Heartless (Completed)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

I woke up suddenly, feeling a gentle tap on my shoulder. Rubbing my eyes to clear the haze of sleep, I squinted into the dim light, trying to discern who had disturbed my slumber. There, with a concerned look etched on his face, stood Adrian.

"Have you eaten yet? We still have quite a distance to cover," he said, his voice steady yet tinged with a hint of urgency.

With a heavy sigh, I nodded, reluctantly peeling myself from the warmth of the van's interior. We had stopped at a fast-food restaurant, the tantalizing scent of fried food wafting through the air, but before I could even step outside, I caught sight of Art. He had just exited the van they had ridden in, his phone pressed tightly to his ear.

"Okay. You take care, baby. I love you too much; I can't help it." His words floated towards me like a dagger, striking deep into my chest. I watched as a soft laugh escaped his lips, brightening his eyes as he spoke to Elisse.

What the hell was happening?

A sharp pang of jealousy twisted within me, twisting and curling around my heart like a vine suffocating a fragile flower. I couldn't help but wish I were the one on the other end of that call, the one he was expressing such tender affection to. My gaze locked onto his, and I saw happiness reflected back at me, a side of Art I never knew existed.

I cleared my throat, a desperate attempt to shake off the rising tide of emotions, just as he ended the call. His eyes met mine briefly, and I turned away, hurrying into the fast-food joint, fearing he might suspect I had been eavesdropping on his intimate moment.

"Eli, over here!" Desiree's voice called out, breaking through the turmoil in my mind as I stepped inside. She was seated at a long table, perfectly positioned to observe the flow of cars and tricycles bustling by outside. I made my way to her, joining our group, which included Damen, Dustin, Irene, and a few others. Some had dashed off to the restroom, while Adrian was busy ordering our meals.

"AJ, over here!" Dustin's voice sliced through the din, and my heart stumbled, anxiety rising in my chest.

I swallowed hard as I felt the weight of Art's presence beside me, a physical reminder of the feelings I was trying to suppress. He wasn't looking my way, but I could sense the tension in the air, thick and electric.

Our orders arrived, and we began to eat, laughter and chatter swirling around me like an intoxicating melody, but I found myself drowning in silence, chewing my food as if it were made of lead. Whenever Art was near, my voice seemed to vanish, stolen away by an invisible force.

"Eliann, where's your camera?" Faye asked, her curiosity genuine. Normally, I wouldn't leave home without it, always ready to capture memories in snapshots. But today, my heart sank at the thought of my broken camera, a relic of moments I couldn't relive. I had lost it—well, it had been ruined. At least I still had the SD card, but I couldn't shake the disappointment.

"It's broken," I replied, forcing a smile that felt foreign on my lips.

"They're just not used to you being without one," Desiree whispered, a knowing look in her eyes. I simply shook my head, trying to smile through the pang of regret.

Once we finished our meal, the journey resumed, punctuated by stops whenever we encountered picturesque views, moments that begged to be immortalized in photographs.

"I'm sure when Elisse joins us, you two will be snapping pictures non-stop," Damen teased, his words laced with lightheartedness. I found myself listening intently, eager to understand the dynamics among them, something I hadn't done before.