Red Alert

Chapter 15: Untrustful

Dylan's Pov

My head was thumping and I felt like someone had hammered it over and over again. My whole body felt stiff and ached all over. I opened my eyes slowly as I squinted and shifted a bit. I felt something touching my hand as I turned to the left and was surprised to see Ella sleeping soundly while holding my hand. I turned to look out the window and realized that it was still night but the rain had stopped.

I sat up slowly, removing my hand from Ella's as something fell onto my lap. I picked the towel up as I placed it on the bedside table. I noticed a few bottles of medicine on the table and a drip stand by the bed that was attached to me by a wire. All I remembered about yesterday was going and sitting outside in the backyard since I had a great lot of things to think about but it had started to rain. I was too much into thinking and guess I lost track of time and stayed in the rain. I must have collapsed but who had brought me in and treated me? It couldn't have been Ella, could it?

I turned to look at Ella, who was sitting on a chair but leaning on my bed while snoring lightly. She had stayed here all night for sure so she must've been taking care of me. I couldn't be more thankful to her as I smiled and rubbed her head, moving her hair away from her face.

I shifted my position since I was feeling numb but was unable to as instead I mistakingly moved my arm which ended up hitting Ella's head. I gasped since that wasn't very nice of me and thought that Ella was still asleep so sighed in relief. Except, Ella sat up as she rubbed her eyes.

"You're up. Are you alright?" She asked as she looked me with a worried expression.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I answered.

"I'm glad you're alright but you still have to be careful," Ella said as she stood up and pulled the blanket up to cover me. "You scared me last night, you know." She said as I looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

"Well...I'm fine now," I said, not sure what else to say to her.

"What were you doing in the rain for so long? You could have frozen to death. You should take proper care of yourself." She said, hints of anger visible in her tone. "I don't know why you were out there but you should be more careful from now on. You have to take care of your body and staying in the cold is not an option. For all we know, you could have caught hypothermia and gotten worse You're lucky I found you when I did. Promise me you'll take better care of yourself and won't collapse again?" Ella bombarded me with a speech the first thing after waking up.

"I won't collapse again. Is that okay? Just...be quiet for now." I said feeling annoyed as a headache started to form.

"You're ignoring me aren't you? I'm just worried, alright? I just don't get why you were out in the rain when you knew it was raining. Is your health not important to you?" Ella said this time not hiding her anger as she just basically yelled at me.

"Why are you getting angry at me?!" I questioned back. I was tired, my head was aching and this woman was lecturing me about taking care of myself. I do take proper care of myself but sometimes just forget to eat and get too lost in work to remember. It happens sometimes and I know it's bad but I prefer finishing my work on time rather than paying attention to my health.

"I'm not getting angry! You're just so infuriating when you won't listen! I'm just concerned for you." She shouted as she handed me a pill with a glass of water. I gulped it down as I thought about what to reply to her.

"I didn't ask for your concern," I stated, glaring at her before turning to look at the window.

"You're right. You didn't ask for my concern but I am." Ella replied a sad look etched across her face. "It's my fault that I thought something bad had happened. It's my fault that I was scared to death!" She suddenly yelled as I heard her voice crack. My head snapped towards her as I noticed tears rolling down her cheeks. She was full-on crying but turned away from me as she silently sobbed and I could tell that she trying to stop herself.

"Ella, I didn't mean to..." I said only to trail off as the guilty feeling started to return. I hate tears, why are they my only weakness. Ella crying right now because of me, made me feel very bad and I guiltier. I was surprised at the fact that she was crying but the words she said before touched me, like deeply. 

She said that 'she was scared to death that something bad had happened to me' and I don't know why she would say that or if it was true or not but I felt bad. She cared for me and because of that she was giving me a lecture, how did I not realize that. I thought she was just blabbering but she truly cares. Why would she care for me? I haven't been the best to her yet she still cares. This too sentimental and her words are touching me, this must be some sort of trick or magic. I'm not the one to feel bad for anyone and whatever this fluttering in my stomach is bothering me. 

"I'm sorry." She muttered as she turned back to me and sniffled, smiling at me. I could tell that her smile was a fake and she was just trying to be brave and hide her embarrassment. "You should keep yourself warm," Ella said as she approached me and pulled the blanket over me once again before checking my forehead. The doorbell rang pulling Ella away as she went out and answered the door. 

"Hey, you alright?" Jackson's voice appeared as my head snapped towards the doorway.

