Angel on a Mission

Chapter 17

Gabrielle's POV

There was a firm knock on my door, and as I finished putting on my shoe, I made my way over to open it.

"Hey," Art greeted me warmly as I entered the room.

"Hi," I replied, returning his warm greeting.

"I just wanted to let you know that I've prepared your packed lunch, and we're all set to go whenever you are," he said cheerfully.

I nodded in acknowledgement.

"I'm almost finished getting ready. Just give me a few more minutes," I responded as I glanced around my room.

"Take all the time you need," he reassured me with an encouraging smile.

I smiled back at Art, feeling grateful for his kindness.

"Thank you, Art," I said, and he nodded in understanding before I returned to my preparations.

I quickly fixed my hair and took a moment to look at myself in the mirror.

I was wearing a white square neck bishop sleeve rib knit tee, paired with light wash flare leg jeans, complemented by a pair of white sneakers.

After tying my hair back into a ponytail to complete the look, I grabbed my backpack and took one last glance at my reflection.

Though my bruises were still in the process of healing, I was pleased to see they were healing quite well, especially since Art had been helping me with both icing and warming them.

In fact, I was recovering surprisingly fast, which wasn't all that shocking considering how well I had been taking care of myself.

Finally, I stepped out of my room and saw Art patiently waiting for me in the living room.

"Sorry it took me so long," I apologized as I approached him.

"Not at all. You're right on time. In fact, we still have plenty of time," he assured me, giving me an easy smile.

I chuckled at his optimism.

"Come here for a moment so I can put your lunch in your backpack," he said, gesturing for me to come closer.

I walked over to him, and Art grabbed the paper bag containing the delicious food he had prepared, placing it gently inside my bag.

"Shall we?" he asked as he finished.

I nodded in agreement.

Art and I left his place together, moving down the stairs before getting into his car.

We drove in the direction of my school, and then out of nowhere, he made a turn.

Before I knew it, we were on a different route, which was surprisingly close to my school.

"See? There's really no need to worry about being late," Art said cheerfully, and we both chuckled at how smoothly things were going.

We soon arrived in front of the campus, and Art parked just outside.

He hurriedly got out of the car and opened the door for me.

I couldn't help but chuckle lightly at his chivalrous gesture but thanked him nonetheless.

"I'll pick you up later. Just let me know when you finish school," he said, his tone sincere.

"Okay. Thank you," I replied, and just before stepping away, I wrapped my arms around Art in a warm hug.

"Thank you so much," I whispered, feeling grateful for his support.

Art chuckled softly and hugged me back, leaning in to whisper near my ear.

"You're always welcome, Gabrielle," he said, his voice gentle.

He smiled as he waved goodbye, and I turned to make my way inside the campus.

As I walked, I noticed a lot of students looking our way, but I tried not to pay them too much mind.

Suddenly, snippets of their thoughts and murmurs started to filter into my brain.

"Who was that with Elle?"

"Is that Elle's boyfriend?"

"Oh my god, he's hot as hell. Lucky her!"

"Elle has a boyfriend?"

"Girl, they looked so good together!"

"The guy seems older than us, but wow, he's undeniably attractive!"

The comments kept coming, and I felt a light sigh escape my lips.

I headed to my locker, grabbed a few items, and glanced around the bustling hallway.

Finally, I spotted Mika, and I excitedly waved when I caught her eye.

Mika rushed toward me and wrapped her arms around me in a hug.

"Hey!" I greeted her with a bright smile.

"Hey!" she replied enthusiastically.

With a playful glint in her eye, Mika grasped my arms and began to spin me around, leaving me laughing.

"What's going on?" I asked between giggles, slightly dizzy from the twirling.

"I heard from Bella, who heard from her brother, that you were rushed to the hospital after a little accident during your date. Are you okay? We only found out this morning!" she exclaimed, concern etched across her face.

I smiled reassuringly.

"Oh, I'm fine. I'm here, aren't I?" I said, attempting to downplay the situation.

Mika sighed and scrutinized me from head to toe.

"Are you really sure? It must have been serious if you needed to be brought to the hospital," she stated with a worried frown.

"It was a bad fall, yes, but I'm recovering quickly and really well. And you don't need to worry about my care because I'm staying with another friend for the time being," I explained, trying to alleviate her concern.

