Chapter 25

Ella

After finishing my shopping I all but move to leave, having been secretly praying to the gods above that no one had overheard what happened back in the fitting room between Kris and I and while I had yet to find Kris after the unwanted event, I was secretly upset that she had just up and bailed on me for the rest of the day leaving me alone to fend for myself even though I did have my own access to money because of my brothers.

I can’t believe she bailed on me, I sigh silently to myself, another wave of annoyance now filtering around my head as I move to grab a bite to eat at the food court. She could have at least texted me and told me she was leaving.

Annoyed, I move to grab food from a small subway joint, my stomach craving sweet onion chicken teriyaki for lunch so that was where I went to order, my body going through the notion as I move to tell them what I want on top of my sub before asking for chips and a drink and then paying at the register.

With food and drink in hand I all but move to find my seat, the food court all but filling up as I eventually move to find a spot, setting my bags down within a chair next to me, I’m all but ready to dig in when a shadow moves to hover above me.

“Hey beautiful is this seat taken” asks a voice.

Frowning, I moved to see who came over to me, only to see a boy wearing a varsity jacket from a local high school. My eyes moving to take in his 5’9 tall and lean frame as his short brown hair and light blue eyes all but move to watch me slowly.

“Um as a matter of fact it is” I move to say to him, something about this boy bothering me.

“Oh? By who? I don’t see anyone else here with you” replies the boy, a smile now rising to his face as he attempts to sit down next to me, my body moving to pull away from him as he did.

“My friend, she’s just grabbing lunch” I say, hoping he would take the hint for while it was true that Kris and I had come to the mall together, I had hoped to find her after our little incident within Victoria Secret.

“Sure, Nice try, I think you're just saying that so I’ll leave you alone” chuckles the boy, his presence all but annoying me now.

“I’m sorry… But who are you?” I move to ask, the need to know who was all but bothering me evident.

“The name is James, nice to meet you sweetheart” says the boy I now know as James.

“Ella, and I’m not your sweetheart” I reply hoping he would just leave me alone unaware that the strange two guys from before were still secretly watching me from afar as if gathering information for someone they worked for.

Seeing the boy frown by my lack of conversation he all but tries to reach for my hand making me freeze when a familiar voice all but speaks up.

“I believe she asked you to leave, so how about leaving” replies the voice, my eyes moving to see none other than Caleb, my body relaxing.

“And who are you?” asks James, clearly annoyed that Caleb interrupted his moment.

“I’m her brother, now scram” growls Caleb who all but shoves James away before moving to sit down next to me, his arm coming to wrap around me protectively.

Growling at being interrupted does James all but storm off, Caleb still holding me closely until he was positive that the boy had all but left.

“You okay?” asked Caleb once he was sure we were alone.

“Yea, thanks to you, but why are you here?” I ask, curious as to why Caleb was here at the mall and not at home with Reece and Dylan.

“Kris texted Grant and asked if one of us could come and pick you up, something about fucking something up between you and her and needed to leave before she fucked it up even more, care to elaborate what she meant by that?” questions Caleb, his eyes moving to look at me as I move to shift my gaze, a tinge of pain now forming within my chest at shoving Kris away.

Of course she left me, she’s only doing what I told her to do and that was leave, I say, scolding myself internally for thinking she would actually stay with me at the mall after all but shoving her away from me. Feeling dejected I move to look back at Caleb before sighing.

“Promise you won’t tell Reece or Dylan? Or blow up at Kris?” I ask hoping that by telling him what happened that he would at least keep an open mind about it all.

“Depends on what it is, but I promise to at least try not to get mad” admits Caleb knowing he couldn’t fully commit without at least knowing the basics.

Sighing, I move to tell him what happened. “Kris and I went over to Victoria Secret in which we proceeded to find some spicy yet sexy lingerie” I started hoping he would get the basic concept of where we were.

“Okay… then what happened?”

Biting my lip I move to continue, “Well.. after about 30 minutes or so of searching we eventually stumbled across this faux leather strappy playsuit in which she asked me to try on” I answer, my eyes still watching for any kind of change within his expression.

“Okay” comes Caleb’s reply still not sure where Kris fucked things over between her and I.

Hesitating, I move to sigh before speaking yet again, “This is the part that you’ll most likely get mad about, and when I say mad it’s because this one stupid piece of clothing all but elevated each of our desires and while I know she regrets doing it, I still can’t find it within myself to forgive her just yet.”

“What do you mean, most likely to get mad? What did she do?” questions Caleb now worried for his baby sister especially when I just told him that I couldn’t find it within myself to forgive her just yet.

“Kris…. Kris took the desire too far with me and all but forced herself on top me, I tried to get her to stop but she wouldn’t listen to me” I whisper, tears now threatening to spill after admitting to the fact that my best friend in the whole wide world had just forced me into an act of sexual pleasure even though she herself was the only one who participate in it.

“She what?” growls Caleb, his arm moving to pull me closer to him, my face burying itself against his shirt as my hands move to cling to him.

“P-Please… you promised” I whimper, not wanting them to ban her from ever seeing me again.

“Ella.. You basically just told me she forced you into something you didn’t want and you're asking me not to get mad, to not demand compensation for your tears. How am I supposed to explain this to Reece and Dylan once we’re back home” growls Caleb as he moves to look at me, hurt and disappointment now evident within his eyes.

“PLEASE!” I all but yell, not wanting to draw unwanted attention, “You promised me.. Besides I already handled it, I asked her to leave me alone, for while I don’t approve of what she did, she’s still my best friend and I know that deep down I’ll eventually forgive her, just not now.”

“Ella… I-” attempts Caleb, unsure of how to reply to that.

“Please, Caleb, just let it go” is all I ask my eyes now pleading with his as I try to get him to just forget what transpired between Kris and I, not wanting to start a fight between them and her or with Grant and Hayden for deep down I knew they liked her and she them.

“Fine.. but if she EVER does something like that again, I’ll make it my personal business to make sure that she never sees you again, am I clear?” grunts Caleb making it clear that his word was law and he meant business.

“Yes…loud and clear, Amore”