"Ella, I have someone I like," Sally Jefferson deflected, smirking mischievously. "What about you? Do you like him?"
"Uh-huh!" Ella Lacey responded without hesitation.
In her heart, no matter what kind of flaws Arthur had, they couldn't obstruct her fondness for him.
She liked him; it was fated!
——
The next day, after breakfast, Louis Jefferson drove both of them to the school.
When they separated, Sally used the excuse of needing to practice in the art building and left first.
Ella and Louis remained, standing in the dawn light, casting two long shadows.
Adjusting his black-rimmed glasses, Louis spoke in a gentle manner, "Ella, focus on your classes at school. After school, wait for me to pick you up, okay?"
"Uh-huh. Goodbye, Louis." Ella obediently replied, waved goodbye to him, and headed for the lecture hall.
Once she reached her classroom on the triplex, she saw two huge red numbers chalked on the blackboard, remarkably noticeable: 60
