You Again (Completed) ✔️

32.

Cole's POV

I open the car door for Julia, and she climbs in. "Thanks, Cole."

"You're welcome." Once she's in, I close the door before rounding the car and climbing into the driver's seat. I put my seatbelt on and started the car. As I pulled out of the driveway, I looked at Julia and said, "Julia, I'm worried about you."

She gets a crinkle in the forehead as she frowns. "Why are you worried, Cole? I'm not your responsibility."

"I know, but I don't like seeing you like this. You should be sleeping. Not sneaking out at night and going to the beach. Why do you go to the beach when it's a trigger to what happened?"

She looks at me. "When I was on the island, I slept with the window open because the sound of the ocean pulled me to sleep. It was soothing. Every time I come to the beach, it reminds me of how some things can be controlled, like the water from the beach here and how some can't be controlled, like the one that hit the island." She pulls down the window and leans her head back against the chair.

I concentrated on the road until I reached the same beach Julia had gone to the night before.

She looks out the window. "How did you know which beach to go to?"

"I followed you last night. Your dad wanted to make sure you were okay, so he sent me to watch out for you. When I saw you, we were okay. I stayed in the dark so you couldn't see me."

"When I got home, you looked the same way I felt. If I knew you were following me, I would have been pissed. Thanks for following me and being honest. I want honesty from my family now, but it looks like they can't do that for me."

"Julia?" She looks at me and waits for me to continue. "You should go home this weekend and spend time with your family. Maybe they'll tell you everything you need to know."

"I'll think about it. What about you? Aren't you going to be lonely without spending time with my family?"

I shake my head. "I'm going away for the weekend. When I get back, should we catch up over coffee?"

"I'll think about it, Cole." She opens the door and climbs out of the car. Julia walks down to the sand and sits down. She wraps her arms around her body and looks at the full moon.

Grabbing a blanket from inside the car, I walk over to Julia and wrap it around her. I sit on the sand next to her.

She looks at the water and doesn't say anything for a while. "Can we get something hot to drink? I'm starting to get cold."

"Sure," I say, standing up and reaching out my hand to her. She takes my hand and stands up.

Wrapping the blanket tighter around her, we walked to the cafe where I had seen her sitting the night before. She walks over to the counter and orders two hot chocolates.

I look at her as she shivers again. "Sit by the heater, and I'll join you with our drinks."

"Okay," she walks away from the counter and sits.

The guy behind the counter looks at me. "She was in here last night until the sun rose."

I know.

"If she ever comes in here on her own, can you call me?" I slide my card to him, and he takes it from me. "She's been sneaking out of the house, worrying her father."

"It looks like she didn't do it this time."

"Nah, I caught her before she could get into the car."

He places the drinks in front of me. "These are on the house." He pulls out two croissants. "The croissants normally end up in the bin by the time my boss comes in for her shift at 6am."

"Thanks," I take the hot chocolates and croissants to the table and sit across from Julia.

She wraps her hands around the cup. "Thanks, Cole." Looking at the croissants, she says. "You didn't have to buy these."

"I didn't. The guy behind the counter gave it to me. He saw you in here last night and thought that you could use something to eat. Especially since you didn't leave here until 6." I start buttering my croissant and adding the jam to it.

She butters hers and then takes a bite. "This is good. I should buy some when I come out here again."

I reach across the table and take her hand. "Please, don't come out here again without someone."

"I'm not going to promise you anything, Cole. If I need some fresh air and the sound of the ocean to help me sleep, then I will do it." She brings the cup to her mouth and drinks. She begins to yawn, and her eyes start to droop.

I grab the cups and carry them to the bin. Then, I walk back to the table, lift Julia up, and carry her out of the cafe.

When I got to the car, I unlocked it and put her in the front seat. I put her seatbelt on before rounding the car and climbing into the driver's seat. Starting the engine, I pulled the car out of the parking lot and headed in the direction of my house.

At home, I pull my car into the driveway. Unbuckling my seatbelt, I climb out of the car and round it to Julia's side.

Lifting Julia up, I carry her to the front door and open it. I step into the house and see Antwon sitting on the couch with Liam.

The boys stand up and say. "What happened to her?"

I put my finger up to my mouth and said, "Shhh, she just fell asleep, and I don't want her to wake up until the sun is up."

"Why didn't you leave us a note telling us where you went?" Liam says.

"I didn't have time. Let me put your sister to bed, and we'll talk." I step around her brothers and walk up the stairs with Julia in my arms. I place her on the bed and cover her up. Moving a strand of brown hair from her face. "Goodnight, Julia." I leave the room and go downstairs to where Liam and Antwon are waiting for me.

When I get to the room, Antwon says. "Where did you go with Julia? Why didn't she stay asleep when she went to bed?"

I sit on the couch and look at her brothers. "You're sister went through something bad, and she's been having problems sleeping because of it. The way you two are acting towards her isn't helping her any. She came home to be with her family; all she gets in return is half-truths and excuses from everyone. I'm going away this weekend, and I hope everything is out in the open when I return on Monday." My gaze lands in Antwon. "You have a lot to answer for, Antwon. No more sitting back and letting your family talk about what they lost." With that, I stand up and head to my bedroom.