Like the Red Rose blooms in the Oxford Garden

Chapter 13: Can I go where you go? Can we always be this close?

"Thank you," Nina hung up the phone and walked to the living room where Gastón was on his computer.

"Who was it?" he asked her.

"My editor," Nina sat down on the couch next to him, "Just checking that everything is well."

"And? Good news?"

"It is," Nina nodded while smiling nervously, "The publishing date is... it's the 15th. Released in both England and Latin America."

"I'm so proud of you." Gastón took her hand.

"I can't believe that this is actually happening," Nina shook her head, "A real publishing house is publishing a book that I wrote... it's madness."

"Or you are just really good author," Gastón looked at her amused, "Which I know that you are."

"I should already be immune to your flattering by now," Nina rolled her eyes, "What if no one's gonna read it?"

"Someone will. I know it, and let's not pretend that Luna won't ransack a bookstore and buy every copy they have."

"That is very likely," Nina laughed, "Let's just talk about something else, before I get overwhelmed with nerves. Talk to me about anything."

"Okey," Gastón shrugged, "There actually is something. Have you noticed that James has been acting weirdly?"

"Not really," Nina shook her head, "But I haven't seen him in a while. What do you mean?"

"Exactly that," Gastón pointed out, "I haven't seen him that often anymore either. It has been almost five years, but it has never been like this. It has been going on for a few weeks now. Every time I try to ask him, he makes some excuse."

"Maybe he's just busy."

"Maybe," Gastón stared at the wall for a moment, "But with what, I'm not sure. He's done with his thesis. I read most of it. Oh well, maybe I am just overthinking. We're graduating in four months now, maybe it's just natural to grow apart a little bit."

Everyone was going their separate ways now. Oliver was with Flor. Gastón was pretty sure that, they were going to move back to France in a year or two. Jacob had already graduated and was working in a small promising start-up and allegedly seeing some girl he worked with. Marlee and Ariana were also doing well, both settling in at London and looking for work. Nina and he were moving back to Buenos Aires once Nina graduated in a year.

"Well, how about we just stop overthinking things—" Nina laughed and got up from the couch. "—and go eat. We should get outside of these four walls."

*

"I mean, I'm not sure how good of chance he actually has." Gastón kept talking as they were walking towards the restaurant they had chosen. "Don't tell Matteo I said this. Maybe it's good for him to lose for once. He can always try again."

"Why would I tell Matteo?" Nina wrapped her hands around his arm. "I am on your side, by default, plus I agree. You have heard the numbers he is competing against."

"I wasn't fan of all of them, but couple were definitely better than his. Especially the one by the black-haired girl, Caviglia or something."

"Yeah, I really loved that one, but we just have to wait and see. As they are hosting the Eurovision, Italy definitely wants to have the best candidate possible, and it might not be Matteo at this stage—" Nina's eyes fixated on something further up the street.

A tall dark-skinned man turned a block about 200 meters away from them, with a woman with caramel skin and chocolate brown hair.

"Is that James?"