💛 the notepad 💛

                                    

                                          

Mrs Brooke has two hairs on the bottom of her chin.
                          
Ella always paid attention to the little things. She thought that if she should pay attention to the whiteboard in class, why not pay attention to everything. Learning algebra and the periodic table could only get you so far. But by paying attention to the little movements and actions people did, she could learn a lot about them, from them. And learning everything about everything would help her, one day, find out what happened to her mother.
                          
When Ella was nine, she was a pretty average, happy girl. She lived with her dad, her mum and her dog Coffee. Everyday, they would pick her up from school, walk home, play Monopoly and eat jelly babies. Everything was perfect. Ella was happy. Her dad and Coffee were happy. She thought her mum was happy. But one night, Ella's mum started to crack. Gradually, her warped opinion of herself took over her body, her thoughts. For a few weeks, everything seemed normal to Ella and the others. But one day, she disappeared. Poof. 
Ella's dad came to pick her up from school two hours late, tiredly running his fingers through his greasy hair. 
"Dad, where's Mum? And why were you late?" Ella queried, her small mouth in a pout.
"She's busy. Come on, let's go."
Ella knew something was wrong. She may have been happy and carefree, unexperienced with serious matters, but she sensed something was going on.
 When she got home, her mum wasn't there. Ella sat near the door, waiting, for three hours. Her mum did not return. Ella lost hope and retreated to the kitchen. Her dad was on the phone. 
"Marie, I'm really worried. Come home. Call me."
Ella looked up at him. His face was creased, eyebrows scrunched up in worry. She didn't understand the look on his face. In her mind, he had a pure, genuine smile permanently tattooed on his face. She had never seen him look this worried. Not when Coffee ate his favourite shoes. Not when he lost a fifty pound note. Not even when he forgot about an at home interview, and had to talk about how the company was struggling economically in his Daddy Pig dressing gown. 
"Is that Mum?" the little girl asked, anxiously studying the lines on her father's face. She counted eight in total. 
"No, honey, she won't pick up her phone. Look, I'm trying to find out what's going on. It's bedtime, go brush your teeth."
"But Dad, I can't go to sleep without a stor—"
"ELLA! For fuck's sake, this is not the time."
She had never heard him swear before. Frankly, she had never heard anyone swear before, and her parents had intended to keep it that way. But plans change. And everything was going to change, so that was a measly difference to her usual life. But it still hurt her. Like a little sting in her heart. Little did she know, her heart was going to be experiencing a whole lot more stings and ouches. Maybe even a slap, or a stab. 
 Her dad filed a missing person report. Guess what? Still no sign of her. Not a word.
                          
"Ella Blake, stop writing in that little notepad of yours," Mrs Brooke, the hairy-chinned English teacher scolded, pausing her furious squeaking on the whiteboard.
Ella jumped, her pen slipping all over her page. She sighed and rolled her dark eyes. 
"Sorry Miss."
Mrs Brooke continued with the lesson, and Ella ripped out the messed up page, and started a new one. 
                          
Mrs Brooke has two hairs on—
                          
"Ella Blake, what did I say? If I catch you doodling in that notepad again, which is not, may I remind you, your exercise book, you will be issued a 30 minute detention. Now, open your textbook and pay better attention to the lesson."
That was all the encouragement she needed. She had to get home to walk her dog. Besides, she wanted nothing more than to be the best at paying attention. And while working, she could pay attention to the movements of Mrs Brooke's chin hairs. Ah, she knew she would be a great detective one day.
                          
After maths, Ella waited outside Mia's class. They were in different sets; Mia was a mathematical genius, whereas Ella, well— not so much. 
                          
The door swung open and a flurry of teenagers poured out, Mia amongst them. 
"Ella!"
"Hey Mia! Can you queue with me? I need to get school dinners."
Mia shrugged, messy dyed hair swaying. "Sure."
Ella patted her on the shoulder. "Thanks, buddy. You're the best." 
She rested her hand on the same shoulder and a look of shock and worry brushed over her face.
"Mia, why are your bones poking out?"
Mia wriggled out of Ella's grip.
"What d'you mean?"
"Mia." Ella said firmly.
"Ella." Mia mocked her tone jokingly. "Honestly, I'm just naturally skinny, you know that. It's fine, Els."
Ella scuffed her shoe into the ground. "If you say so. I'm always here for you, ya know? If you want to talk—"
"Can we just go get food?" Mia interrupted. "I'm hungry."
Ella raised an eyebrow. "I'm not surprised you're hungry, judging by the fact I can see your whole fucking skeleton through your skin."
"Can you not." Mia muttered, hurt showing on her face.
"Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Let's just go eat."
They walked in silence into the cafeteria.