A place for me in the sky

Ella suddenly opened her eyes. It didn't seem as if she had gotten any rest at all. She had stayed up all night chatting with Alex. Now, as she sat up on the bed, she realized that regretting it won't solve anything.

She took a deep breath, sighed and sat up. She checked her phone. It was only six in the morning and today was Monday. She sighed again as she wondered if there was anyone in the world who hated Monday like she did. She wanted to continue sleeping but she couldn't because even though she hated the thought of it, she needed to go to school.

"School."

Sometimes, she wished she never had to go to school but it was a compulsory part of her life.

She looked over to her sister who was still sleeping at the other end of the room. She wished Mike was around, it would have reduced the pain of waking up to a "boring" sister everyday. Angie wasn't really boring but Ella felt that there was no fun in her life and she hated that.

"How can someone live like that?" She often thought to herself.

She walked silently to the bathroom, which she always wished was inside her bedroom, because she didn't always have the strength to walk to the bathroom which wasn't even too far, just ten steps away from her and Angie's bedroom. She nevertheless wished it was in their bedroom. She took her fist step to the bathroom and found out that she was indeed really tired but she had only herself to blame. She finally made it to the bathroom, she took out her toothbrush and for the first time noticed that it needed to be changed. She tried to remember the last time she bought the toothbrush but she couldn't. She sighed and looked up to the mirror in front of her.

She had dark circles under her eyes, "It will wash off." She comforted her self. Her hair was a mess, it was all ranged. She had midnight black hair like her mum and sister. She signed, she was just going to brush it, she didn't have time to wash it.

She looked up to the mirror again and then she saw it. It was a pimple on her face, it was small but it would grow if she didn't do anything about it. Oh God, she hated pimples. She didn't know what to do anytime they appeared on her face. She would ask Alex about it because Alex was the only person that would actually know what to do. Ella usually teased her about having a non-pimplous face and they would laugh.

She brushed her teeth quickly without looking in the mirror like she always does. She didn't want to see that wicked pimple on her face. It would simply make her not want go to school today and she would feel totally uncomfortable.

She went back to the room to picked a dress for the day. Sge chose a purple dress which she thought was appropriate for today. It was a nice dress, the one her Dad bought her last Thanksgiving. He had taken her to Barbie doll, a fashion shop which she really loved. He had surprised her with it and she had loved it. She still does.

She heard her sister call her. Angie didn't look too good, her hair was messed up and her mouth dry. She simply looked horrible and weak.

"Ella? You are awake? What's the time?" Angie asked still feeling sleepy.

"It's 6:15." Ella answered as she turned back to decide what she would wear.

"Oh God, I have practice today!" Angie exclaimed as she stood up and ran to the bathroom. "I need to prepare or I'll be late."

Ella smiled as her sis ran off. "You should have woken up earlier, I need to use the bathroom too."

Ella picked out a black cover shoe to go with her purple dress. She packed her books which was lying around her bed. She went to be bedroom only to discover that Angie was still there.

"You're still here?"

"I just got here two minutes ago." Angie said and Ella knew immediately that she hasn't even started. This was one thing she hated about sharing a bathroom with Angie. She always spent a lot of time in the bathroom.

Ella sighed "You better don't make me late, I have classes too." That was all Ella could say, because talking to Angie in the shower was like wasting time. She had learnt that the hard way though.

She could remember a time when Ella was already late for school and was giving Angie instructions on what their mum told them to do but after the long lashing out of instructions, Angie claimed she didn't hear one word not even one. She claimed that she was in the shower and didn't hear a word that Ella said.

Ella heard her Mum's voice and and went downstairs. "Good morning, Mum" She greeted.

"Good morning, my dear. How was your night?" Theresa answered, she was chopping some onions.

"It was ok, Mum." Ella sat down on the sofa near the window. That was her favourite chair in the sitting room. She loved how the chair was carved and really loved the color. She remembered when her Dad used to say that the chair belonged to their grandmother who passed away two years. Ella was 16 when it happened. It had broken her father's heart.

"Are you going to work, Mum? Why are you chopping onions?"

"Yes, my dear. I just need to make some eggs for your sister."

"Oh, ok." Ella nodded, she wanted some eggs too but she didn't say anything.

"Where is she?" Theresa asked as put the whipped egg into a frying pan. She was trying to aviod the oil from spilling on her.

"In the bathroom. She woke up quite late." Ella replied as she was looking at her mum.

"Late? I thought I heard her this morning in the bathroom." Theresa was surprised.

"No, it was me, Mum."

"Oh but you should have woken her up, you know she has her nursing practice today."

