I found You

Chapter 4 -The walk Home

Without thinking, Michael asked, “Do you want to walk for a bit?” Surprised, Jules nodded, and they set off down the familiar streets, side by side, in silence.

As they walked, snippets of their past conversations began to resurface, small memories spilling out like whispers. They laughed softly at shared memories, both surprised by how easily they slipped into the rhythm of familiarity. Their silences grew less awkward, and Jules could feel her heart opening, like a page she’d kept folded for too long.

When they reached the old park, she stopped and looked at him. “Why did you never reach out?”

He looked down, guilt flashing across his face. “I thought about it. Every year, on your birthday… every time I passed a place that reminded me of us. But I convinced myself it was better not to. I thought… maybe you’d moved on.”

She swallowed, her voice thick. “I convinced myself of the same thing.”

They stood together in the park, finally sharing the raw truth that had kept them apart. And in that moment, something shifted. They weren’t the same people they’d been as kids, and the friendship they’d shared wasn’t quite the same either. But the connection—the underlying pull they’d always had—was still there, waiting, just like they’d both been all these years

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Jules hadn’t been able to get their last encounter out of her mind. Seeing Michael after all those years had stirred up something she couldn’t quite shake—something she couldn’t even name. And so, on a chilly Friday afternoon, she found herself impulsively sending him a message: Would you like to grab a coffee sometime?

His reply was quick, almost as if he’d been waiting for her to reach out: I’d like that.

They met at a quaint coffee shop in the old part of town. Jules arrived first, feeling a mix of anticipation and nerves, her eyes wandering around the shop’s familiar interiors—the old oak counters, vintage posters on the walls, and the soft hum of indie music playing in the background. She ordered her usual latte and tried to focus on the book she’d brought, but her mind kept drifting.

When she looked up, there he was, standing by the door, scanning the room until his gaze landed on her. His smile was easy and warm, but as he walked over, there was something else—a quiet intensity in his eyes, a lingering glance that held just a bit too long.

“Hey, Jules,” he greeted, sliding into the seat across from her. “You’re still early to everything, I see.”

She grinned, her lips curling into a smirk. “And you’re still just a little bit late.”

He laughed softly, leaning back in his chair, eyes twinkling. “Some things never change.”

Their coffees arrived, and as they sipped in comfortable silence, Jules noticed small things about him that had shifted over the years—the confidence in his posture, the way he spoke with an ease he hadn’t had as a kid. She couldn’t help but wonder how much else had changed, and whether that mischievous spark between them was still there, beneath the layers of time.

“So,” he began, breaking the silence. “What has life been like for you all these years? Got any wild stories to tell?”

“Hmm, wild stories?” She raised an eyebrow, pretending to think. “Well, I traveled a bit after college, saw a lot of places, met interesting people… Nothing scandalous, though, if that’s what you were hoping for.”

Michael chuckled, leaning forward just slightly, his eyes meeting hers in a way that made her heart skip. “I don’t know, I think you’ve always had a bit of a rebellious streak in you. Maybe it’s still there?”

Jules felt a blush creeping up her neck, but she maintained her composure, matching his playful gaze with one of her own. “Oh, you think you know me that well, do you?”

“Pretty sure I do,” he replied, his voice low and teasing. “Some things don’t fade with time, right?”

She couldn’t help but laugh, rolling her eyes but feeling a flutter in her stomach. There was something undeniably familiar, yet thrillingly different about the way they spoke now, like they were testing the waters, dancing around old memories and unspoken possibilities.

They fell into easy conversation, swapping stories from their years apart. Michael talked about his work, his passion for photography, and a few of his more questionable travel choices, like the time he got lost hiking alone in Iceland and ended up in a remote village where no one spoke English.

Jules laughed, picturing him trying to mime his way through conversations with the locals. “Sounds like you haven’t lost your knack for getting into trouble.”

He shrugged, a playful grin spreading across his face. “Hey, life would be boring without a little bit of chaos. But what about you? Surely you’ve had your fair share of adventure. Or did you settle down and become the responsible one?”

She leaned in, her smile mischievous. “Maybe I did. Or maybe I’m just waiting for the right person to bring out my wild side.”

Michael blinked, his expression caught between surprise and intrigue. He opened his mouth, then closed it, letting her words linger. She noticed the faint blush creeping up his cheeks, and it made her smile widen.

“Careful, Jules,” he said, his voice softer, almost daring. “I might just take that as a challenge.”

They both laughed, but there was a new tension between them now, something simmering beneath the surface. Jules felt her pulse quicken, surprised by how easily the years melted away, how natural this flirting felt. She had expected an awkward reunion, maybe even lingering resentment, but this—this was unexpected.

As they finished their coffees, Michael leaned back, studying her with a thoughtful smile. “You know, if someone had told me a month ago that we’d be here, having coffee together… I wouldn’t have believed them.”

Jules met his gaze, her own smile softening. “Yeah. It’s funny how life works out, isn’t it?”

They stayed a little longer, neither quite ready to leave, savoring the feeling of being together again. When they finally stepped outside, the chill in the air made her shiver. Without a word, Michael slipped off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. The warmth was immediate, but the gesture made her feel something else—something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

She looked up at him, grateful yet caught off guard by the intimacy of the moment. “Thank you,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

He shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Couldn’t have you freezing out here.” His hand lingered on her shoulder for just a second longer than necessary, and she felt a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold.

They walked side by side, their footsteps echoing in the quiet evening. Before they parted ways, Michael hesitated, looking at her with an intensity that made her pulse race. “So… what are the chances we could do this again sometime?”

Jules felt her heart beat a little faster, and with a grin that was both playful and sincere, she replied, “I’d say the chances are pretty good.”

They exchanged a lingering look before saying goodbye, and as she walked away, wrapped in the scent of his jacket, she couldn’t help but feel that something new had been set in motion—something that just might be worth exploring.