Ella’s POV
I sat at the kitchen table, the usual morning routine feeling a little off. My parents were there, looking worried as usual, and Khian was sitting nearby, his gaze focused on me. I’d asked to talk to them about returning to school, and now it was time to make my case.
“Mom, Dad, I really want to go back to school,” I said, trying to sound calm but firm. “I’ve missed so many lessons and lectures. I need to be there.”
Mom glanced at Dad, who looked as tense as she did. “Ella,” Mom began, her voice gentle but firm, “we’ve talked about this. You’ve been through a lot lately. We don’t want to push you too hard. We could pay the school to cover your absences. You don’t have to go back just yet.”
Dad nodded in agreement. “We were thinking that maybe homeschooling would be a better option for now. It would keep you safe from any stress or pressure. We’re worried about your heart, Ella.”
I felt a surge of frustration and sadness. “But I don’t want to be homeschooled! I want to be with my friends and get back to my normal life. You’re treating me like I can’t handle it, but I can!”
Mom’s face softened, but she shook her head. “We just want what’s best for you. We’re scared that seeing Ethan and dealing with the stress at school could be too much for you.”
I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. It wasn’t just about going back to school; it was about feeling like I was being held back, like my own choices didn’t matter. I felt trapped and misunderstood.
Khian, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. “Mom, I understand that you’re worried. But Ella needs to go back to school. It’s important for her to feel normal again. She’ll be okay. I’m sure she can handle it.”
Mom and Dad looked at Khian, clearly taken aback by his sudden support. “Khian, it’s not just about what Ella wants,” Dad said, his voice tinged with concern. “It’s about what’s best for her health.”
Khian stood up, his expression serious. “I know you’re worried, but Ella needs to be able to make her own choices. She’s been through a lot, but she’s strong. Let her go back to school. If she needs help or if things get too tough, we’ll handle it. But she deserves a chance to be herself again.”
Mom and Dad exchanged glances, and I could see the struggle in their eyes. They were torn between their fears for my health and their desire to support me.
Finally, Mom sighed, her shoulders relaxing a bit. “Okay, Ella. If your brother thinks you’re ready, we’ll let you go back to school. But please, promise us that if you start feeling overwhelmed, you’ll let us know. We just want to make sure you’re safe.”
I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. “Yeah I will.” I said coldly, dad didn't even understand my side and it's unfair.
As my parents left the room, I felt a wave of gratitude toward Khian. He had stood up for me when I needed it most. I turned to him, my eyes brimming with tears.
“Thank you, Khian,” I said softly. “I didn’t know how to make them understand.”
Khian smiled, a reassuring look in his eyes. “I know. Sometimes it’s hard for them to see things from your perspective. But you’re good. You’ll do great.”
The conversation had been tough, but it was a step toward regaining some control over my life. I was ready to face whatever came next, even if it meant dealing with the challenges of returning to school. With Khian’s support and the determination to prove myself, I felt a renewed sense of hope.
As I walked away from the table, I knew that things wouldn’t be easy, but I need to face it alone. 
---
The drive to school felt exiting. With Khian at the wheel, I could barely contain my excitement and nerves. The familiar sight of the school building came into view, and my heart raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
Khian parked the car, and we both stepped out. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. As we walked toward the entrance, I felt a surge of relief. I was finally back where I belonged.
When we entered the school, the hallways seemed both familiar and new. My friends Lily and Sophie were waiting for me by my locker, their faces lighting up when they saw me.
“Ella!” Lily exclaimed, rushing forward to give me a hug. “We’re so happy you’re back! We missed you so much.”
Sophie joined in, her grin wide. “Look who’s finally gracing us with her presence! We were planning to come over and visit you soon, but I guess you beat us to it.”
I smiled, feeling the warmth of their welcome. “I missed you guys too. It’s good to be back.”
Sophie, with her usual playful energy, raised an eyebrow at Lily. “You know, Lily, I was wondering if you were really looking forward to seeing Ella or if you just wanted to see her brother Khian again.”
