it is," she complained.
Scarlett raised an eyebrow "I can remember a time when your dolls and miniature tea cups were all over this house and I don't recall anybody complaining about you."
"You take him!" Ella demanded. "What am I supposed to do with him while I'm at Helen's?"
"You sit him down with his new toy and he won't be any trouble, will you, James?"
The little boy shook his head. "I'll be good, please, Ella; can't I go with you?" he pleaded.
"This is ridiculous," Ella muttered.
"I agree," her mother replied. "There was a time when you wouldn't have minded your brother or sister riding along with you, and there was a time when I could have trusted you to go alone but thanks to your recent behavior I can no longer do that. The only options you have this afternoon are you either take James with you or you don't go. You're not supposed to be going anywhere anyway so be lucky I've even considered allowing you to go."
Ella remained silent for a moment her hands clinched at her sides.
"Fine, come on James, lets go."
Scarlett smiled as she reached for her reticule on the edge of the desk to retrieve the necessary coins for James.
"I thought you'd see it my way, be back in time for dinner."
Ella waited for James to take the money and then grabbed his hand and practically dragged him to the door.
"Your brother isn't a dog, don't drag him around like that," Scarlett called but the response she received was the sound of hurried footsteps and the slamming of the front door.
She rubbed a hand across her forehead feeling a headache coming on. She hoped Ella would outgrow this infatuation with Jonathan Reid soon and that her rebellion would end before she ruined her reputation. She had never imagined that her eldest daughter would be such trouble and she prayed to god that Joy wasn't taking notes for future reference. If she had to go through this again with her, she'd surely lose her mind or jump off the roof whichever came first. The sudden quietness around her reminded her that she hadn't seen Joy since that morning and she wondered what she was into. Before she could call out her name, she heard light steps in the hallway and knew her daughter was about to make an appearance.
Scarlett looked down at her ledger as the steps came closer; she was never going to get her work done if this day kept going the way it was headed.
"Mama," Joy's voice rang out as she skipped into the room a red leather book in her hands.
"What have you been doing, Joy?"
"Reading."
"Oh, are you reading the book I brought home for you?" she asked.
"No," she answered flipping open the book she held. "What does e-l-o-p-e spell?"
"That spells elope," Scarlett answered with amusement.
"What does that mean?" Joy asked.
"It means you get married secretly, you don't tell anyone."
Joy's eyes grew large and Scarlett laughed, "What are you reading?"
"Ella's diary," she answered.
The humor she had been feeling faded and panic set in. "What does Ella's diary say about eloping, Joy?"
"She wrote that she and Johnny are going to elope tonight."
Her stomach dropped and she felt sick. "What else does it say? Did she say where she's meeting Johnny?"
"He's coming here with a ladder and Ella's going to climb down and they're running away."
"What time?"
"12:30."
"Let me see that," Scarlett demanded as she took the book from Joy's hands. She hated to read Ella's private thoughts but it didn't seem as though she had any other option at that moment. She quickly scanned the entry taking in all the details that Ella had written. Anger and worry warred within her as she closed the diary and handed it back to Joy.
"Go put that back where you found it and don't you say a word to Ella about what you read or what you told me. Do you understand?"
Joy nodded, "It's our secret right mama?"
"That's right, now you go find Prissy. I have to go see your daddy, I'll be back in a while. If Ella comes back before me you remember not to say a word to her about her diary."
"I wont," Joy promised as she skipped out of the room.
No she wasn't going to get any work done for the store today, Scarlett thought as she grabbed her reticule and raced out of the house. Now her work would consist of making sure her daughter didn't get a chance to change her last name.