"Sorry, I forgot and anyways she didn't tell me it was today." Ella said and saw her Mum give her a weird look.

"She has been talking nonstop about her nursing practice and you claim she didn't tell you? Anyway, go check on her."

Ella disagreed with her Mum, Angie only talked about her nursing practice whenever she was with Mum, she never liked discussing it.

Ella went back to the bathroom and saw it open. "Finally." She murmured as she walked into the bedroom from the bathroom. You're not ready yet?" She asked Angie who seemed to be confused about what to wear.

"I don't know what to wear." Angie said still searching her wardrobe. She was throwing her clothes all around the house.

Ella smiled. "You have numerous and lot of clothes but still you are confused on what to wear?"

"Can you just help me?" Angie said with an edge in her voice. She was getting annoyed.

"Wear your yellow trouser with the that nice top Mum bought for you last Christmas."

"I don't want to wear that." She said getting upset. "You know I hate that top."

Ella was surprised. "You do? Wow, I didn't know. You were so happy when Mum gave it to you last Christmas." Ella said as she looked at Angie to find her staring at her with anger.

"Angie, you're gonna be late." Theresa shouted from downstairs.

"Am coming Mum." Angie answered.

Ella finished preparing I'm ten minutes. she checked if she was forgetting anything. She went downstairs quickly, she saw her own egg on her plate. She started eating.

"Mum, am ready." Angie had come downstairs with the same cloth Ella asked to wear.

Ella smiled a silent smile. "I thought you didn't like it." Ella whispered to Angie as she sat down beside her.

"Oh, you're here. What were you doing upstairs?" Their mother asked.

"Nothing, Mum." Angie said quietly.

"I made you enough egg and milk so you will have enough energy for today." Theresa smiled.

"Thanks Mum." Angie said.

Ella raised an eyebrow as she looked at both mother and daughter.

"Am going to school." Ella stood up.

"You won't wait for your sister?" Theresa asked.

She knows her way to the school." Ella said.

"Mum, I can go alone, don't bother her." Angie said that like she was pleading with her mother.

Ella went out of the house, into the streets and after a 45 minutes walk, she was at school.

Ella walked into Mr Frank's class. It was her worst subject ever, History. She hated the subject but had to do it because it was among her subjects and an important one at that.

She looked around for Alex but couldn't find her. "Where could that girl be?"

Just then, from a corner of the class, Alex appeared. She waved so that Alex would see her.

"Why are you late?" Ella whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" Alex asked.

"Just answer me." Ella was being persistent.

"Nothing, just that I didn't wake up early. So how was your holiday? You didn't even visit me." Alex said as she faked anger.

"Am sorry but you also didn't visit me." Ella tried to defend herself. They had gone on a little summer break and were back to school.

"Yeah, but you know my Mum gave birth right? So I have been busy."

"Oh yes, am sorry. I will definately visit." Ella was still whispering. Alex smiled.

"No problem." Alex said just as Mr Frank walked inside. Mr frank was a short man, it was literally the first thing anyone noticed about him. He had big mouth and a small nose which was a weird feature for a teacher. The pupils always identified him as the short teacher."

"I have something to tell you later." Alex was the one whispering to Ella this time.

Ella gave Alex a knowing smile. "I hope it is not what am thinking because I know that smile of yours."

Alex smile broadened.

1 hour

** 1 hour later ***

Ella and Alex were sitting down beside the "big" tree. It was called the big tree because it had such shade that students usually go there to rest.

"Am soo hungry." Alex said

"Me too but we have to wait." Ella answered. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Oh, you remembered?"

Ella smiled. "That was all I thought about all through the history class, I didn't understand one word Mr Frank said.

"He was talking about the modern Museum, the one we were supposed... " Alex stopped as she remembered that Ella wouldn't like the path she was trying to take now.

"Just tell me, ok?"

"Ok ok. I saw a guy." Alex said and when she didn't say anything more, Ella asked.

"And?"

"What do you mean?" Alex asked in a confused manner. "That's it."

"Wait, is that it. God! I thought it was important."

"Is that not important? Don't be rude ok? It doesn't suit you."

"Am not trying to be rude. It's just that I actually thought it was something important. So what happened to the guy?" Ella asked without concern.

"I just saw him and he looked back at me and he was sooooo handsome and cute. He had..."

"Let's go and eat. Come on." Ella said as she stood and drew Alex along with her. "The line is reduced."

"You don't want to hear me out right?" Alex faked annoyance.

Ella just ignored her. "What do you want to eat? I want ice cream."

"You always want ice cream."

Ella suddenly stopped and laughed. That was no lie, she just loved ice cream so much. She just couldn't help herself.

