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Over the next month and a half, Ellie’s wrist healed slowly. It took all of her patience as she was ready to toss out her plaster cast weeks ago. She had some stiffness, but her x-rays showed her bones were healing well.
Once the cast was off, she was glad to be back in the studio and working on her film again. The media circus around her and James Evans had mostly died down, even if her fans were heartbroken about the breakup, Hira especially.
My midterms were looming near. I hadn’t been on any dates with Theo, especially not after the party. I told him as gently as I could that I needed to focus on my studies or I would risk losing my scholarship.
I walked around in a zombie state, with my textbook in tow, often forgetting to eat or drink. It was only when my hosts kindly reminded me that I remembered to eat something or risk fainting.
When my study sessions got too much, and the words on the pages became a blur, I would go out on a walk with Buddy to clear my mind.
It was during these walks that I unexpectedly bumped into John.
At first, I thought it was a strange coincidence, but when it happened again, even after I changed my path, I thought that something was up. I had a feeling that Ellie was involved in this, but I couldn’t prove it. It was awkward with the small talks, but John didn’t extend the conversations longer than it had to be.
Buddy was obsessed with John. My goofy golden retriever, with his love of chasing frantic, nut-gathering squirrels, wouldn’t let him go out of his sight. Maybe he was the one sniffing him down?
My imagination had a tendency to work overtime. Sometimes a situation is as it seems and nothing more.
——-
I was head deep in one of my literature textbooks when Theo rang my phone. Why was he calling at this time?
“Theo?” I asked.
“Cassie, I am glad you picked the phone. Do you have a moment?” he asked.
“Sure, I was going to take a small break, anyway,” I said, stretching my arms. “What did you want to talk about?”
“Can we meet right now?” Theo asked. There was something odd about his voice.
“Right now?” I asked, surprised. “It’s late, Theo.”
“I am parked outside your house,” Theo said, surprising me further. “Please, it’s important.”
“I will be down in a minute,” I said. I had an uneasy feeling about it all. I wondered what was so important that he showed up at this late hour?
I saw him pacing on the pavement outside. I quickened my steps to reach him faster.
“Theo? Is everything alright?”
Theodore was quiet.
“Have you seen the news about Ellie?” Theo said.
My heart beat faster. “Ellie? Is she ok?” I asked, worried. “No, I haven’t seen anything.”
He took out his phone and pointed to the news article. The headline read:
James Evans’ ex caught doing drugs: The real reason for their breakup. Read the exclusive now!
“If Ellie is involved in drugs, then I think you should cut ties with her,” Theo said solemnly.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was like what happened with John all over again.
“Theo, this is just a rumor,” I said. “How could you believe the tabloids?”
“Even if it is a rumor, I think you shouldn’t meet Ellie until it dies down,” Theo said.
“What did you say?” I asked. That he was even requesting this was unbelievable.
“I know this will be hard to hear. I think it will be best for you and me,” Theo said. “For us.”
“How will it be good for us?”
“I am already teetering on the edge. One more scandal, and they will kick me out from my inheritance,” Theo said. He then took my hand in his. “The reason I was drawn to you was because you are so good, Cassie. You are such a good influence on me.”
So Theodore had been using me to clean his tarnished image? I was a prop in his publicity stunt.
“Clearly I haven’t been a good enough influence,” I said, taking my hand away from his.
“Are you talking about Ellie? Don’t be too hard on yourself, dear Cassie,” Theo said. “Some people are beyond saving. She has always been a bit wild.”
“No, I was talking about being a good influence on you. Clearly, I have done nothing there or you would not have said things like that about Ellie... Or any other person, really. Ellie just happens to be my best friend,” I said, angrily. “Please save your reputation, Theodore. I will stay by my best friend’s side.”
“You are making a mistake. You can’t change her,” Theo said. “Don’t throw away what we have. Don’t throw us away.”
“I won’t have to. You already did that on your own,” I said. “Goodbye, Theodore. I wish you well. I hope staying away from me and my best friend will save your reputation and your inheritance.”
Theo shook his head. “Call me when you change your mind, Cassie.”
“Keep waiting forever. It will never happen.”
I ran back to the house, trying to hold back the tears. This was too much. Theo completely destroyed my trust in him.
——-
Once I had a good cry, my anger came bubbling to the surface. How could Theo be so selfish? He was wrong to say all that about Ellie.
Why were the tabloids still harassing her? She broke up with James weeks ago. I had to talk to someone to make sense of things.