Mika's brows furrowed slightly, intrigued.

"Really? Which friend?" she asked curiously.

"Just an old friend of mine who lives nearby. I've known him for a long time, so he's very trustworthy," I answered, hoping to satisfy her curiosity.

"He?!" Mika exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.

At her exclamation, everyone nearby turned their heads to look at us, and Mika quickly covered her mouth, her cheeks turning a bright shade of red.

"Yeah. His name is Art, and he was also the substitute date I ended up with because the guy Bella was supposed to meet was unavailable. So that's how it all came together," I explained.

Mika's eyes widened even more at this revelation.

"And you're currently staying at this guy's place?" she whispered, sounding incredulous.

I nodded.

"Why?" she asked, her expression revealing disbelief.

"He insisted, and I agreed. I figured it would be a good idea," I said.

Mika rubbed the bridge of her nose, clearly troubled by the situation.

"You don't see any problem with it? At all?" she pressed.

I shook my head emphatically.

"Is this guy that trustworthy? How sure are you? How long have you even known him?" she continued her line of questioning.

So long that I could hardly remember.

"I've known him for a very long time," I replied simply.

Mika sighed again, her concern palpable.

"And this guy... is he a good person?" she asked again, searching my eyes for reassurance.

I nodded firmly.

"A very good guy, yes," I assured her, trying to convey my confidence.

Mika looked at me thoughtfully for a moment before speaking.

"You know what? I trust your judgment, but I'd also like to offer you the option to stay at my house instead. I can take care of you well too, and it's definitely... more appropriate," she suggested, her tone softening.

I placed my hand on Mika's shoulder.

"It's fine, Mika. You really don't have to worry about me," I assured her gently.

Mika gazed into my eyes for a moment, sighed deeply, and then nodded in quiet understanding.

"Okay, fine. But my offer still stands if you change your mind," she said, her tone sincere.

I smiled and nodded, appreciating her concern.

"Elle!"

At that moment, both Mika and I turned our heads and saw Bella rushing toward us.

As soon as she reached us, she practically grabbed me and spun me around in excitement.

"Are you okay? What happened? I’m so sorry! I shouldn't have sent you on that date!" she exclaimed, her worry evident.

Then she held my face in her hands, her expression filled with concern.

"How are you feeling?" she asked softly.

"I'm fine, really," I reassured her.

However, Bella quickly checked me over once more.

"But you were rushed to the hospital!" she said, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"It wasn't too serious. We went there just in case, but I promise I'm really okay," I insisted.

Bella let out a long sigh of relief.

"I'm glad to hear that. And on that note, no more blind dates for you," she stated firmly, pouting slightly.

I chuckled softly at her protective nature.

"But are you absolutely sure you're okay? Are you able to move properly? Does anything hurt? Do you need someone to take care of you?" Bella continued her barrage of questions.

I shook my head firmly.

"No, I think I'm fine," I replied.

"She has another friend looking after her," Mika chimed in, sensing Bella's lingering concern.

Bella glanced at her, then turned her gaze back to me.

"What friend?" she inquired, curiosity piqued.

"A guy friend," Mika responded, raising an eyebrow as she looked at me.

Bella's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at me.

"Really? A guy friend? Who is he?" Bella pressed, sounding genuinely interested.

"His name is Art, and he's a very good friend of mine whom I’ve known for a long time," I explained, hoping to ease her worries.

"Oh really? And how exactly is this guy able to take care of you?" she continued to interrogate.

"Well, he offered to look after me, so I'm temporarily staying at his place while I recover and make sure I'm doing well," I clarified.

Bella gasped in astonishment.

"You're living with him?" she exclaimed.

I nodded simply.

"I guess so," I replied, feeling a bit awkward under her scrutiny.

Bella looked at me, shocked, and then turned her gaze to Mika, who just sighed in a way that indicated her own reservations.

"And what kind of person is this Art guy, exactly?" Bella asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest, a slightly defensive posture.

"He's nice, caring, responsible, respectful, trustworthy, and has so many wonderful qualities," I answered honestly, defending his character.

Bella raised an eyebrow at me, assessing my sincerity.

"Is he giving boyfriend or just friend vibes?" she asked, trying to gauge the situation.

My brows knitted together in confusion as I looked at her.

"What do you mean?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

Bella sighed dramatically.

