*Ella*

"Ella"

I jerked, turning right around "Jack"

"Hey" Jack walked in through the entrance door. "I want to apologise for being busy lately, how are you?"

I nodded. If I said I was fine my voice box would shiver and he'd ask me once more 'What's wrong?' before I break down.

Jack frowned but I cleared my throat and continued beating the cake mix.

"Ella-"

"Can you chop up the strawberries?"

Jack sighed but removed his coat before grabbing the knife that was already set by the chopping board and strawberries.

"That's a lot of deserts" he said as he saw the chocolate cake, banana cake, butter cupcakes and brownies.

"Yeah"

"Party?"

I shook my head. "Just a distraction"

"By eating all of this?" Jack tried to have a laugh.

"I normally gift them to the homeless shelters"

"Oh, right" Jack nodded, "Makes sense"

I poured the cake mix into the tray and placed it inside the oven before attempting to make a mud cake.

Jack finished chopping the strawberries and walked around the bench towards me.
"Hey..." he grabbed my wrist. "What's up?"

I licked my bottom lip and shook my head "I heard Seal was planning on demoting me at work" I lied, moving away from him "Can you believe that? After everything I've done?"

I opened up the fridge and grabbed the vanilla ice-cream I spent all morning putting together.

"Why?"

"I don't know" I said, placing the tray furiously onto the bench before grabbing a scoop. "Ridiculous right?" I added, trying to scoop the frozen ice-cream before realising anyone with a brain would know it had to rest a little before attempting. "After everything I've done" I slammed the metal scoop against the frozen ice-cream several times before grabbing it and tossing it into the sink in anger.

"Ella" Jack whispered.

I panted, placing a hand on my waist as I ran the other through my hair. "After everything I've done" I continued my lie even though I was referring to Josh.

Jack took a few step towards me before grabbing my arm and gently pulling me towards him. He rested my head against his chest and hugged me softly yet together.

I gulped as a tear or two escaped and took a deep breath within his chest.

I wish I could open up and just tell him everything. What happened and how I feel...

"It's okay" he whispered, running his hand along the back of my head as the other rubbed my back. "It's fine, you don't have to tell me anything"

It wasn't. I was finally coming together and with a few words I shattered again.

I moved away from Jack and walked towards the outside pool. In my red plain shorts and red singlet pyjama set, I stood there awkwardly watching the peaceful clear water.

Jack's footsteps were close behind but I really didn't want to speak.

I haven't been to work for a few days and Seal was okay with that, still paying me for hours I'm not even working.
I haven't even left my penthouse for a while.
Maybe I needed to go out, get some actual fresh air.

I looked across the street to the apartments, running my eyes up to the top level penthouse and scanning it. A part of me was hoping Josh was there, a part of me was scared he was there.

"Jack" I turned around, noticing he was about to say something. "Do you want to come with me to the kids shelter?"

Jack took a deep breath "Sure, why not"

I walked passed him and back inside to get dressed and pack the deserts I've been distracting myself with all night and morning.

***

In simple black jeans, mustard ankle boots with mid-high heels, plain black long-sleeve shirt and a mustard coat and a simple cream and black scarf, Jack's reaction was "You look like a beautiful funeral attendant"

I rolled my eyes, leaving my hair out against my shoulders and handed him three bags of packed in sealed tight containers of deserts before grabbing a bag myself and locking my penthouse and making our way down.

"I'll drive" Jack said, winking before pointing at his new range rover by the exist.

"I'll drive" I smiled.

"Not the BMW" Jack mocked.

"Who said anything about my car?" I raised an eyebrow "I meant I'll drive..." I walked towards his car "That"

Jack laughed and shook his head before handing me his keys and placing the bags in the boot.

I got comfortable in the drivers seat as Jack sat beside me.

"Red and white?" I smiled weakly "Thank you"

Jack laughed and tightened his seat belt out of mockery "Maybe I'll gift you one when I know you deserve it"

I rolled my eyes and switched the car on before driving off.

Jack flicked through the touch screen radio and I would change the station from the wheel itself, frustrating him but having a laugh, he gave up eventually and forced himself to listen to Beyoncè.

Once we arrived at one of the many kids shelters, I let Jack park the car somewhere nearby as I carried the bags inside.

"Hey Mike" I smiled at the security guard by the door before greeting Lilly behind the counter.

