"you do realize she's going to find out who you are right"
"well, when in rome."
"we're in new york but okay."
i refer to everyone (aside from people who, to my knowledge, have spoken up about their discomfort with it) as their real names.
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___________ THIRD POV
while jude is busy with throwing him out, she fails to notice the look on karl's face.
it's a look of sadness, defeat. he looks over at where she is pacing in front of the closed door and biting her lip, her lip that is missing the lipgloss she was wearing.
he isn't dumb, he heard them yelling. he knows he is an asshole. but there's a small part of his brain nagging at him to ask if they did something, to ask if she really does still love him.
the large group stays quiet as they watch her pick up her own coat, put it on along with her hat and gloves and turn to them. "i'm sorry i need a minute. feel free to order anything for food i wrote my address down if you don't remember it, this is apartment g9, and i'll be back within an hour i swear i just need some time."
and with that she leaves. as soon as the door closes the entire room turns to karl, a few people pointing towards the door. "go!"
he jumps up and quickly gets into alex's apartment and grabs his coat and hat, racing after her. he might be overcome with the underlying feeling of jealousy toward her shitty ex but he knows he wants to be there for her.
since he didn't have to do anything but slip into boots he catches her right before she reaches the elevator.
"can i come too?" jude hears from behind her, she doesn't have to turn around to know who it is and slightly nods.
they walk into the elevator where jude clicks the first floor button. there is complete silence besides the light, quiet, elevator music. "you didn't have to." she mumbles, looking down at her hands.
"hey," he starts, lightly turning her head towards him to look him in the eyes, "i wanted to, truly i did." he insisted once he saw her roll her eyes.
she settles for giving him a smile as a thank you, dropping her gaze down to the floor again. she's ashamed. she heard what he said to karl, it isn't true of course but she still kissed him. she still gave into him. to his toxicity, and she's ashamed.
"it's not true you know." her voice comes out as quiet as they get to the ground floor, leaving the elevator. "i don't still love him and i won't go back to him. ever."
karl nods, unable to come up with a response. he's internally happy for her and possibly him, but he's also genuinely worried for her. he has never seen her look so meek. so small. she always radiates confidence and security and for her to look so insecure and quiet it worries him.
they walk out of the apartment complex, slowly walking into the direction of a park a few minutes away. karl stays quiet as he listens to jude when she starts to talk.
