Love's Autograph (18 page)

After miraculously sleeping through the entire night, Ellie awakened more rested and feeling refreshed. She rolled over to find Maggie sitting on her own bed staring down at her. Ellie glanced to the spot next to her to find that Ria was gone.

“
So how does it feel?” Maggie asked.

“
What being stared at when I wake up?” Ellie groggily answered.

“
No, silly. Is that weird? You know—me staring at you until you wake up? I was told not to wake people just because I wanted something, so I have been patiently sitting here waiting for you. Do you normally snore?”

“
Oh wow, that sure is a lot of questions to ask so early. It’s early, right?” Ellie asked.

“
7:06 a.m.,” Ellie said. “Mom is making pancakes. Do you think if you have some food you would be able to concentrate better?”

“
Good possibility, and some coffee too,” Ellie said. Ellie stood and noticed her apparel. She forgot she was wearing Ria's clothes.

“
Mom is making her famous pancakes. I think she's making chocolate chip, blueberry, strawberry and plain. Are you ready to eat?”

“
I’m starving,” Ellie said.

“
It truly takes at least five days to starve,” Maggie said.

“
Yeah, I was exaggerating,” Ellie said.

The two of them exited Maggie's room. Maggie carried her guitar and Ellie patted down her hair.
“Let me go to the bathroom and I’ll be right there.”

“
Don't forget to wash your hands after. You have to wash them after every time. Mom makes sure of it,” Maggie said.

“
Check. I'll make sure.” Ellie exited the bathroom after cleaning up a bit and doing the obligatory washing of her hands. As she walked down the hallway toward the kitchen, she remembered falling asleep holding hands with Ria. She stopped, took a deep breath, and continued into the kitchen.

Ellie was greeted by the smell of pancakes and sausage, an eager Maggie sitting at the table, and a shy glance and smile from Ria.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” Ria greeted her.

“
Good morning,” Ellie said. “This is great! What a treat.”

“
Least I could do,” Ria said. “There is a batch ready to go on the counter. You guys help yourself. There is...”

“
Blueberry, strawberry, chocolate chip and plain,” Maggie finished her sentence. “Only can start with three sausages though. If you finish your pancakes, you might be able to get more.”

“
Maggie, Ellie’s a guest. She can have as many as she wants,” Ria corrected.

“
No fair. When does she stop being a guest?” Maggie protested.

“
Well, in my house growing up,” Ria started, “After about three times that a neighbor or friend came over, they weren’t considered a guest anymore. My father would say, 'you know where things are. Help yourself.' My house was the place for the neighborhood kids to hang out. I have no idea how my parents kept the cupboard full with all those friends coming over.”

Maggie leaned into Ellie,
“So, that means you can only have three sausages.”

“
I’ll keep it to three, don't worry,” Ellie whispered back. “It won't be easy though.”

“
I know. It is hard for me too,” Maggie said.

Ria joined them at the table and noticed that Maggie was intently watching Ellie. She seemed to be counting.

“Maggie, what in the world are you doing?” Ria asked.

“
I am counting how many bites and sips of coffee Ellie is taking,” Maggie answered Ria and then said to Ellie. “How many until you are full enough?”

“
Full enough for what?” Ria asked.

“
Until I'm awake and have enough energy to take an interrogation by Maggie,” Ellie said. “Let me think. To answer your questions, yes it's weird you staring at someone while they are sleeping. Yes, it's rude to wake someone up unless it's important, and what else did you want to know?”

“
I have a list,” Maggie said as she pulled out a notebook.

“
Of course you do,” Ria said as she bit a piece of sausage. Ellie looked at Ria. She had a sexy smirk on her face. Ria's teasing tone sent tingles through her body.

Ellie had
never seen this orange notebook. As Maggie opened the notebook she caught the title of it,
Ellie
.

“
So, are you excited? I would be,” Maggie asked.

“
I’m not following you,” Ellie answered.

“
You know, that you won. You know, last night?” Maggie asked. Ellie had completely forgotten about the awards ceremony, her Cinderella exit, and the award. When she was with Ria and Maggie the rest of the world faded away.

“I really won?” Ellie put down her fork and asked Maggie.

“Yes, Robert went up and accepted it. His speech was awful,” Maggie said. “I recorded it. We can watch it after breakfast.”

“
Oh, I set my TV to record it too. I can't believe this. This was one of my life’s goals!” Ellie looked at Ria whose face was wallpapered in confusion.

I knew there would be a time
when she’d find out I was famous. I imagined her walking down Main Street and seeing a poster of me, hearing my voice on the radio, or seeing me on television. I didn't anticipate her overhearing it in my conversation.

