A Little Bit Yours

Chapter IX - The Fall

Play Falling by Harry Styles.

Over the next few weeks after that night, Ella and I hung out every day. We would spend our breaks together at school and after class we would go to each other's house. Some of the days we would go to Harry's and spend some time there while me, him and Mike would play some music.

Everything seemed to be on the right track for once, we wouldn't argue and we completely left the past behind. I guess we both thought that we would finally make it, that everything would be right as it was meant to be.

During dinner in one of the days, Samuel and Caroline said that they would like to go out to London for a weekend and invited us to come along. It was around the time that school was about to be over. I noticed that something was a bit different between me and Ella, like she was walking on egg shells around me and she just wasn't being herself. I assumed that it was due to the fact that everyone was already getting their acceptance letters and she hadn't mentioned anything about hers, figured she was feeling anxious. I had received my acceptance letter from the British & Irish Modern Music Institute and I couldn't be happier about it. Harry also got accepted so I would get to spend my college years with my best friend beside me. Mike was accepted into the Academy of Contemporary Music but we'd still get to hang out with him during the weekends.

Then, came the day we were leaving to London. It was the day of our graduation and we figured it would be the best way to celebrate. Ella's parents came home to watch her graduate and my dad was there too, of course. We parted ways after graduation so me and Sam could go home to grab our bags and spend some time with dad. It wasn't a very far drive, about 2 hours, so we weren't too concerned about leaving early.

Sam and I got in the car and got to Ella's house. Caroline had told him for us to get in because they were still chatting with her parents. We stepped inside the house and they were holding champagne glasses. That was a night that I can't forget.

"Come in, boys, we're celebrating!" Ella's father called us from the dining table and started to pour us glasses as well. "The graduation ceremony was amazing, it really is a reason for celebration." Sam said with a smile and raised his glass before wrapping an arm tenderly around Caroline. It was great to finally see them together.

Play Bruises by Lewis Capaldi.

"Indeed it is, but what we're celebrating right now is the fact that our little girl has gotten into USC with early admission. She's leaving next month." Ella's mom says proudly and presses a kiss to her cheek. I had to contain myself to not drop my glass right there and then. "She kept this from us for a month now, she wanted to tell us in person I guess and I couldn't be more proud." Ella's parents hug her and I can't even let out a word. How could she hide this from me? I thought that she was acting strange because she didn't get any responses yet but it turns out it was the exact opposite.

We had made plans to spend the summer together, making the most out of the time that we still had together, but those plans were completely impossible and she knew it from the start and never said a word. She made those plans knowing that she couldn't go through with them. I can feel Sam's eyes on me and I look at him to see a genuine concern on his face, he knows that I didn't know anything about this but I start to wonder if he also betrayed me, if he knew and didn't say a word while he heard me discuss those same plans.

"Aren't you just so proud of her, Josh?" Ella's mom questions me with a smile. I nod and raise my glass. "Here's to the best graduation surprise I could ask for." I try to remain with a cool tone, without giving out any of my anger or hurt that I feel right now. "Did you know, Samuel?" My brother's face falls and I don't need him to say anything else, it was clear now that he knew. "I need to get some air, excuse me."