DANIELLA

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

"When do you plan on going back?" Travis asked me as we laid on his bed facing the ceiling recovering from the intense make out session that had just happened

"Today night." I answered

This seemed to catch him unaware because he turned sharply to look at me his eyes holding an emotion I couldn't comprehend at the moment

"What? Why? "

"There is nothing more left for me to do here so I have to go back to where I belong ."

"I thought you would want us to make memories so that when we are apart the memories will keep us hoping to meet again ."

"Don't give yourself too much hope Travis . I'll just find out what happened to your mother and then bring her if she's alive but afterwards just accept that we will never see each other again. The earlier you accept the better !"
I said sternly because even though it was the truth I hadn't fully accepted it either and a part of me was crumbling down with the mere thought of never seeing him again

"You know I can hear your voice breaking and it's hurting you too. Why are you being stubborn ?

I knew this conversation would go his way because suddenly I had developed a soft spot for him so I stood up changing the topic so fast I could see him shake his head at me

"I need to speak to you about Stevie ." I said

"What about her?" He asked back

"I want you to take care of her for me until I come back . I wanted to buy her her own place but it's way too risky for her to be alone. And I'm trusting her with you"

I could see the mere mention of her name was making him angry by the way his jaw was set seriously and his fists clenched

"Why the sudden change towards her? Stevie made your one month stay in school hell or you thought I never noticed . Stevie was trying to seduce me giving me threats to marry her and now she just became an angel to you? What has she done to you?"

"You won't understand Travis ," I said

"Then make me. Give me the lie that she used on you so I can also try to believe her like you do."

Thirty minutes later when I had finished telling him Stevie's story , he looked dejected like he didn't know what to do.

"You know Stevie only talked to me while she was with those girls who were always following her around but each time we met alone, she would just pretend to not see me at all. I never thought much about it!"

"Now you know and I want you to be her big brother. She already has someone in her life so don't try anything . In the meantime don't let anyone know that she is here."

"Consider it done Ella ."

When our eyes met again, I looked away motioning for him to follow me
"We need to speak to Stevie ,.  She's mad at me."

Her back was facing the door , he head bent down and the way she would shake showed us that she was crying .

I walked in with Travis behind me sitting next to her as she scooted farther from me
"Hey." I simply said

"Go away. I don't want to talk to you. I was just about to start packing my few dresses and getting out of here."

"You don't need to do that Stevie . " I said softly
"I know iold you that I'll find you a new place but that was because I didn't know if Travis would allow you stay here with him. I had somewhere I need to go today and I don't know for how long I'll be gone."

"You're leaving ?" She asked looking at me for the first time since I got into that room

"Yes. But you do have to worry at all. You have Travis and the old man Gabriel . They'll take care of you and ensure that Elena doesn't come close to you okay?" I told her

"Why don't you take me with you? Travis hates me.. no, he loathes me and you're telling me that I will stay  with him without you?"

I looked at Travis urging him to talk to her
"Hey Stevie, I know we've not been good friends but I now understand why you did what you did. So just have a little faith in me, I won't let any harm come to you ."

She looked at him wiping her tears
"I'm sorry for everything okay? I really wanted to badly tell you what was going on but I couldn't."

"It's okay , I know now what was making you do all that so be comfortable around me I won't hurt you."

The day went by with us watching a movie, cooking the four us, doing crazy moves while dancing all of which were initiated  by Travis.

He really was trying to savour the moment and make the memories he had earlier said.

"Hey Ella, can we dance together ?"

Stevie laughed at this
"Wow! Travis it's so obvious that you have feelings for Ella .." she stated matter of factly

"What?"

"Come on, I can see right through it Travis ." She laughed
"Smith was always like that around me and later I realized he had feelings for me. So just tell her ."

I looked at Travis with wide eyes
"Please tell me she's lieing ,"  I said addressing him

"She's not but that is not important for now okay. Let's just enjoy the moment, I already came to terms with the fact that I won't see you again."

And when the time came for me to leave, Stevie had to remain in the house because we  couldn't risk her finding out about our kind.

I hugged Travis tight as he held me too and when we pulled apart, I raised on my tip toes and kissed him.

As I got deeper into the sea, my body having transformed I felt so free so much freedom I smiled.

In my happiness ,I failed to notice the danger ahead and before I could comprehend what was going on, I found myself wrapped in a tight net. A net that did not allow me to move because a slight movement had the net digging into my skin.

I let out a wild scream that I hoped Travis would hear.

@hellenimari