Loveless♣

Chapter 41

"Let me in,I have to see Joshua," Julianne said,clasping her fingers together."I don't have time for-"

"Joshua's unavailable right now."

"What?Why?Where is he?"Julianne asked,frowning.

"I haven't the slightest idea.But don't worry,I'll try to pass across your stopping by to him.Anything else?"

Julianne glared at her.
"You are a total asshole.I bet you both won't even last a month.Joshua has a short anger leash and,trust me,this attitude you're putting up will only drive him further away from you."

Bella laughed."Okay."

"He'll detest you," Julianne told her,adjusting her bag to her other arm.She stepped forward and tipped her chin slightly upwards to look at Bella."And you'll be sorry."

Bella tsk-tsked and stepped closer to Julianne,startling her a bit."Oh,Julie,you can't imagine the immensity of the fucks I don't give right now.So if there's nothing else for you to say,I suggest you saunter your fine little ass out of here.You really should know better at this age.Fighting over a man puts a woman beneath him.And here's another piece of advice-a wise woman kisses but doesn't love,listens but doesn't believe and leaves before she is left.Goodbye, Julianne."

She stepped back inside and was about to close the door,when she heard Julianne say,"Wait."

Bella sighed and opened the door wider.She was about to shoot off another sarcastic comment, but stopped at once when she saw the deep look of sadness and vulnerability in Julianne's eyes.

"I'm sorry," Julianne said softly."I.."She moistened her lips and looked away.She held the bridge of her nose for a second,blinking repeatedly as she did.Bella realized that she was fighting back tears.

"I'm not really like this," Julianne said,turning back to her."I don't know why I'm acting this way.But then,love makes people act differently. Brings out an uglier side in them.Um..I didn't mean to call you names.I just..."

Bella only stared at her without a word.

"Do you love him?"

"Joshua and I aren't-"

"Together,"Julianne completed."Right?"

Bella nodded.

"That won't last long.If he could reject me after all these years,then it must be because his heart's already taken.Try not to hurt him,Miss..."her voice trailed off."Pardon me,I didn't even ask your name."

"I didn't give you an opportunity to.I'm Bella.And,I beg to disagree,Julianne,with what you just said.Joshua getting over you doesn't automatically mean he's in love with someone else,much less me.I don't think-"

"I saw the way he looked at you.At the restaurant," she clarified,when Bella frowned."It was..heartwrenching...to see,but I saw it nonetheless. He stood up to leave,and then he sighted you and the way he looked at you,it was exactly the way he looked at me all those years ago."

"Julianne, I beg to differ,I-"

"Don't lose him, Bella," Julianne said,sniffing."I did.And I regret it every single day.I was proud, and selfish.I left him without even saying goodbye, because I didn't wanna accept his relevance in my life.I thought to myself,'I don't need him.I can survive with or without him.'I did survive, Bella,but then I realized something."

Bella leaned against the doorjamb. "What?"she asked curiously.

"That Joshua was part of me.He made me whole,and leaving him had carved a hole in my heart that could never be filled by anyone else.He'll do that to you,you know.He'll fill the empty parts of you so well that you won't ever be complete without him.Joshua's one of those people you can never forget. I'm sure you've seen the signs already."