The Poor Soul

He Found Me

(Uncle Ed's POV)

That spoiled little b***h got everything in my brother's will. I have tried everything to over rule it. Nothing has worked, I guess the down side of my brother being in business and law, it left no loop hole. Even if she dies it all goes to his best friend before me. I would have to kill them both. At the age of twenty five she gets his company, Mead Inc, the mansion, vacation home in Paris and all the money he has saved up. I wanted his businesses and money and homes and wife, not his annoying little brat, of a daughter. Then she thinks she has the right to leave without my permission, I will kill her. I will ruin you little Ella, Daddy's not here to protect you anymore. Just wait.

(Justin's POV)

Who was that beautiful girl? A little to skinny for my liking but her eyes were captivating, the aqua blue marbles calling to me. Then those lushes thick and rosy lips she kept biting nervously. It's like she was calling to me. I need to know more about this girl. Is she shy? Why didn't she talk at all? I thought I saw a black and blue Mark on her neck but it was probably just because it was dark. My phone starts ringing while I am day dreaming about that beauty, Ella.

I answer my phone, "Hello dad."

"Son, did you get settled in? I'm so proud of you for becoming a lawyer. This is what you want to do right?" My dad asks me.

"Yes Dad I just don't understand why I can't take over your businesses though." I say.

My dad sighs, "Justin Ross, I told you it isn't my business, it's my best friends and when his child turns twenty five she will get it passed to her."

"Yea yea, I know dad. He was like a brother to you and you can't break a will. I got it. If you cared that much why didn't you take his child in?" I say annoyed with hearing the same thing over and over again.

"I couldn't do that, I tried but her Uncle wouldn't even let me see her. Son, I love you. Make me proud and have fun. Also what's bothering you, really?." Dad asks. He always knows when I'm troubled.

"Of course dad. I love you too and I'm sorry for my tone, I just met this girl and I can't get her off my mind." I say truthfully.

"Oh son, you and those girls, I thought you weren't going to play around at college?" dad asks, I could hear the disappointment in his voice.

"Dad, she's different, it's like I don't know. Maybe," I pause for a few seconds thinking how to phrase this and then whisper, "She's the one." But of course he heard me.

"Oh son, I can't wait to meet her. Get her and don't let her go." Dad says.

"Easier said than done dad, she wouldn't even talk to me, I don't know if she's shy or just really doesn't like me." I sigh out.

"Then start as her friend, son." Dad says, encouragingly.

"Your right dad, thanks. Good night."I say and hang up. I plop down on my bed and fall asleep with only Ella on my mind. I will become her friend and work myself into her heart. We could be soul mates just like my parents. Her and I just feel right.

(Ella's POV)

I wake up with the sun shining through our window, I look around and see Ariel still sleeping. We get a week to find our way around campus and set up everything we need. I know I have to go to the school store to get the books for my classes and a laptop. I also want to grab a sweater, like my father use to have, but I should wait alittle longer. I only have so much money. I look over at the time and see that it's 5am. Of course I would wake up like clock work. I get up quietly and go take a shower before other girls start getting around, I can't have anyone seeing these bruises all over me. After my shower, I pull on my white skinny jeans and a mint green off the shoulder long sleeve shirt with my black flats. Thank God the shirt is covering all my bruises and the injured shoulder. It's about eighty degrees outside today and I should be in shorts and a tank top, to keep cool but I don't want my bruises showing. I don't need the pity, or everyone to avoid me like the plague. I walk back to the room and it's already six thirty. Ariel stirs and sits up looking at me.

"Your an early riser. You look cute but aren't you going to be hot?" Ariel questions. I shake my head no and she just sighs. Maybe she wishes I would talk to her or she's already annoyed with me. I put my bathroom stuff away.

"Alright let me get dressed, then can I do your hair?" Ariel asks. I haven't had any one do my hair since I was little, my mom was the last one to pamper me. I nod my head shyly and Ariel chuckles and then squeals like a kid in a candy shop. She jumps off her bed and runs to get dressed, she comes back about fifteen minutes later with a pink frilly crop top and black jeans short shorts on. She's so pretty. She has her hair half up and half down with very little makeup on. She walks to me and pulls me down to sit on the vanity. She puts thin eyeliner on me and a light mint green eyes shadow with shiny gloss on my lips. Then she brushes my hair and clips half of it to the side with a black flower clip.

"Perfect. What are your plans today?" Ariel asks. I show her the map and point at the store.