“
What are you guys talking about?” Ria asked as she looked back and forth between Ellie and Maggie.

“
Uh oh, that is Mom's mad face. She calls it her disappointed face, but I think it is a mad face and she does not want to admit it. Grandpa has a very bad temper, and Mom said it runs in our blood,” Maggie said.

“
Mad face, huh?” Ellie said as she bit into a sausage and wished she hadn’t promised to limit herself to three. “So, this is nothing to be mad about. It’s actually something you and we all should be happy about. I can't believe it, but I won an award last night. It was best single by a female artist.”

“
That’s great, but how does Maggie know about it and you don't? Why weren't you there to... you were here instead… that’s why you were so dressed up,” Ria rambled, trying to piece it all together.

“
I saw it on television, Mom. While we were waiting for Ellie. I recorded it,” Maggie said.

“
Why was it on television? Like a local channel? Who the hell are you Ellie?” Ria asked. “Excuse my swearing, Maggie.”

“
I’m me, just well-known. I'm a musician, doing gigs and loving hanging out with you guys,” Ellie answered. Ria's face still read confusion. “This is why I was dressed up. This is what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“
She's famous. I think she wanted to turn you into a groupie or something, Mom,” Maggie said. “I read about it on the internet. Sometimes when people are famous...”

There was the sound of keys at the door. All three of them looked at the door. Ellie looked to Ria whose face went from curiosity to
the shock of realizing Gwen was home. In walked Dr. Barbie. Ria kept her eyes on Ellie, and Maggie shoved two sausages into her mouth and ran to her bedroom.

“
Hi,” Gwen said.

“
Hello,” Ellie said as she waved and took a sip of her coffee. Gwen had shiny, mid-length hair. She resembled a supermodel. Gwen looked better on a normal day than Ellie did on her best day. She wore tight jeans and a black v-neck t-shirt. Her smile was pearly white and perfect.

“
Hi,” Ria said as she turned toward Gwen. “Back so early.”

“
Couldn't sleep and I wanted to talk,” Gwen said. “Hi, I'm Gwen.” Gwen said as she stretched her hand to Ellie. Ellie wiped her hand on her napkin and shook Gwen's hand.

“
Ellie,” Ellie answered. “I heard a lot about you. Nice to finally meet you.”

Gwen said,
“Ellie? You’re EJ Way!” Gwen turned and asked Ria, “Your sitter is EJ Way? This is Ellie?”

“
EJ Way?” Ria asked as she looked at Ellie and Ellie nodded. “It seems so.”

“
You failed to tell me this!” Gwen said.

“
She didn't know! You big meanie!” Maggie yelled from her room.

“
Maggie!” Ria yelled in the direction of Maggie's room.

“
I didn't know. Can we go talk in the other room?” Ria asked. The two walked into Ria's bedroom. Ellie shoved some pancakes in her mouth. Blueberry juice exploded into her mouth. She took the time to take a few more bites. She grabbed her suit from last night and got dressed. Ellie heard Ria and Gwen’s conversation in the other room.

Gwen asked,
“Where the hell is the bed? Did Maggie do this?”

“
It's in her room,” Ria said. “Don't change the subject!” Ria raised her voice.

Maggie's door opened and a queen sized bed slid across the hallway floor. As if the bed had a mind of its own
, it turned toward Ria's room. Maggie pushed low with all her eighty pounds and slammed the bed hard into Ria's door. The door swung open and with two more pushes the bed and Maggie were in the room.

“
Maggie!” Ria said. “That wasn’t necessary.”

“
Thought you would want it back, unless you and Ellie want to sleep in my room again tonight,” Maggie said. “I do not want you and
her
sleeping in there, though. No thank you.”

“
That's enough Maggie,” Ria said. “Thanks. I'll put it back on my bed. Please let Gwen and me talk.”

“
Okay, you are welcome,” Maggie said as she closed the door, and walked into the hallway smiling.

Ellie shook her head when she saw Maggie smiling at the trouble she had
just caused.
Maggie knows exactly how to cause more problems between Ria and Gwen.
She got a text saying that Jazzie was on her way. Ellie walked down the hall to Maggie's room.

“
Oh, so you two slept together?” Gwen asked. “First, you don't tell me Ellie is a famous rock star. Then you kick me out just so you can sleep with her?”

“
Wow, Gwen. Everything fits conveniently in that mind of yours just the way you want it. I had no idea she was a rock star, you chose to leave last night because you said it was too heavy. We were in there to make sure Maggie was safe.”

“
How could you not know who EJ is?” Gwen said. “I knew who she was the second I saw her. Her face is plastered all over town, on television, and you're a lesbian.”

“
What does being a lesbian have to do with it?” Ria asked.