Chapter 16 Ella

Chapter 16 Ella
I woke up with a pounding headache. My head spun as if the world itself had been set on a carousel I couldn’t stop. My vision blurred before finally clearing, and I reached for my phone.
10 a.m.

I shot up. “I’m so screwed.”

Sophia’s bed was empty. I groaned, dragging myself out of bed and stumbling into the living room. She was curled on the couch, earphones in, completely lost in whatever she was watching.

“Sophia!”

She flinched, pulling out her earpods with a guilty smile.

“Why didn’t you wake me up?” I demanded, voice rising. “What about classes?”

She blinked at me like I’d just asked her to solve a math equation.

“What?” I barked.

“I did wake you up, a thousand times, actually,” she said flatly. “You told me to leave you alone. You literally threw your pillow at me.”

“I did not.” I rubbed my temple, trying to remember anything, but it was all fog.

“Oh, you did,” she said, crossing her arms. “You even said we could just miss a day of class. I couldn’t leave your sorry ass alone again, Damien would literally eat me alive.”

Her last words made warmth creep up my stomach.
Damien.

“What happened yesterday?” she asked, eyeing me with suspicion.

“Nothing much,” I replied way too fast.

She rolled her eyes. “You’ll be the death of me one day. Do you know how terrified I was when Damien called?”

My eyes widened. “He called you?”

“He called Alex. Actually, he demanded I come back home. The man sounded ready to murder someone. I think he hates me.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because every time something happens to you, he sees me not there. First I pushed you on him, then the club, and now this. I felt like a villain in a soap opera.” Her voice cracked a little.

I sighed, guilt creeping in. “I’m sorry, Soph. Really.”

She waved it off. “Anyway, spill it. What happened yesterday?”

I hesitated, replaying it in my head—the quiet evening, my tears, the way Damien had simply sat there and let me fall apart. “I was trying to draw my patterns, but I couldn’t. I kept erasing, redrawing, nothing worked. I got frustrated and decided to come home, and that’s when I ran into Damien. I thought he was a snatcher, so I ran.”

Sophia blinked. “You what?”

“Yeah, but he caught me and forced me to ride with him,” I said, half laughing.

She squinted at me. “That doesn’t explain your puffy eyes.”

My lips curved at the memory. “He just... let me cry. Didn’t say a word. Just sat there.”

Her eyes softened. “He did?”

I nodded.

“I told you—he’s so into you,” she squealed. “That’s ridiculously sweet!”

“I was exhausted. Crying helped, though.”

She pulled me into a tight hug. “You should’ve called me. You know I’d have come running, Alex or no Alex.”

“I know,” I murmured. “But I didn’t want to ruin your date.”

“If Damien hadn’t found me, I’d probably still be crying somewhere,” I admitted with a small laugh.

Sophia’s grin turned mischievous. That look always meant trouble.

“Oh no. What did you do, Soph?”

She giggled. “He heard you call for Antoine in your sleep.”

My stomach dropped. “And what did you tell him?”

“I said Antoine was someone very dear to you,” she said dramatically before bursting into laughter.

“Seriously?” I groaned.

“You should’ve seen his face—total jealousy. It was glorious!”

“So now he thinks Antoine’s my boyfriend.”

She shrugged. “Oops.”

I sighed, changing the topic. “I know Cynthia ruined my gown.”

Sophia’s face darkened. “I thought so too. She was smiling when we walked in. But we’ve got no proof.”

“Let’s just hope Mrs. Claire finds whoever did it.”

“Yeah.”

I flopped down beside her. “What’s the plan for today?”

She grinned. “Stay glued to your side all day. Don’t want another call from your protective boyfriend.”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I shot back. “And he’s not that bad.”

“That’s because you’re the reason for his soft side. You're not at the receiving end of it.”

I rolled my eyes and headed to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I wore black sweatpants and a fitted black tank top. When I came back out, I threw myself dramatically across Sophia’s lap.

“You’re heavy, you know,” she groaned.

“Let’s go to the park,” I said, grinning.

She let out a long groan. “Can’t we just stay home and be lazy?”

“If something happens while I’m gone,” I said, eyes glinting, “you’ll hear from Damien.”

At his name, she sat up immediately. “Fine! Give me ten minutes.”

Minutes later, she appeared in denim shorts and a yellow cropped top.

The park was a fifteen-minute walk away. Or, as Sophia would put it—torture.

“It’s so hot,” she whined five minutes in, fanning herself.

“Stop being a baby.”

By the time we reached the park, she was practically melting.

“Ice cream first or I’ll faint,” she muttered, dragging me to the stand.

“One chocolate and one vanilla, please,” she told the vendor.

When he handed us the cups, she smirked. “Didn’t you have enough ice cream last night?”

I blushed. “It melted after I cried, remember?”

She laughed, but before I could respond, a familiar voice came from behind me, smooth, calm, and warm.

“Oh, did we?”

I didn’t need to turn. I’d know that voice anywhere.

“Hello, stranger,” I said, smiling.

“I’ll give you two some privacy,” Sophia said, winking as she walked off.

Damien chuckled. “What? No friendly hello for me? I thought we were friends now?” he teased, pretending to be hurt.

I shrugged, smiling.

“You look prettiest when you smile,” he said softly.

My heart stuttered.

“I never thanked you for yesterday,” I said quietly. “So... thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” His eyes—those ocean-blue eyes—caught mine. The sunlight made them gleam like waves. I could drown in them if I wasn’t careful.

He kept staring, and I finally asked, “What’s that look for?”

“Nothing,” he said, lips curving. “Just admiring your beauty.”

I laughed nervously. “Stop that.”

“How do you feel now?”

“Better. I took today off.”

He nodded. Then, with that low, teasing tone, “I have a question for you.”

“Shoot.”

“Who’s Antoine?” His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it—a quiet possessiveness that made my stomach flutter.

I blinked, then burst out laughing. Sophia, you menace.

“My ex,” I said, watching his face. His jaw tightened, but his face stayed neutral.

“You called his name last night. If you miss him that much, why not go back?”

“He’s dead.”

His face softened instantly. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said quietly. “You didn’t know.”

He hesitated. “So... does that mean I have a shot now?”

I smirked. “Wouldn’t hurt you to try.”

He grinned, but I decided to end his confusion. “Antoine was actually my brother. He died in a car crash.”

His smile faded.

“It’s okay,” I said again. “You don’t have to pity me. I’ve learned to live with it.”

He nodded slowly. “What about your parents?”

“They died too. Same crash.” My throat tightened, but I forced a smile. “I was the only one who made it out.”

He lowered his gaze. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

“It’s fine.” I exhaled. “Now, tell me about you.”

“I will... if you take me on a date.” He winked.

I raised an eyebrow. “Are you flirting with me?”

“Yes,” he said simply. “If that’s what you want to call it.”

Before I could reply, Sophia appeared again, hands on her hips.

“We’ll catch up later,” he said, backing away.

“I’ll only do that if you text me,” I teased.

He stopped, eyes bright. “Would you mind giving me your number, then?”

I smiled. “No.”

His confused face was priceless as I turned and walked off toward Sophia, laughing.

“That took forever,” she said as I reached her. “From that smile, I can definitely tell it went
well.”

“Do me a favor,” I said, still grinning. “Don’t give my number to Damien.”

“Oh, I need to know this story,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

I just laughed, the echo of Damien’s voice still lingering in my chest.