Rejected: A love story-Chapter 136: Gone

Ella sat on the couch, her face buried in her hands as she sobbed uncontrollably. Her best friend was gone. Caleb sat beside her, his arm wrapped around her, holding her tightly as if she might fall apart completely if he let go. His own face was pale, but he stayed strong for her.

"She’s gone," Ella whispered between sobs, her voice barely audible. "She’s really gone."

Caleb tightened his grip on her, his voice low. "I know, Ella. I know. I’m so sorry."

She shook her head violently and wept. "I need to see her," she said to Caleb. "I need to go to the hospital. I’m not going to sit around here and do nothing. She’s my best friend. I have to see her."

Julian stood by the window and stared at her. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest. His face was expressionless, but his eyes gave away the pain he was trying to hide. He hadn’t said much since they received the call, but now he turned to Ella and said firmly:

"You can’t go."

Ella jerked her head up to face him. Her eyes were tired and red. "What do you mean I can’t? She’s my best friend. I have to see her!"

Julian’s fists clenched at his sides. His voice was hard, though it also cracked slightly. "You think I don’t want to see her too? You think I don’t want to go to the hospital and hold her hand one last time? But we can’t. Caleb’s right. It’s not safe."

Ella’s voice was rising, full of anger and sorrow. "Safe?" she exclaimed. "What are you talking about? She’s dead, Julian! She’s gone, and you’re talking about safety?"

Caleb’s hand left her shoulder and wrapped around her hand, his grip gentle. "Ella, listen to me," he said, his voice serious but calm. "We don’t think this was an accident."

Caleb’s hand moved from her shoulder and went around her hand. His touch was soft. His voice was serious but calm. "We don’t think this was an accident."

Caleb looked at Julian for a moment before speaking again. "The driver of the vehicle that hit her ran away after leaving her at the hospital. That’s not normal behavior, Ella. Normal people don’t behave like that. And Fiona..." Caleb took a deep breath and went on. "Fiona had enemies. You know this."

Ella stared at him, crying harder "No, no, she’s gone, Caleb. She’s gone, and I wasn’t even there for her."

Julian stepped forward, his voice cold. "Ella, stop. Caleb’s looking out for you. I’m looking out for you. If this wasn’t an accident, then the people who did this could be coming after you next. Or me. Fiona wouldn’t want that to happen."

Ella stood up quickly, her hands shaking. "I don’t care! I don’t care about all that! I care that I want to see her! Julian, she’s my best friend! I’m not going to just sit around here and do nothing!"

Julian stepped forward to block her way, his voice becoming softer "Ella, I understand. I really do. But Caleb’s right. This place is the safest place we have right now. Security is top-notch. There are cameras everywhere, guards at all the entrances. If you leave this place, Ella, you’re putting yourself in danger"

Ella’s lip trembled as fresh tears spilled down her face. "But what if it’s too late? What if they take her away before I get to say goodbye?"

"I’ll go to the hospital, Ella. I’ll make sure she’s taken care of, and I’ll call you as soon as I know anything. But you have to trust me." Caleb assured

She looked at him, her eyes full of pain and desperation. "You promise?"

"I promise," Caleb said. "I’ll take care of everything."

Ella sank back onto the couch and Julian sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her. For the first time, his voice broke. "I can’t believe she’s gone," he whispered.

Ella leaned into him, Caleb stood by the door, watching them, his heart aching.

He cleared his throat, pushing down the lump that had formed there. "I’ll head to the hospital now," he said quietly. "I’ll call you as soon as I know anything."

Julian nodded. "Be careful."

Caleb met his gaze. "You too. Don’t let her out of your sight."

Julian nodded. "I won’t."

He turned around and went out of the room, Caleb was outside the room when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He took the phone out, looking at the screen. It was his parents. He let out a sigh, hesitating for a moment before answering.

"Hello?" Caleb said, his voice strained.

"Caleb," his mother’s voice was worried and rushed as she said, "how’s Nathan? We heard from the detective that something happened, is he okay?"

Caleb rubbed his forehead, his heart heavy. "I’m ... not sure, Mom," he said honestly. "I’m heading to the hospital now."

"What happened? Why is he at the hospital? The detective said it had something to do with Fiona?" His mom’s voice cracked, and Caleb could hear her trying to hold back tears.

Caleb swallowed hard. "Yeah. It’s Fiona. Nathan fainted when he... when he saw her body." Caleb felt his throat constrict as he spoke the words aloud. "He’s been a wreck, Mom. He hasn’t gone to work in days. I have no idea how he’s going to deal with all of this."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Caleb’s father spoke again, his voice heavy but resolute. "We are on our way. We’ll catch the next flight."

Caleb blinked in surprise. "You’re coming here?"

"Of course we are," Caleb’s father said resolutely. "Nathan needs us. You need us."

Caleb nodded, even though they couldn’t see him. "Okay. I’ll keep you updated until you get here."

His mom’s voice came back, softer now. "Caleb... are you okay? You sound—"

"I’m fine, Mom," Caleb said quickly, cutting her off. He didn’t want to get into it. Not now. "I have to go. I’ll call you later."

"Okay," his mom said quietly. "Be careful, Caleb. We love you."

’I love you too,’ Caleb said, and then he hung up the phone. Caleb looked at the phone in his hands, his mind reeling. His parents’ presence might be good for Nathan, but it still meant that everything was unraveling. Fiona was gone. Nathan was hanging in there. And Ella... Caleb couldn’t even think about losing her too.

Caleb tucked the phone into his pocket and walked towards the door. He had to get to the hospital.