“It’s past noon,” Dave said. “We should go to the church and see if we can catch her in the act.” Ella agreed and drove them to the church in silence. When they arrived, Dave spoke, “You’re quiet today.” “I guess I’m just feeling a little awkward,” Ella admitted. “Don’t get shy on me,” Dave said. “I’ll say something stupid so you’ll slap me. Try me.” Ella rolled her eyes. She felt stupid for slapping Dave all those times. Of course, he totally deserved it. Surprisingly, the pastor’s wife left the church with Mr. Dhar in tow. Ella raised her eyebrows. She sank down in the seat, trying to avoid being seen by them. As far as she was aware, Mr. Dhar and the pastor’s wife had no idea who she was, and she wanted to keep it that way. Once again, the pastor’s wife entered the passenger seat of Mr. Dhar’s car, and they drove off together. Ella waited a few moments before pulling off after them. “Where do you think they’re going?” Dave asked Ella, interrupting her thoughts. “Please, I’m trying to concentrate,” Ella scolded him. Dave laughed. “You’re getting back to your old self now.” Ella’s hands tightened on the wheel. It required a lot of concentration to trail someone in a moving vehicle. You had to maintain a respectable distance from them without losing them. They couldn’t get suspicious, or the whole operation would be blown. You had to be stealthy, and quiet. Ella watched the car closely, making sure Mr. Dhar didn’t make any sudden moves that would indicate he was catching on to the fact he was being followed. Luckily, he didn’t, and Ella figured she was in the clear. Ella realized that Mr. Dhar was headed to the same park they had gone to a few weeks ago. She deliberately missed the exit, deciding she would circle back to put more distance between them. “You lost them,” Dave said. “No, I didn’t,” Ella said, annoyed. “I already know where they’re going.” Ella pulled into the parking lot at the opposite end of the park, far from the pastor’s wife and Mr. Dhar. She parked behind a tree and reached into the back seat for her binoculars. “What are they doing?” Dave asked. “You’re asking too many questions,” Ella hissed. Dave held up his hands in surrender. Ella looked at the couple through the binoculars. They were playing on the playground once again. Ella rolled her eyes at their fairy-tale, childish behavior. They were both married to entirely different people. “I don’t understand why they don’t just leave their spouses and get together already,” Ella mumbled. “They’ve been doing this for a long time.” They watched the couple for several minutes, with nothing particularly interesting happening. They were just playing on the playground in the cold, like a couple of children. They seemed to be having a great time. “What a couple of weirdos,” Ella mumbled. The couple started walking away from the playground, and Ella became concerned that her and Dave had been noticed. “Shit,” Ella breathed. “They didn’t see us, did they?” “Not sure,” Dave admitted. “It does look like they’re walking this way.” Ella tossed the binoculars in the back seat behind her. The couple kept walking slowly in their direction. “Dammit,” Ella hissed. “This is your fault! Your big head attracted their attention!” “How do you know it wasn’t your binoculars?” Dave questioned. “You’re being way more suspicious than me.” “Fuck! They’re going to catch us!” Ella panicked. The couple inched slowly closer to them. Ella was filled with anxiety. “I’ve never been caught before! I can’t get caught! Quick, what’s a valid reason we’d be here?” “Uh,” Dave said. “Bird watching?” “In the fucking winter?” Ella seethed. The couple was moving incredibly slowly. Ella’s heartbeat quickened. Maybe they hadn’t realized they were being watched? Why were they going so slow? “They’re getting closer,” Dave warned. “Fuck!” Ella screamed. “Kiss me!” Dave didn’t have to be told twice. He pushed Ella down in her seat as his lips crashed against hers, all awkwardness abandoned. Ella stopped breathing as Dave placed a hand behind her head so she wouldn’t smash into the driver’s side door. His other hand rested on her thigh. Ella was caught off-guard at first, but then she began to kiss him back. They kissed fervently, as if they had been waiting a long time for this. Ella felt her whole body heat up with excitement. They kissed passionately, Dave pressing her body into the seat as he lingered above her. Ella ran a hand through his hair and grabbed onto him, pushing him closer to her. She felt him smile as he obliged, raking his teeth against her bottom lip before biting it. Ella whimpered