Heartless (Completed)

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

"Eli! Oh my God, I missed you!" Desiree's voice boomed, breaking through the stillness as soon as I stepped inside their gate. I couldn't help but shake my head, a grin creeping onto my face at her dramatic entrance. She dashed towards me, arms wide open, and enveloped me in a tight, bone-crushing hug.

"Ugh, Desiree, I can't breathe," I muttered, pouting at her. She immediately let go and flashed a sheepish grin, throwing up a peace sign as if that would make up for nearly suffocating me.

"Sorry about that! We didn't get to pick you up because we had no idea you'd be coming straight home right after graduation." Her apology was rushed, almost as if she was more concerned about catching up than making amends.

I waved it off, telling her it was fine.

"Oh my gosh, you've gotten even fairer! You look like a model now!" she squealed, her eyes raking over me like she had just discovered a long-lost treasure.

"Will you please calm down?" I scolded, rolling my eyes at her.

But she just grinned wider, her energy undeterred. Without warning, she grabbed my hand and dragged me towards the house. "Come on, everyone's inside waiting for you!"

The closer we got to the door, the more my heart pounded in my chest. Why was I so nervous? This was home, these were my friends—yet something felt off, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. 

"Guys!!" Desiree shouted loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear. Instantly, all eyes turned to us, and I felt a lump form in my throat. 

There they were—our friends. All of them. Including Dustin, Damen, and... Art. I swallowed hard as our gazes locked across the room. He hadn't changed at all. If anything, time had only refined his appearance, sharpening his features like a sculptor chiseling marble to perfection. His presence was undeniable, a force that drew the eye without needing to speak. His jawline was more pronounced, his gaze more intense, as if life had only deepened the quiet power he held. Yet, despite this transformation, his expression remained frustratingly unreadable, as if carved in stone. No trace of warmth touched his lips, no flicker of emotion softened the steely set of his eyes. He stood there, a figure both familiar and distant, with that same cold, unwavering stare that once made the world feel just a little bit colder.

I quickly averted my eyes when the others rushed to greet me, surrounding me in a flurry of hugs and excited chatter. Their voices overlapped, making it impossible to focus on anything they were saying.

"Eliann," Adrian said, his voice soft yet disbelieving as he smiled at me. He bit his lip slightly, as if trying to hold back a bigger grin.

"You look different. I mean, you're even more beautiful now, and it seems like you've slimmed down a bit too," he added with an admiring smile.

"Really? I was actually planning to gain a bit of weight," I joked, laughing softly.

He shrugged, still smiling. "Well, that sounds even better."

I wrinkled my nose at him playfully. "Don't think so, Adrian." Then I added, "By the way, you've changed a lot too. Let me guess, you've got someone special in your life now?" I teased, studying his face. He had definitely grown into his looks—his skin paler, his jawline more defined. He looked so handsome now, the type to turn heads wherever he went.

"Tss. You're crazy," he said, tapping my shoulder in mock annoyance.

Before I could reply, Desiree's voice cut through the noise. "Guys, let's have some snacks first before we head out!" She strode over, and I turned my attention towards her.