He Left Me in the Rain for My Best Friend Chapter 01

He Left Me in the Rain for My Best Friend Chapter 01

After high school graduation, Caleb Sterling and I went on a graduation trip.

I never expected to see my best friend on the airport shuttle.

Before I could even process it, Caleb explained from beside me.

“Ivy’s never flown before. I had airline miles, so I helped her get a discounted ticket.”

My best friend smiled and took my hand.

“You don’t mind one extra person, right? I promise I’ll be a very low-key third wheel.”

I forced a smile.

When we got to our destination, the three of us went sightseeing together.

Somehow, they always ended up walking side by side, pushing me behind them.

Only after a long while would they suddenly remember I existed, then turn back and blame me for walking too slowly.

I passed out from heatstroke and was taken to the hospital by a kind stranger.

Neither of them noticed.

“Where did you go? Did you get the waitlist number? Ivy’s starving.”

Caleb called to question me, and only then did I see the WhatsApp message telling me to go ahead and wait in line at that trendy restaurant.

There were also hundreds of photos of Ivy Harper in our three-person group chat.

People said cameras had feelings.

If I couldn’t fit into the frame, then fine.

“Elena Brooks? Talk to me. I’m asking you where you are!”

Caleb’s voice on the phone was tight with anger, every word clenched between his teeth.

I snapped back to myself, took a breath, and was about to speak.

“I’m at…”

“Caleb…”

Ivy Harper’s weak voice drifted through the phone.

“Forget it. Don’t wait in line. Let’s just grab something at that diner next door. I think my blood sugar’s dropping.”

“Your blood sugar?”

Caleb’s voice instantly turned tense.

Then the call ended.

Soon, he sent me the location of the diner.

“On your way over, stop by a pharmacy and buy some itch cream. Ivy got bitten all over by mosquitoes.”

I gave a bitter laugh at myself, and tears suddenly rolled down my face.

A nurse walked over and handed me a pack of tissues.

“Your friends still haven’t come?”

My nose stung.

I tried to smile.

“They’re busy. They’ll be here soon.”

By the time my IV was done and I could walk out of the hospital on my own, the sky was completely dark.

My boyfriend and my best friend never sent me another message.

Not one call.

When I returned to the hotel, the room was dark.

The two of them still weren’t back.

I packed my things and bought a ticket for the next long-distance coach.

A seven-hour overnight ride.

Caleb said Ivy had never been on a plane before.

But it was my first time too.

I had never left the small town where I grew up.

I worked a summer job for a month, standing more than ten hours a day at a coffee shop making drinks, just to save enough for the plane ticket and the trip.

Caleb knew all of that.

But he never once mentioned using miles to get me a ticket.

It was just an excuse.

If Ivy Harper wanted to come, he would buy her a ticket no matter how expensive it was.

It made me look ridiculous for insisting we split everything fifty-fifty.

Like I was fake-proud and self-righteous.

The elevator doors opened.

Caleb Sterling stood outside with Ivy Harper on his back.

Ivy’s face was pressed against his neck like she was acting spoiled.

When she saw me, her face stiffened.

She patted Caleb, signaling him to put her down.

“Elena, don’t misunderstand. I… my ankle got rubbed raw by my shoes.”

“Caleb Sterling!”

Caleb didn’t let go.

His eyes were dark as he stared at me.

“Where are you going with your suitcase?”

“Do you know how long we looked for you? Elena Brooks, can you act like an adult? If you have a problem, communicate. You disappear without a word, and you think that’s fun?”

I laughed coldly inside.

Did you look for me?

Weren’t you happily taking a harbor cruise, walking the night market, and watching the river lights?

But I didn’t have the strength to question him.

I lowered my head and walked around them.

As soon as I stepped through the hotel’s glass doors, Caleb chased after me and grabbed my wrist.

“Elena!”

His breathing was uneven, his temper barely held down.

“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I was just worried about you.”

“It’s too late. Come back inside with me. We’re supposed to go to the beach tomorrow, remember? You were looking forward to it. I promise I’ll take more pictures of you and won’t ignore you again.”

See?

He understood everything.

But when it came to action, he still didn’t care about how I felt.

Again and again, he chose Ivy Harper.

“Sir! Your girlfriend fainted!”

The front desk suddenly shouted.

Caleb let go of me at once and rushed back inside.

“Ivy…”