CHAPTER 13: JEALOUSY
1213 Words
VESPER'S POV
January 16th.
6:00PM.
Elias came late.
6:17PM.
He never came late.
“Where were you?” I asked.
“City.”
“Why?”
“Paperwork.”
He didn’t sit.
He stood.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“No.”
He was lying.
I could tell.
January 17th.
6:00PM.
He came on time.
But he didn’t take my hand.
“Elias?”
“Yes.”
“Are you mad at me?”
“No.”
“Then why aren’t you—”
“I’m tired,” he said.
I nodded.
We sat.
Apart.
January 18th.
A girl came in at 2PM.
Blonde. City clothes. Red coat.
“Are you Miss Ashvale?”
“Yes.”
“I’m Lila,” she said. “I’m from Whitestone.”
The company that wanted my roses.
“What do you want?”
“To talk to Mr. Thorne,” she said.
“Elias?”
“Yes.”
“He’s not here.”
“Oh,” she said. “He said he’d be here at six.”
My chest got tight.
“He comes at six,” I said. “To me.”
She smiled.
“That’s sweet.”
She left.
At 6:00PM, Elias came.
“Who was here?”
“Lila,” I said.
His face changed.
Just a second.
“You know her?”
“She works for Whitestone,” he said.
“Why was she looking for you?”
“Business.”
“At six?”
“Yes.”
He didn’t take my hand.
January 19th.
6:00PM.
Lila was back.
Outside.
Waiting.
“Hi Vesper,” she said.
“Hi.”
“Is Elias in?”
“No.”
“He said he’d meet me here.”
“Then he’s late.”
She laughed.
“You’re protective.”
“I’m not.”
“Okay,” she said.
Elias came at 6:05PM.
He saw her.
“ Lila.”
“Elias.”
“Why are you here?”
“Contract,” she said. “I need your signature.”
“Email it.”
“It’s urgent.”
He looked at me.
“I’ll be right back,” he said.
He walked away.
With her.
Down the street.
At 7PM, he came back.
Alone.
“Sorry,” he said.
“For what?”
“For being late.”
I didn’t say anything.
January 20th.
6:00PM.
He came.
Hand out.
I didn’t take it.
“Vesper?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re lying,” I said.
“What?”
“You’re not tired,” I said. “You’re hiding something.”
“I’m not.”
“Lila,” I said.
His jaw tightened.
“She’s nothing.”
“Then why does she keep coming?”
“Because Whitestone wants your roses.”
“And you?”
“What?”
“Do you want them too?”
“No,” he said. “I want you.”
“Then prove it.”
“How?”
“Don’t go with her.”
He went quiet.
January 21st.
6:00PM.
He came.
Alone.
No Lila.
He sat.
Far.
“Vesper,” he said.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For making you feel second.”
I looked up.
“You did,” I said.
“I know,” he said. “I won’t again.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because I’m here,” he said. “Not with her.”
January 22nd.
Lila came again.
At noon.
“Elias isn’t here,” I said.
“I know,” she said. “I’m here for you.”
“For what?”
“To warn you.”
“About what?”
“About him,” she said. “He’s not yours.”
I stepped outside.
“What do you mean?”
“He’s Whitestone’s,” she said. “He always will be. You’re just... a project.”
I slapped her.
Not hard.
But I did.
“Get out,” I said.
She left.
January 23rd.
6:00PM.
Elias came.
He saw my face.
“What happened?”
“Lila.”
“What did she say?”
“That I’m a project.”
“Vesper—”
“Is it true?”
“No,” he said. “It’s not.”
“Then why is she here?”
“Because I didn’t cut her off,” he said. “I should have.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I’m an i***t,” he said. “And because I was scared.”
“Scared of what?”
“Losing Whitestone,” he said. “And losing you.”
January 24th.
I didn’t open.
I stayed in the greenhouse.
At 6:00PM, Elias knocked.
“Vesper?”
No answer.
He sat outside.
Again.
At 8PM, I opened.
“You’re still here.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not Lila,” he said. “I’m not leaving at six.”
January 25th.
I believed him.
A little.
At 6:00PM, he came.
He didn’t ask for my hand.
He waited.
I took it.
“Thank you,” he said.
“For what?”
“For choosing me.”
January 26th.
Lila called.
Not me.
Elias.
I heard him.
“No,” he said. “I’m not meeting.”
Pause.
“I said no.”
Pause.
“Don’t call again.”
He hung up.
Blocked her.
In front of me.
January 27th.
6:00PM.
He came.
He didn’t sit far.
He sat next to me.
Touching.
“Vesper,” he said.
“Yes.”
“You’re not a project.”
“I know.”
“You’re my person.”
I looked at him.
“Say it again.”
“You’re my person.”
“Good.”
January 28th.
Maren said, “You fought?”
“Yes.”
“About a girl?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” she said. “Means you care.”
“I do.”
January 29th.
6:00PM.
No Lila.
No calls.
Just him.
He took my hand.
Held it tight.
“I’m sorry,” he said again.
“I know,” I said. “You’re here now.”
January 30th.
I told him.
“I was jealous,” I said.
“I know.”
“I’ve never been jealous before.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ve never had something to lose,” he said.
I nodded.
“I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t.”
January 31st.
Last day of January.
Lila was gone.
From town.
From his phone.
From us.
At 6:00PM, Elias came.
He had roses.
Black.
Twelve of them.
“For you,” he said.
“Why twelve?”
“One for every day you were mad at me.”
I took them.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He kissed me.
Not soft.
Not scared.
Mine.
February 1st.
6:00PM.
He came.
Hand out.
I took it.
No hesitation.
“Hi,” he said.
“Hi.”
“No more Lila?”
“No more Lila.”
“Good,” I said.
“Good,” he said.
We sat.
Hands together.
Jealousy was gone.
But it taught me something.
I don’t share him.
And he doesn’t share me.
*END OF CHAPTER 13*
- Writer
