Chapter 19

Ella

-Funeral Day-

Laying in bed, I can’t help but feel sad, my eyes now looking over towards my window, the sky gray giving it a gloomy kind of feel for today was the day of mom and dad’s funeral. For while I may have looked okay, deep inside of me I knew that I wasn’t, nor had I ever been okay since learning about their deaths, thankfully, Reece along with Dylan and Caleb had taken it upon themselves to arrange the whole funeral, allowing me the time and space needed to adjust.

For even though I had looked the part of being okay that day during our shopping trip at the mall and that day Kris had come over, deep down I knew that I wasn’t, and today it was finally showing. Sniffling, my mind moves to think back to when Kris had come over, for even though I was excited for her to be there, I was also scared to tell her exactly what had happened.

“Ella, is everything okay?” whispers a voice, an arm wrapping themselves around my waist from hearing me sniffle.

“No” I mumble, my body now rolling to face the person who had been laying beside me, my best friend since forever, Kris. Having offered to stay the night after checking in with her parents, Kris had become my rock and while I knew I had Caleb, Dylan and Reece, my heart had also wanted Kris for she was like a sister to me.

“Shhh, I know that it hurts but remember, you have three hot as fuck brothers to take care of you now, let them heal you” remarks Kris, having taken the news apparently well when I told her that the mansion had belonged to my three wonderful yet sexy as hell brothers. Even better when I told her that one who had greeted us at the front of the school entrance was my older brother Reece, for Caleb and Dylan were both inside the vehicle at the time.

“But it hurts, why did my parents have to die, why were they so special opposed to any other rich family out there” I cry, my heart aching to know the reason behind the murder.

“Sometimes… Sometimes things just happen for a reason, but just because there dead doesn’t mean there forgotten, your mother and your father both loved you and will always live on within your heart, that includes your brothers as well” replies Kris hoping to give her friend some comfort for while she had been shocked that day to find out the reason behind being called to the Principal's Office, she had not been prepared to know that someone else was actually after her as well.

Sighing, I move to nod weakly. “I know thanks” was all I could muster just as there’s a knock on my door, a voice calling out to me on the other side. “Ella? Sweetheart? Are you up? Breakfast’s just about ready and then we really need to get going, we have to be at the funeral home to greet guests” comes the voice of Dylan, having wanted to make sure that I was okay as I had slowly begun to withdraw from them as well.

“I’m awake, we’ll be down in a bit, let us shower and dress first” I say, calling out to him, knowing I was being completely unfair to them now.

“Okay Sweetheart, we’ll see you when you come down for breakfast” and then just as the voice had come the voice was gone, leaving both me and Kris alone once more.

“Okay you, up and atom, time to shower and get ourselves motivated” was all Kris says as she moves to climb out of the bed, taking the covers with her so that I wouldn’t have a choice in the matter as I was now forced to get up and shower.

“Okay, Okay, you win” I grumble, now dragging myself up and out of bed as well, my body now making its way over to my beautiful bathroom, the same one I had fallen in love with since my first day of being here.

-Dining Hall-

When making my way towards the dining hall with Kris, I couldn’t help but feel nervous for today I was wearing one of my black dresses, it wasn’t one of my fancier gowns but when we had gone shopping for normal everyday items among other things I had made a mental note to keep a lookout for something I could use for a funeral and here I was, now wearing a tea length gown that stopped just above the knee while hugging my body like a second skin, Kris in something similar but with more of a flare.

Each of us also wore a pair of plain black heels and while Kris had decided to wear her hair up I had decided on a half up, half down look while adding a couple of curls and some light makeup, only applying makeup to the lips and eyelids as I knew I would be crying and didn’t want mascara running down my face during the gathering.

Upon reaching the room, I can’t help but feel eyes as those within the room now move to watch us as Kris moves to take a seat next to Hayden and Grant while I on the other hand move to sit next to Reece, a chair having been carefully stationed between him and Dylan in which left no other place but for me to sit there.

“Good Morning Agapi, you look beautiful” whispers Reece, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention as I had not told Kris about my little kissing encounter with them that day at the mall, one I didn’t think I was ready to tell her if I was being honest.

“Good Morning” I say, my eyes noticing that each of my brothers as well as Grant and Hayden were all wearing all black suits, signaling that everyone was about to attend a funeral and that we were in mourning.

“Come let us eat, we’re needed at the funeral home in about an hour, the sooner we do this the sooner we can come home and we can take care of you properly” replies Dylan, his hand coming to rest along my leg, careful not to draw any unwanted attention as he did.

Nodding, I moved to try and eat, my stomach in knots at the mention of funeral homes as again I was not mentally prepared for what was about to happen once we arrived. For once finished does everyone move to stand up, maids now coming to clean off the table as we all move to head for the front entrance, Hayden, Grant and Kris moving to take one car while Reece, Caleb, Dylan and I move to take another, each agreeing to see one another once we got to the funeral home instead, the drive done in silence as I move to look out the window, Caleb resting his hand against my leg for moral support while Reece just drove, Dylan in the passenger seat as he did.

“It’ll be okay Princess, Promise” whispers Caleb as he gently squeezes my knee, hoping to comfort me as I nod, knowing they were right but too scared to admit to it properly when I still needed time to mourn them my own way.

-Funeral Home-

When reaching the funeral home, does Reece move to park the car, the parking lot slowly beginning to fill up as people from all over world including that of business partners all came to say their respects, my body numb as I moved to stand with my brothers as we each stood near the entrance, Reece, Dylan and Caleb each shaking hands and answering any all questions that were asked.

“My and who is this beautiful creature standing right there next to you?” asks a male voice drawing my attention to him as well as my brothers.

“She’s our woman, sorry she’s emotionally drained at the moment” answers Caleb his arm coming to wrap themselves around my shoulders as he moves to pull me closer, for apparently not many people knew that my parents had a daughter and those who did offered me heartfelt hugs while my brothers continued to handle the guests, my body now tingling at the feeling of being watched.

Silently searching, my eyes begin to scan all those within attendance until my eyes finally landing on those of from across the room, blue-gray eyes and ash blonde hair, standing nearly 6’4 with body lean and fit, tattoos peeking out from beneath his shirt had all but made me shiver, a sense of uneasiness washing over me as it did.

I don’t like him, I muse something about him just screaming at me to run, to run as far as I possibly can without looking back.

“Ella?” whispers a voice, drawing my attention over to Caleb, his eyes showing concern, “Everything okay?”

“Yea, why?” I ask my eyes now back on the stranger.

“Because it’s time for the service, I’ve been calling for you for 10 minutes as you just kinda spaced out” answers Caleb making me blink, not realizing it was now time for the actual service, people now moving to take their seats as Caleb moves to lead me towards the front, seating me between Dylan and him while Reece moved to speak in front of those who came.

“Greetings and Welcome…” was all that I chose to listen to as I moved to tune out all those around me instead.