"Nevermind," she said, waving her hand dismissively.

"But this is pretty controversial, Elle," she pointed out in a low tone.

I could understand why she would think that, but that wasn't the reality for Art and me.

In fact, it was completely different from what they were imagining.

However, explaining that to them or anyone else wouldn't be a straightforward endeavor.

"If it makes you feel any better, we have separate rooms," I mentioned, trying to reassure them.

Bella and Mika exchanged glances before sighing again, this time more resigned than worried.

After that, we all headed to our classes together.

The hours ticked by as our classes progressed, and at last, lunchtime rolled around.

I made my way to the cafeteria like usual and met up with my friends.

I took a seat, opening my lunch box and preparing to enjoy the meal Art had prepared for me.

"Oh, that's new!" Bella remarked, tilting her head to the side as she eyed my packed lunch with interest.

"Art cooked it," I said casually, giving a shrug.

Mika and Bella exchanged glances again, a knowing look passing between them.

Suddenly, Alexander appeared, standing before us with a piercing gaze that was firmly fixed on me.

"Uhm... hi?" I said, feeling a bit awkward under his intense stare.

"We should probably get our lunch," Mika suggested, breaking the tension.

"Yeah, we really should," Bella chimed in, also noticing her brother's awkward presence.

"Leave Elle alone, Alex. I mean it," Bella said firmly, as she turned to walk away.

But to my surprise, Alexander remained where he was, continuing to look at me without saying a word.

I raised an eyebrow, confused.

"Do you have something to say?" I asked him, looking straight into his eyes.

He remained silent, just staring at me, which felt rather uncomfortable.

After a moment, I shrugged it off, feeling the awkwardness linger in the air, especially since quite a few people were observing us.

Just then, my phone beeped, and I glanced down to see a message from Art.

From: Art

Lunchtime? Enjoy the lunch I prepared for you! :)

I couldn't help but smile at his sweet message.

Suddenly, Alexander cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him.

"Are you okay?" I asked, sensing his serious demeanor. His brows furrowed at me, as if he wasn’t sure how to respond.

Seriously?

Just then, Mika and Bella returned to the table.

"You still haven't left?" Bella said to her brother, sounding a bit annoyed.

"Alexander, go away. We want to have lunch in peace," Bella added in a slightly exasperated tone as they both settled down with their trays of food.

To my surprise, Alexander didn’t move.

Instead, he took a seat at our table, continuing to stare at me as if he was studying me intently.

I tilted my head slightly to the side, curiosity piqued.

His expression changed briefly, flickering with flustered surprise, but he quickly composed himself, tension returning to his features.

His jaw clenched as he regarded me, which was a tad unsettling.

"It's fine, Bella. Let him stay," I said, trying to smooth over the tension.

Bella sighed in resignation, casting a wary look at her brother.

I then turned my attention back to Alexander.

"You don't have food yet, do you? Shouldn't you go get it?" I asked, trying to redirect his focus.

Once again, his jaw clenched tightly, but after a few awkward moments, he finally looked away and stood up.

With that, Alexander walked away, exiting the cafeteria without a word.

"What is up with that guy?" Bella muttered, frowning.

I looked in the direction he had disappeared, still perplexed.

Then, I sighed but remained silent, shifting my attention back to Mika and Bella as we focused on enjoying our lunch.

"He's acting so weird," Bella commented, shaking her head disapprovingly.

"What do you mean?" Mika asked, equally confused.

"Well, first of all," Bella began, glancing back at me for emphasis, "the reason he knew about what happened to you was because he followed you on the date. And now, he’s acting all awkward."

Mika's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Your brother followed Elle while she was on a date?" she asked incredulously.

Then both of them turned to me, eyes wide with intrigue.

"Yeah, he actually picked me up from my place to convince me not to go on the date, but when I refused to back out, he dropped me off at the venue himself. He seemed pretty concerned, so I just let him be," I explained.

"Alex did what?" Bella said, her shock palpable.

Mika shot Bella a bemused look.

"Okay, I think I'm starting to grasp all of this," Bella said with a scoff and a mischievous smirk.

She then turned to glance in the direction Alexander had gone.

And then she looked back at me, stifling a chuckle.

"Oh, this is going to be interesting," she remarked as she took a bite of her food.

"What is?" I questioned, unable to decipher the meaning behind her words.