Chapter 16: Words that fall flat
840 Words
“James!”
The moment shattered.
Both of them turned as Elena stepped into the courtyard, her presence sharp, cutting through the quiet like she owned it.
Her gaze locked onto Max first.
Then James.
Then back to Max.
And something in her expression shifted—less calculated than before, more… personal.
“You,” she said, walking closer, her voice tight. “I’ve been looking for you.”
Max didn’t move.
“I’m busy.”
That was it.
Flat. Dismissive.
Elena stopped a few steps away, clearly not expecting that.
“With him?” she asked, glancing briefly at James.
Max didn’t even follow her gaze. “Yes.”
James stayed quiet this time, watching.
Because this—
This wasn’t his conversation.
Elena inhaled slowly, steadying herself. Whatever she came here to do, she wasn’t backing down.
“Fine,” she said. “Then I’ll say it here.”
Max’s eyes narrowed slightly, like he already knew this was going to be unnecessary.
“Elena—”
“I like you.”
The words came out fast.
Not dramatic.
Not soft.
Just… forced into the open before she could stop herself.
Silence followed.
James blinked once, then leaned back slightly, folding his arms—not surprised, just observing.
Max?
Max looked at her.
Really looked at her.
And there was nothing in his expression that resembled surprise.
Or interest.
Just… acknowledgment.
“I know,” he said.
That hit harder than rejection.
Elena’s composure slipped slightly. “You—what?”
“I know,” he repeated. “You’ve made it clear before.”
Her jaw tightened. “Then why do you keep ignoring it?”
“Because it doesn’t change anything.”
Simple.
Direct.
Final.
But Elena wasn’t ready to accept that.
“It should,” she said, taking a step closer. “I was chosen for you. Our families—”
“Don’t matter in this,” Max cut in.
His voice wasn’t raised.
But it carried enough weight to stop her immediately.
“This isn’t a negotiation,” he continued. “And it’s not an arrangement I agreed to.”
Elena’s hands clenched at her sides. “You didn’t even give it a chance.”
Max’s expression didn’t change.
“There was nothing to try.”
That one—
That one stung.
James exhaled softly under his breath, glancing away for a second. Even he could feel how cleanly that landed.
But Elena pushed forward anyway.
“Is it because of him?” she asked suddenly, her eyes flicking toward James.
Max didn’t hesitate.
“Yes.”
No pause.
No denial.
Just the truth.
James’ head turned slightly at that, caught off guard—not by the implication, but by how easily Max said it.
Elena froze.
“You’re serious,” she said quietly.
Max didn’t respond.
He didn’t need to.
Her expression hardened, something breaking beneath the surface.
“You barely know him.”
“I know enough.”
“And me?” she demanded. “You’ve known me longer.”
Max’s gaze didn’t soften.
“That doesn’t mean more.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Unforgiving.
Elena let out a small, shaky breath, trying to hold onto whatever control she had left.
“So that’s it?” she said. “You’re just going to throw everything away for… what? A feeling?”
Max’s eyes flickered briefly—just for a second.
Then steadied again.
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
No apology.
Just truth.
Elena looked at him like she didn’t recognize him anymore.
Then she laughed.
But there was no humor in it.
“…You’re unbelievable.”
Max didn’t argue.
Didn’t defend.
Because there was nothing to defend.
After a moment, Elena straightened, rebuilding her composure piece by piece.
“Fine,” she said. “I understand.”
She didn’t.
Not really.
But she said it anyway.
Her gaze shifted to James one last time—less confrontational now, more searching.
Like she was trying to figure out what he had that she didn’t.
James met her eyes calmly.
Didn’t challenge.
Didn’t explain.
Just… existed.
And somehow—
That made it worse.
Elena looked away first.
“…This isn’t over,” she said quietly, more to herself than to them.
Then she turned and walked off.
This time—
Without stopping.
Without looking back.
Silence returned to the courtyard.
James let out a slow breath. “Well…”
He glanced at Max.
“That was… direct.”
Max didn’t react immediately.
His gaze lingered in the direction Elena had left—just long enough to confirm something.
Then he looked back at James.
“I don’t like wasting time,” he said.
James huffed a quiet laugh. “Clearly.”
A small pause settled between them.
Not tense.
Not awkward.
Just… shifting.
Then James tilted his head slightly.
“You meant that?” he asked.
Max’s eyes met his.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
That answer came without hesitation.
And this time—
It wasn’t heavy.
It wasn’t dangerous.
It was simple.
Honest.
- Writer
