Chapter 20: Alone Time
JULIA
“How’s the project going?” Harper asked, slinging an arm around me.
I sighed and shook my head. “Well, it’s been put to a stop for the last couple of days since Heather has this modeling gig.‘
“Ah, must be nice to have excused absences,” Glanna sald.
“Yeah,” 1 muttered.
Just then, someone approached us from the lunch table, causing the three of us to lift our heads.
It was a young man looking confident. We exchanged looks of confusion before turning to him once more. “Can we help you?” I softly asked, not wanting to sound rude.
#25 BONUS
He merely smiled, running his fingers through his hair and smoldering. I wasn’t sure. It looked more like a flinch
to me.
“I was wondering,” he said, focusing on me. My eyebrows raised in surprise when he suddenly winked.
“You caught my eye from the other corner of the cafeteria,” he said. “I think you’re really cute. Let’s exchange numbers.”
“Oh,” I said, not being able to stop myself.
Gianna and Harper exchanged glances, clearly amused.
“Julia, you’re so freaking pretty that even freshmen are interested in you,” Gianna whispered to my ears.
I pursed my lips and shook my head before turning to him once again.
“How old are you?” I asked.
“17,” he replied with a smirk. “I got into college pretty early. Neat, right? We can become the campus couple.” Glanna and Harper held in the urge to laugh. However, if you asked me, they were failing quite miserably. A small frown made its way to his face as he looked at the two of them.
“I’m sorry, kid,” I said with a polite smile. “I’m not looking to catch a case. You should mingle with people your
age.”
His eyebrows raised in surprise. “What do you mean by that? Are you a hag of some sort?”
1 let out a deep breath and was about to respond, but Gianna beat me to it.
“She doesn’t like your puny ass,” she deadpanned. “Now, go. Julia needs a real man. Not someone like you.”
That seemed to do the trick. However, it also seemed to offend him.
With red ears and an equally flushed face, he scoffed. “It’s not like you were that pretty anyway,” he muttered before storming away from our table.
As soon as he was gone, we couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Men and their big egos,” Harper sighed. “You reject them and suddenly you’re not pretty.”
Chapter 20: Alone Time
I nodded.
“Speaking of,” Gianna said, turning to me. “Do you have a boyfriend?” she asked.
I shook my head, causing the two of them to raise their eyebrows.
“Really, now?” Harper asked.
I chuckled. “Why? Is that so hard to believe?“.
+25 BONUS
“Yes!” Gianna exclaimed. “You’re pretty. I can tell you’re smart, too. You’re even kind. Only an idiot would pass up a chance to be with you.”
You’re o
I said.
‘Seriously, you don’t have anyone special? Not even once? Harper asked.
I pursed my lips. “I had…once,” I muttered with a sad smil
“Oh,” the two of them said at the same time.
“If it’s alright, may we ask what happened?” Gianna asked
I chuckled and shook my head. “Like you said–men and their big egos. They just…leave you when you don’t have a clue why.”
The two of them turned silent while I snapped out of my reminiscing state. Fortunately, my phone vibrated, shifting the focus.
I looked and saw Heather’s text.
‘I’m free today! Please come to my apartment so we can continue the project.‘
I sighed in relief and quickly typed a reply.
“What is it?” Gianna asked.
“Heather’s finally free,” I said. “We can continue the project now.”
“Ah,” Harper sighed. “It’s only the second week of classes, but we’re already swamped with projects. That art project with Mr. Matthews is due the day after tomorrow, too.”
“Crap,” I muttered.
“Don’t tell me–you forgot about it!” Gianna exclaimed.
I scratched the back of my neck. “Well, that’s still 48 hours, isn’t it?”
I stood outside of Heather’s apartment. Fortunately, it seemed like the guard was informed this time, as he let me in without any questions.
I was about to knock on the door when it suddenly opened, catching me by surprise.
“Julia.”
I pursed my lips as I looked at the man in front of me. To be fair, I should have expected it now. Heather did say that he stayed over quite often.
“You’re here again,” he stated the obvious.
Chapter 20 Alone Time
“Yeah. unfortunately,” 1 muttered the last word so he was able to hear it.
“You’re going to work on the project?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, we’ve lost a lot of time because of Heather’s schedule.”
Evan frowned and glanced behind him, appearing confused “Heather’s not here, though,” he said.
“What?” I exclaimed, much louder than I had anticipated.
1 I grabbed my phone from my pocket and saw that I received a text from Heather just a few minutes ago.
It read, ‘I had an emergency! Can we reschedule for tomorrow?!
1 sighed and shook my head. Great. I came here for nothing
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“I’ll go back then,” I said, about to turn away when I felt a cold hand over my wrist. I stopped in my tracks and looked up, only to see Evan looking intently into my eyes.
“Uh–Evan…..I mean, Evander,” 1 muttered, nearly saying the nickname that only I once called him. “Can you let
I
go?”
Evan sighed and let go of my hand. “You’re already here,” he deadpanned. “The project has been stagnant since. Why don’t you continue through it?”
I raised both of my eyebrows. “Are you hearing yourself right now?”
“What?” he asked. “I’m helping you out.
“You want me to stay here…with you…just the two of us?” I asked, laying it out for him.
“Why not?” he shrugged.
I let out a deep breath. “I thought you didn’t want to be in my presence,” I muttered, but it seemed like he had heard me.
He pursed his lips. “Don’t get me wrong,” he said.
“I’m only doing this so you can finish your project sooner.
“That way, we wouldn’t have to see each other anymore.”
