Chapter 2
Lily
"Jesus!" Wendy exclaimed, startled as Lily's alarm pierced the serene atmosphere of the library. She thudded her book onto the table and pressed a hand to her racing heart, shooting Lily an accusatory look. "Could you possibly choose a less jarring alarm tone? Every time that thing goes off, I feel like I'm being catapulted out of my dream."
"Sorry," Lily offered a sheepish apology as she reached for her small medicine kit, extracting a small yellow pill and washing it down with a sip of water. "I have to take my meds on time."
Wendy's brow furrowed and she tilted her head. "You never told me what they're for."
Lily paused, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes. "I did. I have seizures, remember?"
"I feel like that's something I would remember knowing about you," Wendy's eyes narrowed.
"Our first day, I told you not to move my meds," Lily recalled. "You told me you only did hard drugs? Ring a bell?"
"Oh yeah!" Wendy laughed. "Now I remember."
"You're impossible," Lily shook her head, shoving her medication back into her purse. "And you even turned off my alarm once last week. Which I was not happy about, by the way."
"You were in the bathroom, and the stupid thing kept blaring," Wendy defended herself.
"There's a snooze button."
"I did the best I could," Wendy defended herself before returning to her book. After a moment, she glanced up again, her curiosity getting the better of her. "If you were to have a seizure, am I supposed to do something?"
Lily smirked. "Just let me have an impromptu exorcism on the floor."
Wendy grinned mischievously. "Can I film it?"
Lily rolled her eyes playfully. "Why do I get the feeling you'd film it regardless of what I said?"
Wendy's grin widened. "Hey, a little entertainment never hurt anyone."
Lily chuckled as she hastily gathered all her books and shoved them into her backpack, while Wendy observed her with curiosity.
"Are you running off to see your man again?" Wendy quipped.
"He's not my man," Lily corrected her with a grin. "But yes."
"It's embarrassing, you know," Wendy's nose scrunched up. "He doesn't even notice you."
"That's not true," Lily protested. "He looked at me on Monday."
"He looked at you the way I would look at a fly on the wall," Wendy snorted.
"It was four whole seconds of eye contact."
"You counted?" Wendy's eyes widened. "You weirdo!"
Lily laughed even harder as she pushed the last of her things into her bag and stood up.
"I don't feel safe sharing a room with such a psychopath," Wendy joked.
"Then how do you live with yourself?" Lily retorted with a playful smirk.
Wendy grinned, her brown eyes sparking with mischief.
"I'll see you tonight," Lily waved. "Oh! By the way, I forgot to tell you. My brother is in town, he's picking me up for dinner. Do you want to come with us?"
"Hmm," Wendy pondered for a second. "It would have been an immediate yes if it was your dad."
"You're gross," Lily gagged.
"He's a fine man, Lily," Wendy laughed. "I have no shame admitting that."
"That's my dad!"
"I could call him daddy too," Wendy teased.
"Ew!" Lily threw her hands over her ears. "Stop! I've had enough."
"Good," Wendy's teasing smile faded. "That's how I feel when you blabber nonstop about Gabriel."
"Sweetheart, my mother will sell your soul to the devil and your organs to the black market if you go near my dad," Lily laughed. "Don't play with her. She's crazy."
"Is that why you're sort of fucked up too?"
"I'm not fucked up."
"You're head over heels for a man who has no interest in you."
"I admire him the same way you admire my dad," Lily paused. "Stop admiring my dad."
"Stop admiring Gabriel Reyes."
"No."
"I will make a great stepmother, Lily baby."
"I hate you."
"I'll get over it."
"Bye!"
"See ya'!"
Lily swung her bag over her shoulder and hurried out of the library. She had only five minutes to make it across the building to the lecture hall before Gabriel got out of class. Ever since Lily discovered that Gabriel had class in the same lecture hall, she made it a point to run to class early every morning just to catch a glimpse of him leaving. Wendy thought she was losing her mind, but Lily was beyond reason. She stood by the door with her phone in hand, pretending to be waiting for class, when in reality, her heart buzzed with anticipation at the thought of seeing Gabriel.
As the first few students began to leave the hall, Lily's heart skipped a beat. With a nervous glance around, she quickly fixed her hair and leaned against the wall, her back pressed firmly against it. Anxiously chewing on her bottom lip, she tapped at her phone, pretending to be engrossed in some important message. But her attention was elsewhere, wholly fixated on the doorway through which she hoped Gabriel would emerge.