involuntarily. Dave bit her lip again, harder, causing Ella to gasp and open her mouth. Dave took the opportunity to slip his tongue into her mouth, tangling it with her own. Ella was lost in the moment, and kissed him with everything she had. She couldn’t help but feel as though she had been waiting for this moment, and it had finally arrived, and was better than anything she had ever dreamed of. Dave lifted her body slightly so it pressed against his, and she hooked her arms around him, kissing him hard, as though her life depended on it. Dave grabbed a fistful of her hair, pressing her face into his, as if he needed her to breathe. As suddenly as it started, it stopped. Dave was back to sitting upright in the passenger’s seat, casually looking out the windshield. “It appears they’ve gone on their way,” he informed her nonchalantly. Ella exhaled and sat up slowly. She had entirely forgotten why they were here in the first place. She was still breathing heavily, almost panting, but Dave seemed entirely unfazed. “I guess your plan worked,” Dave commented, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Ella’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Why did I tell him to do that? she thought to herself. Now he probably thinks I’m crazy! And I wasn’t nearly as good as him… Ella watched Dave for a moment before he turned to face her, and she looked away quickly. I just didn’t want to get caught… she told herself, but she knew that wasn’t entirely true. She shook her head and started the car. I just didn’t want to get caught, and it worked, she told herself again, willing it to be true, convincing herself that was her only motivation. Of course, he didn’t seem too upset about it… she glanced over at him in the rearview mirror, then quickly looked away again. She began driving out of the parking lot. Ella cleared her throat. “I guess we should go back to that woman’s house,” she said. “Sure,” Dave agreed. The rest of the workday passed by largely uneventfully, with Dave dozing off and Ella not doing much better. She was distracted by thoughts of the kiss they’d shared earlier. Well, kisses, she thought to herself, glancing over at Dave occasionally as he slept. Ella didn’t want Dave to know that that had been her first kiss. She had just turned 21 years old, which she realized was probably well beyond the age that most people have their first kiss. The opportunity had never arisen before. Anytime anyone had liked her in school, she had pushed them away after convincing herself that she was imagining it and that they were really too good for her, anyway. Dave had kissed her like it was nothing, as if he had had all the practice in the world, and their kiss had just been par for the course. He’s probably been with a lot of women, Ella thought bitterly. It probably didn’t mean much of anything to him. Still, she couldn’t help but feel butterflies in her stomach as she watched him doze. She lost track of time, lost in thought. She wasn’t used to feeling this way, and her emotions were a whirlwind. She had temporarily forgotten about how terribly unfair her life was, and became lost in the memory of their kiss, and how attached she had felt to him in that moment. She had pulled him as close to her as she could, wanting there to be no space whatsoever between them. She shook her head, hoping she hadn’t embarrassed herself too much. “Getting late,” Dave spoke, interrupting Ella’s thoughts. She looked at the clock, which revealed they should have left ten minutes ago. “You’re right,” Ella admitted. “I’ll take you to your car so you can get home.” Ella dropped Dave off at the office before going inside to get Lon so she could take him home. “You’re late,” Lon commented. “I know,” Ella agreed. “Sorry. Lost track of time.” Lon raised his eyebrows but said nothing, apparently too tired to engage in conversation. Still, Ella knew she’d be hearing from him tomorrow about her rendezvous with Dave. He’d want details, and she was going to be careful not to give him any. After dropping Lon off at his house, Ella drove back to the Tremaine house, which she had luckily already cleaned that morning and had leftovers for the family. She put the leftovers in the oven and headed upstairs to her room in the attic without speaking to anyone. Lucifer was taking a cat nap on her bed, his tail wagging mischievously, even in his sleep. Ella sat down on the bed and laid back, too tired to take a shower yet. She heard a knocking at her window and looked over, where she was surprised to see Dave perched precariously in a tree on the other side. Ella