"Actually, my name is Ella not Daniella,Isabella or Gabriella, but Ella is just like that

Am very very pretty- well I think of myself that way .I live in California, America withy mother,my father and my twin sister- Stella. We don't look alike in any way,unfortunately she's a redhead like my mother, very dark eyes,a slender and slim figure,she's beautiful also and love wearing skimpy dresses,sometimes I hate the fact that we are twin and that's because she acts like she doesn't care about me.It hurts".

" Anyways am not a redhead.My hair is actually brown in colour,my eyes are hazel in colour unlike my sister,am not as slim as she is.I mean I just can't be:She rarely eats or never does.We attend University of California, Los Angeles, An eighteen years old,just so you know".

"School was hectic today,really,really,hectic well,I expect it to be as I am studying medicine, but not as tough as it was today.And-

"Oh!" Ella exclaimed as she dropped her pen oh her diary as she remembered she had an assignment,she hadn't done. she closed her diary abruptly and stick it in her drawer,rushed to her bag and got her note.As she sat on hwe bed, studying the assignment. Suddenly,she shut the note and sighed.

"If only I knew how hard this course would be..." She said sadly and then there was a knock on the door.She faced back immediately and there stood her slim sister painting her fingernails.

" Claire's downstairs " She said nonchalantly without even looking at her and left,left qving the door open.

" Claire's downstairs " Ella repeated and then quickly jerked off from her position, carried her note and pen,put on her floppy slippers and stormed off the room.

On bombshorts and tee shirt,Ella climbed down the stairs to a surprised Claire.Panting,Ella sat down and Claire's face was full of questions.

" Ella!" Claire asked

Then taking a deep breath,she quitted the suspense.

"Biology assignment, Claire! I could not believe I totally forgot. And now it's pretty late"

Ella bit her pink lip while Claire stamped her palm on her forehead, shaking her black bobs.Claire's blue eyes stared at the note and then she collected it and dropped it on the stool beside her

" I didn't come here for a biology note or assignment,, Ella!"

" But we still have to do it else we'll be punished severely "

"Calm down ok-" Claire had barely finished when Camila stormed in,crying furiously.She looked like one who'd burstvany minute with her purple dyed hair.

" He cheated on me! Oh Claire,he broke my heart." she broke down in more tears and Claire and Ella stared at each other in disbelief.Seconds later their disbelief were heightened further when a red haired guy burst in,following Camila,they guessed

" Hey.." he screamed while stretching his arm but was cut short when his eyes caught Ella,standing with laps that made his head turn. Ella realized his eyes on her and quickly went upstairs to change. Minutes later she appeared in a denim skirt.By then,they'd already left

" What just happened here,Claire?"

She shruuged " Just the usual Camila and her crazy boyfriend. "

" But..." Ella paused

" Today at school I saw him with Nora,the girl in the health department kissing"

" Kissing?"

" Yes kissing " Ella confirmed

Claire saw that her friend was lost in fantasy

" He's quite handsome " Ella remarked

" Ella! " Claire gave her a stone gaze

" Do not even think of befriending that guy.He's a flirt and would send you to your early grave." but it seemad like Ella wasn't even listening Then Claire shook her and she jerked out from her fantasy.

" Ella I saw the way he looked at you.And am telling you this because,you'll only hurt yourself with him He's just far away from being a.....human being." Claire concluded

" Claire how could you say that?"

Claire got up " Look I gotta go.See you at school tomorrow " she walked towards the door and opened it and then turned to Ella

"Oh and be ready for the punishment baby" she said before slamming the door.Ella smiled and headed upstairs when she got a scare from her sister,Stella

" Do you love him?" she stood arms crossed

" Him?" Ella asked

" Ryan."

" Ryan?" Ella didn't understand

" Dont act like you don't know! the red haired guy that barged in minutes ago"

" Excuse me,I do not know him.We are in the same department but I didn't get to know him up until then" Ella replied,pointing back where the scene took place.

