Page 154 of Dare To Fall

They can’t fix this.

Nothing will.

Eli has lost his best friend, and there’s nothing I can do.

And, after today, I might have just lost Eli too.

Chapter 103

Eli

I move quietly around my dorm room, avoiding Kellan’s side as much as I can. I’m not ready to deal with that, with seeing the things he’s left scattered around. My dad is a quiet presence behind me, standing in the doorway while I pack up my sketch pads, pencils, and my favorite clothes. I don’t see anything belonging to Arabella. She must have already been back to pack her things.

Once I’m done, I turn to finally look at Kellan’s side of the room. There’s something I need to get. I know where he hid it, I’m just not sure I can do it. But I need to, in case anyone comes in while we’re away to clear out his things. I don’t think they will. My dad said that he’s requested the room is locked up until he or someone he sends can come to clear it out, and the school agreed.

My gaze moves over his bed, the discarded laptop in pieces on the table and then to his closet. Sucking in a breath, I cross the room and throw it open.

“Eli?”

“There’s something I need to get.” I crouch and pull out a box, flip open the lid and check the contents, then seal it closed again, and straighten. Tucking it under my arm, I grab the suitcase I’ve packed and move to the door. “Okay.”

There’s a lump in my throat stopping me from saying anything else, and the soft click as my dad closes the door behind me makes me flinch. We don’t talk on our way down the stairs and along the hallway to the main doors. There are other students milling around, and I have brief glimpses of red eyes, crying, and whispered words as I pass them. I don’t stop or acknowledge anyone, keeping my attention focused solely on putting one foot in front of the other until we are outside.

My dad’s black sedan is parked in front of the doors, with the trunk open. I toss in my suitcase, place Kellan’s box beside it, then move around to the side of the car. The door is open, waiting for me to climb inside, like the gaping black abyss inside my chest is waiting to swallow me whole.

Digging a hand into a pocket, I pull out my earbuds and push them in, then flick through the music on my cell. A moment later, ‘I’m ok’ by Call Me Karizma fills my ears. I take in another steadying break, then slide onto the seat.

My eyes connect with Arabella’s, and something lurches inside me. I turn away. I can’t do it. I can’t speak to her right now. I am barely keeping it together in front of my dad. If I hear the pain in her voice …

I swallow, forcing down the lump that’s rising further up my throat, and stare out of the window. The sound of a car door slamming, followed by the engine roaring to life, sounds over my music, and then we’re pulling away from the school.

Away from the events of the past twenty-four hours.

Away from Kellan.

Chapter 104

Arabella

“Here we are,” Elena announces as she opens the front door of the house.

She’s trying too hard. Her fake attempt at happiness only turns my stomach. I’ve had four hours of Eli ignoring me, pretending like I don’t exist. While he’s lost himself in his music, I’ve been going crazy in my head, reliving the moment I found him and Kellan over and over.

I wheel two of my suitcases into the main hallway and leave them by the wall. The maids rush past us to help Elliot and Eli with the rest of our bags.

Elliot walks in with a couple more bags. “How about some lunch? You both must be starving.”

Eli doesn’t reply. His earbuds are still in, and his attention is on anything but me. He clearly doesn’t want to be around me. He’s dealing with things in his own way.

Alone and shutting me out.

Does he blame me? Does he hate me?

I give his dad a weak smile. “I’m not hungry.”

Elena gently touches my arm. “Did you eat breakfast?”

“No. I can’t face food right now.”

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