Chapter 34

Ella

“Attention students, with finals now at an end I would like to personally congratulate each and every one of you on a job well done,” rings the voice of the Principle, students officially finishing up with finals while others cleared out their lockers, collecting their belongings as they did.

My eyes now scanning the halls for Kris, a slight sting rising within my chest as Kris had yet to reply back to my original text message about planning for our party. Our graduation party.

Biting my lip, I move to finish grabbing my things before shoving them into my backpack as I contemplated texting her again, hoping and praying that she’d answer me. My eyes now focused on my phone within my hand.

Reece texting me last Friday, while telling me how things had gotten delayed over in New York by another week and wouldn’t be able to come home until the day of graduation. Promising to have a special surprise for me upon their return.

While the mystery number still occasionally texted me as well. Fear gripped at my chest each time they did as I continued to hide within Reece’s room. Grant and Hayden always checking in with me each time though.

My mind wandering back to the last text that I had received from the unknown number unsure of what to make of it or if I should even bring it up to someone especially when the mysterious number had yet to do anything to me.

Unknown: See you soon, Princess.

Shivering, I attempt to block out the text message, unable to bring myself to reply back. Too scared to do so even if I had wanted to.

Just then I suddenly feel a slight buzz of my phone, my phone alerting me to an incoming text message, my eyes moving to see who it was only to sigh as I saw Kris’s name pop up, my body relaxing as I move to see what she wrote to me.

Kris: Hey… Sorry I haven’t texted you back. You probably think I’m a terrible friend. But sure I’d love to help plan, can I come over later?

Smiling at her words I move text back almost instantly.

Ella: Sure! That would be great! And no.. I absolutely don’t think you're a terrible friend at all, if anyone’s a terrible friend it’s me. For letting it go this long when I should have just texted you right away, and for that I’m sorry.

Feeling excitement beginning to stir within me do I move to hit the send key before shutting my locker door. Not one to have much in terms of personal belongings I move to exit the building, graduation in less than a day away and I couldn’t wait. Excitement now flooding through my body at the thought of seeing Kris, Grant promising to pick me up afterwards to bring me back home. Hayden and Grant my own personal assistants until my brothers finally returned home.

I think I could like this, I muse. The thought of maybe having my own personal assistant now present within my mind. A thought. One I would need to address once Reece, Dylan and Caleb returned home. But of course knowing my brothers they would probably say no to it, for why trust another human being when I had them 24/7.

Sighing, I move to file the thought away for a later day, not wanting to be concerned with it until their return. My eyes now spotting the front of the building as I move to stand outside, the rest of the students filing in and out as well once they too finished with their own meaningful tasks. Releasing a breath, I move to sit on the steps of the school, my eyes now gazing out towards the scenery, taking in a final view before I no longer had to come back.

“So long Valley View,” I murmured. A school I spent most of my life attending at even after my brothers attended. A school that was highly sought after among the wealthy and the extreme rich.

Amused by the thought of being wealthy or even rich, I vaguely remember a time when me and my mother were not rich. No, we were once middle class citizens. My mother forced into working two jobs just to support us. My biological father long since disappeared from the picture when he managed to find someone else to his liking.

Scoffing at the notion, I know better than to call my sperm donor father. For never once did he seem to care enough or love me or my mother to stay within our lives. No. It was always my mother and me. So naturally of course when I turned six it wasn’t a surprise to me to hear that my mother had found a new man for her to love, to love us.

And yet, a part of me was always scared, always nervous about the man. So when my mother had suggested to the man who I had come to love as my own father, Alex, I was enamored by him and his three sons. Reece, Dylan and Caleb. Three 16 year old boys who managed to find a place within my heart without me even knowing it.

Shaking the thoughts away I try to shove my unwanted memories aside. That part of my life long since gone once mother and father married, my life now new, refreshed and all in memory of them and only them.

Lost within my thoughts do I continue to think about my childhood, unaware of eyes that sat watching me from afar, eyes that always seemed to lust after me as the person in question sat hidden within an unmarked vehicle as the car sat parked far enough away without being seen.

“Soon” whispers a male voice. “Soon you’ll be mine and only mine.”

Signaling for his driver to leave the mystery man moves to pull away just as a black Audi A5 moves to pull up to the front of the school building, a smile making its way known as I slowly take notice, moving to scamper my way towards the vehicle just as Grant moves to step out of it, his body moving to round the car to the back passenger door before opening it.

“Hello Principessa” greets Grant just as I move to slide into the backseat.

“Hello Grant”

Closing the door, Grant moves to secure the door firmly before heading back towards the driver's seat. Where once in, does Grant move to speak to me again, once both of us are securely strapped in of course.

“How was school?” asks Grant, his eyes moving to find mine from the rear view mirror as he moves to pull away from the school building, eyes now focused on the road ahead of us.

“It was alright. Everyone was asked to clean out their lockers as graduation is a day away” I move to tell him as my body moves to lean against the car seat.

“Oh, and that reminds me, Kris is coming over later to. Me and Kris will be planning out our graduation party later” I admit, almost like an afterthought, a smile now creeping along my lips.

“Alright, I’ll be sure to let Hayden know so we don’t go interrupting your girl time.”

Tensing at the mention of girl time, I try not to let it bother me. Remembering what happened the last time and how Kris and I avoided one another for weeks.

Nope… Not happening… Kris and I are two completely grown women and my immaturity level was not the best. I’m definitely going to need to work on that. Because I nearly ruined our friendship because I couldn’t talk to her properly, I scolded myself silently. Grant too focused on the drive as we continued to head for home. A home that was barely home because it was missing 3 very important people within my life, my brothers.

God how I missed them, come my final thoughts as I move to divert my attention elsewhere, the need to focus on anything else besides my brothers a given. My eyes now watching the outside scenery as Grant drives for home.