" Well good. Just make sure you stay away from him." Stella retorted

" Awwn....thanks.Well Claire already warned me about-"

" No.I meant stay away from him 'cuz he is mine that's the only thing I can't share with you"

Ella was dumbstruck. Stella left.

" You never share anything with me anyway."

Ella said to herself and went to her room,shutting the door behind her.She had a cool bath and lay on her bed.She could only think of Ryan and Claire's warnings.Even closing her eyes to woo the goddess of sleep didn't work.That stare he'd given her with those hazel eyes kept replaying in her mind.

Soon,she slept off.

.....

We'd all done all we could to try prevent Mrs Stacy-the biology teacher from coming into the class,but it all proved futile.When she arrived everywhere was as silent as a graveyard. Everyone was wishing they'd done it,especially me.I really really began to wish.But as they say " if wishes were horses beggars would ride" unfortunately our wishes didn't turn to hors s as we were given one job or the other to do were also grouped in twos.As I emerged to check who I was grouped with,I prayed earnestly for someone reliable,like Claire

" Ugh!!" I exclaimed, finger still on the list.

" Ryan?!!" I shouted or even almost screamed,it got everyone staring at me,even the guy who heard his name.

" Oh,am sorry." I feigned a smile and ran out of the class.I didn't even know where I ran to,till I took in a deep breath and calmed my heart rate.

Ella was at the ladies and gents.Infact where she came to just reminded her of her punishment. For a whole week,she was actually grouped with that Ryan of a guy to clean up the disgusting toilet.

" Urghhhh!!!" She stamped her feet

" Hey"

She turned back abruptly and there he stood. Why did he have to be so breathtaking?

" You okay?" he smiled " First time you got punished right?"

" Yeah" Ella managed to reply, thinking with someone she never wanted to have anything to do with.

" Right.Let's get started " there and then Ella knew they were the only in ones in the long white hall.

" Started? I can't possibly work with you"

" Say what?" he asked and Ella shook her head.He pulled off his white shirt and tucked it in his bag,leaving his singlet on his chest.Oh,Ella began thinking,I'av never washed a toilet before and that's because we have a house help at home.

" How is this gonna happen now?" she thought aloud,he turned again

" Say what?" Ella shook her head and reluctantly entered the restroom with him.

He handed the brush to her,she collected it and fidgeted what to do with it while he was already washing his.She sighed and deeped the brush in the toilet and the water splashed all over her face.

" Ugh...eww"Ella said,closing her eyes.She felt a hand grip her arm and pull me closer,wiping my face with God knows what.And when he was true and she opened her eyes,she realized he used his hanky to wipe my face clean.

" Thanks"

"Never washed a toilet?" his eyes peered at hers

" Uhm.." She felt embarrassed.

" Not a problem, I'll show you how" he took the brush from the WC and pulled her closer.He stood behind that she could feel his cool,peppermint breath. Then he held her wrist,while putting the brush in her hand, they scrubbed and scrubbed,her hand began to hurt.Part of her hair covered the left side of her face when they bent,he tucked it behind her ears when she immediately dropped the brush and straightened up.

" Thanks." I nodded rather than smiling. They spent few more hours scrubbing the floors and he always touching her,giving her that scared vibrating feeling.When they were done, she was the first to leave and carry her bag.Mrs Stacy came and inspected it.She declared it clean.

" Uhm...Mrs Stacy, can I have a word with you?" Ryan turned and stared at me,but I walked towards the mean looking woman.

"Yes?" she fixed Ella a deep gaze

" Uhmmmm" Ella thought of a suitable way to put it

"Well..Uhm,am really sorry for not doing your assignmenr, actually I wanted to but-"

" didn't " the woman finished for her " Now will you continue beating about the Bush or do you want to hit the nail on the head?"

Ella sighed

" Well,I want a change of partner. " I said as quickly as possible hoping she didn't hear and at the same time hoping she wouldn't ask me to repeat it.

" Why,why do you want to?" she adjusted her glasses "What's wrong with Ryan?" she asked.

