The Billion Dollar Girl

(Chapter 25)

Ͼ Ella Castillo Ͽ

My head spun, and I leaned heavily against the rough brick wall of the gymnasium. The bell had gone a couple minutes ago, and I was late. I’d managed to drag myself through first period, but I was losing it now. I knew I shouldn’t have eaten those eggs… I mean, the boy put in lollipops! What was I thinking?

The nausea passed, and my mind cleared. With firmer resolve, I hoisted the bag onto my shoulder, forcing myself to walk on. I had to catch up with my studies, and taking an extra day off wouldn’t held matters. A couple seconds later, however, my knees weakened as another wave of nausea hit me, forcing bile up my throat. There was nothing I could do. My head spun, and suddenly I collapsed.

A pair of strong arms held me up. The nausea passed again, and my mind cleared.

“Thanks,” I muttered, holding my head. The arms didn’t let go. I turned to him, frowning. “You can stop holding me up…now…”

It was Will. With a gasp, I used my remaining strength to push his arms away, but when the nausea hit again, I stumbled and Will had to catch me.

“Careful…Are you okay? You’re really pale.”

I glared at him, shovinging him away. I straightened myself with as much pride as I could muster, but leaning against the wall just in case I collapsed again. My eyes narrowed as I took in Will. He was looking perfectly normal, his shirt ironed, and his sleeves casually rolled up his arms. I frowned. He wasn’t the groveling, depressed mess I imagined he would be.

“What are you doing here?” I snapped, trying not to puke. Actually, I should puke, and I should do it all over Will.

“I go to this school,” he said, sounding amused.

Oh, right. I frowned, trying to clear my mind. I couldn’t think right. I tried to remember where I wanted to go, through my dazed mind. There was a sharp twinge of pain in my stomach, which I ignored. I had to get to a class…

“Whoa,” Will said, catching my waist as I swayed unsteadily on my feet. I slapped at his hands weakly, without effect.

“Why are you here?” I asked, rudely.

“I have something to say to you.”

I stopped, staring at him with suspicion. Was he really going to apologize? “Go on.”

“About what I did last time, with the ring…Well, I’m not sorry.”

I gaped at him, too shocked to even assess the risk of opening my mouth. “What?”

“You heard me,” Will said, smirking, leaning over me. I looked up at him, with real fear. “I’m not sorry. I like you, Ella. And there’s no way I’m letting you go, especially for a player like my cousin.”

“Oh, and you’re not a player?” I snapped.

“Well, I’m not the guy who’s dated hundreds of supermodels, and broken hundreds of hearts. Ash is just playing you, Ella, so he can get what he wants. He only married you to avoid marrying the girl his father had planned. As soon as he gets bored, he’ll throw you away, just like all the other girls he’s met –”

I slapped Will, right across the face. My vision was blurred from the tears that were forming.

“Don’t you dare talk about him like that!” I yelled, my voice echoing throughout the empty courtyard. His eyes widened in surprise at my ferocity, and he backed away. I took a step forwards, glaring at him. “He’s not going to do that to me! He’s not…”

What Will said can’t be true…It can’t be…No…

Ash flooded into my mind, his cute boyish smirk playing on his lips, his light blue eyes always full of laughter, his messy blond hair. Another spasm of pain rocked my abdomen, and I fell to the ground, clutching my stomach.