Divine Will

Chapter Eleven - Getting Caught

"Rosie, Mr. Handsome is here to see you." Estelle told me as she walked in to the kitchen.

"Tell him I didn't come to work."

"That's what I told him last time. Why don't you just face him already?" She asked me as she placed her hands on her hips.

"I can't." I told her in a low voice.

"You can't or you won't?" She asked then walked out of the kitchen not even waiting for my reply.

It had been about a week since Julian proposed and since then I had been trying to avoid him. He called me constantly and even sent text messages on a daily basis, but I never answered his calls nor replied to his texts. He came to the restaurant once before and asked to see me, but I couldn't face him just yet so Estelle told him that I wasn't at work. I didn't have an answer yet. I knew that I was being childish about the whole situation, but I didn't know what to do. I hid in the kitchen like a coward until Estelle came back inside.

"He's gone." She informed me.

"What did you tell him?" I asked her.

"That you didn't come to work today; just like you said." She told me and I smiled gratefully. "He wasn't happy about it though and I'm sure he didn't believe me." I nodded. "Just give him an answer already, Rosie. You can't keep him hanging like that."

Estelle was the only one besides my mom who knew that Julian proposed. I didn't want to tell anyone, but she always noticed that my mind wasn't with me and made me spill the beans.

"I don't know what to tell him."

"Yes, you tell him yes!" She raised her hands in exasperation.

"It's not that easy, Elle."

"It's easy if you want it to be." She said as she patted my shoulder and walked away.

I looked at her retreating back and thought about what she said then shrugged it off and walked out to continue my work.

#

Once my shift ended, I grabbed my bag and walked out of the restaurant and into the breezy night. I was walking towards the bus stop when I suddenly felt someone grab my arm. My heartbeat accelerated and suddenly survival mode kicked in. I turned around and hit my predator with my handbag.

"Ouch!" A familiar voice yelled as they held their head in their hands.

"Julian?" I asked lowly. Julian looked up at me and I placed both of my hands over my mouth. Oh god what did I do? "Oh god, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hit you. I thought you were a thief or something." Julian looked at me with amusement swirling in his eyes, but didn't comment. "Are you okay?" I asked him.

He nodded. "I'm fine." He paused a bit and looked at me. "I thought you weren't at work." He said in an accusing tone.

"Um... yes... no... I mean..." I trailed off. I couldn't think of anything to say. I guess I was caught.

"You mean you were avoiding me." He stated. "Right?" I looked down at the ground and didn't reply. Julian placed his index finger and forefinger under my chin and raised my face up to meet his. "Right, Rosie?" He asked again.

"Yes." I replied honestly. I felt like a little kid being caught with her hand the jar, but I wasn't going to lie.

Julian released his hand from under my chin and sighed loudly. "Is it because I proposed? Rosie, I already told you I would wait for however long you want." He looked at me for a moment before he continued. "Rosie, please don't treat me that way, don't avoid me." I could see the sadness clear in his eyes.