" Well..Ugh"

" Good.Since you do not have a thing to say,I'll be on my way" she left without even waiting for Ella's reply,her heels scratching the tiled floor.

Ella turned back and picked my bag.Her hair was really scattered.As she packed her hair in a pony tail she thought of Claire

" She could not even wait for me or ask who my partner was....so mean" Elka gritted her teeth.On getting to the middle of the hall she saw Ryan leaning on the hall,bag carried in his right shoulder. When he saw her,he smiled.She almost saw his small moustache twitch.He pushed himself from the wall and waljed towards her.

" Been waiting for you " he said

"For?" Ella asked.

" Why don't you want me as your partner?" it hit her.She had not seen it coming.

" You eavesdropped? "

" No,i could feel you weren't happy 'bout it"

He caught her redhanded.Ella didnt reply at first as they trailed along the hall

" Well I don't want any problems with your girlfriends,especially Camilla." She looked away to avoid his look. " They might all think I wanna steal you away"

"-which I can never do" she finished

" Why can't you do it?" he asked this time peering deep into her eyes.She increased her pace and soon they were outside the school building.

" Because you don't deserve it" She replied

" Why don't I?" he asked this time holding her arms and pulling her closer. Eyes were watching

" What's gotten into you? we are on the road! " she tried to struggle her arms free

" Why don't I?" he asked calmly,his voice was assuring

Ella saw he wasn't going to leave her any soon

" Well...you are a flirt"

" Why am I a flirt?"

She yanked her arms off with force,staring back at him.

" You chose to be of course!" she replied trying to look as calm as he was,but she couldn't control her emotions. He knew he'd finally got her

" What makes you think I chose to be?"

"Now why all these questions anyway?"

" Because you believed a wrong impression of me.Look,am not what you think I am.Just because others thinks of me in a certain way doesn't mean you should also.I'd already given up on trying to change their minds,but you... I don't know,I just feel you'll understand me better than others do."

" Well now I understand you.So please can you let me go already?"

" Yeah but bear in mind that Camilla's not my girlfriend."

Ella stopped in her tracks

"I never said she was and it's non if my business"

" Well I know you're thinking she is.I just..you know..wanna clear any form if doubts in your mind"

" Well what were you doing with Nora in the cafeteria and then Camila what made her so broken that way?"

He licked his lips "Nora's just a friend who needs comfort and Camilla is just a friend trying to force herself on me"

Ella didn't know what to say anymore.She shook her head.

" Look...I may not have believed what others says about you, but i also don't believe you either."

Ella left him standing there and walked towards her house which was not far from the school... but he kept trailing behind her.She decided not to say a word....until she realized that he was actually her next door neighbour. Great,she thought in her heart.Now they weren't just classmates,nor were they partners they were also neighbours.

As she was about to enter her mansion he waved and smiled at her.She nodded and quickly entered her house.

" What's chasing you?" their house help whom she called Aunt Nel asked

" Nothing." Ella said and raced upstairs. She freshened up and was styling her hair when Aunt Nel came in with a tray of food.Ella smiled,what more could she have other this wonderful woman. "Oh aunt,you shouldn't have"

I stood to collect the tray of salad from her. Ella really loved salads and Aunt Nel is the perfect one to make it.She never mixes it wit the cream.Ella loves it just like that.

"Well your favorite" Aunt Nel said

" How'd you know that Aunt?" Ella asked but Aunt Nel just smiled and gazed out the winfow. Ella wondered why she was smiling while looking through the window... she looked back but no one was there,nothing was there too.

"I'll leave you to your food now" Aunt Nel said and Ella agreed.

"Aunt." Ella called

"Just call me Nelly...hm?"

"Uhm Aunt Nel?"

"No,that makes me feel to old.Am not up to thirty you know"

"Oh...I didn't"

Aunt Nel smiled broadly again "Enjoy your food" she said before leaving. Ella was glad she had someone like Aunt Nel.Her own mother doesn't even treat her like she deserves.She couldn't even believe she couldn't wash a common toilet.. she sighed.If her mother had time for her...maybe things would not have been like this. She'd meet Aunt Nel to teach her house chores...she decided and munched the salad.