"What's so funny?" Alex asked. "Let's go." Alex was pushing her forward.

Two minutes later, they were enjoying two plates each of hot delicious hamburger.

***

Francis looked around him. He couldn't tell where the head office was. He certainly needed help but he was sure he wouldn't ask his brother. He found the cafeteria and just then, he knew he had to eat or he might faint.

So he slowly and steadily walked there. There were a lot of people there, he could see. He only hoped he would find a spot for himself. He met the woman in charge and in two minutes, He was munching his snacks. He looked around and suddenly became confused. He didn't know what next he had to do. He started regretting why he didn't accept his mother's request to help him with the school registration.

"Let me go with you." His mother had offered to help him but he refused.

"I can do it on my own." He had told his Mother. He would look like a baby if his mother had come with him for his registration but thinking about it now, he felt that he should have agreed. It would save him this frustration that he was feeling.

"It's not my fault," He thought and said out loudly. "I didn't want to come here anyway."

He turned to see students looking at him but he didn't care. He had to find a way to finish his registration today or he would go back to walking around the school like a forgotten child.

He finished his yogurt and went back into the hallway in front of him. He saw a guy who was wearing a pink shirt which seamed weird to Francis. He didn't know what to do but he knew that he needed help to find his way around.

"Why would a guy wear pink?" He thought as he stopped. He thought of approaching him but was confused. He thought that if a guy could wear pink in public, it was certain that he's really nice. He decided to stop making up stories in his head and just meet the guy.

"Hi." He approached him finally.

The guy turned, "Hi." He was holding a book which seemed too heavy for him.

"Please can you show me the office of the head teacher. It is important."

"You came for registration?" The pink guy asked. He was seriously searching for something in that huge book. He didn't look that bad and he was nice.

"Yes." Francis answered even though he didn't want to. "I am and I need to finish the entire process today." He couldn't trust him or anyone yet.

The guy looked up. "Am Luke, I also did my registration but it was also during the holidays. You know it is more easier then." Luke was talking fast that Francis couldn't comprehend what he was saying but he found out that Luke was a new student like him.

"Registering now is so tedious and tiring, you have to go to the principal's office and wait and even then he might not register you on that same day meaning you have to return the next day." Luke explained in an insensitive way.

Francis nodded as he said these things but he was concerned about one thing. To be done with this whole tiring process.

"I will direct you to his office. Follow me." Luke said and started walking. He was walking fast and Francis was thankful for that but he was walking like someone who didn't know his way around. He stopped sometimes and looked around biting his lower lip. He was much shorter than Francis but he was bad looking. He had dimples which was cute whenever he smiled.

Francis slowly followed and kept wondering that maybe this guy was just wasting his time. He had to be patient and find out but he prayed, for the guy's sake, that he wasn't just wasting his time.

They walked for two minutes and entered into an inner room which had lovely seats. The room was decorated in a lovely way and Francis guessed it was the principal's office. The walls were green in colourand the chair pink.

"Seat here," Luke pointed at a chair and said. "He will attend to you soon. Hopefully."

Francis sat down quietly and waited.

**

Francis lived in a very polished house with his parents who were always careful. He had careful parents especially his mother, which he didn't like all the time. He had his own separate room while his brother, Tony, had his.

He was always thought to do things carefully so it won't affect his future. His elder brother was nice and all but they didn't always get along.

Francis walked into his house. He already knew his Mum wouldn't be home but he wasn't sure where his Father was at. He dropped his bag and went into the kitchen. He wanted some milk. He took out the tin of milk inside the fridge and poured some for himself.

He heard some noise from the huge bedroom and immediately knew that his Father was home.

"Good afternoon, Dad." Francis greeted.

"When did you come back?" John asked.

John was a tall man, who loved food and would do anything for it, literally. He had dark brown eyes with dimples on his face.

"Just now." Francis answered. "Are you going out?"

"Yes, am going to see James."

James was John's friend, a short guy that Francis never liked. He looked grumpy.

"Ok. Am going up to my room."

"Where is your brother?" John asked even though he knew what Francis would say.

"I don't know." Francis disappeared into the corne that lead to his room.

John simply nodded.

Ella got home and was surprised at how tired she was even though she didn't do much at school anyway.

"I didn't even do anything at school and am this tired." She stretched her body as she thought aloud.

She looked at the clock, it was 4:39 and Angie was supposed to be back. She didn't feel hungry. She went into the room and was angry at what she saw.

Angie's clothes were lying around on the floor.

"God! What a mess." She went over to her corner and sat on her bed.

