Ella

" wake up, sleepyhead, all you know how to do is sleep " my mom said tapping me angrily. I groaned

" go wash the dishes " she instructed

" but mom, we have a maid " i replied sleepily.

" i must not meet you here when i come back " she said and with that walked out.

I carried my legs sluggishly to the bathroom . I took my bath brushed my teeth and walked out. I applied my body lotion and wore my clothes. I headed downstairs, Mia my little sister was having breakfast, she looked at me and frowned, i ignored her and walked to the kitchen. I had already washed all the plates when Mia walked in and dropped her plate in the basin. She turned to leave

" come wash the plate " i said to her

She turned

" i don't want to " she said rolling her eyes at me.

" are you nuts " i half yelled

" well do your worst " she sneered

" I'm not going to repeat my words Mia, because I'm not your maid " i replied .

" I'm not gonna wash it and that's final " she replied

I raised my hands about to hit her when my mom walked into the kitchen.

" what were you trying to do " she asked me.

" i was about to slap Mia " i sneered

" and you still have the guts to say it huh?, how many times do i have to tell you not to try to lay your filthy hands on Mia " she yelled. A tear escaped my eyes. She turned to Mia

" go to school dear " she said

Mia looked at me and smirked before leaving.

" mum, what... " i started but i got interrupted by her.

" you are grounded " she said

" but mom, i have test today " i replied

" i don't care, but you are grounded " she replied and walked away. I walked to my room and shut the door.

"Oh God, why, why do i have to go through this all the time, why do i have to be the hated one, i can't do this anymore, I'm tired " i said crying

I thought of running away but the idea, just frightens me the more .

I can't miss this test, what do i do.

I walked to my closet and took a black hoodie, i wore it and carried my bag." I'm going for this test and nothing is gonna stop me " i said to myself as i walked to the window. I pushed it open ,I climbed out and rested on the branch of the tree close to my window. I reached out to the window and closed it a little bit . I climbed down from the tree and looked around cautiously to make sure no one was there , when I was sure none was there I raced to my bicycle, wore my helmet and rode straight to school. I peddled as fast as i could and got to school at the nick of time. I immediately ran to my class and took my seat.

" hey, you were late " Chelsea my best friend asked as I took my seat.

"The usual" I simply said.

Chelsea is my best friend, she's always there for me , she's everything to me . when I told her *the usual * she already understood what I meant. It was no secret how my parents treated me. We started the test and ended it sooner than I expected. After the test Chelsea walked over to me

" girl ,what happened this time ?" She asked as she sat on my table

" my mom grounded me " I sighed

"Why?, doesn't she know you have test today " she replied surprised

" I seriously don't know ,but I need to go now ,she must not find out I sneaked out " I replied as I carried my bag.

" okay " Chelsea replied as we walked out of the class together

" oh no " I muttered as I saw mia ,I ducked quickly before she saw me and hid .

" where's Ella " I heard mia say as she approached Chelsea

" don't ask me silly I don't live with you " Chelsea sneered

" oh ,I thought she sneaked out after being grounded because of me " mia mocked as she and her friends laughed.

" ha ha ,funny " Chelsea sneered and they walked away .

When I was sure mia had gone I came out .

" Thank goodness she didn't see me if not I would have been a dead meat " I sighed as we walked to the bicycle lot.

" okay ,I'll come to your house after school " Chelsea said as I put on my helmet.

" okay ,thank you " I forced a smile as I rode away faster than I did when I was coming.

I got home and parked my bicycle carefully, I walked cautiously to my window ,climbed the tree , opened the window before jumping in.

I shut it tight when I got in and flung myself on my bed. I sighed in relief, thank goodness I wasn't caught ,because I don't know what I would go throw if I was caught. I took off the hoodie and placed it in my closet. I took my favorite novel ,why!, actually that was the title ,it was like the novel was talking about me ,just that the girl was married off to a total stranger.

I lay on my bed and flipped through the pages of the novel to where I stopped reading. Suddenly the door opened

" mom" I whispered surprised

" did you go anywhere?" she asked

Oh my!!

" no I was just in my room ....on my bed here " I managed to reply

" someone told me he saw you " she said

"Me ? ,me? No , I have been here the whole time " I replied

" Really ? ,really Ella ?" My mom asked doubtingly making me to shiver in fright.......