What She Concealed

by Jannat Bhat

  “Okay?” She gazed at him wondering what it could be.

  “Can you meet me tonight?” He looked at her observing her reaction.

  “Can’t you say it here?” She asked looking around at the almost empty corridor. “There is no one here.” He shook his head. “Okay.” Eliana wondered what he wanted to say to her. Could it be about the moment we shared the other night? She thought.

  “I’ll see you then.” He said. “And Elly, no pranks this time.” She nodded. But unfortunately, Eliana couldn’t make it because her father had invited guests from Stanford University management and wanted his children to be present. By the time she had reached the café Julian had texted her, he had left and she was dismayed. She called him but it went straight to voicemail and he didn’t respond after she left him messages. When she saw him at his locker the next morning, he avoided her studiously. “Julian, can we talk?” She tried to speak to him.

  “What do you want?” He asked shortly without looking at her. It was obvious that he was mad. He must have waited long and she hadn’t shown up.

  “Uh, nothing.” She said feeling her brother’s eyes on her. She couldn’t speak freely with Jax observing her conversation. So she caught Julian outside the cafeteria.

  “You don’t care about me. I should have known.” He said, feeling let down. “I don’t know what I was expecting.”

  “That’s not true, Julian,” She said. He turned to leave. “Where are you going?” She asked.

  “Where do you think?” He spoke stiffly.

  “I’ll come with you, we could order together.” Julian didn’t say anything else. Sitting at the table, Carter and Naomi joined them and noticed how Julian either ignored Eliana or spoke to her rudely.

  “Hey! Why are you acting this way towards her?” Naomi asked Julian.

  “Yeah, Julian. What’s going on?” Carter looked at Eliana who stared at her food.

  “You should ask her. And if you have a problem with me, then I’ll leave.” He stood up and left without another word. Eliana saw he hadn’t even touched his food.

  “Impolite much?” Naomi commented and dug into her sandwich.

  “He’s just having a bad day.” Eliana tried to defend him. “I’ll talk to him.” She followed behind Julian. She found him passing backyard exit and pulled him outside.

  “Stop it, Eliana.” He said, removing himself from her hold.

  “Julian, you need to hear me out, at least.”

  “Why should I?” Julian couldn’t understand if he was mad at her or himself for being so affected by her. “Do you even care about me?”

  “Of course I care, Julian.” She said gently.

  “No you don’t! “ He took a deep breath. “I don’t matter to you, Elly. And that bothers me.” He muttered, confused. “That’s why I can’t stand to be around you right now.”

  “Julian . . .”

  “Maybe I should just leave.” He said blowing out a breath.

  “What! You can’t leave!” Eliana was shocked at what she was hearing. “My father had guests come over, Julian! I wanted to come and see you but I couldn’t.” Julian looked away. “I care about Julian. I really do. Please try and understand, it was out of my hands.” Eliana felt a desperation she didn’t understand. He gave her a penetrating look that she felt deep in her soul.

  “You’re not leaving, Julian. I won’t let you.” She said determined. “You’ve worked hard earning this scholarship, I won’t let you throw it away for nothing.”

  “Why shouldn’t I?” He asked and saw her looking stressed at his decision. “Give me one reason, Elly. Just one reason to stay at Imperial High.”

  “Because I said so.” She lowered her eyes.

  “Why?” He stepped closer.

  “Because it’s too late to transfer out.” She tried again.

  “Give me a reasonable answer, Bennett. Tell me if you feel anything for me.” Before she could say another word, his phone buzzed. She saw him frown and receive it but he stayed silent. In the other second he banged open the door and took off as if he was on fire. Eliana called out after him but he was too far. She called his phone but he didn’t answer. What the hell was that about? She wondered.

  She didn’t see him the rest of the afternoon and he was gone next day too. Eliana had destroyed her lower lip by biting on it so much with worry for Julian. She kept calling but he never answered. On impulse, she grabbed the keys to her Mini and drove out to south side. With his address saved in her GPS she found it easy to navigate her way and recognize his apartment building. When remembered that he lived on the first floor so she went in with the security man not bothering her with any questions about her purpose of visit or whom it was she had come to see. She went up the stairs since the elevator was broken down and reached Julian’s door. Eliana knocked for a couple of minutes then banged for another few. It was clear he wasn’t home. “Where did you go?” She questioned the door and the one behind her opened.

  “Are you done violating that door?” Eliana turned to see a guy about her age. “He’s not home. Hasn’t been since yesterday.”

  “Uh, do you know where I might find him?” Eliana asked.

  “He’s at Jefferson Care. The hospital at the end of the road.” The guy said.

  “Why?” Eliana panicked. “Is he okay?”

  “He’s fine, considering.” The guy drawled.

  “What do you mean?”

  “From what I heard his girlfriend slipped into a coma. He’s been by her side since he heard.”

  “Girlfriend?” Eliana felt a hollowness in her stomach at hearing this. “He has a girlfriend?”

