Page 98 of Stuck Behind Her

I park my car next to the house, slamming the door closed after I get out. Roland’s house is practically a mansion, twostories up and two stories underground, with the main floor basically being a hall. I have no clue why he needs all those levels and what he uses them for. All I know is that Elias’s room is on the first floor. Easily accessible, without having to go through the entrance. That was his aim, get people in without having to deal with Roland.

Now he’s going to deal with me.

I stomp past the gates and round to the back, where the window to his room is, blood boiling inside me. The only thing keeping my body from bursting into flames is the cold wind, brushing my skin. His window is closed when I get there, as is his curtain.

I knock twice, waiting for him to open it, taking heavy breaths. The curtains slide open after a while, revealing more of the room lit up by the lights dangling from the ceiling. Elias stands there. Innocently. Like he did nothing.

He unlocks the window, sliding it up, before taking a step back. Looking at him, I feel the anger rise up. My fist clenches. He hurt her. He thought he could do that. That it wouldn’t cost him anything. No consequence. He should’ve known otherwise.

I climb inside. Then, without thought, my fist swings swiftly at his eye. “You bastard!” I shout. He stumbles back, his head turned to the side by the force. His right hand touches his eye, and he squeezes it shut.

“What the hell?” he exclaims, standing up straight.

“You deserved that, asshole!” I say, turning around to leave. My hand swings again, knocking things on to the ground. I then climb back out of his room, making sure the window slams closed after I do.

He will never get away without consequences again.

Chapter 61 – Ventiquattro

Elias

“What the hell happened to your eye?” Aurora asks, surprised when I walk into the house.

“Don’t ask, because I don’t know?” I sigh. The bruise is better now, but it’s still purple. I was able to treat it fast, quickly rushing to get ice. I had to make some excuse, without the main point of someone punching it. I still don’t know what happened, or why Lorenzo punched me. They’d question everything, and I would have no answers.

“Come inside, we can talk there,” she says, and I follow her into the kitchen.

Waiting, I have nothing but questions filling my head. That, and a feeling of pain. I’ve been punched by my friend, and had my heart broken. All in the same week. At this point, my arm feels like nothing.

Aurora sits down in front of me, crossing her legs on the chair. “The left side of your body is unlucky. A broken hand and a bruised eye, I’d say take care of your leg,” she comments.

“That’s the last thing I need,” I answer, taking a breath.

“You sound like you’re in a bad mood. Did something happen?” she questions.

So much. So much and nothing at all. It was only two small incidents, yet my heart makes it feel like it was a million. Like I’ve hit the ground and my body got up, but my soul is still lying there. “I’m fine, don’t worry. Where’s Elaina?” is what I say instead, changing the topic.

“Inside. Ellie’s over. She wanted to see her before the trip tomorrow.”

Well, at least Aurora is happy about tomorrow. No matter what’s happening between Val and I, she and Elaina are going to have fun.

Elaina doesn’t know about Ellie yet, but she’s going to be thrilled when she does. So will Aurora when she knows about Violet. I am in no position to ruin that for them. “So, are you ready for tomorrow?” I ask her.

“Are you seriously asking me that?” she grins. She’s probably been ready since the winners were announced. Elaina and Ellie then enter the kitchen, stopping behind Aurora. She senses them, turning around.

“Aurora, can you help me out with something?” Elaina requests. Aurora sighs, getting up and following her sister out of the room. Ellie stays back, so it’s just her and I alone together.

She looks at me, furrowing her eyebrows. “What happened to you?” she asks me.

“What happened to hello?” I respond, and she gives me a judgmental look.

“You’re dreaming if you think I’d say hello,” she replies stubbornly. I get the sense she hates me, but Lorenzo told me she hates everyone. So, I don’t take offense.

The urge then comes to me, realizing she’s Val’s sister. “Is your sister okay?” I ask her.

Her expression changes now, more of mockery. “It’s hilarious, you practically got dumped by her. Also, I was eavesdropping, don’t go judging her for telling me,” she teases.Of course she knows. “Anyway, she’s fine, a bit troubled. Don’t ask me why, I didn’t ask her since I’m not supposed to know.”

Troubled. She’s troubled.

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