This is L.o.v.e. like it should be

XXIX. Upfront

"Would you care for a glass of champagne?", the mysterious individual asked with a slightly mischievous tone.

Ava's eyes were still fixed on Julien's, she was feeling something she hadn't felt before. A mixture of anger and sadness she couldn't quite contain. So she directed these feelings at this man whose presence only seemed to worsen Ava's disposition.

"You, again! Are you stalking me?", she snapped in an angry voice.

"Oh, I see this momentous occasion has you in high spirits. Would you like to celebrate the announcement with something stronger than champagne?"

Ava contained her anger, she closed her eyes and breathed deeply. Then she turned her back on him, rolling her eyes as she left.

She wasn't sure why she had done something like that to a guy she still didn't know the name of. In fact, if she was being honest, he had always been polite with her. But Julien was there, and despite everything, she didn't want him to see her with another guy. Ava still wanted Julien back and she couldn't feel more stupid about such a wish.

As she walked away from the mysterious guy, memories of Julien's rage moments came to her mind. She though about how much she had to fight to get an "I love you" from his lips. Julien had always puzzled her.

"Why do I still want him back so badly?", Ava ran her hand through her neck, trying to get herself together.

She stumbled into Phoebe, but not even seeing her friend could stop those thoughts: "How can I even be considering getting back together with Julien?", Ava continued. Her heart clearly had a voice of its own, which wouldn't listen to reason.

And now, the weird pressure on her heart was back again.

"Ava!", Phoebe shouted, waking Ava from her trance like state.

"Phoebe...", she answered looking lost.

"Darling", Phoebe said, now in a sympathetic tone, handing Ava the strongest cocktail she found at that party: "Here, drink this..."

"What's that?"

"Something to help you get through this."

Ava was stammering, betraying the panic in her mind.

"Just swallow it. It'll make you feel better."

"I can't...", Ava stopped for a second, suddenly dawning on her, why did Phoebe have a drink ready for her? Ava stared at Phoebe's eyes and there was the confirmation. She knew, everybody knew what Ava had been trying to keep just for herself: Julien and her... they weren't together anymore.

"Yes, you can, gurl", Phoebe sounded genuinely worried. "And yes, of course I know. Who do you think you were lying to? I knew he was gone even before you lost it against that unbearable shrew at the office."

"Then why did you pretend you didn't?"

"Because I am your friend. And you if you weren't ready to tell me, I'd just wait until you were. Also, I might be wrong, but I think you still haven't gotten over him."

Ava felt a sudden urge to hug Phoebe. With her arms wrapped around her waist, fighting the tears, she secretly voiced her biggest desire: "I want him back".

"First step: swallow the drink I'm still holding for you!"

Ava, in a moment of fragility, desperate to find a cure to the even more overwhelming pressure in her chest, did as told. She drank in a hurry, like that drink was the key to make her stop feeling and, most importantly, stop thinking.

Julien was now getting off the stage, and the mysterious guy's eyes were still fixed on Ava.