Lily’s face turned a bright shade of red. “Sophie, stop it! It’s not like that.”
Sophie laughed, clearly enjoying the teasing. “Oh, come on. I saw how excited you were when Khian gave you a ride. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”
Lily gave Sophie a playful shove. “You’re such a tease. Khian was just being nice. And besides, I missed Ella, not just her brother.”
I chuckled at the exchange, feeling a sense of normalcy and comfort. It was nice to have my friends back and to see them being their usual selves.
As we walked together toward our first class, Sophie continued her light-hearted teasing, but this time it was more playful than anything. “So, Ella, did you miss all the drama we’ve had while you were gone? We’ve had our fair share of it.”
Lily nodded, still blushing slightly. “Yeah, but I’m sure you’ll catch up soon enough. We’ve got plenty of stories to share.”
The bell rang, signaling the start of the school day, and we headed to our respective classrooms. As I settled into my seat, I felt a sense of belonging that had been missing for a while. My friends were back, and I was finally where I needed to be.
Khian gave me a reassuring smile as he headed to his own class, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful for his support. Today was the beginning of getting back to normal, and despite everything, it felt good to be back.
With my friends by my side and the familiar school routine ahead, I was ready to face whatever came next. The journey wasn’t over, but for now, it felt like I was finally on the right path.
---
The second bell rang, signaling lunchtime. My stomach growled, but my thoughts were elsewhere. I spotted Ethan sitting alone at a table near the window, his head down, focused on his food. 
A wave of sympathy washed over me. I wanted to go over and offer a smile or some kind words. But as I started to head in his direction, Lily and Sophie gently but firmly pulled me away.
“Ella, let’s sit here,” Lily said, her voice steady.
“Yeah, let’s grab this table,” Sophie added, her tone light but insistent. “It’s a good spot.”
I looked back at Ethan, feeling a mix of concern and unresolved hurt. “But I just wanted to—”
“Nope,” Sophie said, trying to sound cheerful. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”
They guided me to a different table, and I could see them exchange a quick, fake laugh. It was clear they were trying to distract me.
I sighed as we sat down. “Where’s Khian?”
Lily shrugged. “He’s busy with some important school board stuff. Lots of paperwork.”
Sophie grinned and teased Lily. “Wow, Lily, you seem to know everything about Khian. What a nice of you as his future wife.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Pabo! I’m on the school board committee, too. It’s not that surprising.”
We all laughed, but my mind kept drifting back to Ethan. I wanted to reach out, but the girls were determined to keep me away.
Suddenly, I noticed Katherine walking up to Ethan’s table. Sophie’s face changed from playful to serious. Katherine exchanged a few words with Ethan and then quickly walked away.
Sophie frowned. “What’s she doing here?”
I watched Katherine leave and turned to Sophie. “Maybe she’s trying to talk to Ethan about what happened.”
Sophie shook her head. “I don’t know. She just seems to make things worse.”
Lily tried to shift the focus. “Let’s just enjoy our lunch. We’re here for you, Ella.”
The conversation at our table was nice, but my thoughts were still on Ethan and Katherine. Sophie noticed I wasn’t fully engaged and tried to pull me back into the moment.
“Ella,” Sophie said, leaning in with a mischievous glint in her eye. “Did you hear about what happened with the science club? Apparently, someone set off the fire alarm during their experiment.”
I looked at her, confused. “Really? That sounds like a disaster.”
Sophie grinned. “Oh, it was. And you know who got blamed? The new kid, Jason. But everyone knows it was actually Tina’s fault. She was mixing chemicals and talking on her phone at the same time.”
Lily laughed. “Classic Tina.”
“Seriously,” Sophie continued, “I heard she tried to blame it on the ‘experiment gone wrong’ excuse, but everyone saw her texting. She’s got to be the worst multitasker ever.”
I appreciated their effort to keep the mood better.