"It's me or work dad. I hope for your sake you make the right choice, for me and you." I whisper before hanging up. I know one thing. If he doesn't come tonight, I'm not ever looking back. Not ever.

TED

I'm sitting in the audience and that's when I notice it. Elliot's not here. He's not here and I can see it in Ella's eyes the disappointment and hurt. I see my father and mother and smile, they sit beside me, my father doesn't look at Ella as he murmurs "He's not coming" I just nod and he sighs "One fucking thing and he can't even do this"

"Christian?" I hear a careful voice murmur. "I hope I've not missed her" I turn and find Kate, with her golden locks and jeans, she looks the part. My father smiles as does my mother.

"You made it" My mother grins, she hugs her and then the lights dim. We see a teacher set out on to the stage and I see Ella peering into the audience, her eyes find mine and she smiles brightly. I smile back holding my thumbs up. My father raises an eyebrow.

"Ella Grey is up first, singing Remember when by Chris Wallace, the stage is yours Ella" The teacher smiles and Ella takes her place, center stage holding a guitar and I smile at her song choice. She takes a deep breath before beginning.

"So can we push push push rewind, Go go back in time,
When we were kids sneaking bottles of wine, Take take take me back, I wanna go back, Back to what we had! Do you remember when we started this mess, My heart was beating out of my chest!, Remember when we stole your dad's car, I never thought we'd take it that far, Oh we were flying so high, yeah partners in crime, So why'd we ever say good bye?, Remember when we, when we, had it all Do you remember when..." she only sings a little bit and then she smiles and murmurs "Thanks" She turns and leaves the stage, I'm first up, I quickly navigate my way through the crowd and then back stage. I get a few odd glances and then a teacher murmurs.

"You shouldn't-"
"Ella" I cringe when I see her packing her guitar away. "Els, Ella" I shake her. "What's going on?"

"He wasn't here…" she whispers and I tug her roughly to me. "He couldn't even…" she breaks down sobbing. I can see people crowding around us and I tug her towards the exit, she frowns and I grab her guitar chucking the strap over my shoulder. "Seriously Els, you don't have to be strong for me, I'm here for you"

"I want to see him. I wanna know what was so important…" she begins, suddenly her eyes turn cold. "I want to see him Ted" I cringe again.

"Els, that's not a great idea, your ups-"

"Oh, I'm not upset. I'm fucking fuming." she hisses, her eyes are still wet with her tears, she's shaking and for the first time in nearly 4 years I can see the girl we first took in. Ella Grey; the struggling artist, the girl who's family was falling apart, so unsure and no idea what to do. "I'm going to see him" she whispers as we walk out of the building. We reach her car and she turns to me. "Thank you Ted"

"I'm going with you" I murmur. "Seriously you think I'm going to let him get away with this?"

Her eyes sparkle in mischief. She dives into her car and I follow. "I'm not promising anything"

I roll my eyes "Neither am I" I'm going to fucking kill him…

Ella

I speed towards my dad's office and the first thing I spot is my uncles car behind us. I don't stop but Ted answers his phone. "No dad, she's fine, she's just in a hurry-" he sighs narrowing his eyes "No. She wants to see Elliot" He sighs and hangs up. "You ok?"

I nod "Yeah" I'm grinning, I swear to god, if he's here I'll scream the place down and then destroy the place. I turn into his car park and spot his car instantly, I don't bother parking the car properly. I chuck the hand brake on and take the keys and throw myself out of the car. Ted follows and my uncle copies. He catches up with us and grips my arm.

"Ella, think about this-" I tug my arm from his grip.

"I've been thinking all my life" I murmur and open the door. I walk calmly to reception. My uncle isn't following and oddly enough neither is Ted even though he looks as if he wants to. I storm up to his receptionist and growl "Elliot Grey Now" she blinks and nods. I find it odd that she's working this late, it's past 9pm. She picks up the phone and I feel it. The sickie feeling I felt the day I was hospitalized. I take a deep breath and realize it's not disappearing. I lean against the desk and try to keep my breaths even.

"Are you ok?" the lady asks. I can't answer so I nod and smile, I breath again and it passes thank god.

"Fine, is he around?"

"Ella" I hear my father murmur quietly. "I didn't mean to miss your show"

I shake my head "You didn't, you've missed my life. All of it, so I making this plain simple. I'm moving out and I'm never ever coming back. Not for you or anyone." He sighs.

"Ella, I can't argue right now ok?"

"WHY FUCKING NOT?" I scream and he flinches. "YOU NEVER FIGHT!" I'm hysterical and then the coughing starts. I cough repeatedly, my father looks unsure.

"Ella?"

I shake my head as my uncle and Ted rush to my side. "Els stop, this isn't doing you any good" Uncle Chris murmurs. He glares at My father and murmurs "I think we should take your daughter to a hospital"

I shake my head "I don't want him near me, I'm fine" Uncle Chris takes hold of my now shaking form.

"Ella, stop it, he's your father"

"Is he?" I heave, "He wasn't my father two minutes ago!" I almost scream but my coughs stop me.

"Dad, let her go, I'll get her to the hospital…" Ted begins.

"I don't need the hospital; I need him to tell me the truth! Why is your work more important than me?"

My father closes his eyes and glances at the receptionist and it clicks, the staying late, the giggling and Ava's concerts, "It's her isn't it?" I ask, my sickness forgotten and my posture regaining itself. I scream "IT WAS HER WASN'T IT!"

My father nods once "Yes, Emma is the reason me and your mother aren't together"