XVI

                                    

                                          
"Are you not going to introduce us?" My father asked as soon as Ella stepped through the door, like this was a massive ordeal or a gathering of my father's where every person in the room was just as significant as the rest. 
"Ella, this is my mother and father, mother and father this is Ella," I introduced them to each other.
"Ellanor," she corrected. I felt flustered, I should've known that. My father glanced at me and I couldn't tell if he was angry, disappointed or both. 
"It's lovely to meet you Ellanor," my mother's smooth voice covered my father's rough look. "Philip has told us so much about you"
But not your full first name because I didn't know that. Nor have I told them anything except that I met you at the ball and what you look like because, again, I know nothing about you.
                          
When it came to Dan I wanted to know everything about him from what made him smile to his favourite movie. With Ella I was happy knowing just her first name and maybe a few other things. I didn't have the same itch to learn about her life as I did when it came to Dans. 
                          
"How sweet," Ella blushed and glanced at me, I held a half smile on my face. I was worried she would see right through it but, if she did, she didn't let on. 
"Shall we eat?" I asked quickly. Mother and father lead the way and both Ella and I followed, she held out her hand and allowed me to take it if I wished - which I did because if I hadn't mother and father would have only interrogated me later. 
"So, Ellanor, what do you think of our Philip?" My mother asked as soon as we were sat. 
A servant brought our food in - only I thanked him. When he walked out of the room I caught a glimpse of Dan watching us but by the time another servant opened the door he had gone. I sighed and put some soup on my soup spoon.
"Well, he's really charming. You've raised an amazing son." Ella smiled sweetly and began to eat as my mother beamed. She had a way with words, she knew how to please people with a flush of vocab that I had not been able to make into the right words yet. I had no idea how to please them myself, I should've given up trying long ago. No matter how I spoke I could never quite twist them in the way they wanted. I looked into my food as I couldn't bare to be a part of the conversation. 
I felt someone kick my leg and looked up to see my father glaring at me in the "Philip stop being rude" kind of way. 
"When's the wedding then?" My father asked casually as he slurped his soup. 
"Father! I haven't even proposed," I groaned.
"What? You have such a lovely girl by your side why have you not-" 
"-Philip and I have not discussed such affairs as present," Ella cut in and I could see my father's anger diminish almost instantly.
"You both should consider shorting out these arrangements," my mother told us calmly.
"Agreed. Before Ellanor here goes off with one of the French princes," Father joked although he wasn't joking - he often masked the truth behind laughs when guests were around. 
"Rest assured, sir, that will not happen," Ella told him and I felt a pang of guilt hit my stomach.
I reached for my glass of water and downed it quickly to get rid of my hot flashes. Ella put a hand on my leg - not in a seductive way but more for comfort. She smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back in thanks. 
                          
I stayed silent for the rest of the night. Only allowing a few syllables to slip past my lips as mother and father talked about venues and white dresses and roses or lily's on the table tops and who should we invite? It was a lot of things I didn't want to think about because when I did think about it my partner wouldn't be in a white wedding dress but rather a tux and he had short brown hair and-
"Well it has been lovely but I must be going now," Ella's voice cut through my thoughts.
"It's been a pleasure," my father said and actually smiled. 
"Come back any time dear," my mother said.
"I'm glad you came Ellanor," I managed to get out.
I stood up and led her to the door like a gentleman, I kissed her hand like any prince would and promised we'd see each other again soon. Then she left. 
                          
"Where are you going?" My father questioned as I reached the main staircase. 
"I'm going to sleep, father. It's been a very long day and I'm tired."
Before he could protest and make me talk about Ella more, I rushed upstairs without another word. 
As soon as I reached my bed, I fell straight into it and buried my face in my pillow, trying to hide my tears. My body shook with tears. I hated the pictures flooding my head of Ella and I together. I loved Ella, she was so sweet and nice but I felt forced into a relationship that I did not want to be in. I hated how I had no control over my life. I hated how I could still remember Dan in my bed. I hated thinking of Ella in the same place Dan had once been. Different love, different warmth. Different is not always good.
"Phil?" I heard Dans voice flow around my mind. Then I felt his hand on my shoulder and realised he was in the room with me. 
                          
AN: ohhh where is Rach taking this plot you may ask, well just wait and see :p 
also I watched howls moving castle and I'm in love with it!!! The movie is amazing and my favourite character is calcifer because he's such a cute little fire demon 💖 
- Rach