The Poor Soul

Long Day

(Jake's POV)

We are all sitting together, eating dinner. After Ella hugged both of us she sat back down next to me, cuddling into my side, not saying another word for the rest of the meal. How is this possible? The girl my son starts to fall for after so long is the same girl he couldn't get his mind off of for a major part of his life. My best friend would be cracking up over this coincidence, he always said his little princess would end up with the greatest prince out there. Always looking at my boy when saying it, like he knew what the future held. I also know he must be crying down after seeing everything his poor little daughter has gone through, something no child should have to ever go through. I barely know what she has been through but I can tell from the way she acts it couldn't be good. She's definitely alot like her father. Smart beyond her years, braver than anyone I have ever known, a fighter for all that is right and she looks almost like his twin, except a girl version. Like she always has, except for her little button like nose that is the same as her mothers. She has her fathers platinum blonde hair, she has his aqua blue eyes that seem to be full of sadness but also is as if she is able to look down deep into your soul, full bright lips and sun kissed skin tone. How is she almost his exact replica?

"So I heard you are doing two different majors?" I ask towards Ella, trying to get her to talk. She looks up at me with those aqua blue eyes, oh Jed, if only you could see her now. She is so much your replica its almost scary. Why is she not answering me, though?

"Really? Two majors? Thats impressive. Is this true?" Mr. Young asks with interest, always the productive one he is. I bet he wishes one of his kids were doing two majors at once, I mean who wouldn't though. The determinationto to be able to do that is incredible. To bad he doesn't understand Jed, her father had a photographic memory, a remarkable range of knowledge and if she really is doing two majors I assume she must have the same. Ella nods slightly beside me and then pulls out a piece of paper and hands it to Ariel. What is this?

"She doesn't really talk, honestly what happen today was the most she has ever talked around any of us. This is her schedule daddy and she's only sixteen years old. It's amazing right?" Ariel exclaims, talking faster than anyone can listen. Ella smiles at her friend. Well at least she made a friend. Mr. and Mrs. Young look at her schedule, they look impressed. Then I take a look and my jaw drops. I really thought it was one major, one minor. Thinking they just mixed up what she was doing. Even her father never did this. Lawyer and business? Interesting.

"Wow Young lady that is very impressive. Did your parents pay your way through? Are you sure you can complete two at once? Don't want you wasting your parents money now, do we?" Mrs. Young asks, looking at her as if she didn't earn her way here. They get she's sixteen right and that you don't normally graduate high school till eighteen? Then just to bring up someone's parents as if that's a normal thing to do. I wonder if she's still affected because of their death, I'm sure she is.

Ella hands her friend another paper and looks down sadly, it must have upset her for them to bring up her parents. I rub her shoulder and she jumps in fright. When she realizes it is just me she relaxes back on me. What the hell did her Uncle do to her? No body should ever be this jumpy, I can't believe I couldn't protect her.

"This is unbelievable, you are one talented girl." Mr. Young says impressed, what did he just see? He places the paper down and I pick it up. A full eight year scholarship? 4.0 GPA all through out school? An SAT score of 1600, a perfect score? My eyes widen in shock. She is so much like her father but at the same time so much better. This should be an impossible accomplishment, but nothing is impossible for a Mead. Jed would be so proud of his little girl.

"She is also an amazing singer, but she never really let's anyone even hear her talk. We were all lucky enough to hear her sing a song on the way to the restaurant." Aron says excitedly and in awe, Jed and Jocelyn definitely made the perfect daughter even if they didn't get to raise her.

The rest of her friends nod in agreement and make little noises in amazement. So she has the voice of her mother, well at least that's one more thing like her mother. I wonder if she knows that everything was left to her in her parents will? I wonder if she knows she is rich and could kick her uncle out of her family home? Does she know she has all the power not her uncle? She leans alittle closer to me and I see a huge bruise on her shoulder, What the hell is that? Who is hurting her?