"Humm..yummy." She hadn't gone halfway when she heard someone cough.She dropped her spoon immediately. Her heart began to race .She was immediately grateful for her long hair because it blocked her face from the window where the sound had come from.She began to think of ghosts stories that Aunt Nel had told her when she was little. But ghosts don't come by now, Ella thought, this was just four in the evening.Ugh..ugh..uh..uh.The sound came again.She mustered up courage.Holding the spoon so hard,she stood up with so much speed to hit whatever it was.

"Hey,hey,it's me okay. No one else." Ryan jumped in the riom, looking startled while Ella started screaming.Her which she'd been trying to style got rough and strands leaned in her face.She dropped the spoon.

"You!"

"Yeah.Me.Am sorry I frightened you" Ella ran her hands through her hair and sat on a chair.He was wearing a jean and a tee shirt.He bounced comfortably on the bed.

"Wow, nice room"

"thanks"

"Sorry for sneaking in"

"You shouldn't have.If my parents were around they'd think I was having an..." her words trailed off.

"An affair... how thoughtful" he smiled and she smiled back.

"You know... you're beautiful"

Ella didn't fall for that although she appreciated that it was coming from him.

"I hope Nora or Camilla would not but rest in here any minute"

Ryan laughed.Then he stood and walked to her,she stood and also began to draw further and when he stopped,she stopped also

"No worries...they wouldn't." he assured her and she was quick to reply

"What makes you say so?"

"Because I have broken up with her"

Ella sat back on her chair and grabbed the plate of salad.

"Wow" she exclaimed as she munched the salad.

"Wow?" he expected to show some kind of reaction.

"Yeah,wow" she repeated

"Didnt even bother to ask why?"

He noticed that she wasn't giving him an attention. She focused on her salad.

"Like as if I care" she muttered in response. It stunged his heart.He sat back on the bed...feeling God knows what.She looked up at him and their eyes met.Her grey eyes searched his hazel eyes for answers. Then she stood and walked slowly to him.

"Look...I didn't mean to hurt you.Am sorry" her voice was but a whisper.He held her hand in his,he felt her shiver.He looked into her eyes and said sincerely.

"I have no idea why am being prejudiced by one person I thought will understand me."

She withdrew her hand and turned making her gown swirl.

"Am not prejudicing you okay? I just don't know what or who to believe.To me,you seem like who they really term you to be.I don't know am trying so hard to get away,to stay away but I feel myself coming so closer."

Ryan came and stood in front of her.

"For the fact that you're contemplating who to believe,I know that deep down you know am not what they say I am."

She smiled and then started laughing.

"You seem to always find a way"

"Yeah... for you" she stopped smiling and was looking deep into his eyes.Ryan had never seen anyone as beautiful.Until the door gave way and Stella stood looking furiously at....what was her name anyway? Ryan realised that he didn't even know her name.

.....

"You!" Stella matched towards Ella and slapped her across the face

"What's your problem?" Ella asked

"My problem? or yours? I told you to stay away from him."

"Well,excuse me.I have the right to see whoever I want to see and it's none of your business!" Ella retorted and Stella became furious the more.

"Its my business because I love him,Ella.No matter how much you try,you can't have him because you're nothing close to what he wants or likes." Stella pointed a finger at her twin sister.

"Stop being insecure.I do not love him"

"Then what was he doing here with you? Am pretty sure he's been here for hours and the fact remains that he didn't come in through the door! he sneaked in...how would you explain that?"

"If he sneaked in what's your problem with that?" Ella fired back because she really could not understand

"He's my boyfriend,Ella. And am ready to fight any girl for him," she stepped closer and said to her face. ",even if it's you"

Stella left the room afterwards.Ella turned to see,wondering why Ryan didn't utter a word but she found out that he'd gone already,through the window. I shut my eyes and sat on the bed,gripping the bed sheet so tight.

