Chapter 20

Selene:

I gulped loudly at the raging stare he gave me. There was no sweet or cute boy in there anymore. His eyes told me so many things and none of them felt like a warm blanket. I shivered again and moved back. He walked in stub Sean carefully closing the door behind them.

"H-How-"

"Sean, can we have a minute?" He announced.  Sean looked at me with raised brows and I nodded. I looked back and pointed at the bedroom hall. He dropped his head and walked towards it. He entered the first room to his left which was mine.

Suddenly, I wished that was me.

Before i could process what was happening around me, i felt my hand stuck in a hold. I was swiveled around and when my head felt straight, I was leaning against something hard, with Jace's hard body stuck with mine.

"Jace, please..." I started. His hair fell to his forehead and the glaring only hardened every second. I felt my breathing grow heavy until I took the sight of his lush eyes and let myself inhale a deep breath. His scent blessed my senses and in an instant I was relaxed. I let my head move forward till it felt a soft touch against it. He released a deep breath against me. Our foreheads held each other to calm till his hold calmed around me.

"Why?" He breathed.

"It was the right thing to do." I answered quietly.

"No." His forehead pressed harder against mine.

"Jace." I pulled my head away and waited for him to open his eyes and match mine, "You needed to follow your life." I bit my lip. Instead of more calm, his nose scrunched in anger. In a second, I felt his lips collide with mine. The kiss wasnt sensual, it was strong and felt like a rock burning through my senses. I moaned to ask him to stop, but he only hoisted me up, carrying me to the couch and dropping me on it. I held his hair strongly and felt my sight going literally blind behind my eyes. That kiss was killing me.

When he finally released me, I gasped and sat up. He was holding me up on his lap and I was grazing my messy hair off my face. His head was bowed on my shoulder and he held my knees together on his lap.

"What the hell was that?" I raged out, jumping off of him. He kept his head low and didnt respond. I paced the floor with irritation bubbling in me, I couldnt believe the way he handled me.

"Be at the office by nine tomorrow morning." He stood up, throwing a folded paper at my feet. I picked it up with more irritation gripping at me. It was my schruched up resume.

"No." I crumbled the paper into a ball and threw it away into some unknown corner of the room.

"It wasnt a request." He inhaled a deep breath, standing up and buttoning up his dark blue blazer buttons. I forgot how hot he was.

"Jace. I'm not working with you. Or for you." I tried reasoning.

"Yes, you are. I already told Carlos, you said yes." He ran his fingers through his hair and I gulped a loud breath. He was so damn hot.

What the hell?

"I can call and apologize. It's not a big deal Jace." I crossed my arms to keep myself to me.

"You will give up school credit because you are a coward. Nothing new with that." He leaned and spoke those words with bitterness.

"Sean!" He called out and Sean walked out quickly. I knew he was leaning and listening.

"Be at work by nine. Or you can run. I'm done with you anyways." Jace spoke those words callously without looking back and exiting the apartment. I looked at Sean and he gasped. I cupped my cheek and bit my lip hard.

"I'll come pick you up tomorrow. Here's my number." He pulled out a piece of paper and showed it to me. It was a sticky note. I smiled down at it and he nodded before giving me a brief hug and following Jace out.

I dropped to the couch and sagged back into some more sobbing. God, I hated myself. Whatever happened with Jace was not what I was expecting things to go.

***

I groaned at the neck pain as I sat up in our cold lounge. I yawned in a grunt, rubbing my neck. The sun was shining bright through the drawn out curtains and the lights werent needed. I felt confused about the night before because I didnt remember anything about seeing Angelika back home.

I looked around the cold space and felt surprise at my duvet sprawled on top of me. I had slept on the couch and smiled at the level of care in Jelly's heart.

"Morning gorgeous." She spoke out of the blue, startling me. I almost fell of the couch.

"Jesus!" I held my chest, sitting up and catching my breath.

"You get scared easy." She shrugged, biting into a waffle, sitting on a bar stool.

"When did you come home and why didnt you wake me up?" I scratched my neck and grumbled.

"You looked tired and I had to clean your face with a make up wipe because of all the... all the..." she was scanning her disgusted face with crooked fingers.

"I get it." I rolled my eyes, "Wait, that make up wipe didnt wake me up?" I jumped to my feet and felt a head rush.

"Yeah. When that didnt do... I knew leaving you here was the idea. Dont worry, I slept on the other couch." She pointed on the couch, vertical to the edge of mine and I saw her duvet and pillow rolled up there. I chuckled.

"What have you?" I yawned again, picking a sausage from her plate.

"I have class and then work. You?"

"Hmm. No classes." The sausage was crispy. I was just enjoying a morning chat when the night before struck in my head. My body heated up and the tingling in sense heightened.

