Confessions and Sausage Rolls
AUTHOR'S POV
Julianna walked into the room, her mind still reeling from the awkward yet electrifying moment she shared with Jack. The room was quiet, with only Maya present. Nora was nowhere to be seen. She decided to make herself some comfort food to distract her thoughts. Heading to the kitchen, she prepared a simple meal of noodles, fried eggs, and plantain.
Despite her efforts, she couldn't shake off the image of Jack's intense gaze and the near kiss. She tried focusing on cooking, but her mind kept wandering back to their encounter. Finally, she carried her food to her bed and started eating, hoping the meal would bring some solace.
Just as she took a bite, Stella burst into the room. "Hope you cooked mine, I'm seriously hungry," she said, making a beeline for the kitchen. Moments later, she returned empty-handed and frustrated. "Stingy girl!" she exclaimed, playfully gesturing as if to beat Julianna.
"Sorry babe! I didn't know you'd get home soon," Julianna replied, trying to contain her laughter.
"You didn't know I would get home soon... Jules! Jules..." Stella teased. "Don't you know I left you with Jack so that you guys could talk better, but I guess the memories of him couldn't let you focus," she continued, making Julianna abandon her food to chase her around the room.
"Guys! Gist me, what's going on?" Maya chimed in, her curiosity piqued.
"Sure sure! There are a lot to know, baby girl," Stella said, plopping down beside Maya.
"Stella!" Julianna shouted, signaling to Stella not to spill the beans, but Stella was too excited to keep quiet.
"Do you know Jack?" Stella asked Maya.
"Jack? The one she told me about? From the Ryder family?" Maya replied.
"Yes, yes! She told you about it. Wow! Wow!" Stella said. "Just like I thought, there's love in the air," she added.
"Mmmm..." Maya murmured, scooting closer to Stella to catch the full gist.
"I've been noticing them all this while, but guess what happened today? She almost..." Stella began, but Julianna rushed over and covered her mouth to stop her.
"You don't mean it?" Maya said, clearly understanding what Stella was hinting at.
Stella struggled free, eager to finish the story. "Seriously, you have feelings for Jack, just accept it and move on," she said. Maya nodded in agreement.
Julianna sighed and went back to her bed, feeling exposed.
Just then, Nora arrived with a huge smile on her face. Everyone was instantly curious.
"Start talking already..." Stella demanded.
"You just got a boyfriend!" Maya guessed, watching Nora's reaction.
"How did you know?" Nora asked, surprised.
"I've been noticing your late-night chats every day," Maya replied with a grin.
Nora settled down, ready to share her news. "Wait!" Stella interrupted. "Let's all go to the kitchen, cook what we're going to eat tonight, then come back to the gist," she suggested.
"Haven't you eaten? Don't tell me you're still hungry?" Stella questioned.
"I agree to that. Let's just go to the kitchen already," Maya said, and Nora nodded in agreement.
In the kitchen, Stella was impatient, eager to hear Nora's story. They decided to make sausage rolls, a favorite among them. They mixed the ingredients: flour, butter, milk, and sausages. Stella and Nora took turns rolling out the dough with a rolling pin, chatting excitedly.
Nora started her tale while they cooked. "I met him at a conference," she began, rolling out the dough. "He's a lecturer!"
Everyone was shocked. "A lecturer? That's huge!" Maya exclaimed.
"Yeah, he's amazing. We've been chatting for weeks," Nora said, cutting the dough into small pieces.
They placed the rolls in the oven, waiting for them to bake. The aroma filled the kitchen, making their mouths water. Once the rolls were ready, Maya suggested they have tea with them. They brewed a pot of tea, and soon they were all sitting around the table, enjoying their meal.
"Seriously, you should date Jack," Stella encouraged Julianna.
"Yeah, he's a great guy," Maya agreed.
"Or you could confront Damien Ryder and hear his side," Nora suggested, always the practical one.
That night, as Julianna lay in bed, her phone buzzed with a message from Jack.
Jack: "Hey, Julianna. Sorry about today. That was... unexpected."
Julianna felt her heart skip a beat as she read his message. She took a deep breath and replied.
Julianna: "Hey, Jack. It's okay. I was just caught off guard."
Jack: "Me too. I didn't mean to make things awkward."
Julianna: "You didn't. It was just a moment. Let's not overthink it."
Jack: "Yeah, you're right. So, how was the rest of your day?"
Julianna: "It was fine. Just hung out with the girls and cooked some dinner. What about you?"
Jack: "Pretty much the same. Can't stop thinking about that thesis review, though."
Julianna: "I know, right? I'm still trying to wrap my head around the changes I need to make."
Jack: "You'll get through it. I'll help you"
Julianna smiled at his reassurance, feeling a warmth spread through her.
Julianna: "Thanks, Jack. That means a lot."
Jack: "So... I was wondering if you'd like to hang out tomorrow."
Julianna: "Is that a date?" She typed, her fingers hesitating over the send button for a moment before pressing it.
Jack: "Uhmmm... not a date. Just two friends hanging out."
Julianna couldn't help but smile at his awkwardness.
Julianna: "Sounds good. See you tomorrow then."
Jack: "Great! Goodnight, Julianna."
Julianna: "Goodnight, Jack."
She put her phone down, her heart raced with a mix of excitement and confusion. The night was filled with possibilities, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope.
The room was quiet now, with only the faint sounds of the city outside. As Julianna drifted to sleep, she couldn't help but wonder what the future held.
YOU ARE READING
The Fictional Man Among Us
Romans"What's wrong here?" Ryder's voice was deep and authoritative, sending a shiver down my spine. My body reacted in ways I couldn't control. My thighs clenched together, a sudden throb of desire pulsing through me. I was startled by my body's reaction...
