What She Concealed

by Jannat Bhat

  “No.” She said.

  “Excuse me?” He paused on his way to the kitchen.

  “I’m not eating anything until you come with me.” She said. Eliana was a disheveled mess but it appealed to Julian more than if she was prim and proper. Seeing her look so intimate with hair tangled and sleepy eyes made it difficult for him to not close the distance between them and kiss her senseless. “You haven’t eaten since last night. Don’t make this any harder than it needs to be.” He said.

  “Not until you agree, Julian.” She persisted.

  “Whatever.” He shook his head and left the room.

  Eliana stood up from the settee and went to the washroom to clean up. She tried to manage the tangled hair with her fingers so it looked less like a bird’s nest and changed into her dry clothes from yesterday leaving Julian’s clothes neatly folded on the counter. She was sad parting with his shirt since had slept like a baby in it. And she liked his scent. It made her feel cozy and secure. Exiting the washroom, she felt a wave of dizziness hit her and stumbled. Falling forward she crashed into a vase that rested on the table right outside which went down on impact and shattered into pieces. Julian was there in a flash holding her up. “Elly!” He picked her up and brought her to the settee. “What happened?”

  “Just a bit light-headed.” She said massaging her head and closed her eyes to steady her vision.

  “Damn it, Elly! I told you to eat something.” He said worriedly.

  “Not until you. . .”

  “Fine! I’ll come with you. Just . . . eat something. Please.” He said, frustrated.

  “Really?” Eliana looked at him in disbelief. Had she managed to convince him or was she delusional from lack of nutrition?

  “Yes.” Julian looked at her with a straight face.

  “You even said please.” She gave him a small smile.

  “Keep this in mind, Eliana Bennett. I’m coming with you, not for you.” She nodded. As long as he came back, the reason didn’t matter to Eliana.

  Julian gave her some tea and sandwiches and made sure she ate before he went to the bedroom and made a few phone calls before packing a bag. They were soon on their way back but the journey was torturously silent on both ends. Eliana had tried to make conversation but when Julian refused to answer any questions, she gave up and was content just by his presence.

  When Julian returned to the school, he went to see Jonathan Bennett apologized for his lack of insight. He was both reprimanded and warned to not repeat, especially as the exams were near and to make sure he caught up with his studies and extra credits if he wishes to graduate with his class. Jonathan Bennett was equally glad to see his student come back to him. He collected his student ID from Mrs. Reed and went to his locker where his friends welcomed him with open arms.

  “Julian! Your back!” Naomi went and took him in a hug. Julian patted her back with a smile.

  “Nice to see you too.” He said genuinely happy to see her.

  “We missed you, bro, so much!” Carter wiped his nonexistent tears and wrapped himself around Julian’s waist after Naomi had let go. “I love you, man.” Julian laughed lightly at Carter’s actions.

  “How could you do this to us, Julian?” Mia asked. “We’re all supposed to be friends.”

  Jax gave Julian a welcome nod as he wasn’t one with many words. Julian acknowledged it with a nod back. “How have you guys been?” Julian asked instead.

  “Miserable without you,” Naomi said. “Especially Eliana and I.”

  Eliana tensed at the mention of her name but didn’t look up from her locker. Julian’s gaze flicked to the dark-haired girl for a second. “I’m sure that’s not true.”

  “It’s true. I mean, Eliana barely ate anything while you were gone.” Ethan said.

  “I’m sure you had your reasons for leaving,” Jax said. “And as long as you’re okay, I think we should just put this past us and move on.”

  “Exactly, and please don’t be all sad and depressed. Be your old self again, the one who messed with Eliana so much. I miss that Julian.” Carter said. “You too Eliana, don’t be mopey anymore.”

  “I miss that Julian too,” Eliana said facing him. She prayed that she hadn’t broken something in Julian that would be impossible to fix. Julian gave her a long look. Why would you want that, Bennett? He thought.

  They were in the library after school when Eliana found Julian studying and catching up with his assignments as he had been told. She asked him if she could help but all he did was shook his head. He didn’t look up nor said a word to her. She sighed and turned to leave but her stole stopped her in her tracks. She slowly turned around to see that it was caught on the chain of Julian’s bag. Her gaze drifted to him as he moved to free the caught up stole. She observed a flash of pain in his eyes as they both thought back to the moment the stole had caught on his button the night of her birthday party at Mia’s farmhouse. He let her stole loose and turned back to his notes quietly.

  The next week, Imperial High had the last game of the season but Julian couldn’t concentrate. He’d been studying days and nights as one and it was taking its toll on him. He was rightfully scolded by their football coach after being dismissed mid-game. Eliana was concerned about him as were the others and she shared a look with Ethan. They had all noticed how much Julian was not himself since his return and they worried for him. Eliana found him after the game and went to speak to him. “Julian, I need to speak to you.” She said.

