DUSK

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

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It's been three months since I last saw them; Ash and my parents. Em and I moved to a new state and enrolled into a new university; lucky for us we were able to graduate with good grades and could score a good scholarship and imagine my surprise when we ran into Jared and found out he attended the same school and lived a few blocks from our apartment but at least he was a familiar face who could help us get used to ordinary life. He was surprisingly nice to me and apologized for what he did while we were in school and we became good friends.

We also got jobs but it wasn't at the same place, even I have to admit no one is that lucky but the good thing is we weren't far from each other and the jobs have semi-decent pay that helps pay the bills. I think it was also safe to say that we made some new friends and I finally got to experience a normal teenager's life though I have to admit it is rather boring.

I've never talked to Ash since we left because of two reasons; one is that he might have forgotten about me and that scares the hell out of me and the other reason is that I never felt like it was the right time. Maybe I was just postponing the inevitable but one of these fine days I would make sure I get over it.

I was currently sitting on my bed reading a book from one of my favourite authors when I heard the front door open followed by Em's loud voice;

"Honey! I'm home!" she shouted trying to make her voice sound more masculine.

"Coming darling!" I shouted back, dramatically high before I walked out of my room and headed downstairs. I froze at the entrance when I heard a masculine voice which commented something followed by Emma's laughter. The voice was deep in just the right way and I felt my face flush immediately. I took deep breaths trying to compose myself before I walked in with a smile plastered on my face. Em turned immediately she heard me and shot me an amused smile.

"I thought we moved from 'darling'. It's so old." She complained but I only let out a snort that was most definitely not lady-like.

"Like 'honey I'm home' is so original." I countered sarcastically before I caught a new face at the corner of my eye. My body went rigid and my face instantly flushed before Em broke out into full laughter and the guy snickered.

"Chloe, meet Leo Javier, he's our new neighbour and my newest friend." Em introduced us briefly and her tone was so smug. I turned my attention to Javier and before I could control my blabber mouth I blurted the first thing that came to my mind.

"You don't look like a Mexican," I covered my mouth and my face reddened. Only I can find a way to embarrass myself during an introduction. Havier only smirked at me before he found the right words to answer me,

"Very observant Chloe; I was adopted by Spanish parents so they named me Javier. Does that make sense to you or do you have another question?" he finished off with a sarcastic remark which I was so ready to sass out but Em beat me to it. Lucky him, or maybe I was the lucky one.

"Okay, as much as I enjoy the drama, the tension is too much for me to actually breathe normally." Her comment made us both turn to glare at her but she only chuckled

"Aww, you guys are so cute together with those cute little glares but keep them on and I'll throw you both out of my house." She cooed but her last statement was so serious that we both stopped glaring and I huffed childishly while Javier smirked at me.

As hot as he is, he really is starting to piss me off. Whoa!! What the hell? He's not cute or hot but he's plain ugly, both inside and out especially with those bright green eyes and those sweet-looking lips and—w-what the hell! I unconsciously widened my eyes before reality hit me and I quietly walked out to get myself a glass of water. I didn't miss the snicker on his face as I walked away.