What She Concealed

by Jannat Bhat

  “Dammit, Ethan!” Naomi snatched her hand from him. “What is your problem?” She asked, her red curls wildly moving around her.

  “My problem is that you don’t understand my problem!” Ethan said furiously and before he said something he would regret, he turned and went the other way, leaving Naomi confused in her feelings towards him. She had no idea what to make of Ethan’s sudden care for her welfare but decided to deal with it once she sorted the situation with her parents.

  Days later, everything had been normal and boring when the friends had parted ways the day before so when Ethan and Naomi announced that they were dating, it shocked everyone to their core. “WHAT?” Carter shouted.

  “When? Where? How?” Eliana was next. “I don’t understand.”

  “Congratulations you guys,” Mia said, hugging them. “I had no idea!”

  Jax stared at Ethan and Naomi holding each other’s hands and looking all lovey-dovey. Julian, on the other hand, looked at Ethan with a lifted eyebrow.

  “Why didn’t you say anything?” Carter shot at the new couple.

  “It was so sudden, it just happened,” Naomi said, blushing as Ethan put his arms around her.

  “Naomi is the girl you’re in love with?” Eliana was thoroughly surprised.

  “Yeah, she is.” Ethan had offered to help Naomi out of the fix with her parents after she had finally given up and opened up about her problem but Naomi didn’t know just how truthful his answer was and the others didn’t know they were just pretending to be dating.

  “I believe congratulations are in order,” Jax said quietly and went to shake hands with the duo.

  “Wow.” Eliana went to hug her friends.

  “Come here you two.” Julian took them in a hug at the same time. “I’m just going to borrow your real boyfriend for a while. Thanks.” Julian dragged Ethan out with him and made their way to the backyard exit. “What happened?”

  “What do you mean?” Ethan avoided Julian’s sharp gaze.

  “Don’t start the ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ crap with me, Bailey. We’re past that.” Julian said impatiently. “You were at each other’s throat until yesterday and I know you actually love her and I also know she’s too naïve to get that. So how did this happen?”

  “Not now, Julian.” Ethan shook his head. He didn’t look as happy as he had moments before. He looked wretched.

  “And here I thought I’d tell everyone about Eliana and me before anyone else. You better not get into a habit of beating me at things.”

  “At least, Eliana loves you back. Not everything is as perfect as it looks.” Ethan said looking distant.

  “What’s going on, Bailey? You can talk to me. I’m a fantastic advisor too.” Julian said with a shrug.

  “Maybe later.” And they left it at that.

  The finals came with days and night as one and almost all of them spent it at the library. After the last paper was done with, the students let out a breath of relief. The friends left the school premises together and decided to crash at Starbucks for a few hours. Naomi was seated looking strained. “It’s barely been a week and you already look so sad. This usually happened after a month, am I right?” Julian asked looking at the duo.

  “Hush, Julian,” Eliana said. “You’re so insensitive sometimes.”

  “I was trying to cheer them up,” Julian said in his defense.

  “Funny way of doing that.” Jax drawled.

  “Exactly. Funny way.” Julian pointed out.

  “What is it? Why do you look so down?” Eliana asked looking at her friend. “You think you’re going to fail the finals?” Julian joked and Eliana gave him a reprimanding look.

  “I saw a wedding venue on our way here.” Naomi said unexpectedly.

  “Okay?” Ethan was confused, wondering where she was going with this.

  “It’s been forever since we attended Mr. Sanders wedding. It’s like there are no major events in our lives.” Naomi said. “We are so boring and sad.”

  “I’ll try not to take a hit to my ego.” Ethan murmured.

  “Then just dress up and crash a wedding.” Julian sat back in his chair and closed his eyes to rest them for a few minutes.

  There was silence on the table before the redhead jumped up. “That’s a great idea!” Naomi said happily.

  “I agree!” Ethan supported her. She looked livelier than she had in days.

  Julian’s eyes flew open and he straightened in his seat. “I was just kidding. You can’t crash a wedding!”

  “Why not, Bro? Sounds like fun.” Carter said grinning. “I haven’t dressed up since Mia’s Dad got married. Yes, my social life is almost nonexistent. Sue me.”

  “But whose wedding would you crash?” Eliana asked.

  “Just go to any wedding venue,” Jax said casually.

  “That’s perfect! You guys would come with us too right? It will be fun and exciting.” Naomi looked at her friends expectantly.

  “Of course. Let’s got to the one you saw earlier,” Carter said without a beat.

  “I’m in.” Eliana smiled at them. She liked how her friends made her do the most unexpected things.

  “I don’t mind.” Jax shrugged. Mia hadn’t joined them as she had an outing planned with her step mother.

  “No way, Naomi. This is absurd.” Julian said and turned to look at Eliana.

  “Please Julian. I am so bored with life.” Naomi pleaded. “And who knows where life would take us next year.”

  Julian shook his head, “I’m sorry, but this is just plain wrong.”

  “Since when did you stop doing anything wrong?” Ethan asked him. “It was kind of your specialty.”

  “Since I promised someone I would be better. I’m not stopping you from doing this, but I want no part in this.” Julian stood up from his chair and left the cafe.

  “Look at him being the voice of reason,” Ethan said.

  “I’ll try and talk to him,” Eliana said and followed Julian instantaneously. “Julian, stop.” He turned at her voice when she reached him. “What was that about?”

  “It’s just wrong, Elly. You know that.” Julian said.

  “It might be but Julian they’re our friends. How could we say no?” Eliana spoke gently.

  “Like I did. Do you want me to demonstrate it again? It goes with the alphabet N and O. Say it with me together. NO.” Julian turned.

  “Julian. . .”

  “And I don’t want to mess up again with Daddy Bennett. If anything goes wrong, he’ll find a way to blame me.” Julian said.

  “How did my father come into this conversation?” Eliana asked, perplexed.

  “Because he manages to come into everything between us. What’s a conversation?” Julian took her hand.

  “Julian. . .” Eliana said. “We have to help them.”

  “Look, Elly, like I said. You can go if you want to, I’m not stopping you, but I’m not coming either.” He said gently and kissed her on the forehead. “Be careful.”

  “Please, Julian.” Eliana pouted. “I even said please.” Julian couldn’t resist her after that.

  Later that night, Eliana was alone in her room as her father had left for a conference in Chicago and Jax wasn’t home yet. She was leaning against the kitchen counter reading A Tale of Two Cities, cup of tea in hand before feeling a tap on her shoulder. She was about to yell out in surprise when Julian covered her mouth with his hand.

  “Shh.” He said.

  “Julian!” She whispered furiously. “You scared the life out of me. Why do you always sneak up?”

  “Because you look cute when you’re startled.” He grinned at her and leaned against the counter next to her. “Just like a little child. As if you’ve seen a ghost.”

  “Who wouldn’t be startled?” She asked. “You’re not any less than a ghost.”

  “And you are. . .” He paused as he stared down as her. “Very . . . very . . . beautiful.”

  Eliana blushed prettily at the sudden ten
derness in his voice. “How did you get in? I’m sure I locked the doors.”

  “A locked door isn’t enough to keep me from you.” Julian said and picked her up in his arms going to her room.

  “What are you doing?” She asked him.

  “Ridding the world of some weight.”

  Eliana gasped. “Are you calling me heavy?”

  “I never said that. Don’t put words in my mouth, Bennett.”

  “Let me down now!” She wiggled her legs.

  “Alright fine.” Julian walked up to her bed and laid her into her gently so she would be comfortable.

  “You have a new tattoo.” She commented looking at his arm. It was a small red and black phoenix with its wings spread wide. She saw her name engraved on the bird’s chest. ELLY. “What does it mean? The bird.” She asked touching the tattooed skin.

  “It means having gone through difficult times but having survived it. It means that I’ve arisen from flames, beating all trials and overcoming tough times. And it’s all because I have you.”

  “I love you, Julian.” She murmured.

  “I love you too. Sleep now, Elly. And dream of me.” He whispered gently and took the cup and book from her.

  “Goodnight Julian.” She said, looking at her grey-eyed guy.

  “Goodnight, Elly.” He said, looking at his dark-haired girl.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The next day, Eliana hung out with Julian at their café just spending quality time together. He told her that he had applied to New Haven University and had gotten in. She delightfully told him that she had gotten in to several universities with New Haven being one of them. Though her father didn’t know which one she would choose, the decision was made for her. She would be wherever Julian was. They were on their way to their cars when Eliana’s phone buzzed. She was busy removing it from her bag and didn’t see the bike coming her way at full speed, but Julian was more attentive to his surroundings. And that is why he pushed her out of harm’s way and roughly fell and hurt himself on the gravel.

  “Julian!” He winced holding his left arm. Blood started to pour out of his skin at the tear. “Are you okay?” She gasped at seeing the blood on him.

  “I’m okay, Elly. Are you hurt?” He checked her for any possible injuries.

  Shouts of concerns from several onlookers had Julian gave them a thumbs up. “We need to get you to the ER. Let’s go.” They settled in Eliana’s Mini and she drove hurriedly to the hospital. Dr. Harrison tended to the wound carefully and was glad that it wasn’t deep. Once he was all patched up and back next to her car. “Julian, can you promise me something?” Eliana asked looking keenly at him.

  Julian remained silent as he stared at the love of his life whom he had almost lost today. Eliana noticed the pain in his eyes. “I love you.” He said, hoarsely.

  “I love you too, Julian which is why I need you to promise me something.” She look both his hands in hers. “You cannot put yourself headfirst into danger for me like you did today.”