quickly hopped out of bed and raced to the window, opening it and allowing Dave to climb inside, looking like he was about to fall several yards to the ground below at any moment. “What are you doing?” Ella hissed quietly. “How did you even know where I live?” “I followed you,” Dave answered, a smug grin on his face. “I used all the skills you taught me, and you didn’t even notice me following you.” “Dave!” Ella quietly exclaimed, pushing at his chest with her palms. “You can’t just follow people and invite yourself inside!” “Of course I can,” Dave said, smirking slightly. “I can do whatever I want. I’m the prince.” Ella opened her mouth to speak, then shut it quickly. Her mind raced. “What?” she questioned quietly. “I’m amazed you haven’t realized it after all this time,” Dave continued, sitting down on Ella’s bed. Lucifer opened one eye, glaring at him in annoyance. “I live in the castle, my dad is the king, our faces are literally on magazines in grocery stores everywhere. I have a bunch of money for no reason, and I don’t like to be seen in public.” “I thought your dad was an oil tycoon,” Ella said quietly, dazed. She felt as though she might fall down. She sat down on the bed and pressed her head into her hands. Ella had to admit, it made sense. If anything, she was stupid for not realizing it sooner, or at least suspecting it. Instead, it had never even crossed her mind. “I’m Prince David,” Dave said. “And I thought it was probably time for you to know that. You know, since apparently it was too difficult for you to figure out.” Ella kicked him lightly. Dave laughed, his eyes lighting up as he looked down at Ella, amused. “You’re cute when you’re feisty,” he commented, ruffling her hair. Ella rolled her eyes, lifting her head as she heard a rock hit her window. “What’s that?” Dave asked, surprised. “Oh, shit,” Ella said, rising to her feet. “I’m so stupid. I totally forgot. I told my friend Jack we could hang out after work today since it’s my birthday.” “It’s your birthday? Why didn’t you say anything?” “I don’t really celebrate it,” Ella answered. Another rock hit the window. Dave rolled his eyes and stood up, walking towards the window. “What are you--” Ella began, but stopped once Dave opened the window and stuck his head out. “Hey, man,” Dave said calmly. Ella watched him, wide-eyed, her feet frozen in place on the floor. “We’re a little busy at the moment, but I’m sure you can talk to Ella another time.” With that, Dave closed the window unceremoniously. “Why’d you do that?!” Ella whisper-yelled. “He gets to hang out with you all the time,” Dave pointed out, sitting back down on the bed and stretching out so his head was on the pillow. “I live far away, and I’m busy all the time. He can hang out with you tomorrow.” “Yeah, but still--” “Ella,” Dave interrupted her, sounding tired. “Please?” Ella sighed, and hesitantly laid down next to Dave. He smiled at her. “So,” he began, “Why don’t you celebrate your birthday?” “It’s the same day my mom disappeared,” Ella admitted, closing her eyes tight. She hated this day, and all the memories that came with it. “I’m sorry,” Dave told her. “As I told you before, my mother died when I was young. Do you know what happened to your mom?” “No.” “Well, you’ve got to find out!” Ella rolled her eyes. “I obviously know that,” she said. “I’ve been trying to figure out what happened my entire life.” “Good. You’ll figure it out, you know. You’re too stubborn not to.” Ella kicked Dave again, and he chuckled. “Don’t get too feisty,” he warned her. “I’m trying to be good, and you’re making me hard.” Ella turned away from him, blushing. “You’re so dumb,” she murmured. “Do you live with your dad, then?” “No. He died years ago. I live with my aunt, who is also my stepmother.” “Your dad married your mom’s sister?” Ella sighed. “He was lonely, and she was there for him after my mom died. But then he died, and she became a witch. I hate her.” “Damn. You’re a pretty unlucky orphan.” “I am not an orphan. I’m a grown woman. I’m twenty-one today.” “Wow, so old. You’re still an orphan.” “How old are you?” “Twenty-four.” “Do you really think you should be talking?” “Do you really think you should be talking?” Dave mimicked her in a high-pitched voice. “I talk about whatever I want, as princes are known to do.” “Don’t pull the royalty card on me,” Ella said, a statement she never thought would leave her lips. “I don’t give a damn who you are. I’ll still smack you.” “I’m sure you will,” Dave said, sounding amused. “Now, why don’t you tell me everything you can about your mother, and maybe I can help you.”