I couldn’t talk to Ellie. It would upset her to hear what Theo and the tabloids were writing about her. Hira was the one who oversaw all her social media accounts. Maybe I can talk to her?
Since it was nearly midnight, I sent her a text telling her to call me when she was free. My phone started ringing not a minute later.
“Hi Hira, I hope it is not too late?” I asked.
“Don’t be silly. It is my favorite time to chat,” Hira said.
“Is Ellie around? Can she hear us talking on the phone?” I asked tentatively.
“She’s asleep, I think. I will close the door, just in case,” Hira said. I waited until she got back on the phone. “What did you want to talk about?”
“It’s about Ellie,” I said. “Theo came to me half an hour ago saying that I should stop meeting with Ellie. He said something about the tabloids.”
“I saw that too,” Hira said in a low voice. “The drug article, right?”
“Isn’t that the craziest thing you heard?” I said.
There was silence on the other end. It lasted so long that I thought the phone got disconnected somehow.
“Hira?”
“Yeah, I am still here,” she said.
“Why are you quiet? You don’t agree, do you?” I asked.
“The thing is — don’t get mad — I would have said the same thing a few months ago,” Hira said. “But now, I am having doubts.”
“Doubts? Why?”
“Ellie has been acting strange. She is more distant,” Hira said. “It is even affecting her work. She doesn’t show up on time and can’t remember her lines. The studio called in last week to talk with her and I was there too. They are unhappy with her acting. They are thinking of dropping her if she doesn’t get her act together.”
I took in all that Hira said. My mind felt numb.
“So you think it is drugs?” I asked.
“It could be. I don’t know, Cassie,” Hira said. “I am just worried about Ellie.”
My world was spinning. Had John been right all those years ago?
“What should we do, Hira?” I asked.
“Maybe we can talk to her together?” Hira suggested. “It will help her when she knows we are on her side and want her to get better.”
“That is a great idea,” I said. I was so glad that I called Hira first. “I am in.”
“Great, we will talk to her together when you come over,” Hira said. “She might not listen at first, but we will keep trying. I am not giving up until we figure out what the problem is.”
“You are a great friend, Hira,” I said, choking back the tears. “I am so glad you are there with Ellie.”
“But she needs her best friend. You are the one she will really listen to,” Hira said.
“Thanks, Hira. I hope so,” I said. “I will go now.”
“Don’t stress over this,” Hira said. “We got this. Good night.”
“Good night.”
———
I had a restless night, plagued by nightmares, and by morning, my body felt like it went through a trial. I had barely got out of bed when my phone rang again.
When I picked up the phone, it was Hira. She was panicking badly.
“Hira? What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Ellie never came home last night!” She exclaimed. “I went to her room, and she wasn’t there. I thought she went to the studio, but when I called them, they said they fired her from the film yesterday afternoon.”
“Where is she now?” I asked. “Did you call her?”
“She turned her phone off,” Hira said. “I am scared, Cassie. I am going to call the police.”
“I am coming there,” I said. “We can both search for her.”
“Ok, please hurry,” Hira said.
I checked the train schedule, and the next train wasn’t coming until three hours later. Every passing minute was putting Ellie’s life in grave danger.
Where was she? Why was her phone turned off? I tried calling her too, but I got nothing. I had to get to London quickly, but how?
I found out his number, going through my emails and looking for his contact information. John picked up the phone on the first ring.
“Who is this?” he asked.
“John, it’s me,” I said, crying. “I need your help.”
“Cassie? Where are you? What do you need?” he asked. His concerned voice touched the dark corners of my broken soul.
“It’s Ellie. She is missing,” I said. “I need to get to London quickly.”
“I will come get you,” John said. “Just tell me where to go.”
I let my hosts know about the situation and they kindly offer to look after Buddy while I go searching for my best friend. I am trying to hold on and not break down completely. My mind floods with memories of Ellie, of her during our childhood, of us as teenagers, of her in every moment since, both of us happy and laughing together. I hold on to Buddy and he whimpers sadly, sensing my distress.
“Where can she be, Buddy?” I ask him. Buddy looks at me with sorrowful, puppy eyes. I give him another hug and step outside the house. I anxiously waited by the front door and saw John’s car stop by the house.
“I am sorry to bother you, John,” I said. I couldn’t stop crying.
John took one look at my tears and wrapped me in his arms. My shattered heart became less broken in his warm embrace.
“We will find her, Cassie,” John reassured me. He wiped my tears with his hands.
I silently nodded my head. I couldn’t trust myself to speak without crying again.
I needed to find her. I needed to find Ellie before it was too late.