In number thirteen, Pumpkin Spice Drive, lived a young vibrant, energetic yet charming woman. Everyone knew her simply as Ella but nobody knew her past. Yet, they loved her and her baking. Ella would wake early every morning and start her day with a cold shower followed by a steaming cup of coffee and a beautifully, hand rolled sativa joint to which she put her stereo on. With ZZ Top blasting Le Grange, Ella would start her working day. She loved routine, it kept her sane. The music kept her grounded. The cannabis kept her calm.
Ella had just slid the third tray of cookies into the oven when she heard a loud bang on her door. Before reaching the door she lowered her stereos volume.
"Hey Ella. How are you this fine morning?" asked Snow with her husband Prince Charming in tow. Ella smiled. She loved Snow and Prince, they were her regulars, her neighbours and her friends. Ella opened the door wider to let them in and wandered over to the kitchen island, filled the kettle and filled the mugs with coffee and sugar while the kettle boiled. Snow had been rambling on about the masquerade this weekend the whole week long. Ella couldn't wait for this weekend to be over already. Snow had thought it would be an awesome idea for Ella to hook up with someone at the masquerade. Ella thought of everyone that would be there. No! Thanks!
Red came over not long after Snow and Prince left to collect her bread and a special batch of brownies. Who was followed by Pinocchio and his girlfriend Jay. Some new girl who moved into town a while back. While they were chatting, Rapunzel walks in with Robin, Rumples and B.B Wolf. Hoping she had baked enough already, Ella started packaging everyone's orders. Ever since the town folk got together to vote for a leader, everything is running great. You sure can't take the hood out of Hood, can you? Ella mused as she packed his bag with his two loaves and a space cake. She was really impressed that so many of them enjoyed her cannabis infused baked goodies and it was thanks to Hood who had helped promote her home-based bakery. At this rate she would have to rent out a place and get at least two more pairs of hands helping her.
Ella had turned her stereos volume a little louder, poured herself a glass of wine and was smoking a joint while cleaning her oven, too distracted to hear her front door opening.
"Do you have room there for one more?" a deep voice came from behind her. Luckily Ella didn't scare so easily. She stood and turned to face Eric with a warm smile while handing the joint over to him. She hadn't seen Ariel and Prince Eric for about a year now. She wondered what he was doing here. They hadn't put an order in or anything. Ella could see Eric was not actually himself. He looked torn, tired and very unhappy.
"Ella, do you have a bed for me until I'm back on my feet?" Eric asks her. What the fuck? Eric must've seen her shock and explained that in short, Ariel became greedy and bitchy and took being Queen to heart, saying that Ariel dethroned him and he divorced her. Taking very little with him. Ella stood stunned. What happened to sweet Ariel to become like this? Ella wrapped her arms around Eric and pulled him over to the couch telling him to make himself comfortable as she went to go put the kettle on. Ella saw Eric's duffel on the floor next to the kitchen island as she turned to open the drawer for a teaspoon and instead went and carried Eric's duffel to the spare bedroom and laid it on the foot of the bed before leaving to carry on making their coffee.
Eric was still on the couch just starring a hole into her wall. This man did not deserve that. He was not afraid of getting his hands dirty, in more than five ways from Monday. Passionate. Kind. Fierce. Pain like this did not look good on this handsome man. Ella placed two steaming mugs of coffee down before heading back to the kitchen to fetch her tray before sitting next to Eric and grinding her new strain.
"You can bake, right?" Ella asked as she started packing the bowl of her bamboo peace pipe to which Eric shook his head. Ella convinced him to try it out tomorrow with her. Together they sat, chatted about anything and everything while smoking her peace pipe for a few hours before Ella excused herself to lock up the house before going to bed.