Chapter ten- home and gone

Once Scipio had gotten Hornet to release me, we sat down in the kitchen. Scipio was ready to explain everything to them. In other words he was ready to make up another fat ugly lie. Well at least I knew he was good at it.

"Ella, where have you been?" Hornet was nearly shouting.

"I told you where I was… yesterday before I left." I remained calm

"Oh I'm sorry, let me rephrase that… why didn't you come home?!"

I didn't answer right away. I got lost in thought at the word home. I sat in silence thinking of a good answer. When I was about to speak up Scipio had already answered the question.

"Calm down Hornet, she was with me." He snapped. For a moment I thought he was going to tell them the truth about his secret.

"See… its fine" I assured her.

She sighed sitting down in her chair.

"Okay, well then tell us, why… why was she with you?" Riccio spat.

"It's just safer for now, Ricco, okay?" Scipio paused "Now… can we change the subject?" The room fell silent. "Prop what did Barbarossa give you for my last loot?"

It took Prosper a while to answer. "Five hundred" He finally said.

Scipio gave an approving nod. I watched his eyes flicker to the clock.

"Enough of this gibberish, now tell us what happened with the slime ball?" Hornet shouted.

Her loud voice echoed through the quiet room and it startled me.

Scipio leaned back in his chair and sighed.

"Well… I didn't… I didn't find him." I lied looking at Scipio.

She scoffed and turned to pour the coffee into mugs. My eyes widened on Scipio, he was holding in a grin. I pressed my lips together to hold in a laugh. Hornet turned around with two cups of steaming mugs in her hands, she set them down in front of Prosper and Mosca. I stared at the steam rising above the mugs. When was Scip actually going to tell them the truth? He has to soon or they will find out by themselves and my guess is they won't exactly be happy about it! I watched hornet set out the rest of the coffee and sit back down. She crossed her arms and began to pout.

"You know Scip? You never tell us anything!" She mumbled.

"And with good reason." He replied.

Hornet rolled her eyes.

"So how long are you here for Ella?" Prosper asked.

"Not long… But I'll be back soon." I paused and muttered "I hope"

* * *

We all finally made our way into the Theater. I sat up on the stage in my usual spot. This felt normal, more normal than sitting by a large magnificent window sill. We Stayed and visited for a while, not really talking much. Hornet asked me to help her clean the dishes and I gladly accepted.

I opened the door to the kitchen and made my way to the sink. I looked in to find washed dishes. I looked up at her.

"Yes, I finished them already." She said.

"Well then why did you ask me in here?"

"So I can talk to you, I mean really talk to you… without having Scipio giving an answer."

I sighed and hopped up on the counter to sit.

"What are you and Scipio really doing? Why are you staying with him and not at the Stella?" She asked sitting down at the table.

"Well… it's complicated, I just ran into a bit of trouble at the Massimo residence and Scipio is helping me out." I tried to explain as well as I could without having to lie. It seemed like I was doing a good job.

"Oh really? Then explain to me why you two keep sneaking off together?"

I sat still. Trying to think of a good answer.

"Listen… I know about you two, you like each other." She explained.

I stuttered, ready to lie. I sighed and decided just to tell her the truth.

"Well, yes but how could you tell?" I asked.

"It was obvious you were more than just friends, He is always near you and he seems very protective of you."

I sighed, realizing that everything she said was true.

"Do the guys know?" That was the best thing I could come up with.

She scoffed at me. "No, they're to clueless to notice. But not clueless enough not to figure it out soon." She paused. "So why are you really staying with Scipio?"

"Um… That's something you're going to have to ask him. "I said hopping off the counter and walking out of the kitchen.

"Ella!" I heard her call just as I left.

I walked out into the lobby and back out to the theater. I plopped myself down on a theater seat.

"Well that didn't take you long?" Riccio said.

"Nope!" I muttered.