Butterflies

Chapter 16

Each step I took on the way home felt suffocating. My legs ached, my stomach growled, and every breath felt heavier than the last. All I wanted was the comfort of my pillow and the peace of my room, where I could curl up and shut out the world.

A loud car horn jolted me out of my haze, pulling me back into the chaos of reality.

"Julia, hey!"

The voice was unmistakable—smooth, familiar, and laced with casual charm. I turned toward the sound and saw Caleb leaning out of the window of a sleek white Cadillac, his hair tousled in that effortlessly perfect way, his eyes twinkling under the faint glow of the streetlights.

"Hey..." I said, my voice tight, awkward.

He sighed, the smile fading slightly as his lips parted to speak. "You want me to drop you off? It's a long walk, and you look exhausted."

"Oh, no, it's fine, thanks," I rushed out, already fumbling to put my earbuds in. "I've got things to pick up on the way."

Without waiting for a reply, I turned away, my feet carrying me forward as fast as they could without breaking into a full sprint. The music from my earbuds began to pulse through me, drowning out the world, replacing my exhaustion with a fleeting moment of peace.

But peace never lasts long, does it?

The repetitive ring of my phone cut through the song, yanking me back into the present. I stopped walking, annoyance bubbling up as I glanced at the caller ID.

Alex.

I groaned softly, rolling my eyes before reluctantly picking up.

"Jewels," his voice came through smooth and unbothered, as if he hadn't just disrupted my fragile peace.

"What do you want, Alex?" I snapped, irritation sharp in my tone.

"I'm honestly surprised you picked up," he said with a dry chuckle.

"I could still end the call."

"Hey... hold on. I just wanted to know if you'd be free to talk."

"No, Alex, I'm not," I said curtly, already moving to hang up.

"Wait, Jewel. Don't you think we need to talk? A lot has happened."

His tone shifted then—something unrecognizable, something that made my stomach twist.

"Does it look like I want to hear your excuses for ruining my high school life?" I spat out, my voice cold, detached.

He chuckled again, low and humorless. "I wouldn't call it ruining, though... Anyway, if you decide to talk, I'm at the park near your street."

And just like that, the line went dead.

"Son of a bitch," I muttered under my breath, shoving my phone back into my pocket.

~*~*~*~*~*~*

I was minutes from home, yet my feet felt glued to the pavement, my mind looping the same thought over and over again: