CHAPTER TWO

The sound coming from the car's radio kept Ella awake the whole ride. They left their previous home hours ago after the agent settled all the necessary papers. Ella's mother applied to the vet clinic in their new town and was accepted. The place was called Blue Moon. It was small, but it had all their needs.

"Are we there yet?” Ella asked while watching the trees dance with the wind.

"We're almost there,” Elisa answered with a smile. She gripped the steering wheel tight and turned left, entering yet another beautiful forest. Ella sighed and closed her eyes, trying to get an ounce of sleep. After what happened yesterday, she had no energy left.

"I think we are already here,” her mother said while glancing outside. She drove slowly on the cemented road.

"Don't you think this town is weird?” Ella asked. Elisa parked the car outside the house she had bought with what was left with her money.

"Why would you think that?” Elisa asked her daughter.

“Blue Moon. Who would name a town that? It's quite an unusual name,” Ella said and slammed the car door. Her mother got out of the car and peeked at her.

"I don't know, but the pay is good here,” Elisa said and winked at her daughter. "Now, go get your luggage. We have so much to do,” she added. Ella nodded her head and opened the trunk while Elisa searched for the key to their new house. Ella picked up her brown luggage. It created a soft thud when she put it down on the ground.

"Ah! I finally got it,” her mother beamed and raised the key. Ella sighed and shook her head. Elisa put the key in the keyhole as gently as she could. As she slowly opened the door, it squeaked noisily.

"I think it needs repair, don't you think?” Elisa said and turned to her daughter. Ella shrugged her shoulders and examined it. Indeed, it needed repair. The door was kind of old, so were its hinges, but it was sturdy. Elisa entered the house and looked around. It was a good two-story house with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a complete set of furniture, and a cozy living room.

"It needs repainting,” Elisa mumbled under her breath. Ella followed her mother and dragged her luggage with her.

"So, where is my room?” Ella asked.

"Upstairs. The bedroom on the right,” she replied. Ella nodded her head and ascended the stairs with her luggage. She stopped in front of her new room and inhaled deeply. Ella turned the knob and pushed the door slowly. The room's walls were painted blue, but they were faded because the house has been unoccupied for some time, and there was a queen-sized bed in the center. Ella dropped her luggage and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Mom! When will my other things arrive?” she shouted. Elisa, who was busy cleaning the cobwebs downstairs, put her hands on her waist.

"Probably tomorrow!” she shouted back. And for the nth time, Ella sighed again. She laid on the bed for a minute, then stood up and grabbed her luggage. She started cleaning the drawer where she would put her clothes and started unpacking. After that, she stood up and went to the bathroom, bringing her necessities with her.

“It's already evening?” she whispered when she saw through the window that the sun had already gone down. It was past seven in the evening. Ella shivered as the cold wind touched her skin when she opened the window. She was lost in her own thoughts as she looked at the beautiful forest in front of her.

"Ella!” her mother called. That snapped her out of it. She fixed her clothes and closed the window. "Come down. We have visitors!” Elisa shouted once more. Ella couldn't help but frown as she didn't know who would visit them at this hour. Ella went down the stairs and saw her mother talking to a man and a woman.

"Oh, she's here!” her mother said. Ella went to her side and politely smiled at their guests. "I would like you to meet my daughter. Her name is Ella,” Elisa said.

"Uh…hi,” Ella muttered.

"Hello, Ella. I'm Ronaldo, and this is my wife, Annie. Welcome to the small town of Blue Moon Pack,” he said. Ella's forehead creased.

"Pack? What does that even mean?” she thought.

"Thank goodness, I already prepared food!” Elisa said. "Come and let's eat,” she added and smiled brightly at the couple. It was a good opportunity to talk to these people since they don't know about the town.

"Don't bother, Elisa. We are just here to welcome you,” Annie said and smiled at her.

"No, I insist!” Elisa said. Ella wanted to groan at how pushy her mother could be, but that would be not polite for Ronaldo and his wife. The couple looked into each other's eyes as if they were talking.

"Then, we will take your offer. Thank you, Elisa,” Ronaldo said. They followed Elisa, who was blabbering.

"Where is Gwen?” Annie asked her husband, and Ella overheard.

"I don't know, but I called her already. She told me she was coming here,” Ronaldo replied. The three of them sat in the chairs while Elisa prepared dinner.

"Who is Gwen? I'm sorry, I overheard you talk about her,” Ella curiously asked as she fumbled with the utensils.

"She's our daughter. Her real name is Gwyneth,” Ronaldo answered her question gently. Ella nodded her head and remained silent while waiting for the food to be served. A sudden knock on the door interrupted them.

“It's probably, Gwen. I'll go and get her,” Annie said.

"No, stay here, Annie. Ella, you should go,” Elisa said. Ella stood up and went to the door. Elisa purposely sent her daughter because she remembered what Annie said earlier. Gwen was the same age as Ella, which led Elisa to think that they could get along.

"Hi, I'm Gwyneth,” the girl said when Ella opened the front door.

"Yeah, your father said so,” Ella said nonchalantly.

"So, what's yours?” Gwen asked while playing with her fingers.

"Ella,” she said and walked away. Gwyneth hurriedly followed Ella to the kitchen.

"My! Are you Gwyneth? You are beautiful just like your mother here,” Elisa said. Gwen blushed and sat in the vacant chair while Ella went back to her seat. She resumed eating while listening to them talk.

"Thank you,” Gwen said shyly.

"Gwen, this is Elisa and her daughter, Ella. They are the ones who will live here from now on,” Annie said. Gwen politely bowed her head and started eating her food.

"Gwen, can I ask you a favor?” Elisa said. "Can you accompany Ella tomorrow to your school?” she added. Ella almost choked on her own food. She secretly rolled her eyes. Ella was capable enough on her own. She could handle herself well and didn't need a babysitter, but her mother still insisted.

"I would love to!” Gwen beamed. She was ecstatic to have a new friend aside from the pack members.

"Then, it is settled. Thank you, Gwen!” Elisa beamed. Ella excused herself to the bathroom. She didn't want a new friend, but her mother thought she needed it. Her trusted friend betrayed her. She was okay all alone. She didn't need anyone, not Ashton, not Jasmine, and definitely not someone in this town.