The low hum of conversation and soft music filled Chloe’s luxurious entertaining room, accented by the warm amber lighting from the chandeliers above. On the pristine white sofa, Ellie Montgomery-Ward sat in a striking red dress that shimmered slightly every time she shifted. Her legs were crossed elegantly, one heel dangling lazily from her toe, the image of effortless confidence.
Bradly, on the other hand, looked like he was standing in front of a goddess.
“Oh, umm… hi Ellie. You look… breathtaking, amazing even,” Bradly stammered, his words tangling together as he stood in front of her, nervously tugging at the cuffs of his too-tight blazer.
Ellie turned her head slowly, arching a brow, then smiled, just enough to be disarming, not enough to mock. “Just breathe,” she said with a soft chuckle, reaching out a hand and gently tugging him down onto the sofa beside her. Her touch was light, teasing, but with intent.
Bradly sat like he’d just been invited into the lion’s den, and offered tea. His whole body was tense, from his stiff posture to the way his hands hovered awkwardly over his knees. He couldn’t remember if he was inhaling or exhaling.
Steph caught the scene and gave Ellie a knowing smirk before casually excusing herself to give them space.
Bradly glanced sideways at Ellie. Seeing her now, poised like royalty against the velvet backdrop of the Gracewood estate, he suddenly heard his friends’ warnings replay in his head. You’re out of your league, man. She’s going to laugh in your face.
And yet… here she was. Smiling. Inviting.
“I, um… I got you flowers,” he blurted. “But the security guard at the gatehouse took them. I didn’t think they were going to let me in. My name wasn’t on his list, but then Mallory came through and vouched for me.”
Ellie tilted her head, amused. “You brought me flowers?” she asked, the teasing in her tone softened by genuine surprise. “That’s… adorable. And very sweet. I’ll make sure to pick them up later. I’m sorry about the trouble at the gate. I’d told Tommy to expect you, but with everything going on tonight, he probably got flustered.”
Bradly shifted, his cheeks flushed. “No, no, it’s okay. I mean, I didn’t think you’d actually say yes to coming with me. I was kind of… joking when I asked. At first. And then you said ‘sure’ and I thought, oh no, I’m in trouble.”
Ellie laughed softly, the sound like wind chimes. “Well, I get a lot of rehearsed lines and cocky invitations. So when someone genuinely stumbles through a sentence just to ask me something kind? That stands out.”
He blinked. “So… you like that I’m awkward?”
“I like that you’re real, Bradly,” she said, her gaze softening as she leaned in a little closer. Her perfume was subtle, warm, something floral but grounded. “It’s… refreshing.”
Bradly swallowed. “I, uh, I thought maybe we could sing something? Karaoke? I’ve been practicing. Just in case.”
Ellie grinned. “You planned a duet?”
“If you don’t mind me butchering the high notes.”
She touched his arm lightly. “Lead the way, karaoke prince. Let’s make fools of ourselves together.”
Bradly stood up, a little less shaky now, and extended his hand. Ellie took it without hesitation.
For just a moment, as they walked together toward the Karoke room, he realized that maybe his friends had been wrong. Maybe out of his league didn’t mean unreachable.
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That’s cute. Authenticity towards someone that’s genuinely nice goes a long way.
I think it shows Ellie has a heart and makes me hope she will be able to share Jordan with Sara more because she is a fun aunt lol.
She is the fun aunt. She takes her aunt role very seriously.
I feel like thats true of most people regardless of age. No one likes being lead on or with someone who is fake.
I love these non-Jordan and Sara-centric posts focusing on the other characters and their relationships and development throughout the story.
I’m hoping Kayla or Steph is next.
I’d like to see Steph next, then Kayla.
Is that because you like Steph more and want to get to her quicker or because you like Kayla more and want her to be the high note this ends on?
I’m good either way.
I like Kayla more, so the latter.
agreed. Kayla is awesome. I’m Fairly Certain Kayla’s the fan favorite right now lol though I’m really interested to see Steph a bit more.
Thanks, Its a good one way to show other characters and give them a bit of limelight without doing full on side stories. Its working out pretty well so i will probably incorporate it into story like this in the future. The story of Smallara prime kind of will always have jordan and sara as prime characters but will feature more offshoots with the other people form time to time.
