CHAPTER 79: ALIA IS MISSING?!

I shifted awkwardly, trying not to look too obvious, and stuffed my hands into my hoodie pocket, suddenly freezing.

"I’ve been looking for you," Ian said to Dominic, then tilted his head toward me, as his gaze lingered on me for a second.

"What the hell are you doing out here with this dude, huh? Ashlicker?"

I flinched. I swear I flinched.

He laughed.

It was sharp, mean and loud enough that the two people that walked out of the building, looked over.

"Hey, stop," Dom snapped, stepping in between us.

Ian didn’t back off. He narrowed his eyes at me. "Why’s he still standing here staring like I’m the problem? After what happened to Liam....this kid pisses me off."

My stomach knotted.

Here we go again.

I looked at Dominic, silently begging him to say something....anything. Defend me again. Say I wasn’t what Ian thought I was.

Dominic let out a frustrated breath. "Ian, I showed you the footage. You saw what happened. I told you to stop with the bullying, remember? Get over it already."

He stepped in front of me like a shield. But it didn’t stop Ian from smirking.

"What? You defending him now?" Ian snorted. "Is he hitting on you or something?"

He said it like I was gross for even existing in the same space as Dominic.

Dom’s shoulder tensed.

I felt like I was going to throw up. My ears were buzzing. I wanted to disappear.

I couldn’t even look up....I just kept staring at the cracks on the floor biting my lower lip.

My heart was thudding so loud.

I should’ve said something. Should’ve spoken up for myself.

My lips parted, but no words came out.

I hated that. I hated how small I felt.

I always knew I had no self confidence.

Then....

"Ash! Marcus!"

June’s voice cut through the moment.

I turned and saw her walking out of the doors, holding a paper cup. Her eyes bounced from me to Dom to Ian, and immediately, her brows pulled together in concern.

"Ash?" she said, walking up to me. She reached for my wrist instinctively, like she always did when she felt something was off. "What are you doing out here? Where’s Marcus?"

Before I could answer, Ian let out another scoff. "Great, here comes the third wheel."

June turned slowly to face him. "Excuse me?"

"Ughhhh...." Ian started, smirking, "not this bitchy one again."

I blinked.

I barely had time to react before June pointed a finger directly at his face.

"Watch your filthy mouth, dickhead," she snapped, stepping forward. "Trust me, you don’t want to mess with me. I will rip your ego apart and leave it bleeding on the floor. Don’t tempt me...you know what I’m talking about."

Dom tried to stifle a laugh, coughing into his sleeve.

Ian stared at her, stunned.....like he wasn’t used to being talked to like that.

Then he scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Let’s go, Dom. There are some hot chicks in there asking for your number."

He yanked the door open and held it. "You coming or what?"

Dom hesitated.

He looked back at me.

At June.

His eyes lingered, just a second too long, then he whispered, "I’ll text you."

I nodded, but it hurt.

More than I expected it to.

He followed Ian inside.

And I was left out here. Alone again.

June folded her arms, still staring at the door Dominic had just walked through.

Then she turned to me. Suddenly, her tone softened. "First of all... is there something going on between you and Dom?"

I froze, and shook my head.

"No!" I said quickly. "Nothing’s going on. Why’d you think that?"

I kept staring at the glass door. Still hoping maybe... maybe Dom would walk back out.

He didn’t.

Her eyes narrowed slightly like she didn’t quite believe me, but she didn’t push. She looked at me longer than she needed to, then finally said, "You okay?"

I didn’t answer right away. My hands were shaking.

I looked down at my hands. My fingernails had dug little red crescents into my palms.

"I just..." I exhaled. "I want to go back to the hospital."

June blinked. "Wait, what? Already?"

I looked away before she could read too much into my face.

I nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. I’m not really okay."

June’s expression softened. She studied me for a second. The way my shoulders were slumped. How my hands wouldn’t stay still. The way my voice cracked a little.

"Okay," she said, gently. "Give me a few minutes. I just need to use the restroom real quick. I’ll be back soon, okay?"

I nodded again, eyes on the ground. "Okay."

She gave my shoulder a light squeeze before heading back inside.