"Oh me too. I need to get the books and the supply list and a new laptop, I broke mine. Then we can go check out where our classrooms are." She's says excitedly with a smile on her face, I nod in agreement. She pulls me up, I grab my hand bag and then she continues leading us out the door.

"Breakfast first, I'm starving. I am never get up this early. I like to sleep in. We should get snacks and drinks for our room too so we have some kind of food in case we don't want to go out." She rambles on about. I nod every once in a while in agreement while she talks the whole way to a coffee shop. We sit at a table and she orders us both a coffee and breakfast sandwich. I have never had coffee before. When our food comes I can't help the little moan that slips out while I sip the delicious drink called coffee.

She chuckles, "Good right? They have the best coffee and wait till you try the sandwich." True to her words the sandwich was mouth watering. When we are done she pays again before I can even get the money out. I will have to be faster next time. She can't be always paying. That's not a friendship, is it? I don't think so. Then again I have never had a friend before. As we walk out of the coffee shop, we run into non other than Ariel's brother and his two friends.

"Hey sis and Ella." Travis greets, with a smile.

"Where busy, we are going to check out our classes, go to the school store and hit a grocery store Travis. So shoo shoo." Ariel says. I cringe waiting for a beating that my Uncle says happens to every girl when they talk back.

But instead Travis just chuckles, "Your funny sis, We need to do those things too. Let's walk together."

Ariel rolls her eyes and mutters, "Whatever." But I catch the blush when she looks towards Aron. They would be so cute together. We all start walking to the building with the classrooms so we don't have to carry around bags from the store everywhere, so we choose to do this first.

"How old are you Ella? Is this your first year?" Justin asks. I just nod and I hear Ariel sigh.

"She sixteen and yes it is her first year. You two probably have classes together. I have five out of six with her." Ariel says.

"But your a business major sis and we three are lawyer majors." Travis says. They all kinda look puzzled. It's funny.

"She's a business and lawyer major. She's doing both at the same time." Ariel beams, like she's praising her child.

"Wow" Travis says.

"That's impressive." Aron says. "Are you two room mates, Ariel? Why doesn't she talk or answer any questions? We three paid to all share a room."

Justin nudges Aron in the side and he groans in pain, I cringe back and hide on the other side of Ariel away from the guys. Am I going to be beaten for talking and not talking here? I am starting to feel uncomfortable.

Ariel sighs dramatically, "Shut up i***t, yes we are room mates and it's not your business on why she doesn't want to talk to you guys. Maybe she doesn't like you guys." She turns to me. "Don't mind them, they all grew up together and guys are just idiots with no filters." I giggle noiseless and loop my arms with Ariel. I have never had anyone who stuck up for me before. " I always got your back." She whispers. I nod my head in appreciation.

"We heard that we are not idiots." Travis and Aron whine. Justin just stays silent staring at me the whole time. We went to all the class rooms together, which is twelve for me and six for each of them. Surprisingly I have five business classes with Ariel and one alone, then five lawyer classes with all three boys and one with only Justin. I guess I won't have to be alone other than one class, but Ariel is just one room away so we can still walk together. We all head off to the school store to get what we need. I find a light blue laptop, did I say aqua is my favorite color, because it is. A aqua Android phone, one note pad, pencils and the books for my classes. I pull out a thousand cash and pay for my stuff. I turn around to see them all looking at me in shock.

"Princess you shouldn't carry that much cash on you." Justin says. I start tearing up because I feel like I have screwed up again and the last time anyone called me princess was before my dad died. My Uncle told me I wasn't allowed to grieve them, they aren't worth it. He doesn't know what he's talking about, my parents were the most selfless amazing people on Earth.

Ariel comes up to me and wraps me in her arms, I stiffen a little but then relax, "Don't cry Ella, its okay. We will make sure we store your cash safely so that way you only carry a little at a time, okay?" She asks while glaring at Justin. I nod my head and give a small smile. She wipes my tears and starts pulling me out of the store.

"Let's go take this to our dorm room and then head to the grocery store."Ariel says while I nod and we start walking with her arm draped over my shoulder and the three boys tailing behind us like lost puppies.

(Justin's POV)

What the hell happen? What did I say wrong?

"What the hell Justin? Can't you see that we are trying to befriend her. Ariel likes her and she doesn't make many friends because they always Stab her in the back." Travis grits out, while Aron tenses near him. I swear he has a crush on Ariel.

