CHAPTER EIGHT
(chapter title – Ella's First Punishment)
A year later
"That's it, everyone, keep cantering." Cassidy Davis instructed the class of five kids in front of her.
"Ella, give Hope her head a bit. That's it." Cassidy told the eleven-year-old. Ella smiled at Cassidy, not looking anywhere else other than where she wanted Hope to go.
Class was over fifteen minutes later. Ella dismounted Hope and cooled her down as her dad entered the ring.
"You look very professional out there." Marius told Ella.
"Thanks dad. I better get her cooled down. I'll be right back," Ella told Marius. She then turned to Hope, "come on you big monster. Let's get you cooled down."
Marius watched Ella cool down Hope when someone caught his eye.
A woman in her early thirties was staring back at him. She had shoulder-length straight brown hair, big brown eyes that were hidden behind glasses with purple frames. She also had olive-colored skin and stood about 5'7.
She wore a yellow T-shirt with 'Standing On the Side of Love' on it in black letters, worn out jeans with small rips everywhere and black rubber knee-high riding boots.
"Hi." The woman greeted Marius as she walked over to him, her voice like honey.
"Hello." Marius greeted her back, feeling his heart race faster.
"Hi dad!" Ella greeted her dad. She then turned to Cassidy. "Cassidy, this is my dad, Marius. Dad, this is Cassidy Davis – my friend and horseback riding instructor."
"It's nice to meet you, Marius," Cassidy said, shaking Marius' hand. He noticed her palms had calluses on them, but he didn't say anything. She then turned to Ella, "Looks like you and Hope are ready for the horse show at the end of the week."
"Awesome! I can't wait! Hope is doing wonderfully." Ella told Cassidy.
"Yeah, she really is. You put a lot of hard work and dedication into your riding and I can tell." Cassidy told Ella. Marius saw Ella smile broadly.
"Well, kiddo, we better go if we're gonna make Sara's birthday party," Marius told Ella, turning back to Cassidy, "It was wonderful to meet you."
"It wa nice to meet you, too, Mr. Pontmercy." Cassidy told Marius.
"Um, you can call me Marius, if you want," Marius said, handing her a business card with his work, cell and home phone numbers on the back of it. "In case you want to go out sometime." He then saw her T-shirt. "Oh, are you – lesbian?"
"What?" Cassidy asked, looking at her shirt. "No, I'm straight, but I have friends and family members who are gay and lesbian. I wear this shirt to support them."
"I actually have four best friends who are gay." Marius said, feeling like a big idiot.
"I would love to stay and talk, but I have another class starting in ten minutes. I would love to go out sometime so we can chat some more." Cassidy told Marius, smiling at him.
"Dad's got a girlfriend! Dad's got a girlfriend!" Ella sang in a teasing tone.
"Ella, she's not my girlfriend!" Marius told his daughter.
"She's pretty, isn't she?" Ella asked.
"Not prettier than your mom. Plus, it's too soon." Marius answered, keeping his eyes on the road.
"It's been a year since she died, dad. You should have her over for dinner. I'll keep Anton in my room and we'll play or something." Ella told Marius.
"I'll have you two go over to the Thenardier's." Marius told Ella. She squeaked happily.
Soon, they were at the Thenardier's. Ella retrieved the present for Sara as she and Marius walked to the door.
"Don't say anything about riding. Sara may not be into it anymore, but it still hurts when someone brags." Marius reminded Ella as he rang the doorbell.
"I won't say anything, dad, sheesh!" Ella mumbled as Eponine opened the door, Jolene wailing in her arms.
"Hi! Come on in!" Eponine yelled over the screaming kids. The two of them made their way into the house and saw Sara running around with three of her friends. "Ruth! Sara! Charlotte! Taylor! Enough running!"
Sara stopped running when she saw Ella. She ran over to Ella and gave her a big hug as Marius put Ella's present on the present table.
"Marius, would you like to stay?" Enjolras asked.
"I would love to, but I have some business to attend to," Marius answered, he then turned to Ella, "I'll pick you up at six, okay?"
"Okay, dad! Love you!" Ella shouted over her shoulder as Sara dragged her over to play.
Everything was going well until Sara, Ruth, Charlotte and Taylor wanted to play a board game that was for only four people. Ella was sitting at the counter having some milk and Oreo's, since she didn't like the flavor of cake that Sara had.
"She's such a dweeb!" Charlotte giggled, looking at Ella.
"Even her name is weird!" Taylor whispered in Ruth's ear.
Ella came over and joined them.
