Chapter 12: Shattered Trust

Ella stood motionless at Drevin's doorstep, her heart pounding erratically in her chest. The dim light from inside the apartment cast shadows over the doorway, framing the scene in a way that made it even more surreal.

There he was.

Drevin.

With his arms around another girl.

The blonde girl, perched comfortably on Drevin's lap, was the first to react. She raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, her lips curling into an amused smirk. "Uh, babe, who are these people?" she asked, twisting slightly in Drevin's grasp. Her voice held a sharp edge, the kind that made Ella's stomach churn.

Drevin was quiet for a second too long. His initial shock at seeing Ava, Liam, and—most importantly—Ella at his door was evident in his widened eyes and stiff posture. But then, as if flipping a switch, he relaxed.

"They're just… some old friends," he muttered, leaning back as if the situation was nothing serious.

Ella's breath hitched.

Old friends?

Ava's eyes widened in anger. Without hesitation, she slapped Drevin hard across the face. "Old friends? That's what we are now?"

Liam folded his arms, his jaw tightening.

The room fell silent, the girl stepping back in shock. Ella clenched her fists, feeling her heart shatter into a million pieces.

The girl in Drevin's lap turned back to Ella, eyeing her up and down. "So, you're the famous Ella, huh?" she mused, her tone condescending. "Drevin's charity case?"

Ella felt her stomach drop, her hands trembling at her sides.

Ava didn't hesitate. SLAP!

The sharp crack of her palm meeting Drevin's cheek echoed through the room.

Everyone froze.

Drevin's head jerked slightly to the side from the impact. The blonde girl gasped, reaching out to touch his face as if he had been deeply wounded.

"What the hell?!" the girl shrieked. "Who do you think you are, hitting my boyfriend?"

Ava took a threatening step forward, her voice dangerously low. "Who do you think you are, sitting on her boyfriend?" she shot back.

Drevin finally snapped out of his daze. "Ava, what the hell is wrong with you?" he growled, glaring at her.

"What's wrong with me?" Ava spat. "What's wrong with YOU?!" She gestured toward Ella. "Do you even see what you're doing? Do you even care?"

Ella, who had been silent until now, swallowed hard and finally spoke, "I thought we had something real, Drevin. I supported you when you had nothing. I was the only one at your mother's funeral. And now... now I'm just 'some old friend'?"" she whispered, her voice raw with pain, "what happened to you?"

Drevin exhaled, rubbing his cheek, avoiding her gaze. "Things change, Ella,"People change." he muttered, almost too low for her to hear.

The blonde girl chuckled. "Yeah, babe, things change," she echoed mockingly, tilting her head toward Ella. "Oh, sweetie, did you think he was yours forever?"And if you haven't noticed, you're old news."

Ella flinched at the words, feeling as though someone had just physically punched her in the gut.

Liam, who had been restraining himself this whole time, finally spoke. "You're a real piece of work, man," he muttered at Drevin. "After everything? This is how you treat her?"

Drevin clenched his jaw but didn't respond.

Ella inhaled sharply, fighting the tears threatening to spill. She had come here to understand, to find closure—maybe even to fix whatever was broken. But now, standing here, all she felt was shattered.

Ava grabbed her wrist,pulling her away. "We are done here. Let's go."

"No, no, let's stay," the blonde girl taunted. "I wanna hear what more the ex has to say."

Ella felt like she was going to break.

Liam's voice was suddenly sharp. "You better shut your mouth before I make you."

The girl raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Ooooh, I'm so scared," she mocked.

Drevin finally stood up. "Enough," he said flatly. "Just go, Ella."

Something inside Ella snapped.

"Go?" she repeated.

Drevin sighed. "Yeah. You should leave. This—" he gestured vaguely around himself, "—isn't your place anymore."

Ella swallowed the lump in her throat. Not your place anymore.

Ava squeezed Ella's hand. "C'mon, El."

Ella took one last look at Drevin. He didn't even look at her.

She turned on her heel and walked out.

Liam clenched his jaw, shaking his head at Drevin. "You just lost the best person in your life, man. Good luck with that."

As they walked away, Ella refused to turn back. Tears streamed down her face, but she held her head high.

---

The Car Ride: Breaking Down

The drive back was eerily silent at first. Ella stared blankly out the window, the neon lights of the city blurring together. Her hands rested on her lap, fingers curled into fists.

Then Ava exhaled sharply. "I swear, I've never wanted to strangle someone more in my life,"But he's not worth it, Ella. You deserve better."

Liam, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary, nodded. "That was brutal."

Ella let out a shaky breath. "I should've seen it coming," she whispered. "He was already pulling away. I just… I didn't want to believe it."

Ava turned to face her. "Listen to me, Ella. That guy? He's trash. He doesn't deserve a single tear from you."

Ella laughed bitterly, wiping at her wet cheeks. "Too late for that."

Ava sighed. "Okay, but I mean it. You are worth so much more than him. You deserve someone who sees your value, someone who chooses you every damn day. And Drevin? He stopped choosing you the moment he let that girl sit on his lap."

Liam nodded. "That guy's an idiot. He's gonna regret this."

Ella shook her head. "I don't even think he will."Ella sniffled, her voice shaky. "It just hurts. After everything… he didn't even care."

Ava reached for her hand. "Then screw him. Because we're here. And we're not letting you go through this alone."

Ella bit her lip, trying to keep her emotions in check. "Thank you," she murmured.

"We love you, El," Ava said softly.

Ella blinked rapidly, nodding. "I love you guys too."

Liam glanced at her through the mirror, "One day, he'll regret this. But by then, you'll be too far ahead to care."

That night, Ava updated Ryan in their group chat, explaining everything.

Ryan: "He really did that? That's low, even for him."

Ava: "I swear, I almost punched him. I had to drag Ella away."

Ryan: "Ella, you good?"

Ella hesitated before typing: "I will be."

Ryan: "Good. Because that idiot isn't worth your tears."

[Ava💖]: I still can't believe tonight happened.

[Liam🔥]: He's the biggest clown I've ever seen.

[Ava💖]: The AUDACITY of that girl. I still wanna punch her.

[Ella🍞]: Please don't.

[Ava💖]: No promises. You okay?

[Ella🍞]: No. But I will be.

[Ryan🏀]: Just saw everything. That fool's not worth it, Ella. We got you. Always.

Ella smiled weakly.

She wasn't okay.

But she had friends who would help her get there.

And for now, that was enough.

To Be Continued...