A few days later
Ella's POV
Jennifer decided we had to go back to school yesterday since we are pretty much all doing better. Of course the fact that dad is in prison is everywhere in the news so pretty much everyone knows. At least now I can hang out with Emme and her friends. I listened to Jen and Tashi and talked to her about what happened with my friends. How they left me...I'm glad her friends and her accepted to have me around. They are just so nice and I really think they are going to become my friends too. I wish some of them were in my class. It wouldn't be that boring
During a break at school
I receive a text from James. At first I was surprised to see his name pop on my phone but I remembered that dad gave us his number for emergency when we were younger.
James- Hey Ella
Me- Hi
James- I you're probably wondering how I found your number
Me- Hum yes
James- Your dad gave it to me a couple of years ago so if you or Natasha would've called me I knew
Me- Oh ok
James- Anyway I went to see your dad and he has a message for you
Me- What is it?
James- I can't tell you right now. I think it would be better if I tell you in person
Me- Want me to pass to the stadium after school?
James- No actually I can come see you during lunchtime
Me- At school?
James- Why not? When do you finish?
Me- Lunch is at 12
James- Ok I'll text you when I'm here
Me- Ok
The bell rings so I have to close my phone. I don't know what to think. I thought he didn't want to talk to me anymore. I guess that if it's a request from dad he wasn't going to say no. I forgot to ask him if Tashi had to come too. Well I'll just ask her to come outside with me and I'll go get her after if James tells me he wants to talk with Tashi too.
Lunchtime
The bell rings and a couple of seconds after, I receive an other text from James.
James- I'm outside in the back of the parking
Me- Ok give me a sec I'm coming
Before meeting him I have to find Tashi. I leave my class and walk to her locker to catch her before she meets with her friends. When I get there she's already with a guy.
"Hey Tashi" I say and she turns around "Hey Ella what are you doing here?" she asks "Can I talk to you?" "Yeah of course" "Well can you come with me actually?" "Where?" "Outside"
She looks at the guy and he tells her she can go.
"Okay" Tashi answers me.
She says bye to her guy before following me.
"Who was that?" I ask her "My friend" she answers "I never saw him before" "And?" "I thought I knew all of your friends" "He's new" "Where does he comes from?" "He is one of Grace's friends. Do you have any other questions inspector Ella?" "No not for now"
"Well I have one for you. Where are we going?" she asks "Outside I told you" I answer "Yeah but what are we going to do there?" "I just want you to come with me okay" "Alright"
Once we get outside, I tell Tashi to wait for me and I start to walk towards James location. Well where he told me he was. I make sure to take some little detours just to be sure Tashi won't see me. I don't want her to know unless James wants to talk to her too. I finally see him and he motions me to come in his direction.
"Hey" he says without any expression in his face.
"Hi. Before you tell me do you want me to go get Natasha?" I ask him "No is she here?" I answers immediately "Well she's at the entrance but I told her to stay there" "Hum ok" "So what does dad want to tell me?" I ask "It's very simple come here" he says and I approach him hesitantly.
I don't know this guy has something weird I can feel it.
"I told your dad you were playing detective for him" he starts "I'm not" "You are and you dad doesn't like it" he cuts me "What do you mean?" "Of course he know everything that happened and he knows what can happen to you if you find the truth" "And that's what he told you" "Well his advice for you looks more like this"
He grabs my arm tight.
"Stay away from me and don't get in my way" he says looking straight in my eyes. I swallowed and nodded yes.
"Don't talk to anyone about this or I'll take care of you I promise" he continues "Okay" I say in a shaky voice.
He lets me go and walks away leaving me here in shock. He definitely has a connection to the murder or he wouldn't react like this. I want to tell Jen or Tashi but I can't. I'm scared. I feel like he's going to know no matter what and "take care of me" like he said. I don't want to know what that looks like.
I walk back to where Tashi was waiting for me.
"Ella are you okay?" She asks me "Yeah yeah" I answer "You sure? You look pale" "I'm ok, just tired"
I look away and see James in the back of the parking. He's looking at me. I reach Tashi's hand and squeeze it.
"Wait is that James over there?" she asks and points in his direction "Yeah I think so" I answer "What is he doing here?" "No idea but can we go back inside" I ask pulling her towards the entrance.
"Weird he looks like a creepy stalker" she says "What if he is?" "What?" "Nothing nevermind" I say remembering James's threat. Tashi's phone beeps.
"Ella it's my friends" she starts but I cut her "Go with them I'll find Emme" "Okay see you later" "Bye"
I text Emme to know where she is. She tells me she's in the cafeteria so I join her for the rest of lunchtime.
Later that night
I'm trying to work on my homework but I just can't. I can't stop thinking about what James told me. I feel like this is something that Jen would like to know but I don't want her to be worried again. I haven't talked to her about how weird James reacted last time I went to the stadium. I just told her it went well.
A knock on my door gets me out of my thoughts.
"Yes" I say and Tashi comes in.
"Ella what's going on?" she asks "I don't know" I answer confused "What did yo do today?" "I went to school" "Yeah well something happened to you" "What do you mean?" "Come on you almost didn't talk tonight during dinner" "And?" "You always talk unless there's something going on"
This is ridiculous. She knows me too well
"Tell me" she says "I can't" "Why not?" "Because I can't" "You know what? I have something important I want to tell you" "Go"
"How about this? I tell you my secret if you tell me yours" she proposes me. I take a minute to think about it before answering "Alright"
Thanks for reading
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