0) I like that we’re getting to see what Sara’s friends are doing at the party, not just Sara and Jordan. I’m hoping we see Kayla or Steph next.
1.1) “One heel dangling lazily from her toe, the image of effortless confidence.” It’s always cool when girls do that.
1.2) “Bradly, on the other hand, looked like he was standing in front of a goddess” oh yay, he’s back.
2.1) “Oh, umm… hi Ellie. You look… breathtaking, amazing even,” Ellie would have that effect on boys.
2.2) “Just breathe.” How can he breathe when your beauty is taking his breath? Think Ellie, think!
3) “You’re out of your league, man. She’s going to laugh in your face.” most girls would, I don’t blame them for thinking Ellie’s in that number.
4.1) “I, um… I got you flowers, But the security guard at the gatehouse took them. I didn’t think they were going to let me in.” Sweet gesture, probably not the event to bring flowers too, though.
4.2) “My name wasn’t on his list, but then Mallory came through and vouched for me.” Who is this, and what has she done with Mallory?
5) “Well, I get a lot of rehearsed lines and cocky invitations. So when someone genuinely stumbles through a sentence just to ask me something kind? That stands out.” that does make sense from her.
6) “Lead the way, karaoke prince. Let’s make fools of ourselves together.” “Little Prince” and “Karaoke Prince”: Are all the boys she likes princes of something?
7) “he realized that maybe his friends had been wrong. Maybe out of his league didn’t mean unreachable” not this time, but it does often mean that. His friends meant well
4.2) I know, Mallory as a person has been pretty cool recently. Guardian wise though she is still bottom tier
6) that is a fantastic observation
0) Trying to give everyone some love with the breakouts for the characters.
1) I included that for you. I thought you would enjoy that.
1.2) Yup, he is Ellie’s date for the night. I was curious if people would remember him and that plot thread.
2) She is pretty so its a understandable reaction to have your words taken from you when you are talking with her.
2.2) Yes, its much easier for her to say. The reality of it is much harder. Bradly is fighting for his life out here and she’s on a sunday stroll.
3) Ellie is one of the most popular girls and Bradly is far from that level. So his friends are understandably looking for him. That would not be a unexpected reaction from many girls.
4) I would agree flowers were probably not the wisest move but he was trying his best to make a good impression.
4.2) Well she knew he was Ellie’s date. ELlie is one of her closest friends. Why would she sabatoge Ellie? She does care about her friends. Now if Ellie wasn’t her friend she probably would have left him at the gate.
5) It does, its a very Ellie thing.
6)It is more coincidental. The line was originally Karaoke King but that seemed like a to much of a title for Bradly being he is lucky to be sharing the same air. So I lowered it to prince at the last minute.
I toyed with jester but that didn’t sound right and I didn’t know any other royal titles off hand other then generic ones like lord or duke.
7) They did mean well. THis would be the exception not the rule.
1) I did appreciate that.
1.2) I remembered, I was hoping he’s show up. Though if I remember correctly it wasn’t an official date.
2.1) Indeed, I remember girls like that when I was his age
2.2) Part of me thinks she’s enjoying his nerves a bit.
4.1) Hie heart was in the right place.
4.2) I could see Mal not helping Ellie date a boy she views as “beneath them”.
6) King to too much, and Jester would have read like mockery, other titles could have worked, like knave, count or baron, But I honestly would just think it’s funny if Ellie just had a long ass list of “her princes”.
6) that wasn’t the intention but it would be funny I do admit. It just might work into her thing
4.2) While I wouldn’t put it past her. I could also see mal thinking he is not worth the scheme. She could believe Ellie is just playing around and this wont amount to anything. So she is just letting it go. Lots of ways mal could look at this.
2.2) I mean shes not, not enjoying his nerves and being flustered. Ellie does have a jovial streak as depicted with Jordan so that is also likely.
1.2) The feel i was going for without saying it straight up is Ellie isn’t viewing this as an official date. But seeing how much effort the put into it and how much this means to him. Shes just kind of letting it be whatever. As at most its just one date.