"Sorry, but this game is only for four people." Ruth said rather rudely.
"Guys, we can play another game." Sara told her friends.
"No! We're already in the middle of this one!" Taylor said.
"It's okay – I can wait." Ella said, watching them play.
"Do you mind? You're in my way!" Charlotte told Ella, pushing her out of the way. She knocked the back of her head on the game cupboard and put a hand to her head – there wasn't any blood, but it still hurt.
"Aww, what's the baby gonna do? Cry about it?" Ruth taunted as Ella bit her lip to keep from crying.
"Come on guys, leave her alone!" Sara told her friends before turning to Ella. "You okay?"
Ella nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks. Sara pulled her best friend into a hug and let her cry.
"I don't understand why you spend all your time with her – you have nothing in common!" Taylor said.
Enjolras watched the scene in front of him. He motioned Ella over and gave her a hug.
"I'm so sorry. Can I see your head?" he asked. Ella nodded as more tears streamed down her cheeks. He found a flashlight and put the beam to where Ella had bumped it. "There's gonna be a bump there. Would you like some frozen peas?"
Ella nodded and sat on a barstool as Sara came over.
"Why aren't you with your friends?" Ella croaked as she put a bag of frozen peas to her head.
"You're my best friend and I'm going to stay with you." Sara answered.
After Ella had put the frozen peas on her head for a while, it was time for pizza. She ate a slice and sat at a table by herself.
"Hey. Can I sit with you?" Enjolras asked. Ella shrugged her shoulders and continued to stare at her pizza. He rubbed her back and pulled her closer to him. "It'll be okay."
"Actually, I think I want to go home." Ella told Enjolras.
"Are you sure?" Enjolras inquired. "Can you give it a little more time?"
Ella nodded and leaned against Enjolras. He kissed the top of her head and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
After pizza, it was time for presents. Sara smiled and patted the spot next to her. Ella started to go over when Charlotte got there first.
"Charlotte, stop!" Sara commanded. Ella smiled and sat next to Sara.
Sara received a dolls from Charlotte and Ruth, a board game from Taylor and a model horse that Sara had always wanted from Ella.
"Thank you so much, Ella! He's beautiful!" Sara told her best friend as she got the horse out of the box.
"Thanks. I knew you would like it." Ella told her best friend.
The five girls were playing the new game that Taylor got Sara when Marius came.
"Hold on, dad! I'm winning!" Ella told Marius.
"Ella, I have a dinner meeting. I need you to come home." Marius said.
"She and Anton can stay the night. It's all right." Eponine told Marius.
"But I didn't bring anything to change into!" Ella said.
"You can borrow one of my sleep shirts and an extra toothbrush." Sara told Ella.
Marius kissed Ella on the forehead as he placed Anton into Enjolras' arms. Anton was a year old and looked exactly like Marius. Enjolras placed Anton in the nursery while Eponine got Jolene ready for bed.
"Behave yourself, all right?" Marius told Ella.
"I will dad!" Ella promised her father, kissing his cheek.
Sara and Ella went to Sara's room, giggling like maniacs.
Ella's smile turned to a frown when she saw Taylor, Charlotte and Ruth in Sara's room.
Great she thought they're going to make fun of me again.
"Ella, I don't think you've been properly introduced," Sara started. Ella rolled her eyes, "the girl with the blond hair is Charlotte, the girl with red hair is Taylor and the brunette is Ruth. You guys, this is 'my-very-very-best-friend-until-the-day-I-die', Ella."
"Hi." All three girls chorused. Sara handed Ella a sleep shirt with a running black horse on it. She closed the door and stood against it.
"I can't believe you're friends with such a dweeb!" Taylor's muffled voice greeted Ella's ears.
"Stop calling her a dweeb and making fun of her. She's my best friend!" Sara's voice came through the door.
"You two have nothing in common! And how did you like her horse figurine she gave you? It was so ugly!" Charlotte said in a snobby tone.
"I thought it was pretty, but she could have gotten you a decent present." Ruth said.
"She's not rich like you guys, so lay off or I'll tell my dad to send you home!" Sara threatened. Ella smiled and went to the bathroom to change.
When she came back to Sara's room, all the girls but Sara were glaring at her. Ella smiled and went to join Sara on her bed.
"We're gonna play a game first before we go to bed," Charlotte announced. Ella gulped, not liking where this was headed, "the game is called Truth or Dare!"
Ella rolled her eyes – she hated this game with a passion.
Charlotte looked to Ella, who was playing with Sara's hair.