  “Yep, he’s always with her.” The guy leaned against the door. “What was her name again? Mina? No, Mila? I guess.”

  “Mila?” Eliana was on alert. “Mila the little girl, is in a coma?”

  The guy nodded. “He’s always been a sucker for the weak. I warned him to not get any closer to the girl, that she was already on her death bed and he’s just self-inflicting pain and now see what’s happened.”

  Eliana was irritated at the way he spoke about Mila and Julian both. “Thank you, but I have to go.” Eliana rushed to her car and punched in the address to the hospital. She inquired and was directed to Mila after some difficulty since she didn’t know the child’s last name. But thankfully there was only one Mila admitted at the hospital. She exited the elevator on the second floor and made her way to room 204. She found Julian sitting inside and Mila was unconscious on the bed on ventilator. She walked to and sat next to him on the small couch. “Hey.” He looked terrible, with his hair a mess and dark circles under those beautiful grey eyes. She put her hand over him. “What did the doctors say?”

  Julian had to swallow a couple of times before he could find his voice which sounded weary. “If she doesn’t gain consciousness within the next 48 hours, we have a cause for concern. We need to wait for the reports until they can know more.” She nodded. Julian was quiet with his eyes on the little girl. Eliana worried about Julian and Mila both. When night arrived, she realized that he wasn’t leaving the child’s side and couldn’t make herself to leave him alone in this situation. So Eliana went into the hospital corridor and called her father and Jax saying that she’ll be staying over with a friend tonight. When asked how, she gave Mia’s name and called the latter too just to get her story straight, should her family call after her. She could leave Julian like this and go home when he clearly needed support. She asked Julian about the girl’s parents and was told that Mila was an orphan. With Mila, she saw a side of him that Eliana didn’t know existed. A few hours later asked him to go home to change and eat something.

  “I’m not hungry.” He said.

  “You still need to eat or you won’t be any help to Mila when she wakes up.” She said, smoothly. “Go on, Julian. I’ll keep an eye on her in the meantime.” He nodded.

  “Please let me know if anything changes.” He said after contemplating for several minutes.

  “O
f course.” She assured.

  “I’ll be back in a few.” He left hesitantly.

  It was after midnight when she went to get coffee from the machine. It tasted bitter but it’ll have to do. She bought some water too for Julian. She walked back to the room and saw him freshly showered seated on the couch, shoulders hunched, face covered by his hands. She closed the door behind her and sat next to him, laying a hand on his arm in comfort. At her touch he turned and she saw his eyes brimming with tears. Her heart broke at seeing him in pain.

  “You’re still here.” He said, his voice hoarse.

  “I’m not going anywhere. Drink this.” She passed him the water. He took it without argument. “She’s going to wake up, Julian, you have to believe that. You can’t lose hope.” Eliana said.

  “I thought I lost her,” Julian said, circling his index finger over the bottle cap.

  “That didn’t happen and it won’t either.” He nodded and she saw a tear roll down his cheek. “Oh Julian . . .” She scooped closer and took his face in her hands wiping his tears away but they were immediately replaced. She hugged him as he sobbed his grief out. “She’ll be just fine. You’ll see.” Eliana gave him a small encouraging smile when he leaned back and seeing that, Julian’s pain lessened a little bit. Her compassion made him feel better.

  Late into the night, in the silence of the room, Julian’s head slid down to her shoulder where he fell into tired slumber and his hand fell onto hers. She tried to move a little but it tightened on her subconsciously, so she remained as still as she could the rest of the night. The next morning, Julian asked her to go to school so she didn’t miss her classes. “But what about you?”

  “I’ll be fine.” He said. “Don’t worry about me.”

  Reluctantly, she left after promising that she’ll be back as soon as school was over. Jax noticed his weary-looking sister and asked what it was that girls did on a sleepover to look so tired. Eliana explained the truth about where she had been and after some protest from him and some begging from Eliana to keep this from their father, Jax gave in and asked her to just be careful. She filled in the rest of their friends during break and they all sent their best wishes to Mila and hoped she recovered soon.

  After another hard day with Mila still unconscious, Julian tried to keep his mind occupied with the homework that Eliana brought him sparing a glace every other minute at his little friend. Jax came to the hospital to check on them along with Mia, Carter, Naomi and Ethan to offer him support anyway they could. Night passed with Eliana making sure Julian was fed and hydrated. She was so exhausted by the next morning she could barely keep her eyes open and was sleeping on her feet next to her locker.

  “You need to come home, El. You can’t walk straight.” Jax worried about his sister’s health.

  “I’m fine. Once Mila wakes up . . .”

  “Look, why don’t you head on home, I’ll stay over with him tonight. Even Julian looks like he would drop any second. He needs rest too. You both staying there won’t wake her up any sooner.” He tried to make her see sense.

  Before she could say more, Carter burst in like a tornado. “She’s awake! Mila’s awake!!” He shouted in excitement. “Julian just called me because you weren’t answering. He’s looking for you, Eliana.”

