Chapter 35

Third Person

When finally approaching home Ella can’t help but feel a sense of calmness return to her. Her sense of knowing that Reece, Dylan and Caleb would finally be returning home tomorrow made her smile at that thought alone.

Glancing towards her phone Ella decides to text her brothers within the group chat that she had created, something she had been doing alot lately since they’ve been gone.

Sighing, she moves to text them.

Ella: Hey, is it okay to throw a Graduation Party? Nothing huge, just a small one with us, Grant, Hayden and Kris?

Hitting the send key, Ella moves to wait. Knowing it would probably be a bit before one of them could reply back as Caleb had been with Reece and Dylan since his race ended and decided to fly over to New York to check in with his brothers instead of returning home, something that made Ella quite sad.

Pouting, Ella kinda wished that Caleb would have returned home once he had won his race but knew that he couldn’t until he checked in with his brothers which annoyed her because she was scared, scared of being home alone any longer than she needed to be.

Feeling her phone buzz, Ella moves to look down hoping it would be her brothers only to pale at the incoming text from the unknown number yet again, her skin crawling everytime they messaged her.

Unknown: You looked stunning today sweetheart. But you always look amazing.

Feeling her blood run cold, Ella moves to run for her room, slamming her door shut once she had finally entered the house with Grant. Her heart racing as she throws her bag to the side as she moves to lean against her door.

Whimpering softly, she moves to reply back.

Ella: Who are you? Why do you keep texting me? What is it that you want from me?

Holding her breath, Ella can’t help but feel her heart race deep within her chest. Her mind wondering if she should mention this to Grant or Hayden or even to her brothers. The need to tell someone other than herself growing as she struggles to control the situation.

Unknown: (Chuckles) Come now sweet girl. You know exactly what it is I want. I want you. Once your mine, so will your father’s company. And those brothers of yours will perish by the sideline, unable to do anything once I have you.

With eyes wide, Ella tries to ignore the idle threat towards her brothers, not wanting her brothers hurt because of her or better yet because of some company takeover.

NO! I refuse to think like that, cries Ella’s mind as she moves to reply back the need to protect her brothers now rising to the forefront of her mind while shoving all fears away.

Ella: NO! I’ll never be yours. And neither will my father’s company. It belongs to Reece and Dylan.

Satisfied with her text she moves to hit send only to see that Caleb had replied back to her previous text about the party.

Caleb: Sure! What did you have in mind?

Unable to contain a smile, Ella finally moves to reply back to him not wanting to live in constant fear prior to her Graduation Party with Kris and those she loved.

Ella: I was thinking maybe a Pool Party? But Kris is coming over later too, so I’ll have to ask her for sure. Because without her I don’t think I would have been able to Graduate.

Gnawing on her bottom lip Ella begins to wonder if that was the right thing to say to her brothers for while Kris was a key factor in her Graduating, Ella knew that her brothers had also played an important role as well and she knew it too.

Feeling another buzz does Ella move to sigh, taking a quick glance towards it only to see Dylan had replied back, a smile making its way across her face once more.

Dylan: Pool Party? Sounds a little risky if you ask me ;)

Blushing at his words, Ella can’t help but play it off knowing there was a different meaning behind those words and he knew it.

Ella: DYLAN! Not like that, I was thinking more along the lines of some relaxation by the pool, that’s all.

Attempting to control her blushing does Ella instantly feel another buzz, another message coming through except this time it was from Reece.

Reece: Then why have a Pool Party? We could just go out to one of our clubs or just have a romantic night in.

Biting the inner corner of her cheek, Ella slowly begins to wonder if Reece was having a bad day. His usual demeanor unusual and decides to text him back separately just as a knock on the door informs her that someone was there.

Taking a glance towards the door does Ella move to call out, “Yeah?”

“Hey it’s me, can I come in?” asks Kris as she moves to stand just outside her bedroom door.

“Of course you can, come in”

Stepping aside, Ella moves to let her friend inside her room, her eyes on her phone as she moves to text just Reece.

Ella: Hey are you okay? You're acting a little off.

Waiting for a reply back, Ella moves to straddle her desk chair just as Kris moves to take a spot over on her bed. Each of them now watching the other. Swallowing her nervousness, Ella decides to be the one to speak up first.

“I’m sorry!” exclaim both only for both to laugh.

“Sorry you first” replies Kris her eyes still on Ella.

“No you” offers Ella.

Sighing, Kris moves to speak up. “Look, What I want to say is that I’m sorry. I know what happened at the mall wasn’t right and I shouldn’t have done it and for that I’m extremely sorry. I’m even sorry for letting this go for as long as I did but I just couldn’t bring myself to talk to you.”

“Apology accepted,” admits Ella, her phone buzzing as she speaks. “But I also apologize too. I overreacted instead of trying to talk to you. I pushed you away instead of talking out my feelings. Can you ever forgive me?” asks Ella.

“Of course I do. You're my best friend in the whole entire world. I’d be crazy not to forgive you” laughs Kris, making Ella smile in the process as her eyes move to see who had texted her during their confessions.

Reece: Yes. I’m fine. Sorry if I sounded off or angry. I just hate being away from you any longer than I need to be.

Smiling to herself, does Ella move to text him back.

Ella: It’s fine, just hurry home soon.

Returning her focus back over to Kris, Ella moves to ask her the million dollar question. “So… what do we want to do for OUR Graduation Party?”

Giggling, Kris moves to reply back. “What else would we do? We party like the adults that we are.”

Giggling as well, Ella notices that Reece had replied back to her last text, warmth spreading through her as he did.

Reece: We will, Promise.