  “Is it about schoolwork?”

  “Uh, not necessarily.” She said.

  “If it’s not then I have nothing to say.” He put his bag over his shoulder and started to leave.

  “You’re not leaving until you listen to what I have to say.” She took his hand. “Please listen to me one more time.” She strained.

  “You said enough the last time.” He turned away. “I don’t have the heart to hear anymore.”

  “Julian, you’re overexerting yourself. You come before classes begin and leave long after everyone’s left.”

  “You wanted me back here. And now that I am, you have a problem with that too?” Julian asked.

  “I don’t have a problem with you studying. But I do if you’re overdoing it. You look tired, Julian. Let me help you so you could go home and rest.”

  How could I go anywhere when holding you close is all my home is about? Julian looked at her for several moments before he freed his hand from her hold and left.

  Next day, Eliana was drinking hot tea in the cafeteria during break when Ethan came and sat next to her with a frustrated sigh. “I swear one day, she’s going to end up dead.”

  “Who?” Eliana asked.

  “Naomi. I don’t have the urge to kill anyone else.” He said. “Not even Julian.”

  “You guys should seriously find common ground and call a truce,” Eliana said taking a sip and looked at Ethan pulling his hair.

  “Truce? With her? Huh, never.” Ethan noticed her looking gloomy.

  “How’s Julian feeling?” Carter was another addition to the table.

  “Not that good,” Eliana responded to her blonde friend.

  “I thought so. He seems to be going through a rough phase. He barely smiles anymore. I can’t see him like this.” Carter frowned sadly. “I need my bro back.”

  “We should do something. He needs to find the old Julian in himself. Not this weird silent soul who broods all the time. He’s even scarier like this than he was back in Greenwood.” Ethan said.

  “I couldn’t agree more. I’ve tried to talk to him but he won’t budge. I don’t know what to do.” Eliana said blowing on the tea.

  “How were you guys like before?” Ethan asked her.

  “You mean when we started our year?” Eliana looked at him.

  “They just argued and messed with each other a lot,” Carter said, and Eliana smiled a little at the memories. “They loved to make each other angry all the time. Just like you and Naomi.”

  “Let’s not bring Cla
rk into this. And I guess that’s what we got to go, make him angry.” Ethan said.

  “You think so?” The last time she made him angry he up and left them. Or maybe that could be hurt rather than anger.

  “Yes and anger is better than brooding. If you want the old Julian back, you should do the same things like before.” Ethan justified.

  “I guess that does make sense,” Eliana said.

  “It makes complete sense. So what do you want to do?” Carter supported.

  Eliana pondered on it for a while as did Ethan, before he said, “Do you think I should challenge him for a bike race again? He does like to race.”

  “I don’t think so, Ethan. He was hurt and ended up in the ER.” She said.

  “True, which is even more reason he’ll try to get out of it and when we provoke him together, he’ll be pissed,” Ethan said. Eliana bit her lip thinking it over. “Trust me, Eliana, it will work.” And she nodded in agreement.

  So come morning, Eliana was putting up a poster for the bike racing on the notice board which Ethan had passed to her. Julian came up behind her, reading the contents of the ad. He scowled when he saw his name competing against Ethan. “What the hell is this?”

  “What do you mean?” She asked innocently. Julian pointed to the ad. “Are you back to your old tricks again?” He asked with narrowed eyes.

  “I did learn from the best.” She blinked at him.

  “You learned this from me, is that what you’re trying to say?” He asked. She just shrugged. “It’s sad that of all things, you learned this.” He said in a quiet tone. “I’m not going to be racing so don’t bother putting that up.”

  “I think it’s too late to back out now. Almost everyone is talking about it.” She didn’t know this for sure, but she needed to solidify her case.

  “I won’t do it. Especially now because you said so.” Julian emphasized.

  “Are you sure? It just looks to me that you’re afraid of losing to Ethan. Again.”

  “I don’t do afraid and I know what you’re doing, so stop it.” He stepped closer. “Listen to me carefully, Bennett. I. Won't. Come.”

  Yes, you will, Eliana thought as she watched Julian walk away. She updated Ethan on her encounter with Julian shortly. “At least he spoke to me, that’s more than I can say for the past few days. I hope this plan doesn’t backfire.”

  “It won’t. We did earn a reaction from him.” Ethan said.

  “What if he doesn’t show?” She worried.

  “He’ll have to. We need to get him out of this funk.” The whole group except Jax were in the cafeteria when Ethan brought up the racing which would take place that night.

  “It’s okay if you don’t want to compete, Julian. I’ll understand.” Ethan tried to goad him. “Considering what happened last time since you know, racing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.”

  Julian stared at Ethan with a cool gaze. “Are you done yet?” Julian asked.

  “Depends on your answer.” Ethan sat back in his chair. “Last time you just ended up in the hospital like a loser.”

