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Chapter Twenty-Five
Support and No Support
The next day Ethel asked Sybil if she could go to Esmie's room figuring that was the best place to tell them as she shared with Mildred so could be overheard and Sybil's friends walked in and out of her room a lot, they always knocked but Ethel knew no-one would bother them in Esmie's bedroom.
"What is going on?" You are worrying me?" Esmie said sitting on her bed next to Sybil as Ethel paced back and forth.
"I need to tell you something but you need to promise not to freak out," Ethel told them. Esmie and Sybie eyed each other worried and confused but nodded.
"What is it Ethie?" Sybil asked her. Ethel stopped pacing and stood still, wondering if she should tell them directly or try phrasing it differently.
"I am in love with Mildred," Ethel said deciding not to play games and come right out with it, it was better and quicker that way.
Ethel expected a lot of emotions, tears, anger, screaming, arguing, what she didn't expect was her sisters to stare at her blankly as if she had just told them she liked animals.
"Didn't you hear what I said?" Ethel asked confused and worried
"About time you admitted it," Sybil said first. Ethel looked at her confused and then turned her attention to her big sister.
"You...both knew...how...when?" Ethel asked wondering how they knew.
"We realised about two years ago? No-one is so obsessed with another person unless they have a crush on them" Esmerelda told her logically.
"I am not obsessed!" Ethel said denying that fact
"She is all you talk about, even when the subject is not being discussed you bring her up, you are obsessed with her because you like her, Esmie and I figured it out years ago," Sybil said
"And you never told me?" Ethel replied annoyed
"You had to figure it out for yourself, you would only deny it if we told you," Esmie said. Ethel sighed and sat in the middle of her sisters looking at them seriously.
"Do you hate me for it?" she asked them bluntly
"What?" No, of course, we don't Ethie!" Esmie said hugging her "We are open-minded to new things you know that" Esmie replied
"But I thought you might think differently of me like I fancy all girls including..." Ethel started
"If you are going to say we are worried you would fall in love with us that is the stupidest thing I have ever heard come out your mouth," Sybil said darkly.
"But that is why people don't accept it! That is what they think" Ethel replied.
"That is like saying Beatrice fancies her brother as she is straight, it is always a stupid argument that makes no sense," Sybil told her, cuddling into her on the other side.
"We love you always Ethie," Esmie told her as Ethel had a little cry from relief and frustration at her feelings.
"Mum and dad will go nuts!" Ethel told her sisters
"Oh don't worry about them, you won't need to for long, I was going to wait a bit longer to tell you but..." Esmie started
"Tell us what?" Sybil asked surprised
"I am going to get us a flat and I would like you two to move in with me, you know how I have been sneaking of Saturday mornings?" Esmie asked them, the girls nodded.
"I was working, I think the environment is toxic and not good for any of us so I am planning on looking after you myself if you want that," Esmie told them. Ethel and Sybil looked at each other then leapt on their sister crying and screaming yes.
"That is a relief," Sybil said, "We thought you had a secret boyfriend" Sybil admitted.
"WHAT!" Esmie shouted surprised at the way her sisters' minds worked but she could see how they got to that conclusion.
"So you going to ask Mildred out," Esmerelda asked her sister with a sly smile once she was over her shock. Ethel shook her head.
"She will never love me, I am the last person on her mind," Ethel said. Esmie and Sybil looked at each other again, having seen how Mildred had stared at her for the last few weeks and knowing the feeling was mutual.
"Mildred, Millie...MILDRED" Enid said finally shouting. Mildred had been lost in her own world daydreaming about her crush but now came back to reality, she was in Maud's bedroom with her friends, doing their potions homework.
"What is going on with you?" "These last few weeks you have barely being with us," Maud asked noticing the change in her friend.
"Sorry...just a lot on my mind," Mildred said. "Like a blonde ponytail, sea blue eyes and red lips," she thought but wouldn't dare say.
"Well can you try not to daydream, it is annoying, I feel like I am talking to a wall" Enid replied. Mildred shook her head trying to get Ethel of her mind long enough to do the homework.
"No wonder you are starting to lose your mind" Maud now said "Sharing with Ethel Shallow would do that to anyone," Maud said. Mildred instantly wanted to defend her.
"Don't call her that...Ethel and I are friends now...she is been nice" Mildred replied. Her two friends looked at each other and back at Mildred like they had never seen her before.
"Mildred this is the girl who tricked her own sister into giving up her magic for her own selfish gain, Ethel is not nice, she is a spoiled horrible bitch, and you are too gullible if you don't see that" Enid replied harshly.
"But she hasn't done anything to anyone in weeks" Mildred pointed out, hating how the fact Esmie lost her powers was always used against her, she was twelve, a kid, she thought people should get over it. Esmie was the victim and she had already.
"Which just means she is planning something big, honestly Mildred you need to stay clear of her" Maud told her.
Mildred thought about revealing her feelings towards Ethel to her two closest friends but she knew the fact she was a girl wouldn't be the main problem, it would be that she is Ethel, they hate her and won't accept it and will only call her a fool, so she kept quiet, keeping her feelings to herself, a secret, knowing it was better for both her and Ethel if she kept her mouth shut. Somehow she knew she wouldn't have her friends support.