Smile For Me by A. Paris (top 10 books of all time TXT) 📕

loss was still fresh in her mind.

“Sissy!”

Ella jerked her eyes open and quickly fixed her expression. Bobby and her adoptive parents had found a way to enter the back stage. She smiled brightly at the trio, trying hard to suppress her feelings.

“You were amazing Ella,” Tracy gushed.

“You really were,” John agreed.

“Thank you,” Ella turned towards her brother happy to see his pride filled smile. It helped lessen the sadness she’d been engulfed in only moments ago.

“I told you didn’t I? She can sing and play the piano,” he stared at his sister in admiration. In his eyes she truly was the most amazing person in this world. He had no idea how sad singing that song had made her, or what it had meant.

“Is singing something you want to do in the future?” Tracy asked.

Elle’s brows furrowed. She’d never even considered such a thing, “No, not at all.” She didn’t want to be like her mother.

“Really? I think you’d be able to make it big if you wanted to,” Tracy didn’t seem to notice how uncomfortable the conversation was making Ella feel. “We could start you off with a vocal coach and maybe some dance lessons…”

“No,” Ella said a little more forcibly. “It’s not something I’m interested in. I won’t be in the future either,” she forced a smile on her face trying to cover her previous hard tone.

She caught Bobby staring at her with concern in his eyes. It wasn’t often that his sister raised her voice or became angry. She was usually very docile.

“Enough of that then,” John said coming to her rescue. “You did really good today, but if it’s not what you want, then it’s not what you want,” he gave her a reassuring smile.

“Should we go watch the rest of the performers together?” Ella asked avoiding any more awkwardness.

“Yea! The magic act was really fun Sissy you should have watched. He even had a trick where roses came out of his hat. I saw it before, but I’d never seen it up close like that.”

Ella smiled at Bobby happy to see him happy.

Michael watched as the group of four including Ella came from behind the back stage. A few eyes turned in their direction. Most of the audience was still in a daze from her performance. He was even more enraptured by her then he had been when he arrived. With his eyes he followed them as they took seats in the very back. Because of a lack of chairs Ella and Bobby shared a seat.

“She was really good wasn’t she?” Jamie whispered from beside him, “I was shocked. I couldn’t believe the normally quite Ella would have a voice that powerful.”

Michael nodded his head in agreement. He wanted to head over to her. He wanted it so much in fact he could barley stay in his seat.

On stage the girl with the cello from before was playing. She was rather good at it, but there was no contest compared to what Ella had done.

“We should invite them out to eat afterwards,” Jamie suggested. She could see that her brother really liked Ella. Although she new it was hopeless, she couldn’t help but want to assist him.

“Do you think they would agree?” He asked turning back in his seat so he was facing the stage.

“I think if we ask Bobby first…” Jamie was already plotting on how she would manipulate the situation. She was well aware that asking Ella outright would be a big ‘No’.

Ethan was staring at Ella from where he sat. She was close to him. Only a matter of chairs separating the two of them. Ethan was in a battle within himself. A part of him wanted to move closer to him, the other part wanted to push her away. Far, far away. She wasn’t like the others in this place. She hadn’t bothered to look for him when she entered the stage, even now she seemed oblivious to his attention towards her. He was frustrated and relived at the same time.

‘Maybe she doesn’t realize who I am.’ he thought to himself. ‘If she did she would try to gain my attention like all the others.’

He made a decision with himself. He would introduce himself to her when the show was over. After he had done that, surly he would no longer be drawn to her. She would try to impress him and that would push him away. It was the easiest way to get over this uncomfortable pull he had towards her.

When the show was over, after Ella had received a first place prize, a small trophy and a gift certificate to a restaurant, she and her family began to make a move towards the exit. She was stopped several times and offered congratulations. She was growing tired of all the attention and wanted to go home as soon as possible. Although she thanked them, inside she wanted to run from them.

“Ella!” She turned her head towards Jamie’s voice. She saw Michael standing next to her. They were a few feet away and heading towards her.

“Excuse me, Miss Thompson?” A voice said from beside her. Ella turned away from her friend and acknowledged the older man wearing a formal suit. She stared at him in question.

“The Young Master would like a word with you,” the man said kindly.

Ella’s eyes darkened. She wanted nothing to do with the young master. The very thought of being involved with someone who could manipulate her life scared her. At the same time Jamie’s warning from a few days prior still loomed in the back of her mind. She nodded her head softly and followed him to the back of the auditorium.