  “Say yes, Julian. C’mon.” Carter said. “Make me proud.”

  “Yeah, you can’t let him insult you like this,” Naomi added making a face at Ethan. “He thinks he’s a racing god.”

  “You see, bike racing isn’t like boxing where you don’t use any skills and just hit blindly. It takes a brain to win races.” Ethan continued.

  “I agree with you, Ethan. Racing isn’t easy.” Eliana said and she felt Julian’s gaze shift to her frosting in its intensity. “It takes courage to come back after losing to try again.”

  “When and where do you want to lose?” Julian asked Ethan.

  “Same place, same time.” Ethan smiled victoriously and winked at Eliana purposefully which made Julian get up and leave.

  Reaching the racing track, Carter suggested having the girls sit on the back of the riders so they wouldn’t ride as recklessly as last time.

  “I’ll sit with Ethan.” Naomi volunteered. It surprised the hell out of everyone, especially Ethan. Her motive was to distract him so Julian could win but she couldn’t say it out loud. Mia plain refused because bikes scared the life out of her so Eliana moved next to where Julian was straddled on his bike.

  “You’re not sitting with me.” He said at her approach.

  “As you wish, I’ll talk to Naomi and sit with Ethan instead.” She shrugged.

  Julian’s hand shot out taking hold of her wrist and turned her in a circle bringing her onto his back seat in one smooth motion. “Two things. I’m going to win this race and never, ever challenge me again.”

  “You seem confident.” He ignored her. “But you can tell me the truth. You scared?” She asked.

  “To death,” Julian said and turned sideways to look at her. “Is that what you want to hear?” Eliana turned to see Ethan talking to Naomi. “I know it was you behind Ethan challenging me. Don’t you get tired?”

  “Of what?”

  “Of provoking me.” He asked, accelerating in place as the man in charge of the racing track indicated them to get ready.

  “I’ve been provoking you since the day we met, Julian.” She put her hands on his back clenching them on his jacket.

  Julian let out a breath. “You’re a strange girl.”

  “What do you mean?” She was taken by surprise at his evaluation.

  “You challenge me into this and want me to lose, but when you saw me fighting back in Greenwood, you couldn’t bear it when I was getting hit. You ran to me in the middle of a god damn fist fight with no concern for your safety. You were worried sick about me.”

  “As a friend, I was concerned for you. You were bleeding and had bruises all over.” Eliana wanted to say it was because she loved him, but if Julian was to tell her that they’d broken up and he wanted to remain that way, she couldn’t take it.

  “You’ve given me such deep wounds Eliana, these small cuts and bruises don’t bother me.” He said turning his attention to the race and true to his word, Julian won.

  “Not bad, Rivera. Congratulations.” Ethan shook hands with Julian.

  “Looks like you’re no longer a sore loser.” Julian let loose a smile he hadn’t in a while. He was exhilarated after the race. The speed and the wind made him feel free. Ethan and Eliana shared a pleased look at their united victory.

  Chapter Twelve

  Now that Julian was feeling better, Eliana wished they’d go back to how they were when they first met minus all the tension that was between them. Even if he didn’t love her anymore, she owed his happiness back to him.

  At break, Julian was at the cafeteria counter, observing Eliana talking away with Naomi at one of the tables.

  “Hey.” Ethan came to stand by him, ordering a coffee for himself.

  Julian immediately turned back around and waited for his order. “Hey,” He said back.

  “She looks nice today, doesn’t she?” Ethan said, looking at the table Julian had been watching. Eliana and Naomi were dressed in their casual clothes and having lunch, nothing out of the ordinary. They were just like other girls in the cafeteria, but these two, one dark-haired and the other a redhead immersed in their conversation unaware of eyes on them, stood out as the most beautiful to the guys gazing at them from the counter.

  “Who?” Julian asked.

  “You don’t have to hide it, Julian. I already know. I’m as observant as ever. I knew back in middle school when your mother had left you. I knew your dad treated you as almost nonexistent. I know when you’re angry or sad or happy. I can make out the difference. And right now, you’re utterly miserable.” Julian gave him an odd look. “I know, ironic, that your enemy knows you best. Keep your enemies closer and all that shit.” Ethan smirked.

  “Want me to grade your answers now, Bailey?” Julian drawled, taking his coffee mug but didn’t move away from his spot.

  “No Julian. All I’m saying is that you don’t have to act indifferent all the time. Not anymore. Becau
se I know. I can see.”

  “What exactly do you think you see?” Julian asked, looking at the dark swirls in his coffee.

  “That you love her.” Julian froze hearing that. “And it’s kind of my fault you both drifted apart.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Eliana and I are just . . . friends.” Julian said. The word tasted sour in his mouth and he took a sip of the dark drink. He turned to see Ethan looking smug. “What? Why are you making that stupid face?”