"What's the time?" I twirled and found the clock striking seven in the morning. A relaxed sigh escaped my lips.

"Why?" She tapped my shoulder.

"I'm deciding."

"Deciding what?"

"Job?"

"Job for what?"

"Anderson Empresas." I gulped loudly.

"I thought you got rejected after your... fleeing." She laughed a little.

"No. They found me last night." I moaned in grumpiness and she chortled.

"Rich people." She shook her head and I agreed with her.

Just when I was about to brew myself a pot of coffee, something buzzed against my belly. I rubbed my front and heard Jelly snort.

"As much I would love to pat you down, check your pocket." I pulled my phone from the singular hoodie pocket. It was an unknown number and I'd already recieved a missed call from it. This one end too before I could answer so I felt my heart quicken in pace. I was still staring at the phone and briefly at Jelly.

"Who is it?" She cupped her face, sipping on her coffee.

"Unkno-" I started but the phone started ringing again. It was the same number. With trembling fingers, I slid for answer and pressed it gently against my ear so as to have enough window to pull it away if Jace started talking.

"Hey, Enie?" It was softer voice. My heart calmed at it.

"Sean." I smiled and Jelly straightened with bright eyes. I gave her a not-happening look and she succumbed to her seat with annoyance.

"Hey, sorry. I've been calling too much. Just... I was just..."

"Its fine." I interrupted and heard a sigh of relief. I couldn't imagine his turmoil. He didnt know whether what'd happened the night before was actually true or just a brief dream.

"Can I pick you up now? We can stop for a coffee?" He was so careful in asking.

"Sure. I'd love that." I smiled.

"Great. I'm waiting outside for you." At this, I almost dropped my phone and alarmed Jelly.

Men. I groaned inwardly.

"Ugh, Sean. You are an idiot. Come in. I call main desk to let you up."

"There is no one at the desk." He whispered. I groaned, causing him to laugh.

"Alright. Just come up then." I chuckled and agreed before cutting the call.

"Who was that?" Jelly leaned in on the counter.

"One of my best friends. Sean Petrakis." I smiled, putting my phone on the table, "Entertain him till I get ready." I walked to my room but not before I hear her yell.

"How many rich people do you know?"

Sean:

I waited by the door, after gently ringing the doorbell. Although it didnt help with shrieking noise of the bell that seemed to ring in her apartment. The door opened slowly, revealing a different girl. She had jet black long sleek hair, big brown eyes and a slender tall body. She looked at me with a huge smile, dressed in a black short onesie. She'd put a grey sleeveless cardigan on top that reached her thighs, making her look gorgeous.

"Hi." She giggled, "I'm Angelika." She waved and then moved out of the door space to invite me in. I kept my eye on her, walking past her and into their living room.

"I'm Sean." I raised my hand for her and she shook it gently. Her wide smile caressed her face and gave her a fresh glow.

"Selene is getting ready. Um, can I get you something?" She licked her lips.

"Ice water." I smirked lightly and she bit her bottom lip, catching the flirtation before walking to the kitchen. A door creaked open in the distance and Selene walked out, all well dressed in dark blue, sleeveless, one piece pantsuit. It had a boat neck which made her shoulders look broad and so elegant. She was still short, like almost one-sixty centimetres and she grew taller when she wore a pair of black heels from the shoe rack in the corridor. Her fingers were hidden in her short hair and it seemed as though she was wearing an earring and I could slightly smell the lavender scent coming from her. It seemed that both wore the same scent.

"Uh- wow." I gulped. She was so different. So damn elegant.

"Hi." She smiled, after having fixed her earring.

"Quit flirting you two." Her smile faded and she walked back into her room. I rubbed the nape of my neck and Angelika groaned before handing me a tall glass of chilled water. The glass had turned frosty and felt freezing against my fingers.

"Take a seat?" Angelika offered.

"Did you change?" We heard a call out and found Selene walking to us with a briefcase hanging from her shoulder. She looked beautiful.

"I dont know what you mean." Angelike gulped loudly and I snickered.

"Sean, this is Angelika. My roommate and another best friend. I love her and she likes you. You two can meddle together later. Its seven forty five and if I'm even a minute late, you my shit ass of a boss." Selene took my drunken glass and took a loud sip before pushing me out of the apartment with her. Angelika waved at us with a wavered smile and I laughed before walking to the elavtor with a frantic Selene.

"Its like high school again. You scared of seeing Jace anywhere." I chuckled, pressing the elavtor button. She was shuffling in her bag and froze for a second lifting her head up and staring at me.

"What?" I gave her a side smirk. A smack landed on the back of my head and I realized it was time I got used to them, again.

