Drawn To You (GirlxGirl)

Part 42

Allie's P.O.V

I sank into Casey's couch, tucking my legs under me, the weight of another exhausting week at uni pressing down on my shoulders.

The soft hum of the city outside drifted through the open window, but it did nothing to quiet my thoughts. Another week had passed—another week without seeing or hearing from Jessie.

My mind wandered back to last Friday, to the studio, to the coldness that had settled between us like a wall. Jessie had been distant, her eyes avoiding mine like she knew I was hiding something.

The guilt gnawed at me, along with the confusion that never seemed to ease. I thought that the less I saw her, the easier this would become, that maybe things would start to make sense. But they didn't. Jessie stayed lodged in my mind, stubbornly refusing to leave.

I'd taken Lola's advice. I'd kept my distance from Mark, hoping the space would help me figure things out. It didn't. Time spent with Jessie still replayed in my head every night, every morning, every quiet moment. But then there was Mark—this new version of him, the man who seemed to have changed, who made me wonder what it would be like to return to the familiar. To the safe.

I sighed, curling my hands around the warm mug of tea. My head felt so heavy from thinking—too much thinking. Lola and Casey had tried to help, offering words of comfort and logic, but we all knew the truth. This decision had to be mine. Only I could make it, and it was tearing me apart.

I missed Jessie. I missed her more than I wanted to admit. The way we'd barely said goodbye last Friday had left this horrible, sinking feeling inside me. I wanted to talk to her, but what would I even say? I'd had every intention of coming clean—of telling her about Mark—but when I'd stood there, looking into her eyes, I froze. The words dried up in my throat, and instead, I spat out some pathetic excuse about just wanting to say hi.

It was cowardly. Pathetic.

Mark had tried to see me this week, too, but I kept making excuses, pushing him away. The version of life I had with him—safe, predictable, familiar—played on one side of my mind, while the wild, terrifying, exciting life I'd glimpsed with Jessie tugged at the other.

I couldn't take it anymore.

Setting my mug down, I pushed myself off the couch.

"Be brave," I muttered, echoing the words Lola had said to me.

My heart pounded as I grabbed my jacket and stepped out of Casey's apartment. Jessie would be home by now. I knew her schedule—6:15, she was almost always home.

Before I could stop myself, I was walking through the familiar streets, my feet carrying me toward her place. My heart raced faster the closer I got. I needed to talk to her, even if I had no idea what I was going to say. I couldn't let things end like this. I didn't want them to.

When I reached her door, I hesitated. For a second, I almost turned back. But no—I had to do this. Taking a breath, I knocked softly, barely able to hear it over the pounding in my chest.

The footsteps inside were slow, cautious. Then the door opened, and there she was. Jessie. Looking just as perfect as ever, even with the surprise in her eyes.

"Allie?" Her voice was tinged with confusion, a guarded edge. "What are you doing here?"

"I... I need to talk to you." My words felt clumsy, heavy.

Jessie looked like she wanted to tell me to leave, but instead, she sighed, stepping back and opening the door wider.

I walked in slowly, my heart thudding in my ears as memories flooded my mind—the night we'd spent on this couch just a few weeks ago. The way Jessie had held me like no one else ever had.