"Since I chose the game, I'll pick first!" Charlotte announced, zoning in on Ella, "Ella, I choose you! Truth or Dare?"
"Dare, I guess, but I really hate this game!" Ella complained.
"Shush! I dare you to…" Charlotte thought for a moment, "prank call someone!"
"Who?" Ella asked as Sara got the phone book.
"Just the first person you come to." Charlotte said, grinning evilly.
Sara opened the phone book to the white pages, closed her eyes and scrolled down the list of names. Her finger stopped at Cassidy Davis – her friend and horseback riding instructor. She felt her stomach turn inside out.
"Oh, I can't do this person! She's a friend of mine!" Ella pleaded. Charlotte looked over Ella's shoulder.
"You have to!" Charlotte said, handing her Sara's phone shaped like a purple Converse sneaker. "Ask her if her refrigerator is running."
With shaking fingers, Ella called Cassidy's number.
"Hello?" Cassidy croaked.
"I-Is your refrigerator running?" Ella asked, her voice shaking.
"Yes."
"T-Then you better go c-catch i-i-it." Ella said, quickly hanging up the phone.
Charlotte, Ruth and Taylor burst out laughing. Sara looked disapprovingly at her best friend. Ella found a spot on the bed and curled into a ball.
Just then the phone rang. All the girls stared at each other as Enjolras entered the room.
"Did one of you just call Cassidy Davis and ask if her – what did you say – refrigerator is running?" Enjolras asked.
Everyone's eyes, except Sara's, went to Ella.
"It was me, dad." Sara confessed.
"I'll deal with you in the morning," Enjolras told Sara. He then put the phone back to his ear, "it was my daughter. I'm extremely sorry…Uh huh…Uh huh…I'll make a note of that. Thank you."
He glared at Sara and Ella as he exited the room. He then turned off the light and closed the door.
Sara and Ella shared Sara's bed while Charlotte, Ruth and Taylor slept on the floor.
"I got you in trouble – I'm really sorry." Ella apologized.
"It's all right. I'll tell dad the truth in the morning." Sara told her best friend.
"What if we can't see each other again for the rest of our lives?" Ella whispered. She felt Sara hug her in the dark.
"I would go to the ends of the Earth if I have to in order to be with you." Sara whispered in Ella's ear. Ella looked over at her best friend, a little confused.
The two of them talked some more before falling asleep.
The next morning, the girls entered the kitchen and saw Enjolras standing there, glaring at them.
"Would Charlotte, Ruth and Taylor go to Sara's room and get your belongings, please?" Enjolras asked. The girls nodded and exited the kitchen. He then rounded on Sara and Ella. Ella felt her heart pounding loudly in her chest. "Sara, you know we have caller ID. Cassidy said that the voice on the other line sounded an awful lot like Ella's."
"Dad, it was a Dare. Charlotte dared Ella to prank call Cassidy." Sara spoke up. Ella felt tears in her eyes as Eponine entered the kitchen, carrying Anton. He was dressed and alert.
"Ella, your dad is on his way to get you and your brother. I told him what you did and he sounds furious," Enjolras told Ella. "I want you to get dressed and sit in the front room and wait for him."
"Enjolras, I'm sorry!" Ella hiccoughed. He glared at her as she went to Sara's room to get her belongings and change in the bathroom.
Charlotte, Ruth and Taylor looked apologetically at Ella as she found her belongings.
"I'm in trouble because of you!" Ella shouted at Charlotte. She exited the room and went to the front room to wait for Marius.
He arrived ten minutes later and got out of the car, a furious look on his face. Eponine helped put Anton in his carseat while Marius glared at Ella.
"Get in the car – now!" he fumed. Ella did as she was told. He backed up the driveway and clenched the steering wheel, making his knuckles turn white. "Ella Fantine Pontmercy – I am very disappointed in you!"
"Dad! It was a Dare!" Ella spoke up, feeling a lump form in her throat.
"I don't care! You may have ruined my relationship with Cassidy!" Marius yelled. Ella felt tears stream down her cheeks. "I hate to have to say it, but no riding or horses for a month."
"But dad!-" Ella protested.
"I'm not finished!" Marius exclaimed, lowering his voice – Anton was beginning to cry. "In that month, you will do extra chores around the house. You will also write Cassidy a letter of apology."
"Dad! That's not fair!" Ella said, the tears streaming down her cheeks.
"One final thing – you will not see Sara the entire month of your punishment." Marius said. Ella felt her jaw drop to the ground.