"Thank you for picking me up." She spoke breathlessly as we exited the building to my car parked in a reserved spot. If I'd gotten a ticket, I was fine with paying it. Her mouth dropped open as she eyed my black Audi.

"What?" I turned to her, lifting the passenger seat door open.

"How rich are you?" She gulped loudly.

"Richer than your boyfriend!" I laughed, waiting for her to come to me.

"Oh, shut it." She smacked my shoulder slightly before dipping into the car. I shut her door and then went for my seat.

"You couldnt bring a normal car for me?" She seemed in awe of the interior but still complained. Ten years did not change her.

"Nope. I have an image, I'd like to maintain." I smirked brightly at her and she laughed before we pulled out of the parking lot.

"Seriously though. This neighbourhood, hasn't seen so much money... like, ever." She put on her seat belt and admired the black leather interior.

"So, um..."

"How have I been?" She intruded my question and I was glad she did. I didnt know what to ask. I was scared that she might disappear. I couldnt believe that my best friend sat in front of me. She was still the same. Except with shorter hair and more grown up exterior.

"Well, I've been getting better. Then I joined the services for a couple years, and now I'm finishing my bachelors in business management in NYU." She spoke in one breath, not waiting for me to process anything.

"Excuse me? You joined the services?" I was too taken by that one part.

"Yeah." She shrugged and I looked at her and the road with a whipping head.

"Elaborate, now!" I ordered and she flinched.

"Alright, alright." She raised her palm at me to calm down.

"After recovering..." she inhaled a deep breath gave me a brief eye, I was going to ask her what she recovered from later, "...I joined the Army Acedemy. I did minor jobs during that and took it slow. My condition was very well settled so I took time to finish the whole course. I'm well certified as an official." She spoke proudly and I pursed my lips, feeling impressed.

"Followed your dreams. Good for you." I felt bitterness rising in me and she dropped her head. I felt instant guilt but somewhere behind the fireworks of joy, I was mad at her for disappearing as well. Jace seemed to have his rage. I didnt see the reason to why not. The world around him turned him cruel. His father passed a couple years after his university graduation. His mother was practically heartless and all he had was his little sister. who wound jump borders, if she had to, to see him. He barely had anyone left and I started meeting him up almost six years after Selene's loss. He had no one. All he had was grief and somehow a guilt of not hold Selene's in hand in her supposed death.

Therefore, considering everything, I let him have his way.

"I'll tell you everything..." she breathed, "...after we get that coffee."

"I'm mad at you but I can't not care about your shenanigans." I laughed it off.

***

The coffee place I took her to was Mochacoffeechino. It was a private owned establishment by a friend of mine who'd offered me some of her special desserts for the day. I had it planned. This was my best friend, I wanted her to know who I was.

"Wow." She licked her upper lip enjoy the white Mocha she'd ordered. She was enjoy the coffee drizzled nut brownie. It was special.

"Sean this place is so fancy." She looked around at the black booths with specific waiters walking around, air conditioned corners and yellow spotlights everywhere. We were given one of the circular booths in the middle of the restaurant. Our one big semicircular black couch was covered with a black leather wall around us.

"Sean Petrakis, kid. Nice to meet you." I winked she smacked my free hand on the table. She smacked me a lot. I missed it. It seemed she did too.

I waited for her to start anytime and when she finally caught my eye from the food, she nodded. The way she was gulping food in, seemed as though she hadn't had a perfect meal in a while.

If that was so... that was about to change.

"Well, um..." she scrunched up and I knew she didnt feel like telling.

"Selene, tell me anything. Please. Ten years. You've been dead to us for ten years. We need some answers." I held her hand on the table and spoke as politely as possible.

"I did have leukemia." She breathed in, "but it was what the recovery from it required that caused all this..." she sighed.

"Chemo?" I leaned in. She nodded.

"I'd had it for two years. Then they found another trace of it coming back up, so they had to do a bone marrow transplant as well." She played with the rim of her white large cup, I waited for her to continue.

"All this took me four years to go through and recover. Since then, I've been on the road to a normal life." She gulped loudly and I dropped my head. She wasnt being clear.

"Why didnt you tell anyone?"

"I didnt want to put your lives to a stop. Jace would've never left my side. You would've been always worried and today..." her voice croaked, "... this cafe, those buildings, cars.... you wouldnt have had all that." A tear slipped from her eye and she used a tissue from the box embedded in the table, to clean it up.

"None of this happiness mattered everytime we remembered that the one person who knew our dreams, wasnt here to watch us achieve it." I finally spoke and felt my own lips tremble. I couldnt physically cry but it felt as though my heart was weeping.

"I'm sorry..." she tilted her head and I felt that to my core.