UNBREAKABLE ↠ BRANDON ARREAGA

SIXTEEN - THE ONE WHOSE SECRETS ARE REVEALED

word count: [3746]

I opened my eyes and everything was a bit blurry, at first. I felt dizzy. I put my hand on my head because there was such a big pounding.

"Eliana?" I heard, but it sounded more like a background noise. I wasn't sure if I heard it or I dreamt it.

I tried to sit up, but a hand held me down. My head was resting on someone's lap, I think. I can feel their warm fingers brushing through my hair. I think they are saying something, but I can't make out what it is. Instead, I laid there for a while, just enough time for my brain to catch up with my body.

"Where am I?" I croaked.

"You're at the gallery," a voice said. It took me a while to process, but I think it's Leo.

"Leo?" I heard some shuffling.

His voice came louder. "Hey, Eliana," he spoke softly. "I'm here."

"What happened?" I asked, my voice still raspy.

"You fainted," he informed me.

My eyebrows furrowed. "Fainted?" I questioned. No way.

"Yeah. You were out for a good couple of minutes. We were ready to call 911."

"Oh gosh," I groaned. I sat up, and this time the person let me. I clenched my eyes shut before fully opening them. "What happened?" I asked, but once my vision came back to me, I instantly remembered exactly what happened and felt like fainting again.

"Eliana? Are you okay?" Brandon asked, moving so that he could face —to make sure it wasn't hot or anything, I guess.

"I'm fine," I quipped. "Please," I paused, flinching away from his touch, "I'm fine."

"Eliana?" Another voice questioned.

"I'm really not in the mood for this. I'm not ready. Oh gosh. How is this happening? I really want to go crawl in a hole now. Please tell me this is just I dream," I rambled under my breath.

Brandon came up to stand right in front of me. "I think it's best you leave, sir."

"Who are you?" My father asked, taken back.

"I'm Eliana's friend. She doesn't want you here. You're just making it worse."

"I just-" He paused, stumbling on his words.

"Please," I croaked. I closed my eyes. It was all too much. "Please," I whispered again, but it was more broken this time.

"I want to talk," he said. I opened my eyes long enough to see Brandon glaring at him. "When you're ready," he added. He pulled away, but he paused a bit. He stared at me, and I looked away. He let out a defeated sigh before leaving.