"Where did that come from Ella?" I ask as I pull her sweater down slightly. She snatches it up quickly, covering the bruise and looking at me in a hurt and worried expression.

Mrs. Young covers her mouth and gasps in shock. "Are you alright dear?" Ella nods with a fake small smile on her face. She puts a brave face on and just faces horrific acts because she thinks its right or maybe she thinks she deserves it.

"Did he do that to you?" I whisper to her. She nods once and then turns away from me. Ignoring the fact she is hurt. I am going to kill him. I will not allow for him to get away with this.

"I think its enough for tonight." Ariel says, standing up and dragging Ella with her. She is protecting her, why? They haven't even been friends for a week and Ariel has decided to become her protector. Amazing.

"I agree. Sorry mom and dad, but we had a long day and did alot of things. I think its time for us to head back to the dorms." Travis says as Aron and Justin nod in agreement, They have all taken a protective role over her. As if she's their little sister and they can't allow her to get anymore hurt. Even if that means protecting her from their own parents, they have decided to put her before anyone else. Interesting.

Mr. and Mrs. Young nod their head in acceptance, reluctantly. They don't seem to want them to go and they seem to want to pry into Ella's life more but their kids aren't budging. They say their good byes as I say my good byes to Justin. I turn towards Ella and give her a light and slow hug, trying not to scare her to much. She gives me a tight smile and nod.

"I am going to be here all month, Ella. You have any problems or want to talk get a hold of me." I whisper in Ella's ear as I slip my cell number into her hand. She nods with a little brighter smile this time and then starts to walk away with Ariel.

"Is she Meads daughter?" Mr. Young asks me curiously after all the kids have left the restaurant.

"Yeah she is, amazing right?" I say, while spacing out and thinking about her and her parents.

"She is almost a spitting girl version of her father, she seems extremely gittery though. Like she was abused. Very smart and talented girl though. Looks like you may be as tired as the kids, I will let you go for now Jake. Let's get together later." Mr. Young says.

"Of course we will have to get together before you and your wife head to Mulan at the end of this week. Have a good night you two." I say to them. I need to get back to my hotel and think. How long did he suspect she was Meads daughter? Did he know before bringing up her parents, if so thats one horrible thing to do. Do I tell her now about the will and her parents or wait till her degrees are done?

(Ella's POV)

The dinner was great at first because I finally got to see Jake, my dads best friend and an uncle to me. Now I know for sure that he doesn't actually hate me or blame me for my parents death like my uncle always told me. I am not exactly sure why I ever listened to him when I know I could have went back through my memories to figure out the truth. I guess it was the desperation of feeling like if someone cared for you that much, they wouldn't have left you in a situation I was in. Abuse. Everyone acted like it wasn't happening until I went to college.

"Are you okay Ella? I didn't honestly think my parents were going to question you like that and then to just bring up your parents like that's just the normal, maybe it is. Oh no, there I go with my big mouth bringing them up to. I'm so sorry Ella. Its cool you knew Jake and Justin before that and I love the embarrassing nick name you had for him." Ariel rambles off like she always does and then starts laughing about Justin's nick name from when I was two. Poor Justin is blushing in embarrassment in the front of the truck, facing towards the window to hid his face.

Ariel thought it was best that I sat in the back with her and Aron again, she feels she needs to comfort me after her parents brought up my parents. It obviously did upset me but its not like they knew my parents were dead, so I can't really be upset with them.

"I just want to go to sleep." I whisper into Ariel's ear and she looks at me with sadness and understanding.

"Of course." Ariel says back to me reassuringly, then turns to her brother. "Can you take us back to the dorms? We just want to sleep." I look at her in shock. She doesn't have to sleep just because I want to. She sees me staring at her and she gives me a reassuring smile and lightly squeezes my hand. Is this what it means to have a friend?

"Of course sis." Travis says, as he looks at me with concern. He's always so attentive and sweet.

They drop us back at the dorm room and I run into our room, climbing into my bed under the covers as Ariel turns off the light.