[Book 2] What If

Chapter 12

"Ms. Lei, are you alright?" Mikki asked as she saw the change in Lea's beautiful face.

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The night went normal for all those who are present at Bobbi Garcia's home.

They all had finished eating dinner and had already discussed how their rehearsals would go. It has been set to two weeks from now, so to give Lea time to promote her movie since its special premier will be few days after next week.

As the night deepens, Lea have arranged for her and her daughter to leave. Nicole had already started to feel sleepy. Mikki and the rest bade the Broadway star goodnight as she picks up her bag and Nicole's stuff. She asked her protege if she's not coming with her.

"Are you not going home yet?"

El was not sure what to answer. Sure, they have the same roads and same way to take for them to go home as they're now practically neighbors; but Ellie had brought her own car so she haven't thought that she's required to go the same time Lea leaves.

It was Renan who broke the ice in the dead air between the two women.
"Oh, it seems Ellie wants to stay longer." Lea just remained silent as the others were cheering and saying "ayee" to Renan as they knew about her admiration for the girl.

Ellie just smiled at the group unbeknownst on why the group is acting like that.

"Well then, I'm gonna leave first. Just send me a message Bob." Lea hugged the bearded director as she went out of the door.

El felt there was something off especially with how her mentor left the house. Knowing this, she immediately said goodbye to the rest as she ran towards outside to reach Lea before she drives off.

"Coach!"

The Broadway star looked behind as she lets Nicole enter the car and closed its door.

"Why are you here? I thought you want to stay longer." Lea's resting bitch face is still on mode. The young woman could not fully understand what made her coach seem this way.

"I haven't really thought about it. Renan was just the one who proposed it."

Renan. She heard the man's name again. Lea couldn't help but feel irritated with just hearing that name. All throughout the evening, she saw that man hanging around Ellie and she feels totally pissed off.

"We're going home. Nix's already tired."

"Then I'll go home now as well." Ellie couldn't just let Lea drive off with such a sour mood. She knew that there's something that makes her coach feels angry as it shows on her face, but she totally respects it if the Broadway star doesn't want to share it with her. El just want to make sure that both Nicole and Lea would be able to get home safely so she plans to follow their car and act like a convoy.

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As they hit the roads, Lea's car remained at the front as Ellie tails her from behind. Up till now she feels there's something that triggered the Broadway star to act strangely. She decided to call her on the phone so they can speak while driving, it is still safe to do this as she knew Lea had her Bluetooth headset on. 

*ring* * ring*

Lea picked up the call as she sees Ellie's name on it. 

"Why?" She asked as soon as she put her Bluetooth headset on.

"Coach, are you okay? I'm worried." Lea felt a little guilty as to how she acted earlier. But her jealousy is still taking over her. 

"You should worry about someone else, not me." The Broadway star sarcastically replied.

Ellie felt confused as to what her coach had just responded. The young talented woman kept her eyes on the road as she tails Lea's car. It was already starting to rain and since they're still in the middle of the night, the two women driving should lower down their speed so to be safe.

But instead of slowing down, Lea just sped up which made El feels disturbed. The latter tried to talk with her as their call is still connected on the phone.

"Coach Lea, what are you doing? You're driving too fast. The road's slippery, slow down."

There was no response on the other line. The young woman tried to reach out to her coach several times but the latter just disconnected her call. Ellie feels so perplexed as the Broadway star keeps on acting differently. The car she's following doesn't seem to slow down and have been increasing its distance from her instead. 

"Fuck." was all Ellie could say that time. The raindrops are still pouring out heavily as they continued driving. As Lea's car sped up once again, another car had overtook her front and makes El fall behind. The young woman starts to feel a little bit irritated. Since normally she hates driving; now she's stuck driving in this long road at the dead of the night, with heavy downpour, and her coach seemingly disregarding her and leaving her behind. 

El held tightly on her steering wheel as the calm on her face had been obliterated. She checked both of her side mirrors as she pushed down her car's horn and swerved abruptly increasing her speed at the same time. she kept on overtaking lanes until she could finally, see the back of Lea's white car.  Ellie kept her speed up as she tries to pass through her.

Meanwhile, Lea heard the sound of loud honking as she glanced at the seat on her right. Nicole is still sound asleep. Her daughter had exhausted all of her energy being hyper throughout most of the day. She took a look at her rear-view mirror. Ellie's car is no longer tailing her. The Broadway star didn't mind as she planned to leave her behind. She then tried to lower down her speed back to 60km/hr. As she goes back to focus on her driving, Lea could still hear other cars sounding their horns as a turquoise car sped up and drove past by her on her left. It was Ellie's car. She thought she had already made a big gap of distance between her and her protege but it seems the latter tried to keep up with her. 

But instead of trying to drive in line with her. Ellie's car continued to speed up which seems to look dangerous as the heavy downpour just got worse. Even her windshield wipers had to work non stop just to make sure that Lea would be able to see clear while driving. She felt a little disappointed this time, as now she was the one left behind by El.

It was now Lea's turn to get worried with Ellie speeding up exceeding the limit. She knew how the young woman hated driving and has always made sure to drive slow to avoid any accidents, but El seems to be doing the opposite given with how bad the weather is right now. She regretted disconnecting their call earlier as now that she tries calling her protege, the girl doesn't pick up. 

Few minutes later, the Broadway star's time seemed to froze at the moment she heard a loud screeching sound. The cars running in front of her slowed down as chills tingle in her spine. She could only feel sweats rolling out from her forehead despite her car's air condition set at maximum. Lea suddenly felt jitters. One thing came into her mind that made her bitter mood into a worried one. 

"Ellie.."