You Again (Completed) ✔️

12.5

After what my brothers told me, I stayed silent and looked out the window as we continued driving home. I looked away from the window and saw Veronica's and Liam's hands entwined.

She smiles, and her eyes shine as she looks at him. "I'm not sure that I want to go back home," she says.

Liam whispers. "You don't have to go home. You could always move in with me."

She looks in my direction and sees me looking at her. "I'll have to think about it."

The car stops in front of the house. I grab the door handle and open it.

The front door is still open, and I walk into the house.

Mom and Dad are sitting on the couch, snuggling.

Just great. Everyone seems to be partnering up, and I'm still alone.

"Goodnight, Mom and Dad," I say before heading to my bedroom. I pull the dress I'm wearing over my head and throw it in the corner of the room. Putting on a pair of boxers and a tank top, I crawl into bed.

My bedroom door opens, and Veronica walks into the room. She looks at me. "Are you mad at me?"

I shake my head. "Why would you think that?"

"I saw how you looked at my hand as it was in Liam's."

I pat my bed. "Come sit with me for a minute." She walks over to my bed and sits on it. "I wasn't expecting you to fall for my brother. He's a nice guy, and every girl wants him. I was hoping that my best friend would be immune to him, but it looks like you are not. Don't just jump into his bed from how he charmed you tonight."

She laughs. "I won't. I told Liam I'm sleeping with you tonight and the night after. He didn't look too happy about that, but it's just something he has to deal with." She climbs off the bed and moves over to her suitcase. She pulls her pyjamas out and walks to the ensuite I have in my bedroom.

Pulling the covers over myself, I close my eyes and fall asleep.

The following day, I woke up with a foul taste in my mouth. I ran into the bathroom and poured myself a cup of water. I drank the water before looking in the mirror.

My hair is sticking up all over the place, and my face has lines across it from how I was sleeping.

I hear voices coming from downstairs, and I recognise Cole instantly.

Why isn't he giving me time to spend with my family? I wish he would leave me alone for a couple of days.

Walking downstairs, I see him and my father at the kitchen table. "What happened to your hand?" Dad asked.

He looks at his fist and says. "Some guy was trying to pull a girl out of the club, and I beat him."

"Was this a girl you like?"

Cole's eyes land on mine as he says the following words. "Yes, but she won't give me the time of day because I hurt her badly."

Mom moves over to the table and places her hand on his. "She'll come around, son." She looks at me as she says. "Hate is another emotion, but love wins out in the end, and the poor girl will lose when it comes to you. She needs to see for herself."

"Thanks, Mrs. Harris. You always know the right things to say. Even though we all know I don't deserve your kindness after what I did to Julia. I should have never threatened her to stay away. After getting to know all of you, I find it hard to believe that I did that to your family. Keeping her away from all of you."

I walk into the kitchen at that moment. "Good morning."

Mom kisses my cheek. "Morning, sweetheart. How did you sleep?"

"Good," I say, Looking at Cole. Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Sure," he stands up and follows me outside. "Listen, Julia. I didn't plan on coming over. Your mother showed up on my doorstep this morning, inviting me over for breakfast. I couldn't turn her away. I got your message loud and clear that you don't want to talk to me."

I wrap my arms around him. "Thank you for saving me last night." I quickly step away from him, letting him know that I'm not interested in being too close to him. "I'm sorry about your parents."

He looks at the window above where we're standing and says. "They told you my parents died?"

"Yes,"

"I wanted to be the one to tell you, Julia." He runs his hands through his hair. Every year, I prayed that you would come home and ignore what I said, but as time went by and you didn't return, I realised that I made a mistake with the way I treated you. I had a crush on you growing up, and I didn't know how to handle my feelings, so I decided to be a jerk to you."

"Cole, I can't talk to you about this right now. Maybe I will be ready later down the track, but right now isn't the time. We better go back inside just in case my family think I've taken you out back and killed you." I lead the way back into the house and sit at the table.

Mom sets the table with bacon, eggs, toast, pancakes, waffles, tea, coffee, and orange juice. As we enter the room, she looks at us and says, "Help yourselves."

Dad looks around the table at my siblings and me and says, "How was last night?"

We tell him about it but purposely leave out the part where somebody tried to drag me out of the club.

"We heard that Cole beat a guy because he was pulling a girl out of the club. Who was he protecting?"

My brother's and best friend says. "Julia,"

Mom turns towards me and says. "I thought it would have been you he was protecting. He didn't want us to know."

Cole keeps his eyes cast down as Mom and Dad try to get as much information from my siblings as they can about last night.

Veronica looks at me. "So, what's our plans for today?"

"I was thinking about driving around town and looking at the schools I can teach at. I don't want my degree to go to waste."

Mom pulls a piece of paper out of a notebook sitting on the table. "I called a friend last night who works at a school, and she wants to meet with you on Monday."

"Thank you, Mom." I stand up and round the table. I hug her. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. I hope you get this job. I don't want you to leave town again."

I won't. I'm here for good.

I kiss her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise you that."

And I meant every word.