"Oh good!" Lilly cheered "The kids have irritated all billions of cells within me"

I chuckled "Why?!" I sarcastically asked.

She rolled her eyes and buzzed me through the one and only door to a hundred kids.

Kids of all ages jumped up and ran towards me.

I held the bags up high as they pushed up against me. Finally being able to laugh after several hard days, my heart found ease within their lonely souls.

"Ella!" Katie the youngest within them walked towards me "Andy said you left us" she frowned, folding her arms.

"Left?!" my jaw dropped within an act "How could I leave my knights in shining armour and my beautiful princesses in this big lonely castle?" I pouted with a frown.

Katie smiled with a few missing teeth, one of many cute 7-year-olds here.

"Speaking of Andy," I looked around, still holding the bags "Where's is he?"

"He's still looking for work. Lilly said new comers are taking over, we're getting kicked out this friday"

"What?" I frowned, listening to one of the kids speak.

"You know how the homeless shelters work now. It's not a permanent home, every fortnight new ones come in and the old ones get out"

"Yeah" another kid said "Some of the kids already left to join the fostering business to find a foster family"

"I thought you guys didn't want to be foster kids?"

"We don't"
I turned around to see 17-year-old Andy by the door, the eldest of them all.

"I'm working on it" I nodded "I'm trying to make all kids shelters permanent"

"Too late" Andy dryly said, walking past me towards his bed by the end of the hall.

"Who wants desert?" I smiled weakly, watching Andy lay down and flick a ball around.

All the kids cheered and laughed as I placed the bags on one of the tables and had them pick whatever they wanted just make sure everyone got something.

I left the kids enjoying their deserts and walked over towards Andy with my hands in my coat pockets, I stood beside him.
"Andy"

"What" he ignored my eyes as he flicked the ball in his hands.

"What's wrong?"

Andy chuckled and sat up. "I don't know about you but this is all I have" he pointed at the kids all gathered and eating. "That's my family, Ella"

"I know Andy-"

"You don't. You know thousands of other kids out there, who knows, we could be your least favourites"

"No" I stood by him "I treat you all equally"

"Who cares" Andy shrugged "It doesn't matter anyways, we're leaving soon" he laid back down.

"Where are you guys going?"

"To find another shelter for two weeks and continuously live this way until one of us fall rich just like you" he mockingly listed.

Even though it hurt my feelings I ignored his comment and took a deep breath.
"I'll figure something out"

"Yeah, like everyone else says before forgetting us when 2 weeks is up"

"I won't"

"Whatever"

Jack walked towards me with a massive smile and stood beside me "They're so excited to try them all" he laughed.

I smiled.

Jack frowned, noticing my mood return again.

"Excuse me a second" I walked passed Jack and left the shelter.

These kids we're all I had left for me in this dark world, along with the other kids shelters. Hundreds of them were about to be kicked out within days and I couldn't do anything about that.

I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone. Unlocking it, I went through my contacts and my first option was to talk to Seal about this and consider a serious meeting but I found myself calling Josh.

The line connected but silence.

"Josh" I released my held breath.

"Yeah" he answered.

"I..." I took a deep breath "Can I speak to you...business related?"

Josh's deep breathing was heard clearly, he was tense even through the phone "I had all the kids kicked out by friday"

"What?" I frowned "What?"

"All the kids shelters are being emptied"

"And hundreds of kids are to be thrown onto the streets?!" I groaned. "That recent rule of '2 weeks' for all the kids was you?"

Josh cleared his throat "Yeah. I removed the permanent stay"

I chuckled in anger "Your way of revenge is by hurting innocents" I shook my head as if he could see "Who was I kidding, it's Josh...good at nothing but hurting everyone" I shut the phone.

I gasped in anger before putting my phone away and turning to enter the shelter.

Jack stood by the door and licked his bottom lip.

I gulped and took a few steps before feeling a little dizzy and sick.

"Ella" Jack grabbed my arm, incase I fell.

"I'm fine" I rubbed the side of my head. "I'm fine" I felt a load of vomit clog in my stomach.
"I'm fine"

______________________________

Wanted to keep Ella's kind side to her through the pain and problems...keeping a little of her past puzzle with her...
Josh's way of revenge sucks right?....??????

Must be sick from all the crying and deserts 😏

(double update, update coming within an hour!)

Mia x