Every passing second felt like an eternity as Lily's anticipation grew. She couldn't help but steal glances at the door, her heart pounding in her chest. Her mind raced with thoughts of what she would say if Gabriel noticed her if their eyes met, if he smiled at her. The mere idea sent a thrill through her, and she couldn't contain the fluttering feeling in her stomach.
As the trickle of students leaving the hall turned into a steady stream, Lily's pulse quickened. She tried to steady her breathing, but her excitement was palpable. With each passing moment, her anticipation intensified, until finally, she spotted him.
There he was, walking out of the lecture hall with his friend, his easy stride and confident demeanor drawing her gaze like a magnet. Lily's breath caught in her throat as she watched him, her heart soaring at the sight of him. Her pulse quickened as his gaze shifted, locking onto hers with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. For a few electrifying seconds, their eyes held, a silent exchange passing between them.
In that fleeting moment, it felt as though time stood still. Lily was certain that he could see into her soul. The world around them faded into the background.
But then, just as quickly as it had begun, Gabriel's gaze shifted away, his attention turning casually elsewhere. Lily's heart sank as the spell was broken, reality crashing back in with a jolt. She blinked, trying to shake off the lingering effects of their momentary connection, but the memory of his gaze lingered, etched into her mind like a vivid dream.
Five seconds, she thought to herself.
_________________________________
Theo
Blue Hills, Theo's aunt and uncle's upscale restaurant in downtown Manhattan, used to be one of his favorite spots to grab a drink after a long week, hold business dinners, and catch up with friends. But since his break up with Ava, the place had become insufferable.
Every time Theo stepped foot inside, he could feel Ava's presence lingering in the air like a suffocating cloud. Whether she was there with her friends or cozied up with James, it felt like she was staking her claim to the place, as if daring Theo to challenge her.
But Theo refused to back down. He refused to let Ava's mere presence ruin his favorite haunt. Instead, he clenched his jaw and seethed with anger at the audacity she displayed by acting as if she owned the place. The nerve of her to think he would surrender to her, especially her.
As he sat at the bar, surrounded by the familiar ambiance of Blue Hills, Theo's frustration simmered beneath the surface like a volcano on the brink of eruption. He couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal and resentment that consumed him whenever he saw Ava, a constant reminder of the humiliation she had caused him. And as much as he tried to push it aside, the anger burned within him.
While waiting for his friend, Theo pulled out his phone and absentmindedly opened Instagram. Ava had taken control of his account when they first started to date. She used it as a platform to plaster herself all over his social media so everyone in New York knew just who Theo Silvano was dating. Despite his lack of interest in the account since the split, Theo couldn't bring himself to delete it. It was almost as if he needed the damn thing to fuel his growing resentment towards James and Ava.
As he scrolled through his feed, a familiar image caught his eye. Ava's smiling face filled the screen, her joyous expression a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within Theo. James's arm was draped casually around her neck, his face conveniently obscured from view. But Theo could recognize him anywhere, especially by the distinctive watch adorning his wrist â a watch he had gifted James for his birthday.
A surge of bitterness washed over Theo as he stared at the photo. It was like a punch to the gut, a painful reminder of his failure. He couldn't help but feel betrayed, not only by Ava's blatant flaunting of their relationship but also by James's apparent disregard for their friendship. It was a knife twisted deeper into Theo's wounded pride, fueling the fire of his anger and resentment towards the pair. As he scrolled past the image, his jaw clenched and a deep scowl formed on his face.
"Frowning causes wrinkles." Theo looked up as Devon, his long-time college buddy, pulled back the chair beside him and took a seat at the bar. "And that's all you ever seem to do."
With a sigh, Theo placed his phone down on the bar table and rubbed his forehead. The lack of caffeine did not help the dull headache he was experiencing.
"Is that Ava?" Devon peeked over at the screen.
"Yes," Theo said, his voice grim.
"With James?"
"Who else would it be?"
"Man," Devon shook his head. "She's cold."
Theo huffed, "Accoridng to her, I'm the cold one."
"That must kill you," Devon teased with a chuckle. "Theo Silvano, Mr. Perfection, not so perfect in the relationship department."
"Fuck off," Theo was not amused.
