The Hopeless Romantic ✔️

Chapter thirty three.

I was sitting in the library on purpose. It was my free period and I had my book beside me on the desk and I had a computer in front of me and I was doing my English assignment. I was nearly finished with it and I assumed that I would be done way before my free period ended. Jace had the same free period as me and Gwen did too but, she was working on her photography assignment. It worked out perfectly if I were to still play Jace's game.

Speaking of Jace, I saw him at the corner of my eyes. He was scrolling through his phone as usual. I ignored him and I figured that I would just wing it when he spoke to me again. I wasn't sure if it would be today or tomorrow but, I knew he would eventually. It was clear to me that he was starting over and when I mentioned that, I knew he didn't get what I meant.

I typed up the last sentence of the assignment, sent it to my teacher by email and logged off the computer. I still had half an hour left and I didn't want to waste my phone battery. It was quiet in the library for an afternoon so I took the opportunity and opened my book. It was a fairly large book with over five hundred pages inside but, I was already half way and I was enjoying it. I loved crime novels because of the clues and the suspects and it was always fun to read.

I began reading the first page when a chair pulled up beside me, I smirked because I knew who it was but, I was also nervous about it. My stomach clenched and I wanted to laugh and I also wanted to run away. But, he played me and now it was time to beat him at his own game. I pretended I didn't notice him as his cologne surrounded my nice clean air. I was still very angry and upset with him about the bet that he made and even though I forgave him, I would never forget and I never wanted to get back together with him.

"What are you reading?" He finally asked me.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his question as he once asked me that before. I turned the page, knowing that I would go back to it later. "A book." I told him, my voice showing no emotion.

He chuckled and I could see him lean back in his chair. "What is it called?" I closed the book, keeping a few of my fingers in between the pages and I showed him the front cover. After a few seconds, I reopened the book and pretended to read again. "You're into crime?" He asked.

I nodded, leaning back in chair and sighing heavily. "Yes."

"Hm," he said, "I didn't know that."

I turned to him, raising my eyebrows. "Of course you didn't, you don't even know me."

I knew he wanted to say something in defence but, if he was playing the game then he knew not to. "That's true," he said, "I don't know you."

That hit me hard. I mean, I knew he was playing the game and that he wanted to start over, but the thought of doing everything all over again hit me so hard like a train. I sighed, continuing to read the page and I wasn't concentrating. Sure, I wanted to play him at his own game but it really drained me and I didn't want to stoop to his level. But, he wouldn't let me move on.

It stayed silent for a moment and I wasn't sure what he was going to say next. But boy, did I miss his smile, his charming ways and how he made me feel inside and out. I missed our longs talk and everything that I thought was real. And the sad part was, none of it meant anything and it still hurt me and it will forever hurt me.

"What's the book about?" He asked me and I could tell he was trying to figure out what to say.

I was being more difficult than I was when he first talked to me about the book I was reading. I sighed and turned the book around to the back. "A body is discovered in an empty atlanta warehouse. It's the body of an ex-cop, and from the moment Special Agent Will Trent walks in, he knows this could be the most devastating case of his career. Bloody footprints-"