Ella walks into her room feeling bad , she undresses herself and goes into her bathroom, enters her bathtub and starts washing her body, no matter how hard she tried, she still felt dirty and no amount of cleaning made her feel clean, why, why ,why does this have to happen to me, she asked repeatedly with unshead tears in her eyes. She finally stood up and goes to bed trying very hard to sleep and forget what had happened all to no avail.
* * *
Jordan can we meet during recess at the rooftop, Jordan read the note that was thrown at her. She turns to Diego giving him a nod . Ella you have been off since the party is anything the problem, Jordan asked. Of course not. I'm good, she assured with a little smile making Jordan more worried. During recess Diego and Jordan could be seen at the rooftop facing each other. Jordan do you know what is going on with Ella, she doesn't want me near her, did l do something wrong, he enquired. I also don't know Diego but l don't think the problem has anything to do with you cause she has been shutting me out too and whenever l ask her , she always tells me she's fine, Jordan replied. Diego is now pacing up and down trying to figure out a solution to the newly developed problem. Christian was the last person she was with at the party, before she started pushing me away, how about we ask him if he knows something, Diego suggested. You know she has been avoiding him lately, l will find out, Jordan agreed. Thanks Jordan, he said. There is no need for that, she is my friend you know,she replied leaving Diego to his thoughts figuring out the problem with his girlfriend. You phone has been buzzing for so long, won't you pick it up, she ended. Oh it's nothing, let's just continued, Ella replied. Well it doesn't seem so the person is calling her,she said stretching her neck to see the caller id makes Ella picks the phone and walks out. What do you want now, she asked the other person on the phone. Ella l'm sorry, l didn't mean to, l don't know what came , before Christian could complete his statement ahe hungs up the call only to turn and find Jordan behind her. Babes what's the problem,pls tell me you are getting me worried, Jordan pleaded with her. I have to go, Ella said shakily trying to walk out only have to be held back by Jordan who saw the tears in her eyes which she refused to shed. Why are there unshed tears in your eyes pls talk to me Ella,she pursued. Fine l will tell you but promise me you are not going to tell Diego, she said. Promise l won't, she assured.
* * *
Diego was sitting at the bleaches waiting for Christian to finish his training, which he did in few minutes. Dude can l talk to you, Diego called out to Christian. They both meet up and shook their hands. What's the problem, Christian asked. Well, it's about Ella, she has been acting weird lately, l wanted to ask you if you know what's wrong because she has been like this since the party and you were the last person she was with. Errm, l don't think am in the right position to tell you what happened, he said fidgeting. Christian, you have to tell mw she doesn't even want me close, she just keeps pushing me away, bro you have to tell me, he persisted. l can't l'm sorry, Christian said running off. Diego punches the wall out of frustration exclaiming what are they even hiding.
________________________________________
What did you just say, how can Chris do this, this is so unbelievable, Jordan exclaimed. Yeah, l know, if someone had told me he could do this l would not have believed it but the deed has already been done, Ella replied. I don't know what to say to console you baby girl l'm so sorry you had to go through this and l wasn't there, Jordan sobbed. Jordan all that is in the past now and I have gotten over it, she assured. l can't imagine what you have been through.
* * *
Diego let me go, Jordan said as she was been cornered. lt's been two days and you have been avoiding me, he said. No l haven't, she replied. Okay, what is the problem with Ella, he asked. l don't know , she replied avoiding his gaze. Jordan l can clearly see you are lying, just tell me the truth. l'm dying out of frustration, he said. l can't okay, l promised her not to, she answered. Please Jordan l'm begging you, he pleaded. The thing is that, hmmm, Christian abused her sexually, she explained. What did you say l'm going to kill that bastard how could he, he said walking walking away. Diego stop please, don't do this l'm begging you, she tries stopping him only for her pleas to fall on deaf ears. She quickly hurries to the class and starts pulling Ella. Slow down can you tell me what is going on, she questioned. Just follow mw quickly, Its urgent, she answered breathlessly. Which trouble has she gotten herself into again, Ella thought as they headed towards the basketball court. How dare you,Diego said as he punched Christian in the face. Hey man what's wrong with you, Josh said pushing Diego back. Why don't you ask your buddy over there, he shot back pointing at Christian pushing Josh back to hit Chriatian. Josh stay out of this I'm going to handle it, Christian waded him off. But. . . . . . . ., Josh was saying when he was cut in, just leave l'm going to take care of it making Josh leave. How could you, we trusted you, Diego yelled hitting his chest. Look l was wrong but. . . . . . . . , only for another punch to land on his mouth causing his lips to start bleeding. Diego l know l deserve this, what l did was wrong, he said. You deserve worse than this you lunatic, it will be much better if you were skinned alive, he replied continuind with the punches which he did not resist or fight back. Before Diego could land another punch he was pushed back by Ella. You guys should stop, she demanded on top of her voice getting the attention from both boys . Jordan l told you not to tell him, this was what l was avoiding, she remarked. But . . . . . . . . . ., but what Jordan you promised, she said walking away and having Diego chase after. Christian was about to join the chase when he was held back, you know l wouldn't if l was you and one more thing am really disappointed in you, Jordan said slapping him in the process. Diego soon caught up to Ella asking her to stop. Ella, why did you hide this from ne, he asked holding her hands. What was l suppose to do, pulling her hands from his, do you expect me to run to you whenever am in trouble? I can't okay, Ella explained. Babe, l love you so much, your pain, sorrows and happiness are also mine, you don't have to suffer this alone, he said pulling her into a hug. Diego l feel dirty, l'm worthless, l don't deserve you or your love, just let me go am filthy, she cried. No you are not, its not your fault, just try to forget about it, l know its going to be hard but please do it for my sake l'm willing to be by your side no matter what happens, okay, he said. She lifted her her head up and looks into his eyes with her face soaked with tears which he wipes off. What am l supposed to do without you, she smiled. Lets go he said covering her lips with his. l've missed this he said as he seek entrance into her mouth making her giggle. They walked into the class holding hands with excitement written on their faces. Later Jordan enters the class and sees then chatting happily. This is an improvement, she said to them. They turned and look at her laughing, here you are, Ella said. forgive me l wasn't suppose to break my promise but l don't regret it though look how happy you are, ahe said. You are forgived. Thanks for being there, she replied. Oh by the way don't you leave me out on anything again or l'm going to murder Diego are we clear, she warned. Of course, we have girls night every Saturday beginning from next week, she replied and they both laughed seeing her finally happy, Diego felt relieved and happy.