  Eliana got a surge of adrenaline and hurried to the hospital. Too excited to wait for the elevator she ran upstairs and barged in the room where she saw a doctor and Julian talking to each other as Mila sat on her bed, eyes tired but open. “Hey, you!” She said, ecstatic. Mila smiled at the dark-haired girl who bent to kiss her on the forehead. “How do you feel?”

  “Like my mind is all hazy.” Mila said slowly.

  “Now that’s your awake, Mila, you’ll be just fine.” The doctor assured her. “Julian, you’ve been here for days. Go home and rest well.”

  “Yes. Dr. Smith.” Julian said and Eliana nodded and the doctor left.

  “I’m sorry, I scared you,” Mila said looking at Julian.

  “Me? Scared? Ha! I don’t do scared.” He ran his hand through his already messy hair. “I’m too cool to be scared of anything.”

  “Then why do you look so sad?” Mila turned to Eliana who had a sentimental smile on her face. Julian was attached to this little girl. He wasn’t as insensitive and unemotional as he had seemed in the beginning. “Don’t worry, I’m not leaving him so soon. But could you do me a favor?”

  “Anything Mila,” Eliana said.

  “If something like this does happen again, do you promise to take care of him for me? I’m entrusting you with him because you’re all he talks about.”

  “Of course, I will.” She assured the little girl. “Not everyone can handle your boyfriend here.”

  “Okay now, enough talking. You need to rest.” Julian bent forward and tucked Mila in. He was relieved beyond words. The moment Mila opened her eyes, he felt his heartbeat again. “And don’t scare me like that again.” He whispered to the girl and kissed her cheek.

  Standing by the elevator to go home, Julian turned to her. “Thank you, Elly. For being there for me. I won’t forget it.”

  “That’s what friends are for.” She smiled at him in return.

  “Will you meet me at the pub tomorrow night?” Since it was the weekend, Julian hoped she’d come this time around. He was unable to give up on her. Unable to think of her as just a friend. “I’ll be there.” She promised.

  After she reached home from school that afternoon, she had a quick hot meal which her father who questioned her absence in some of her classes today. Eliana glanced at Jax who shook his head but she didn’t want to lie to her father, so she told him the truth. Not that she’d spent two nights in a row with Julian, just that she had gone to check on him this morning which is why she was missed in class. Jonathan Bennett nodded and didn’t question her further. Then Eliana collapsed on her bed and slept for hours. Come morning, all she could think about was meeting Julian that evening. There was a nervous excitement that she had never felt before. She spent most of the day asleep and was well-rested by the time she started to get ready to meet him. That was when Mia called her. She was supposed to be on a date with Andrew but he hadn’t shown. So Mia was a mess.

  If she went to Mia, she would be late for her meeting with Julian and if she went to him first, Mia would be more upset then she already was.

  She called Naomi to know her plans for the night but the redhead was out with her flat mate and would be home late. So Eliana decided to go to Mia and promised herself to make it up to Julian somehow. It wouldn’t do to stand him up the second time. Technically it would be a third time.

  But after she met Mia and calmed her down, her mind was singularly on Julian. She said goodbye as soon as she could without being impolite and drove to the pub. But of course, it was late and she didn’t see Julian anywhere. She bit her lip in disappointment and worry at how mad he would be at her. She turned to leave and reached her car when she saw her grey-eyed guy standing a few feet from her. He was wearing a white shirt which she liked on him and dark jeans. His hair fell into his eyes and were zeroed in on her.

  “Julian . . .” She said. He walked forward stopping in front of her, not saying a word. “You’re still here. What if I hadn’t come?” She asked.

  An odd expression passed his face, “I would have waited all my life.” He leisurely took her hand and brought it up to his lips bestowing a soft kiss on her knuckles. “I need to say something, Elly.”

  “Please don’t . . .” She wasn’t ready to hear whatever he was about to say and the intensity in his eyes made her turn around. Her heart was a mess of emotions she was having a terrible time understanding. Julian came closer and laid a gentle kiss near on the arch of her neck and whispered, “Look at me, Elly.” Her innocence had intoxicated him. He wasn’t drunk on her yet but he wasn’t sober either. Eliana was enslaved to his darkened eyes as she turned. She fought her desire and held a semblance of control. She knew it was only a matter of time before she would l
ose this battle.

  Julian bent his head, his mouth a breath away from her lips. The urge to kiss her was strong but the need for her consent was stronger. Julian sensed her hesitation and took a step back. “Want to play?”

  It took Eliana a minute to understand what was going on. “What?” She asked.

  “Let’s play darts. Still think you’re better than me?” He grinned at her.

  “I’m always going to be better than you.” She laughed.

  “Prove it.” And they began a game of darts late in the night, as they cheated and distracted one another and had more fun than they had in a long time. The next few days at school went by in longing stares. Julian and Eliana were in the computer lab during break with him running tiny circles over her palm when Carter ran inside and startled them.

  “Carter!” Eliana said. “What’s the rush?”