  He looked away. “I can’t promise you that.” He said. “I won’t lose you, Elly, not ever.”

  “Julian. . .”

  “I can’t, Elly. I can’t promise you that. Because I’m always going to put myself between you and anything that would harm you!” He said forcefully. “I’ve never made you any false promises before, and I’m not about to start now.” He wrapped his right hand around her waist and pulled her to him, resting his head against her chest, the steady beat of her heart soothed him. Eliana felt it best not to push him at the moment. She ran her hand over his head calming him further with the simple gesture.

  At the café several days later, the friends were enjoying their vacation and relaxing after a long and stressful year. “Guys, I’m thinking, we’ve on vacation.” Julian started.

  “Why are you stating the obvious?” Ethan asked.

  “Can you listen to me first?” Julian chided. Ethan waved his hand telling him to continue. “So vacations are meant for relaxation especially since we’ve been so strained out recently.”

  “Can you come to the point, Julian?” Jax said. Eliana chuckled at everyone’s impatience poking Julian.

  “I’m coming to the point, Jax, if you could just wait. So I was thinking let’s go somewhere.” Julian said.

  “True. It’s been a tiring year, we need to go and chill before college begins and I start falling flat on my face.” Naomi said with her face flat on the table. “Let’s go to my late grandmother’s cabin. It’s an hour’s drive and the scenery is to die for!” They were in agreement. “What about, Mia?” Carter asked.

  “Mia needs to spend some alone time with Andrew, her boyfriend, remember?” Mia said joining them at the table. “I’ll take a raincheck.” She said, apologetically. “He’s been away checking out universities and he’s finally coming back and I miss him.” She whined.

  “Alright then, let’s do this.” Jax agreed as did the others.

  They all met up near school the next morning as it was the central spot and rode in Julian’s jeep rather than going in separate cars so at they would all be together. Eliana sat in the passenger seat while Julian drove. He made a sharp you turn on the way to avoid a rogue rock but couldn’t manage it completely, that is how they ended up with a bust tire.

  “Dammit,” Julian said once he was out of his jeep and kicked the tire.

  “What are we going to do now?” Ethan asked.

  “Don’t worry Ethan, Julian will fix it,” Carter said confidently, leaning out the window. “Right?”

  “Look, bro, I know you think I’m some kind of a superhero, but even I can’t fix this,” Julian said putting an arm around Carter when he joined him.

  “Well if you won’t fix it, who will?” Naomi asked.

  “Don’t you have a spare?” Eliana asked.

  “That’s also a bust.” Julian shook his head.

  “Great.” Naomi said annoyed. “This is ridiculous. Why are guys so careless?”

  “Yeah, it’s all our fault,” Ethan responded. “You girls are saints aren’t you? Holier than thou and all that.” He rolled his eyes.

  Naomi had enough. “That’s it! Screw you guys! We’ll find our own way to the cabin.”

  “Let’s all calm down, Naomi.” Eliana tries to control the situation before it escalated further.

  “No Eliana! We don’t want to be in their debt.” Naomi said, glaring at Ethan who was looking smug. “Let’s go and catch a cab instead. It would be much better than being in their company.” She furiously scribble the address to the cabin on a paper and threw it at Ethan. “See if you can get there or don’t, I don’t care!”

  “No, wait!” Julian called Eliana who gave him the puppy eyes. She didn’t want to leave him but had no choice with Naomi dragging her forward.

  “Let them go, dude,” Ethan said holding the paper.

  “She’s your girlfriend. You could act a little concerned.” Julian said but Ethan just shrugged.

  Julian let out a frustrated sigh at the turn of events. The guys reached the cabin shortly after the girls, also in a cab. But when they saw the girls all cozied up next to the fire, all their madness melted away. So they freshened up and went to join them.

  “Truce?” They asked.

  Because the Naomi had calmed down, they agreed. “Truce.”

  They all spent the afternoon playing games, watching TV, and just having plain fun. They were all camped out in the garden area of the resort and enjoyed the quiet of the night. Naomi informed that they didn’t have much stocked up in the cabin for dinner, so she’ll pop into town and get some take outs. Ethan, Juliana and Eliana volunteered to come along for the ride. Carter and Jax opted to stay back.

  While Naomi and Ethan were in the restaurant waiting for their order, Julian and Eliana waited outside in the cool wind blowing their way. They were pushing each other lightly and laughing at the silliness of it. The air changed when he pushed her a little harder and saw bright headlights coming towards herse
lf. In the next second, she felt herself being pushed again roughly to the ground.

  Looking up and around she turned to her savior and saw Julian lying a couple of feet from her. She stood up too quickly and felt dizzy for a few moments. After steading herself she went to him. “Julian?” She called out. He was facing the other side so she held his bicep and turned him towards her and what she saw made her gasp in horror.