"Thank you for leaving some skills for the rest of us," Devon picked up Theo's drink and took a sip.
"It's bullshit," Theo shook his head.
"Are you upset that she broke up with you or because she picked James over you?" Devon asked.
"What does it matter?"
"Well, for starters, you never liked James' lack of discipline or his flamboyant attitude about life," Devon pointed out. "Ava picking him must have been a slap in the face for you. Here you are, the epitome of control, discipline, and structure and she rejected that."
"She'll be bored of James in a month," Theo said. "She thinks I'm full of myself and I was a bad boyfriend to her."
"She's cruel."
"You're not taking any of this seriously."
"I'm sorry," Devon laughed. "I can't. This is all too funny."
"Glad you think so."
"Look, look," Devon placed his hand on Theo's shoulder. "In a few months, this will all blow over. You won't even think about her."
"I barely do."
"I know," Devon rolled his eyes. "You just think about how she criticized you."
Theo shook his head, scowling so hard that Devon feared he might burst a brain vessel.
"Look, if it bothers you that much, then just show her that you can be a perfect boyfriend."
"I have no interest in chasing her."
"Not her," Devon clicked his tongue. "Someone else."
"I don't have the time to invest in a new relationship," Theo remarked.
"You could fake it."
"What?" Theo narrowed his eyes at the absurd idea.
"Yeah," Devon nodded. "Remember Molly in college. I didn't date her for real. It was all just to get back at Sara Pauls from Chemisty. Girls are like kids at a playground. Once they see someone else playing with their toy, they will want it back."
"We're not in College."
"Yeah, but girls still work the same way," Devon laughed. "Once Ava sees you doing things for another girl that she accused you of not doing, she'll realize her mistake."
"If you used half of this energy at work, I wouldn't be bailing your company out right now," Theo took back his drink and looked at the empty cup.
"I'm serious, Theo," Devon said. "I know a girl. She's sweet and she keeps it very professional."
"Not interested in hiring an escort," Theo ordered another drink.
"They're not escorts," Devon rolled his eyes. "They're like sugar babies."
"Sugar babies," Theo's face contorted with disgust. "You're really sick."
"Think about it for a second-"
"No."
"Beautiful girl, flawless in your arms, going with you everywhere, you get to show her off in front of Ava and she'll play along happily," Devon continued. "None of the relationship responsibilities, none of the arguments or meeting families. Just what you need."
"We're done talking about this," Theo dismissed the idea. "You can sit here if you have something else to say."
"Fine," Devon shrugged. "Keep stalking Ava's Instagram then."
"I'm deleting it tonight," Theo remarked, picking up his drink.
________________________
Lily
Lily sat at the long tables of the PCU library, surrounded by towering shelves of books and the hushed murmurs of other students absorbed in their studies. With her laptop open and a stack of textbooks beside her, she was fully immersed in her research for the paper due in a week. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she scanned through pages of academic journals, diligently taking notes and jotting down key points. The soft glow of her laptop screen illuminated her focused expression, casting a gentle light on the determination etched into her features.
Hours passed in a blur as Lily delved deeper into her research and as the evening wore on and the library grew soundless, she remained steadfast in her resolve.
"Lily."
Suddenly, a whisper broke through the stillness.
Startled, Lily looked up, her heart pounding in her chest just as she realized Gabriel was seated right behind her, his gaze fixed intently on her.
"Do you have a pen I could borrow?"
Speechless, Lily could only stare at him in disbelief as he spoke again, his voice deep yet clear in the quiet library.
Blinking in astonishment, Lily looked around and realized the entire library was empty, save for the two of them. It was as if the world had faded away, leaving only her and Gabriel in the moment.
Feeling a rush of warmth flood her cheeks, Lily nodded in response to Gabriel's request, her voice failing her. With trembling hands, she reached into her bag and retrieved a pen, offering it to him with her breath held.
"Thanks," Gabriel remarked, taking the pen and turning away.
Lily stared at the back of his head and marveled at the serendipity of the moment. Despite the vast emptiness of the library, Gabriel was sitting right behind her, asking her for a pen.
This is it, Lily thought to herself as her heart beat with giddy and she turned away. Talk to him. Say something. Start a conversation. What Can I say? Something funny? No. Should I ask for help with my assignment? What the fuck am I even writing right now? He remembered my name! Should I play it cool and act like I don't remember his name? That might be rude. I can ask about his sister, right? Yes! Ask about his sister. That's casual. I can ask how she's doing, how her car is and if everything was okay after the accident. Yeah, that sounds good. Okay, okay....here we go....clear your throat.....wait! How do I start? Should I call his name? I could just say Hey.....yeah that's casual enough.