I sat down on the same fence I’d been on with Dom earlier, pulling my hoodie tighter around myself.

Then....

A low rumble echoed through the sky.

Thunder.

And almost immediately after, fat droplets of rain began to fall, splattering against the pavement.

Shit.

I glanced up, watching as the dark cloud began to form. The rain came down fast, soaking the pavement.

June popped her head out the door. "Ash, let’s wait inside till the rain stops!"

I nodded quickly, shielding my head with my arm. "Okay!"

I walked inside, and sat down on the bench I’d shared with Marcus earlier

And slowly, the ache set in.

What the hell just happened?

I wrapped my arms around myself and let my thoughts spiral....helplessly.

I hate Ian..

I hated the way he looked at me like I didn’t belong. Like I was some disease his family was always trying to get rid of.

First it was his dad, then Nari.

Now him.

It was like the Han family had me marked from the moment I stepped into that damn school.

Why is it always me?

Why did I have to fall for someone tied to the people who made my life hell?

My jaw tightened.

Dom was the one good thing that didn’t feel like a game or a pity prize. And still...somehow, I was the one who ended up outside in the rain, soaked in shame while he went back inside like none of it mattered.

The thunder cracked again.

I sat forward, elbows on my knees, watching the rain drip off the edge of the building.

Then, without even thinking, I stood.

I needed to know what Dominic was doing in there.

I stepped through the side doors of the rink, the cold hitting me immediately. The glass barrier let me see into the rink itself.

And there he was.

Dominic.

On the far side of the rink, just past the barrier.....talking.

Laughing.

With a girl.

Ian was beside him, of course, grinning smugly. And the girl next to Dominic....a tall, blondie. She was touching him again and again. His arm. His chest. His shoulder. She was everywhere.

Dominic wasn’t pushing her away.

My chest tightened.

I didn’t realize how hard I was gripping the railing until my knuckles started to ache.

Then, as if he felt me watching, Dominic turned.

Our eyes met.

Just for a second.

And I looked away fast, and turned back toward the exit, walking quickly like I hadn’t just been staring.

Like I hadn’t just felt that sudden twist of jealousy crawl up my throat.

Back on the bench, I wiped my damp hands on my jeans and muttered under my breath, "Ugh. This annoying rain better stop. I need to go."

Then...

Buzz!

My phone vibrated in my pocket.

One notification.

Then another.

I ignored it.

It’s probably him.

But three minutes later....

Buzz.

Another one.

I exhaled, annoyed.

What does he even want from me?

He’s in there flirting with girls like we didn’t just have... whatever that was. And Ian....why is he letting that guy control him like that?

I folded my arms across my chest.

Buzz. Buzz.

My phone buzzed again, this time louder.....a call.

I reached into my hoodie pocket, still fuming, and checked the screen.

Nurse Khloe. Pediatric Section.

My chest sank.

I answered quickly. "Hi, Nurse Khloe."

Her voice came through fast. "Mr. Rivera, is Alia with you?"

I sat up straighter. "What? No....she’s supposed to be in the pediatric section. I left her there. Why?"

"She’s missing. We’ve been searching for her since lunchtime. She’s not in her room, and the nurses haven’t seen her around. It’s raining heavily and we can’t find her anywhere."

My heart dropped.

"What?!"

I was already on my feet.

"She was right there! I.....I only left for a few hours. Are you sure she’s not just... in one of the kids’ rooms or the playroom or....?"

"We’ve checked everything," Nurse Khloe said. "We’re doing a full search now, but if she contacts you or if you know anything..."

My heart began to race.

No. No, no, no...

Then, just as I was about to speak, my phone buzzed again.

A message popped onto my screen.

No name.

No contact.

Just an anonymous number.

I opened it without thinking.

And froze.

It was a photo.

A picture of Alia.....standing outside the hospital entrance, her hair was damp from the rain. Her eyes widened. She looked scared.

Below the photo, a single message:

Hello Ash Rivera.

Remember me?

Say hi to your little sister.

My phone slipped from my hands.

It clattered onto the ground, the message was still glowing on the screen.

My breath stopped.

And all I could hear was my heartbeat crashing like thunder in my ears.