Chapter Twenty-Two

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"Verona?"

I slowly manage to face her, steeling my limbs.

"Hello, Adelai."

She looks the same since I last saw her yet also significantly different. Her hair is longer than it used to be, the blonde waves falling past her shoulders. Her outfit is a blend of mesh lace and fabric both periwinkle and navy blue. The blazer, covering her two-piece flare pants and bralette, is bejeweled with stunning diamonds.

The sight of her quite literally takes my breath away. For a second I don't even want it back, as long as I can keep seeing her, I could keep this image alive.

No. No. No. I'm not going to do this. I've already gone down this road before, and it didn't end well. No matter how I feel about Adelai, we can never be anything.

The tension of unspoken words and unseen letters hangs in the air between us. If i don't say something soon I'm going to start looking like a statue.

"Huní told me she saw you yesterday, when you met with your mother." Her soft looking hand reaches for mine. "I'm sorry-"

I flinch, moving my hand away from hers. It takes all the effort I have not to pick her up and never let go. To run away with her and cry into the crook of her neck about how badly I missed her.

How everyday, I tried to forget her with drink after drink after drink.

"You have nothing to be sorry for." I keep my face set in stone, knowing Vivien is out there watching my every move. Waiting for me to slip and show any type of emotion so she can punish me.

"Don't. Not this again. I know, you Verona and-"

"It isn't Verona, It's Adria. And you knew me, you don't know me. I'm not the same person I was." I don't bother looking her in the eye.

"Alright, okay. I get it." She turns to leave, but Jasper grabs a hold of her.

Before I can stop him he's got both of us by the wrist and pulls us towards the exit. We slip past the door, but he doesn't follow.

The door is about to close when he softly says. "Look. I don't know what you guys mean to each other but I'm willing to bet my left arm that you both deserve more than whatever that just was. Just talk it out, without the eyes of literally everyone in this wretched place. And thank me and my left arm later."

Asshole. Charming asshole.

"So, are you two..?"

"Hm?" I turn back to Adelaide and wipe the smile off my face. "No! Never! He's literally the reason I'm back in this goddess forsaken place." I roll my eyes.

"Oh, well who is he?" She asks, fidgeting with her hands.

"Jasper, is... It's a really long story and I don't even really know him but I guess right now he's just complicated." Thinking about Jasper confuses me because I honestly don't know him, and I'm quickly realizing that after lying to me and bringing me here I dont know how to feel about him.

Sometimes all I can feel is disappointment, and deceived. But sometimes I wish we could go back to that apartment, with Severus, blankets, and movies.

"Verona-Adria, I just want to say I know you're different and if you need anything you know I'm here for you. And... even though everything has changed, I still love you."

That snaps me out of my head completely. Her hand twists my hair before falling to her side.

She steps past me, and time slows down as a familiar citrus berry smell whiffs by. Her navy blue eyes, a stark contrast from her outfit, stare at me. That familiar look in her eyes, digging into my chest.

"Hey, um I just want to say I still would like to be friends. If that's alright with you?" My voice thankfully isn't as shaky as the rest of me is.

She stops and steps closer to me, a small devilish smile working its way on her face.

"Adria, you and I will always be friends." Her hand goes to my neck softly brushing against it. "But, I love you too much to leave it at that. I want you to know..." Her mouth goes to my ear, as I feel my body on fire. "I won't give up on us."

She leaves a trail of citrus and berries scent walking back into the gala.

As Jasper slips back out, I can hear Vivien giving a speech about honor.

"Hey, you good?"

"I'm good. Jasper, thanks for giving us some time." I look up and his smirk is the widest I've ever seen it.

"I'm sorry it's just I honestly never thought I'd ever hear you thank me." He breaks out in laughter, whilst throwing his arm around my shoulder. "Anyways, now that this whole shitshow of a gala is behind us, would you like me to carry you back to your rooms, my perfectly sober queenie."

I roll my eyes, but can't stop the slight smile growing on my face. "I told you to stop calling me that." After everything, my body is completely tired, so when Jasper swiftly hauls me up bridal style I don't have any energy to fight it.

I lazily slap at his chest, and get a feeling of the firm muscles underneath his all black tux.

My thoughts slow down as my eyes fight to close. Between Adelai, and Jasper however one thought is ingrained into me.

I am so hopelessly fucked.

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JASPER

Adria's door swings open, and he catches it with his foot, to quietly shut it. He crosses the empty room, and sets her down gently on the plush bed.

"Nnnmgh," Adria incoherently babbles.

He crouches down lying his head in front of hers, watching her peaceful face. Her face seemed so controlled earlier when she was talking to Adelaide, if he wasn't standing next her he wouldn't have felt her anguish.

And although it hurt him to see her reunited with someone who is obviously more than a friend, it hurt him more to see her in pain because of this horrid place he brought her to.

Her hand reaches out, as she turns in her sleep. She latches onto his wrist.

"Adria, I have to go.

She replies sleepily, "Nooooooo. I mmmmmff be aloooone."

"Adria..." Jasper lies next to her frozen, holding back the urge to wrap around her like a human blanket.

"I don't want to be alone. Please don't leave." She whispers. Her face shows no signs of her being aware of anything. But her grip on his wrist is exceptionally strong.

He sighs and tries to relax, knowing he won't get any sleep tonight.