"Hi, thanks for meeting me." "Well Steph wouldn't back down till I said yes, so I didn't have much of a choice." Ellen replied nonchalantly. She had had it with Henry blaming and punishing her unnecessarily without knowing the whole story. He in turn had a hard time getting Steph to convince Ellen to meet him at the ice cream shop. "Um, Naa told me everything I missed apparently. I'm sorry I blew things out of proportion; I was kind of jealous of Chris. Naa told me he likes you and I thought you were with him because it didn't make sense you knew them. But wow, why didn't you tell me you're the daughter of Dr. Aaron Wilson? Dad never told me he's found his family, or that his daughter is the girl I'm in love with." Henry stated matters of factly, expressing his disappointment. "You are in love with me?" Ellen asked, her heartbeat hitting the roof. "Yes Eleanora, I've found myself in a position I've not been in a long time. I admit I've liked and been with other girls, but there's something about you that makes it different. I actually mean it, and what's weirder is I don't want any other girl besides you, and the last time I felt this way was with Naa. I know you have good reasons to not believe me; in fact, I can't believe these words are coming from my lips, but they're straight from the heart I thought was dead to feelings. You bring out something in me Eleanora, and it makes me want to be the best person for you. I'm not telling you this because I want to date you, even though I do. I'm telling you because I want to be the one to tell you first, before I get more competitors, even though I probably don't stand a chance against a gentleman like Chris, and you already rejected me, before I even told you anything." Henry gave a long essay, taking her hand in his. Ellen was speechless as words refuse to form in her brain. Part of her thought Henry was being cliché and wanted to ask how many girls he's told this to. The other part believed he was being sincere. She avoided his gaze by looking anywhere else but him. The waiter brought them a bowl of ice cream and Ellen focused on that instead. She didn't realize the time he moved closer to her seat. She wanted to keep on being angry with him for insulting her two days ago, but she knew she was at fault for not telling him about her family herself. "Say something Eleanora, please." Henry urged, making her spill the cream all over her lips instead of it entering her mouth. "Um, why isn't anyone else coming here?" She muttered under her breath, but he heard it. "Because I rented the place. It's for the two of us till we leave." Henry answered. Ellen widened her eyes in shock, but remembered he has the means. "Does your father know my father?" She asked, remembering he said his father didn't tell him about her return to the Wilsons. "Yes, he does. They are all partners, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Clarke, and my dad. They've been for years now, although my breaking up with Naa, made them a bit estranged. I'll have to ask if he knows anything about it. Why didn't you tell me?" He answered and asked again. "I, uh, I didn't know how to tell you. I tried when we were still in school, but I couldn't. it was all very confusing and complicated. I planned on telling you before my birthday this week, but you know it now." Ellen explained. "Yeah, Naa told me after you left the mall that day." "Why do you keep on calling her that?" Ellen asked, almost annoyed. "I've been calling her that since we met. She calls me Kobby too, just like my dad." Henry propounded with a smile. "I see." That was all Ellen replied. "I know the Clarkes because our parents are best friends. Chris and I are close because he was the one with me, during my confusing moments of my father's disappearance, and return. He is my second male friend actually. There is nothing going on between us, we're just friends. You don't have to be jealous of him, but I don't appreciate you reacting that way." Ellen defended, making him smile. "It won't happen again, I promise." He said with his hand raised like a scout, and Ellen finally laughed. "Congratulations by the way. Being the only child of the Wilsons is a huge deal. You are literally my equal now." Henry teased and she blushed. They were in high spirits now after clearing the air between them, enjoying their ice cream. Ellen had managed to avoid the topic of love while she narrated what happened in her family to him. Henry on the other hand listened with rapt attention and genuine interest, pretending not to know the girl before him was avoiding speaking about his confession. They left the shop after another round of ice cream and a long session of detailed narration. It was dark and Steph wouldn't stop calling Henry to bring her back as she told Ellen's parents, they were going out together in the afternoon. Henry drove her to the junction where Steph was waiting for them. "At least you two risking my ass in trouble was worth it, judging from the good mood you are in. We have to go now; I hope he was well behaved?" Steph commented when they finally got there. "Yes ma'am, I was on my best behavior. Thanks a lot baby, I really appreciate it." Henry responded, giving her a tight hug. "Whatever. You better not be joking here; else I'll kill you myself. Hey, don't mind him calling me baby, he says I'm a child to him." Steph said when she saw Ellen's expression darken. "Oh, I have no problem. Let's go please, it's late." Ellen defended with a smile and went to sit after hugging Henry. The driver sped off when both girls settled in, waving at Henry.
