What She Concealed

by Jannat Bhat

  “Just because we’re stuck in a dark hotel room doesn’t give you the right to have your way with me you know.”

  “Don’t irritate me, Julian.” She said looking at his dark outline. “Where were you?”

  “I’m not irritating, Bennett, you are!” Then he shrugged. “I was getting some nuts, chocolates and drinks from the fridge. And good thing I also found some candles on the table next to it.” He handed her everything then lit up the two candles on the candelabra. They sat together on the bed and ate in silence.

  “Why isn’t anyone coming looking for us?” Eliana asked after a while. She had expected their friends to come for them after they had been gone for hours.

  “I’m not sure.” Julian said. “Maybe the ghost got them in the passageway.”

  “Can you not?” He grinned at her scared voice. She was a scared little kitten after all.

  “We’ll have to spend the night here, I guess. I’m sure someone will unlock us by morning.” He got off so he could adjust the pillow on the bed and on the sofa. She nodded in agreement, but her heart skipped a beat as Julian removed his jacket and laid it at the foot of the bed. The thunder in the distance indicated impending rain. “There. I’m all set.” He sat on the bed next to Eliana and laid down.

  “What about me?” Eliana asked looking at him. He didn’t possibly think she’d share the bed with him. What did he take her for?

  “You can sleep on the sofa.” He said cheerily. “You know hard setting for hardened hearts. Perfect match.”

  “Anyone else would have given the bed to the girl.” Eliana rebuked.

  “I would too if I saw a girl around.” He drew open the curtain from the window to see the rain hitting the window.

  “I am a girl, okay?” She scowled behind him. Julian opened the window a slit to let in the wind so they wouldn’t suffocate in the power outage and turned to look at her. The wind blew her long dark strands around her face. The skin tight jeans which covered the curves on her hips, that delicate hourglass figure with her innocent face, full lips and green eyes. She was a girl alright. He grinned as she pouted.

  “It’s late, c’mon now, we should get some sleep.” He said on a serious note.

  “I’m not sleepy.” How could she sleep in a haunted room? She turned the other way and ignored him.

  She’d sleep when she wanted to not because he said to but Julian had other plans. She yelped in surprise as he picked her up in his arms ignoring her protests and laid her on the bed. She felt fragile. Though he enjoyed messing with her, he cared for her. He pulled the comforter over her.

  “I’m not cold.” She said.

  “Keep it. If you fall sick, I’d have to answer to Daddy Bennett and Hitler Diaz who would enjoy killing me.” Eliana let slip a smile at that. Julian returned the action and they shared a tender moment. “You don’t look so bad when you smile.” He said.

  “You don’t either.” She said, sitting up against the headboard. Julian sat so close that his scent and warmth engulfed her. “Have you always been like this? Messing around with people.” She asked.

  “When I was a child yes. But things changed while I was growing up. It affected my life in a way where I took some decisions that I regret. And one day it made me rethink the way I was leading my life. It wasn’t too late to change so I went back to the way I used to be.” Eliana didn’t miss the dark shadow that passed his eyes.

  “What happened?” She asked softly.

  Julian gave her a long look. “It’s a story for another day. I won’t bore you with the details tonight. Maybe some other day when we have nothing else to worry about, I’ll tell you what nightmares torment me.” He meant it as a joke but Eliana easily detected the pain behind his playfulness. She wanted to know more about what had happened but stopped herself from questioning him. The way Julian presented himself to the world, she never would have imagined that he had a ghost in his past. It was a ghost he tried to run away from every day and failed.

  Julian sat next to her, resting himself against the headboard too and continued to talk about the mischiefs he had caused as a little boy in middle school, teasing his teachers and neighbors and in the lull of his deep and soft voice mixed with the sounds of rain, Eliana fell asleep. Julian stared into the candlelight as he recalled his early memories, not wanting to linger on the darker parts as he grew up, when he glanced at Eliana. One look at her face, he forgot about all the things that haunted him and kept him awake at night.

  He was captivated by the way her long lashes kissed her cheeks and her dark hair splayed around her. He slid her bangs aside and away from her closed eyes. His gaze fell to her lush bow-shaped pink lips which were always ready to argue with him. Julian felt the urge to touch her, to graze her cheeks with the back of his fingers and he gave in. Gently sliding them across her soft skin. Though he didn’t admit it before, he couldn’t deny it any longer. Eliana was stunning and she affected him more than he had realized. Rather than being meaningless, their banter, their arguments it had all meant something. This was the reason that he was pissed off when Eliana hadn’t trusted him about Caroline. That he couldn’t shake it off even after trying so hard after telling himself countless times that Eliana was just a girl he knew. Because she wasn’t just someone to him. Julian had wanted her on his side. He wanted to be good for her. The more time he spent with her the more time he wanted to spend with her.

  Eliana’s chest moved in a gentle rhythm as she breathed softly in slumber and turned in that moment holding onto Julian’s arm and signed in contentment at his closeness. Julian didn’t want to disturb her and didn’t want to move away from her either, so he adjusted his posture in a way that she could still hold onto him and he stayed in a sitting position against the wall.

