Afterlight ✔️

chapter twenty-one

— Chloe Romano

It was all insane. Here I was, making out with the guy who was supposed to murder me only a couple days ago, in his car. It felt morally wrong to what I was originally directed to do, and it was the last thing I had expected to do. But his lips– I couldn't snap out of the feeling that I was starting to like him, like, really like him. I wasn't sure what it was about Justin that made me so emotional, and causing me to do things I shouldn't do. Whatever I felt for Justin was confusing, it was like I hated him one minute and wanted to kiss him the next, which then, I actually did.

I sat in the passenger seat, fiddling around with my fingers, it was something I had always done when I felt nervous. I sensed myself sweating, my knees started to buckle at the thought of how he grinded against me, kissing my weak spot. I couldn't get enough of it, it was too bittersweet. He made me feel things I didn't know I could.

"Everything alright over there?" I heard Justin question next to me.

"I'm perfectly fine." I sighed, continuing to stare down at my fingers. I had bitten the nails down to the core because my nerves got the best of me for the past few days.

"You sure? You said you wanted to eat, but you've been sitting there, playing with your fingers like you always do."

"Let's go eat then!" I peered up, staring straight out of the front window, still playing around with my fingers.

I couldn't stop.

"Alright, you're acting really strange." He slammed his right hand on top of my hands, firmly, furrowing his eyebrows. "Did I make you feel uncomfortable awhile back?"

"No." I glared over at him. "Not at all."

"Good, that's all I wanted to know." He let go of my hands, leading me to attempt to get out of the car and escape the awkwardness. "And, Chlo?"

"Yes, Justin?" I cocked my face in his direction.

"You look really beautiful, today." A huge grin slided over his face, making me blush.

"Thank you." I smiled slightly as I pushed my way out of the car door, shut the door back and stood on the sidewalk to wait for Justin.

He came around the car next to me, so we could walk in together. The cold breeze of the interior of the diner blew us as we walked through the door. At the front podium was the waitress that usually served us, she was the same one who witnessed me screaming at Justin.

"Table for two, I'm guessing?" She smiled at the both of us, taking two menus from behind herself. She stepped in front of us, signalling to follow her. We began to follow, being lead to a booth by the window.

"The usual, right?" The waitress asked and Justin chuckled as he sat down in the booth. He turned his head in my direction to watch me sit down in front of him. "You still want to order breakfast? It's almost two o'clock."

"I was really in the mood for waffles." I tilted my head to the side, legitimately craving the taste of Canadian maple syrup.

"I guess we'll be eating breakfast, then." Justin smiled over at me.

"So, you two are going to take water?" The waitress raised her eyebrow, reminiscing how Justin treated me previous time we ate there.

"She can take whatever she wants." Justin pointed over at me smiling as he squeezed my thigh gently. I smiled back at him, pleased by his words and behavior.

"I'll have sprite." I looked at the waitress.

"I'll take the same." Justin said immediately after me.