With a flutter of anticipation in her chest, Lily turned around in her seat, ready to speak to Gabriel, her heart racing with the possibility of finally engaging in conversation with him. But as her gaze swept across the space behind her, she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Gabriel was nowhere to be seen.
Confusion clouded Lily's thoughts as she scanned the empty library, her eyes darting from one corner to the next in search of any sign of him. But there was no trace of his presence, no lingering echo of his footsteps as he made his exit.
A wave of disappointment washed over Lily, dampening the excitement that had bubbled within her just moments before. She couldn't help but feel a pang of regret at missing the chance to speak to Gabriel.
Sighing softly, Lily turned back to her work, her mind lingering on the fleeting encounter with her crush. Despite the disappointment, she couldn't shake the feeling of hope that lingered within her, the belief that perhaps their paths would cross again in the future, and that next time, she wouldn't let the opportunity slip through her fingers.
As Lily sat smiling ear to ear, her phone suddenly vibrated beside her. She picked up and in her sweetest voice answered the call.
"Hello?"
"Where are you?" Mason, Lily's middle brother and the oldest of the twins, asked.
"At the library," Lily sat up. "Are you here already?"
"Yeah," Mason replied. "Stay where you are. I'll come pick you up."
"Thanks," Lily began to pack her things. "Also, I invited my roommate to dinner with us. Hope that's okay."
"What?" Mason said. "You invited Wendy?"
"You met her already?"
"I was just in your room," Mason said. "I don't think she wants to go to dinner with us."
"Why?" Lily frowned. "What happened?"
"I'll explain in person," Mason sighed. "Just tell me where to pick you up."
_______________________
Theo
With a heavy sigh, Theo sank deeper into the plush leather sofa, the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him like a heavy blanket. In the stillness of his apartment, memories of Ava and James crept back into his mind, unwanted but persistent. Unable to resist, he reached for his phone and opened Instagram.
As if by some stroke of luck, the first image that greeted him was of his sister and brother, Lily and Mason, captured in a moment of pure happiness against the backdrop of a California sunset. Theo's lips twitched into a small smile as he leaned forward. Scrolling through Lily's recent posts, he felt a pang of longing to visit her, to escape the suffocating weight of his own thoughts, if only for a weekend.
But just as the tension in his heart began to ease, a familiar photo appeared on Lily's page, jolting Theo back to the harsh reality of his situation. It was an old image from Theo's birthday party, a snapshot of Ava and James smiling brightly, their arms intertwined as they stood beside him. Theo's grip tightened on his phone, his jaw clenching with renewed anger as he stared at their happy faces.
The realization hit him like a blow to the gut, igniting a fiery rage within him. How could they have been so deceitful, so brazenly flaunting their affair in plain sight? The image served as a reminder of the embarrassment he had endured, fueling the flames of resentment that burned within him.
In that moment, Theo felt the weight of his anger threaten to consume him. He closed the app and dialed Devon's number. Theo's fingers tapped impatiently against the sleek surface of his phone as it rang, the dull ache in his head pulsing with each passing moment. When Devon finally picked up, Theo wasted no time in getting straight to the point.
"I need you to set up a meeting for me," he said, his frustration evident in his voice. "With this girl, you're telling me about."
Devon's laughter filtered through the line, a grating sound that only served to exacerbate Theo's irritation.
"What's so funny?" Theo asked.
"Oh?" Devon chuckled. "You're not wasting any time, are you?"
Ignoring Devon's teasing tone, Theo pressed on. "Have her meet me tomorrow at Eleven Madison."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before Devon spoke again. "We might have a problem," he admitted, his amusement fading slightly. "Amy is busy this week with another client."
Theo's frustration spiked at the news, his jaw clenching in irritation. He didn't have time for delays or setbacks.
"But!" Devon's voice brightened. "She does have a friend. And let me tell you, Theo, she's something."
Theo let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing a hand over his face. He didn't have much of a choice at this point.
"Fine, whatever," he relented, resignation evident in his tone. "Tomorrow at noon. Tell her not to be late."
What do you guys think so far?