"I don't know what I did, man." I sigh.

"Me niether, but don't do it again. I like her, I think she will be a great friend to Ariel." Travis says.

"I like her too." I defend myself.

"No, no, no. You are not making her one of your play things." Aron grits out. Of course they would think I would f**k her and dump her. They don't understand I think she's my other half. I notice every detail about her. Why does she flinch and cringe all the time? Why doesn't she talk? Does she talk to Ariel when they are alone? They have to have some what communicated. You can't have a friendship with no communication. Ugh why is she always stuck on my mind.

"I wouldn't do that." I whisper but they heard me. Then they pat me on the back.

"Alright man." Travis says and we continue trailing the girls like we are love sick puppies. We get to their dorm and drop their supplies off, we are about to leave before Ariel stops and starts talking to Ella.

"Why don't you leave your handbag under the bed. I can pay for our snacks and drinks, okay." Ariel says. Ella looks hesitant for a few minutes and then nods her head in defeat and puts her hand bag under her bed, walking out of her room and locking thier door.

"Aren't you hot?" I whisper in her ear. She jumps a mile and hides on the other side of Ariel, as far from me as possible. She shakes her head no and then turns away from me. Why does she react like that? She's sixteen, girls are usually throwing themselves at me. Why can't the one I want just want me back? Ugh this is gonna be a long day.

(Ella's POV)

I thought we were walking to the store but then Ariel stops at a pink Mercedes-Benz, it's a cool car.

"We are taking my car, you good?" She asks me. I haven't been in a car since my accident with my parents and I took anxiety medication before going on the bus to get here. I would rather take a plane to tell you the truth.

She must see the worry on my face because she grabs my hand and says, "It's okay, I'm a safe driver." I nod and the three boys get in the back, Ariel in the driver seat and I'm in the passenger seat. I buckle up and flinch when she starts the engine. She grabs my hand and squeezes it.

"I am scared to with you driving." Travis says jokingly, but that is all it takes to start my panic attack. I start hyper ventilating and pull my knees up to my chest with my head down.

"i***t" Ariel screams, "It's okay Ella, I promise I'll go slow. Nothing will happen." Someone touches my shoulder, the bad one and I flinch away. Ariel whispers sweet reassuring words in my ear and I calm down after ten minutes.

Ariel starts driving and says sternly, "One more peep out of you boys and I will leave you on the side of the road."

"Good job Travis." Aron whispers and Travis grumbles to himself.

"I'm sorry Ella." Travis says when we get out of the car at the grocery store. I nod and give him a small smile. He grins back, with one dimple showing on his right cheek. It's adorable.

After we get all the snacks, drinks and quick meals Ariel wants for our dorm room, we head to check out. While the items are being rung up, I spot my Uncle. What is he doing here? How did he find me? I start shaking.

Ariel whispers in my ear, "Do you have to go to the bathroom?" I nod my head and she points me to the direction of the girls bathroom. I push the door open and go hide in a stall and try to calm my nerves. He can't get me here, he didn't even see me. I am fine.

"I KNOW YOUR HERE ELLA." Uncle Ed's voice booms out in the bathroom. I shake more and feel the hot wet tears streaming down my face. He starts kicking in the stall doors and I know he's getting close. He gets to my stall and kicks it in, breaking the lock right off the door. He grabs a fist full of my hair and Yanks me out of the stall, in front of the sinks.

"YOU ARE A w***e, JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER. I WILL KILL YOU. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO LEAVE ME WITHOUT PERMISSION AND I WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE HELL. YOUR PATHETIC." He screams in my face. Right before I can think to defend or protect my face from him and slams my head on the bathroom sink, letting go of my hair, making me fall to the ground seeing black spots.

"I will make you and your friends lives hell, try me Ella. You have six months to return home before I come back and drag you home myself and it won't be pretty." Uncle Ed whispers in my ear and takes off. As I feel my conciseness slowly leaving me. I hear the door open and a gasp, "Oh my god, Ella are you okay?" Ariel says while panicking. "Your head is bleeding really bad, Ella. Stay awake and keep your eyes on me, okay? I'm right here for you." I look at her for a few minutes while she's talking on her phone and holding pressure to my forhead with paper towels, I can't make out anything she's saying. She hangs up the phone and looks back down at me, "Your okay Ella, I'm right here." She says with tears falling down her face and with that I feel my eyes roll in the back of my head, losing conciseness.