  That is how he spent the rest of the night. With rain raging outside, wind blowing in and Eliana holding his arm which went numb after a while.

  But Julian didn’t mind one bit.

  Chapter Four

  Eliana stirred awake the next morning to the sound of indistinct human voices. Her eyes fluttered open and the first thing she noticed was that she was cozy. Turning towards the source of her warmth in sleep ridden haze, she saw a guy asleep beside her. His dark hair fell over his eyebrows in a messy sort of style. She absently admired his cheekbones and lashes so thick she was almost jealous of them. He had a dark stubble which gave him an edgy look. Lowering her gaze it went to his straight nose and thick lips the shade of deep red just inches away from her. She felt a sudden yearning to brush them against her own. Closing her eyes and sighing in contentment, she snuggled closer feeling cared and protected in Julian’s arms.

  Wait, what? Her eyes flew open. Julian’s arms? She jumped up and away from Julian who had just begun to wake from the rough jolt next to him.

  “Julian! Eliana!” She heard the calls of her colleagues and Julian rubbed his eyes. “Hey! Wake up. They found us!” Eliana was glad someone had and rushed to the door to announce her presence. “We’re in here!” She yelled in no particular direction. Julian made a move to get up but winced because his body was extremely stiff from not moving all night and pinpricks attacked the muscles which had fallen numb.

  The door pushed open and Carter came into view first and Eliana jumped with glee. “Carter! I’m so glad you found me.” She grabbed him in a hug in her excitement.

  “Don’t you mean us?” Julian stood up, massaging his arm. “Glad that he found us.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I meant.” Eliana corrected herself. Mia came next looking worried. Naomi and Jax were right behind her.

  “You guys doing okay?” Mia asked.

  “Yes, Mom. Thanks for finding us. Now let’s get out of here.” Julian said shortly and walked out. Eliana frowned at his back. Someone’s grumpy this morning.

  “You okay, El?” Jax asked, looking at the unmade bed but didn’t comment on it.

  “Yeah.” Eliana followed the rest out and saw Ms. Diaz talking to the hotel manager. “Why didn’t you
guys come earlier?”

  “You won’t believe it, but the elevators broke down and when we tried to get in trough the stairwell, they were all locked.” Naomi said. “It took Ms. Diaz all night of scolding the management to fix the elevators and the stairwell to get to you guys.”

  “How was your experience getting one on one with the haunted?” Carter asked once they were gathered near the exit waiting for the bus to come up from the parking on their way back to school.

  “I can’t say I’m a fan,” Naomi shuddered.

  “Yeah, it was one big disas. . .” Eliana started, but Julian interrupted her getting down from his car and joining them.

  “Adventure! It was one big adventure.” He said. “Wasn’t it, Bennett?”

  “That wasn’t what I was going to say,” Eliana muttered.

  “Eliana protected me from the unseen monsters.” He said putting his arm around her shoulders. “My savior. She was like my personal talisman.”

  “I was not,” Eliana argued and shook his arm off.

  “Yes, you were,” Julian said.

  “Was not!” Eliana got in his face, furious. How dare he call me a talisman?

  “Okay, don’t start now. Both of you.” Jaxon said.

  Ms. Diaz asked if Eliana would like to come with them in the bus or with Julian the way she had arrived. Eliana didn’t have to but she chose to ride with Julian. He didn’t complain.

  Back at school, Eliana was getting her book when she saw Julian’s locker slightly ajar. Looking around the corridor and not seeing him, she took a little peek inside and found his cellphone. Eliana noticed that it was in silent mode and hurriedly turned on the ringer before putting it back. Julian came back within moments and saw Eliana who was busy with her schedule file and pocketed his phone without checking it.

  “Hey. Let’s go. The warning bell rung already.” He said to her.

  “You go on. I’ll be right there.” She said casually and followed after him several moments later.

  In class, as per Eliana’s plan, his phone went off, interrupting Ms. Diaz yet again on Julian’s account. He shut his eyes cursing and didn’t dare touch his phone. The Naomi looked at Jax anxiously, and Eliana’s eyes rested on Julian.

  “Mr. Rivera, answer your phone.” Ms. Diaz said crisply.

  “No, Ms. Diaz, it’s okay.” He mumbled.

  “I said, answer your phone.” She repeated.

  Julian did so and found a cleaner calling him. “Julian Rivera? This is George, the cleaner who came by to pass you a message the other day. I have another one for you.”

  “Yes. What is it?” Julian asked quietly, aware of all eyes on him.

  “I was told by Ms. Eliana Bennett to call you at this time.” George told him. “She said you needed a reminder.”

  “I see.” His eyes flicked to Eliana, who bit her inner cheek and tried to look ahead straight-faced. “For what exactly?”

  “She didn’t say.”

  “Is that all?” He asked.

  “Yes.” George said.

  “Thank you.” He hung up and apologized to Ms. Diaz.

  “Be very careful Mr. Rivera. You are on very thin ice where I’m concerned.” Ms. Diaz warned him. “If I get irrupted by you again, I’ll have you suspended.”