She took in the haughty expression Ethan wore. He was seated in his chair, a leg crossed over the other. His hair was a dark shade of brown, as were his eyes. He was attractive in appearance and had a wealthy superior aura about him. He turned in her direction as if only now noticing that she was there. She would pretend she hadn’t noticed him glance at her several times as she headed over.

“Can I help you with something?” She asked trying hard to keep her voice cool and neutral.

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly at the girls question. “I wanted to introduce myself,” He said standing, suddenly awkward. He too, didn’t know why he had called this girl over now. His reasoning before suddenly felt foolish, “My name is Ethan Hallowood.” he expected to see a change in her expression. Perhaps impressed, or nervous.

She disappointed him.

“Yes,” she said softly, her voice like smooth satin. “We’re in the same class.”

Ethan stared at the girl.

She stared at him.

Michael stared at them both.

Around them parents and students alike were watching the exchange between the beautiful singer and the proud young master. It was the first time the students had seen such an exchange. The young master had always kept a deep guard around himself. Even those who approached him were shunned away. To actually see him call someone over was interesting and unusual.

During the strange moment of silence, Bobby managed to make his way over to his sister. He latched himself onto her arm and stared up at the tall figure that had called his sister over. He too, was not impressed.

“Jamie want’s us to have dinner with her and Michael. Can we go?” He practically begged.

Ethan watched as the eyes of the girl suddenly turned soft and gentle as she gazed at the smaller boy.

“Do you want to?” She questioned him. Her fingers ran through his hair patting him lightly on the head when he nodded a ‘yes’. “What about the Emmersons?”

“They said we could go,” he said smiling adoringly up at her.

“Then we can go,” she smiled at the boy again before turning back to Ethan. He was staring at her with wide angry eyes. She was taken back by his sudden anger, uncertain what she had done to offend him. She forced a smile on her face, “It was nice to meet you Ethan,” she hedged. His hardness slightly dulled by the brightness of her smile. “Was there anything else?” It was an innocent question, but around her she heard a few muffled gasps. Ella was unsettled.

From behind her Michael suddenly appeared. He had been watching the scene and knew that Ella was at a loss for how to behave in front of the arrogant young master. He extended his hand towards Ethan, hoping to come to her rescue. “Hello Young Master,” He addressed him formally. “You probably don’t remember me, but I was your senior the year you became a freshmen.”

Ethan looked down at the extended at hand. His eyes seemed to begrudge the very sight of it. “You’re right, I have no recollection of you,” his voice was cold as steel.

“You ready to go Ella? Bobby?” Michael asked, staking claim on the innocent Ella in his own way.

“I am,” Bobby announced cheerfully.

Ella still had her eyes fixed on the man before her. His angry eyes disturbed her. “I guess I’ll see you Monday?” she once again hedged. She felt as if just being near this impossible figure had her walking on thin ice.

Ethan’s gaze fixed on Ella. He noticed that behind her indifferent expression there seemed to be a bit of tension. Without telling himself to do so, his lips slowly moved into a thin smile. It had been something of a reflex for him. He didn’t like seeing that look in her eyes, “Yes. Monday. Enjoy your dinner,” with that said, he turned towards Butler Amos who helped him put on his jacket before heading out the doors.

Ella watched his back as he walked off. Although he had smiled at her, she still felt burdened by his behavior. His smile had been a bit unsettling as well. Although it seemed genuine, it was unnatural in appearance like a Christmas tree on Halloween, “Lets go,” she said choosing to ignore the feeling.

Michael drove to a small Mexican restaurant. The building was decorated in bright green’s, red’s and yellows. A large red chili pepper hovered over the entrance with the word ‘Welcome’ written on it’s plastic surface.

“I come here sometimes with my college friends,” Michael explained. “It’s good food, plus they usually have a band playing. It’s a Mexican restaurant, but I have yet to hear any Spanish music being played,” he chuckled to himself as he led them to a table in the rear of the restaurant.

“You’re kind of stupid,” Jamie whispered to her brother as she sat down next to him in the booth. She had a hand covering her mouth so that Ella couldn’t over hear. “This was your chance to take her somewhere nice and impress her. Why did you bring her to this dump? I don’t think you even managed to impress Bobby,” she shook her head and pulled away from him.

Michael stared at his sister for a moment, realizing that what she said was true. He mentally chastised himself. But at the same time, he wanted Ella to see who he was, to see what he