"Yeah...uh...what are you two doing here so early in the morning?" I asked Asher and Jackson as they sauntered over to my bed. 

"We were just worried," Asher stated as he sat on the side of my bed. "You feeling better now?" He asked as I nodded and glanced towards the doorway, trying to spot Ella. She was nowhere in my sight, although all I wanted was to see her right now and apologize for making her cry.

"Where did Ella go?" I asked them.

"She's gone to change her clothes," Jackson answered as he jumped on the other side of my bed and sat comfortably. "Asher noticed she was wearing the same soaked clothes from yesterday so he ordered her to go and change them before making you breakfast." He told me as I scrunched my eyes.

"Soaked clothes? What do you mean?" I asked.

"From yesterday," Asher said but I still didn't get it and he guessed it from my oblivious look. "When she found you outside yesterday, she ran out in the rain to get you. Looks like she was too occupied taking care of you that she forgot to change her clothes. She could get sick like you too and we don't want two sick people to take care of." Asher explained as I stared at the door, my mind wandering off. 

Ella was telling me to take care and look after myself yet she didn't take care of herself at all. The irony of her telling me to be careful yet she spent the whole night in wet, soaking clothes. How dare she worries about my health when she wasn't careful of her own. She can't do that to herself. Now, she has me worried and even though I don't want to care for her I'm quite concerned right now.

"Hey! Dyl, you listening?" Jackosn snapped his fingers in front of my face as I snapped back to reality. I looked at the confused yet worried expression on my friend's faces as I shook my head.

"What were you saying?" I questioned.

"I wasn't saying, I was asking. Why were you in the rain yesterday?" Jackson asked.

"I was just thinking. Guess I forgot it was forecasted to rain." I answered his question but they knew as well as I knew that it was a lie. There was only one thing that I could've been thinking about so deeply and the guys, as well as I, knew what that was. Andy and Susan's death anniversary was tomorrow and the day after that was the twins birthday. I was lost in my mind and the guilt was getting to me so I guess I was sort of punishing myself by staying under the rain. If you get what I mean.

"Anyway, about the..." Asher started only for him to be cut off by the sound of glass breaking. It was clear that the sound came from the kitchen downstairs and the only person there right now was Ella. The boys got to their feet and rushed downstairs as I got up a bit slowly, my legs a bit wobbly from staying in bed too long. I pulled out the drip inserted in my hand as I ran down the stairs and entered the kitchen. There was broken glass on the floor and Ella was sitting on her knees while her hands were bleeding. Asher helped her stand up but she simply brushed him off and sat down on the sofa.

"What happened?" I asked as I approached Ella.

"I just got a bit light-headed, that's all..." She muttered as she hissed, her hands probably hurting. I walked around the glass that Asher was cleaning up and opened the medicine cupboard, taking out a first aid kit. I walked back to Ella with the aid kit and crouched down as I grabbed her wrist. First of all, I cleaned her hands with tissues earning a hiss from her now and then. Then I put an antibiotic ointment on them before wrapping both her hands in a bandage, neatly. 

"You alright?" I asked her as she nodded.

"Yeah, just sleepy," Ella answered with a smile. It was then that I noticed the dark circles under her eyes, her pale face and her blue lips. "Sorry about the glass." She said an apologetic look on her face.

"It's alright. We can buy more." I said, reassuringly as I went to place the first aid kit back. Asher finished cleaning the shattered glass as Jackson simply watched. I patted Asher on the back muttering thanks as we all walked over to the sofa and joined Ella. The only thing was that when I turned to Ella, her head had fallen to the side and she was snoring.

"I'll take her to bed. You go and take your medicines or whatever." Asher ordered, looking at me one of his intimidating looks.

Since Asher was already appointed as the CEO of his family's  IT company, Lynx he had developed a habit of ordering people around. He even learned how to look intimidating not that he already didn't know that. On the other hand, Jackson wasn't the oldest in his family so his brother was next in line to become the CEO, not that Jackson minded. He was very carefree and instead of fighting for the position he was very supportive of his brother. Jackson family own Next Entertainment, a company for some famous actors and actresses.

Asher, Jackson and I have known each other since kindergarten and we are very close. Our families also have a strong bond with each other and we're all partners in our businesses. Next Entertainment is home to a lot of celebrities, singers and actors alike. My father made a contract with Jackson's parents and now they let their celebrities showcase and model our fashion designs. Meanwhile, Leviathan helps Next Entertainment by providing their actors with exclusive clothes. 