  After the class settled and worked on their assignments, Eliana quietly said to her partner. “I empathize with you, Julian.”

  “Do you?” He said without looking up from his copy of LOTR.

  “Yeah, I mean, Ms. Diaz should understand that some calls are really important to attend.” She teased him and instead of getting mad, he found himself smiling even though he had just been scolded.

  Eliana wanted to make Julian mad but it looked like she was failing at it badly. She went to stand by him near the window in Psychology, another of the few classes they shared, and she saw him frowning at his phone while waiting for Mr. Davis to show up and begin the lecture. “Everything okay?” She asked. “Couldn’t be better.” He replied. “Are you mad about this morning?” She hoped. “Not at all.” He said with his attention on the phone.

  “Anyway, in case you need any help for the upcoming quiz, I’ll find someone for you.” She said, unnecessarily.

  “Why do you think I need help?” Julian turned to her.

  “You just don’t look so good. You have this little crease in between your eyebrows. I’m just trying to be nice, you know.” She said, innocently.

  “Sure you are. Such an angel.” He said, not fooled by her act and turned to go to his seat. Eliana put her foot in his stride and he stumbled down to the floor.

  “Oh My God, I’m so sorry!” She crouched down next to him. “Are you okay? Are you mad?”

  Julian started laughing unbelievably. “Nope, I’m all good. Just quite clumsy these days.” He got onto his feet. Eliana stared at him. He wasn’t a monk. It was so easy for him to irritate her but she wasn’t finding it easy to return the favor.

  Soon the students had no time to breathe as they prepped for the upcoming exams. Julian found Eliana alone in the cafeteria hunched over a book, when he came in for break. “Hey, Elly!” He greeted her cheerily and sat down next to her after getting his usual grilled chicken sandwich and coffee.

  Eliana turned at the nickname. “My name is Eliana.” She chided when she saw him.

  “I never said otherwise. So how are you feeling after our night together?” Julian said on purpose.

  Eliana choked on the water she was drinking and looked at him outraged. “WHAT?” She whispered, horrified.

  “Should I tell the others about what happened between us? About the way we spent the night in each other’s arms in Salem.” He said, putting on a straight face. He was saying this to rile her up but his mind went to the way she had slept so peacefully and how right it had felt to be with her. It wasn’t something he would forget in a hurry and he didn’t want to either. Her image was branded in a corner of his mind. The same corner that he visited when his past haunted him.

  “Nothing happened between us!” She capped her bottle of water, looking around and banged it on the table staring at Julian in indignation. Julian thinned his lips and laid a hand on her arm gently. “If you say so, love. It will be our little secret.”

  “Shut up!” She stood up and turned to leave.

  “Where are you going? I just got here.” Julian stopped her by taking her arm.

  “And why should I care about that? I’m done eating and need to get back to my studies.” She twisted herself free of his hold. “Unlike you, I’m serious about my work.”

  “You know, I thought you were a nice little girl,” Julian said, making her stop in her tracks.

  “Who said I was ever nice?” Eliana said, turning to face him. “I never claimed to be nice. I’m just as wicked as you, Julian Rivera.” She said. “You’ll see.” At that, Julian gave her one of his wicked smiles.

  Beginning of next semester, Imperial High had admitted a young TV actress, Catherine Lance. She was quite popular even in Japan and Eliana chatted up with the friendly girl. She spoke to her for some time about her legendary roles in the TV industry at such a young age. When she saw Julian opening his locker a few feet away, an idea formed in her head. She told Catherine about how Julian was a big fan of her infamous ‘Slap’ in her debut serial, ‘Slap It Till You Trap It.’ “Maybe you can fulfill his dream,” Eliana suggested to the girl.

  “Of course! It feels so good to have such hot guys like him as fans. Before that, is something going on between the two of you?” Catherine asked. “I want to make sure.”

  “What? No! Never. Why would you say that?” Eliana was flustered at the question. “There is absolutely nothing going on between Julian and I. Nope. Not ever. It’s just not possible.”

  “I saw you earlier in Advance Lit together and sensed some chemistry is all.” Catherine called Julian over and he did seeing Eliana. He wasn’t a big fan of the TV industry and wasn’t aware of the celebrity status of the girl.

  “He
y.” He greeted, looking at Catherine. “Welcome to Imperial High. I’m Julian. Rivera.”

  “Nice to meet you Julian. There is something I wish to give you.” Catherine said, coyly. “Come closer.” She said and Julian came forward. He glanced at Eliana who looked at him with wide innocent eyes. When he was close enough, Catherine gave him a smile with a hard tight slap that left his ears ringing. He jerked back at the unexpected act of violence.

  “What the. . .” He scowled at the girl. The lingering students laughed at him as did Catherine and Eliana.

  “You should have told me you were my fan. Especially of the slap that got me famous.” She said.

  “Ex. . . Excuse me?” Julian asked, rubbing his cheek which stung. “If Eliana here hadn’t told me about this, I wouldn’t have known.” Julian looked at Eliana who was grinning uncontrollably.