"What about at school?" Sara asked.
"I have told Enjolras that the two of you are not to see each other at school." Marius stated.
"I hate you!" Ella muttered under her breath.
"Tomorrow, I will make a list of chores for you to do while I'm at work and Anton is at daycare." Marius told Ella as they entered the house.
Ella rolled her eyes and stormed to her room, slamming the door behind her. She then threw herself on her bed and sobbed loudly.
After a while, Marius entered her room. He sat down next to her, but she moved away. He reached out to touch her and she glared at him.
"Why did you take the dare in the first place?" Marius asked, his voice calmer now.
"Charlotte dared me to." Ella muttered into her pillow.
"If she dared you to jump off a bridge, would you?" Marius asked.
"No, I wouldn't. Please leave me alone." Ella told her father.
"No – I want to understand why you did a thing like that." Marius said.
"It was a stupid dare! I didn't want to play Truth or Dare! It's such a lame, dumb, stupid game!" Ella yelled.
"Don't raise that tone with me, young lady!" Marius warned. "If it is – as you said – a lame, dumb, stupid game – then why did you go along with it?"
"I don't know!" Ella answered, fresh tears in her eyes.
"I honestly don't know what to do. Cassidy won't return my calls – I think you may have ruined our relationship." Marius said after a while.
Ella's heart stopped in her chest. She didn't mean for what she did to go as far as ruining her father's relationship.
"I'm also thinking that you should sell Hope." Marius told Ella.
"No, dad!" Ella protested as tears ran down her cheeks. "I have the horse show at the end of the week!"
"Well, I said no horses for a month, so I guess you're going to miss the show." Marius told Ella.
"I'll run away to uncle Courfrayac and uncle Joly's place if you make me sell her!" Ella told Marius.
He exited the room and came back with a laundry basket.
"Put everything horse related in here. You will get it back at the end of the month." Marius told Ella, his voice a little calmer.
He watched Ella take down her horse posters, calendar and drawings and put them in the basket. She cried as she handed over her horse stuffed animals, figurines, books, movies, clothes and anything else horse related.
Ella took her shower, letting the warm water run over her for a while. She then put on an old NSYNC sleep shirt and a pair of boxer shorts before braiding her hair into pigtails.
"There's some food in the fridge, if you want some." Marius told his daughter.
"Not hungry!" Ella told him, going to her room and closed the door.
Marius sighed as he slumped in his favorite armchair. He put his head in his hands and groaned.
Don't be mad at her, Marius. She was just being a child and having fun with her friends. Cosette's kind and warm voice came from the couch next to the armchair. Marius looked up and saw the spirit of Cosette sitting on the couch. He had to rub his eyes a few times, but the spirit/ghost/whatever the hell it was didn't go away.
"I wish you were still alive. I lost my temper and now, our daughter hates me!" Marius told the spirit.
Our daughter will never hate you, dearest. She's a child.
"She's eleven-years-old." Marius replied.
And Cassidy will forgive you. I know she will.
"What if she doesn't?" Marius inquired, feeling rather stupid for talking to a spirit/ghost/illusion/dream.
Then she's not the right one for you. There are plenty of other women out there who will love you as much as I do.
"Tell me what to do about Ella. I told her no horses for a month-" Marius started when Cosette shot him a death glare. "What?"
Do you think that was such a wise idea? You can't take away the thing she loves most in the world. She'll only resent you when she's older.
"What I did was harsh, huh?" Marius asked, his voice softening.
I think it was. Try talking to her about it instead of yelling at her.
"I miss you so much, love." Marius said, feeling tears in his eyes.
I miss you, too. By tomorrow, Cassidy will forgive you – just tell her the truth. It was children being children.
Marius nodded and wiped his eyes. He blinked at the apparition/dream/ghost/spirit/thing was gone.
He sighed and stood up. He went to Ella's room and saw the lights were out. He tried the handle – locked.
"Ella? Are you in there?" Marius asked, knocking on the door.
Silence.
He tried pressing his shoulder to the door. It wouldn't budge. He looked around and thought of the screwdriver in the toolbox in the basement. He went to the basement and brought up both screwdrivers.
Five minutes later, the door was unhinged, but there was no sign of Ella. Just the open window and a note stuck to her desk.
"Ran away from home. Don't come looking for me." Marius read the note out loud.
The wind blew through the open window. Winter was coming fast and it was cold out there. Marius went to Anton's room, put the sleeping little one in the car and headed out into the oncoming storm, hoping he wasn't too late.