Asher's company, Lynx makes everything related to technology and they also made us a private app. Father made a contract that Lynx would help us with our app and we would help them by sending them fashionable pieces of clothing for events. Asher, Jackson, and I are very happy with the way things are working and when I become CEO I'm only going to make things better between our companies.

Anyway, Asher took Ella up to her bed while I went to my room and took my medicine before getting dressed. The day was starting and it was almost time to wake the twins up. I had to send Emma and Aiden to school, come home and check on the reports, make sure that my team wasn't slacking, and keep an eye on Ella. Even though I wanted to go to work, I didn't want to leave Ella home alone, when she's not feeling 100% so I was staying at home today. 

My reason for staying home wasn't Ella because I didn't care all that much. I just didn't want her to get sick because I'm still sick and have a cold so if there two sick people, it's a nuisance. I just want her to get better so that she can take care of the twins.

••••••••••

A couple of hours had passed and Ella was still asleep. I had managed to check all the report, updated the logistics, double-checked the materials for the project, yet Ella was still fast asleep. I had checked on her a couple of times and luckily she didn't have a fever or anything but was just cold. Since I was free I spent my time watching tv or scrolling through i********: on my phone. Nighttime had already fallen and the sun was nowhere in sight but the moon was shining as brightly as ever. The weather was chilly and cold but there was no rain today.

The twins had finished school but they weren't coming home today. Emma and Aiden weren't close to many people and the only people they liked were me, Jennie, Jackson, and now Ella. They said that they didn't like Asher because he always had a grumpy expression and they didn't even like spending time with my parents. Since Jennie knew what tomorrow was and she knew the toll it took on me, she decided to take the twins for the night and tomorrow. I couldn't be more thankful for Jennie because I didn't want the twins to be seeing me in the wreck I will be tomorrow.

The twins liked Jennie so it wasn't hard to convince them to spend the night there. I had packed both Emma and Aiden their bags of essentials as we headed towards my parent's house. I left them there, telling them to behave properly before driving back. It was only going to be me and Ella tonight.

"Morning!" A voice suddenly appeared, making me jump up from the sofa. I turned around and saw Ella standing there with a surprised expression before she started to laugh. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." She chuckled as she made her way to the kitchen.

"Whatever," I muttered as I turned back to the tv.

"Where are Emma and Aiden?" She asked, opening the fridge.

"They're at my parent's house. Why?" I said, switching the channels. There was nothing good to watch and the only option I had left was Netflix. I love Netflix very much but once I start watching something I get a bit too addicted, which isn't a good thing because I forget about everything and it's like I'm in a bubble.

"Just," Ella answered.

"Are you feeling better now?" I asked, not that I cared but just wanted to know.

"Yeah, I'm fine. You?" She questioned.

"Same," I said as I turned to look at her. She smiled at me as she approached the sofa, only to stop as her a notification sound was heard from her phone. She took her phone and looked at her screen, her hand instantly flying up to her mouth. I scrunched my eyebrows suddenly curious as tears sprang to her eyes.

"Um...could I go out?" Ella asked with a watery smile.

"Where?" I questioned, waiting for an answer but instead got silence as Ella fidgetted in place. I was very curious but it wasn't my place to force her to stay or stop her from going out. I wasn't the type to stop her from doing anything. "You don't have to ask me. If you want to go out then you can just go out." I stated as she nodded and turned away going upstairs.

I leaned back on the sofa as I sighed. Ella's too humble and she's more selfless than selfish which is worse. She was kind to the twins, she was caring, she was sensible, she was different from most of the girl I had met. The only person I have ever dated was Violet and under her innocent facade was a lion. She betrayed my trust in her when she did what she did and I could never trust anyone again. 

I mean I did trust certain people and I wanted to trust Ella but because of what Violet did, I learned that I can't trust anyone too easily. I learned that not all people who look nice are truly nice because, for all we know, they could be pretending. I only trust very few people and Ella is not in the list yet. Violet had pretended to be so gentle and maybe Ella could be acting too. 

Ella being here is becoming dangerous for me because I can feel myself starting to trust her and I can't help but think that she's genuine. I can feel myself starting to feel more open around her but I can't let her in. I can't let anyone in and if Ella is pretending then...all I can say is that she could pass for an actress.