Ella had never felt this fooled before. So he is Stella's boyfriend-no wonder he'd sneaked in.At seven in the evening,she went downstairs for dinner.Mum and dad were already there and so was Stella.Aunt Nel prepared the table and I helped her out with it,at least learning something. They'd already settled down to eat when Ella saw her mum clean her mouth with a napkin and faced her.Ella wondered what was coming.

"Nelly,please excuse us" Mrs Stephen said and Aunt Nel left,tapping Ella on the shoulder as if to say "It will be fine"

"El,your sister complained to me about you" Ella's mother Mrs Stephen referred to her ad El and Stella as Ella. Stella wore that innocent look at the table.

"Complaints about what?" Ella asked while dropping her cutleries and looking at her mum directly while her dad kept mute.

"You seeing her boyfriend"

"Well..who told her that?" Ella replied, they weren't the only ones who could play the game.

"Stop feigning ignorance El,she Infact saw you in the room with him not that someone else told her." Ella wasn't surprised.. her mother always took Stella's side and it hurt her to the core of her heart.Wasn't she also her daughter?

"So? She saw him in the room with me doesn't mean we were doing anything silly" Ella replied

"I didn't say u were"

"You are implying I did" Ella responded immediately

"But he sneaked in.He should have come in through the main door and ask for the person his looking for. Please El,I do not want any form of misunderstanding"

"So what are you trying to say,mom? that am having an affair?" Ella shook her head "And with my sister's boyfriend?" I stood up

"No" Mrs Stephen said but Ella already left.Mr Stephen stood

"You never ask for her side of view,you only believe what you are told."

"So what dad? that am lieing? Stella asked but Mr Stephen only walked out of the dinner table.

Ella heard a knock on the door.Aunt Nel came in and saw her crying silently.

" She's always been like this.Supporting Stella even when she knows I am right... ever since we were kids" Ella said while crying.Aunt Nel hugged her

"Every thing will be okay" she kept on saying

"I hope so" Ella replied and then Aunt Nel put her to bed and Ella felt like a little kid again.Ella pretended to be asleep and when Aunt Nel left the room,she hurried quickly and bolted the door from behind.She couldn't sleep.She tossed on her bed.He'd lied to her.But what if it was actually Stella who was lying? She's surely capable of that.Ella admitted to herself that a greater part of her wanted to believe Ryan.She finally did anyway.And when she couldn't sleep,she out on the TV in her room. Her show wasn't on air so she tuned it to the news station.A group of politicians were having a conference meeting and a fat,wealthy looking mam and his wife were all smiles at the table.The woman was a redhead and when he they'd finished the meeting, they shook hands with some people while others came to shake them.Ella yawned and stood to turn off the TV when she heard screams of joy and happiness coming from the TV. She looked at it closely

She gasped "Ohmigod!" there a well built stature stood in a black and red decorated suit.His full hair was red,he was wearing a dark earring on one ear.His eyes were tiny and hazled,he was fair skinned,tall.A wekk cut shaven moustache on his upper lip,his teddy were quite long.He had a small lips which adorned his face.

Ella gasped again

"Ryan..a politician?" Ella shook her head and stared at it closely. "Ryan Harrison...a politician's son." she read aloud and immediately switched off the tv. Everything was getting clearer to her now.

"Ryan Harrison ...a politician's son" she repeated as she leaned on the pane of her window.

Now she knew the reason why all the girls were after him.No,some girls...she corrected.She'd definitely not go after him for money.

Those couples must be his parents. He lives here all by himself and lives a kind of clean,modest lifestyle. Ella nodded.She was joining the pieces together now. She realized how wrong she was to have thought of him that way.She'd prejudiced him.She'd always thought that anything politicians were always nasty and corrupt but here was Ryan trying to live among people that were not even up to him.

Ella flopped on the bed and grabbed her teddy bear.She suddenly forgot whatever had happened that evening. She was rid of every doubts she'd had about him.And when she finally slept...she dreamt about him.