Chapter 16: There’s No Chance
JULIA
The silence was unbearable.
I focused on the canvas.
“Julia,” Evan said, his voice cutting through the silence.
Why was he trying to strike a conversation once again?
I didn’t look up. “What?”
He paused for a moment, carefully choosing his words. “You’re not thinking of me, right?”
My pencil stopped mid–stroke. Slowly, I lifted my head, narrowing my eyes at him. “What kind of question is that?” Lasked in an incredulous voice.
He leaned back slightly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Just answer the question.”
I rolled my eyes, my tone sharp. “No, I’m not thinking of you.”
Who was I kidding?
I’d thought about him in every stupid way possible. In the mornings, when I woke up to cold sheets, I wondered if he still slept sprawled out, stealing all the blankets. On the nights when the silence pressed too close, I’d hear his laugh in my head, mocking me for still holding on.
I thought about him when I saw couples holding hands, imagining how his felt in mine–warm, steady like he’d never let go. But he had.
It hurt how much I missed him. It hurt more knowing he was right here.
I was doing so fine! Then, he just had to show up.
His next words, though, sank me back to reality.
‘Good.” His smirk deepened, making my chest tighten.
“Because it will never happen again. What happened between us,
“So, please, after this project, leave Heather and me alone.
I knew he meant those words.
“I
“That’s fine by me,” I muttered.
Π
“You really don’t have to tell me these things. Trust me–that was my plan since the very beginning,” I said with a smile.
But my hand trembled slightly as I pressed the pencil to the paper, and I prayed he wouldn’t notice.
EVANDER
“I’m back!” Heather exclaimed, opening the door.
Julia jumped in her seat, making Heather chuckle. “Well, you’re easily startled,” she chimed.
Chapter 16. There’s Na
+26 BONUS
I glanced at Julia, and we made eye contact for a second again. I know I said she hadn’t changed, but honestly, I take it back. The spark in her eyes–had it increased? The way she carried herself now was different from before.
“Anyway,” Heather continued. “I don’t think we can finish he sketch today. The kitchen is a mess, and I need Anders to help me clean it.‘
1 pursed my lips. This was almost a weekly occurrence in her apartment. I had always insisted on just getting take. out since the two of us couldn’t cook at all, but she said she wanted to learn for me. Nonetheless, the messes she made in the kitchen were no joke.
“That’s alright,” Julia said, sounding breathless. She stood from her seat and grabbed her bag. I followed her every movement with my eyes.
“Do you want my chauffeur to send you back to your house?” Heather asked.
Julia’s eyes flickered to mine for a second before she shook her head. “No, it’s alright,” she said. “I can find my own way back.”
With that, she left the art room and the apartment, leaving Heather and I all alone in the room. As soon as Julia was gone, she went over to where I was and caressed my cheek. Her hands were strangely cold despite attending to the burnt brownies.
“Do you think she was upset?” Heather asked in that sweet voice of hers.
1 let out a soft sigh. Now, that was something I couldn’t answer. If you asked me back then, I would say that I knew Julia like I knew myself. However, it was different now.
“Why would she be upset?” I asked, loosening my collar. She said she didn’t think of me anymore.
“Well, you know,” she shrugged. “It just seems like she was awfully uncomfortable when we got close to each other. I didn’t like how she was looking at us.”
I slightly frowned. “She wasn’t looking at us, though,” I said, merely telling the truth.
Heather sighed and moved away a bit. “Men, really,” she muttered. “You don’t know how these things work.” “I was actually happy when I heard we were paired up together. Julia has always been a top student, even back then, and we were friends before. However, I think she has other intentions,” Heather said with a concerned
frown.
I ran my fingers through my hair. “Well, you don’t have to worry,” I said, reassuring her. “Like you said a while ago–it’s all in the past now. It’s been what? Five years? I think it’s time to let go.”
31
Heather played with her fingers before looking up at me with her doe eyes. “I guess,” she muttered. “I wonder why she came back to this city, though. The last time I heard about her was from Dean-
“Heather,” I said in a warning tone.
She frowned. “What, babe?”
“I don’t want to talk about the past anymore,” I said, massaging the bridge of his nose. “I will let you finish this project with me as a subject, but let’s not bring up the past, alright?”
“And don’t ever mention that name,” I said, my voice hardening as I remembered that man.
“Ever.”