She checked her facebook account and she saw nothing but two notifications but no new friend requests. She hissed and dropped her phone. Nothing new about facebook. She lay on the bed and didn't know when she slept off.

**

During supper, Angie was talking nonstop about her nursing practice.

"Mum, you should have seen me. God!, Even Alicia and Frank complimented me."

"Who are they, your trainers?" Theresa asked on purpose. She obviously knew her daughter's trainers.

"No, Alicia is the girl who Angie wants to join her squad and Frank is the guy that Angie likes." Ella laughed as she answered.

Angie doesn't laugh as her Mum gives her a hard look.

"Hmm."

"That's not true, Mum." Angie tried defending herself. "I don't want to join any squad."

"But you do like Frank." Ella smiled. "His cute but he has large eyes with his huge mouth."

"Would you stop talking?" Angie was getting mad.

"Ok." Ella said as she put up her hands to indicate that she had given up. "Mum, when is Mike coming back?"

"Soon dear. I talked to him last night and he said he would come back soon." Theresa explained to her daughters.

"But soon is not even a specific date." Ella grumpled.

"That's what he said, dear. We will waits for his arrival." Theresa looked at Ella and knew she wasn't happy about the news at all. "How was school?"

"Nothing new just the boring, usual stuff we do."

Theresa knew how her daughter usually acts. "You can join your sister if you want."

"What!" Angie looked up from her from her plate.

"No, no." Ella disagreed. "Thanks for the suggestion. "I'd rather sleep all day."

"That's a nice suggestion, I think you should sleep all day." Angie said. "Thanks Mum, for the food."

"You're welcome." Theresa answered. "You guys know I won't be back from work early tomorrow so you guys should decide who's going to cook."

"Am not cooking." Angie argued.

"Well, it's certainly not me." Ella argued too.

"Well, it's going to be one of you. So decide now." Theresa said and left them for the kitchen.

"Am not coming back straight he after practice, so you will cook." Angie said and ran off to her room.

"Great." Ella murmured.

**

"Mum, Dad. I have a party I want to attend this night." Tony said at dinner.

Francis took a heavy breath. He knew that this was not going to end well.

"You just for back from school not too long ago." Deborah, his mother answered him.

Deborah was a beautiful woman who believes in hardwork. She had hazel eyes and was loved by all. Her straight hair made her even more attractive.

"You can't just leave again." Deborah continued.

"Which party, Son?" John asked not looking up from his plate of food. He didn't seem to be in a good mood since he came back from James'.

"It's a friend party." Tony slowly answered. He, like his father, had dark brown eyes and obviously wasn't the quiet one from the two brothers.

It was Francis who took after his mother with her hazel eyes and lovely lips which made him handsome. Even before they moved into this town, he had numerous encounter with girls.

"I hope it's safe." John asked. "You can go."

Deborah was surprised at this, "How can you ask him to go." She then turned to Tony. "We just moved in recently, how come you have made friends who you can really trust, and what is the time for the party."

"It's 9." Tony answered. He wasn't pleased with the questions rather he looked really uncomfortable about them.

"But dear.."

"But Mum, you were the one who always told me to go and make friends and now that I have friends, you are not happy about it."

"It's not like that, Tony." Deborah was trying to explain. "You can't really trust anyone."

"Let him go. It doesn't hurt to go to a party."

"Thanks Dad." Tony said and went into his room. He had to pick out some clothes if hr was going to looked dope.

Francis who didn't understand what was going on wanted to stand up and leave too when his Mum asked him.

"How was school today, Francis?"

"It was ok, Mum."

"I hope you are not finding it difficult to cope."

"Not really." Francis couldn't tell if that was the truth or a lie. He just didn't want his mother to worry. He had noticed that she had been stressed for the past two weeks. He didn't know the reason for this, but he just wanted his mother to be happy.

The environment was tensed and everyone could feel it.

"You shouldn't have let him go to that party." Deborah confronted her husband. She had lowered her voice so as not to worsen the matter.

"Why? It's just a party. His not going there to do anything wrong like most people." John argued. Francis couldn't place what exactly it was but something was wrong with his parents.

"I noticed that you have been upset and I don't know what the problem is but you shouldn't put out your frustration on us." Deborah tried to explain.

"What do you mean by that?" John looked up from his plate for the first time since this conversation.

"You know what I mean. You know exactly what I mean." Doborah answered, she wasn't happy.

At this point, Francis got up and and left the dinning to his room. It would be rude to just sit there or so he thought.

"I knew this wouldn't end well." He thought to himself. "Tony shouldn't have talked about this.

He was going into his room but as he passed his brother's room, he heard him humming. He was happy that he was going to this party. He had recently started going out to parties like they mean everything to him.