Chapter 14: Running From It
496 Words
Amara didn’t stop walking until the music faded behind her.
The hallway was quiet, but her mind wasn’t.
Her heart was still racing.
Her thoughts even worse.
She pressed her fingers lightly against her lips, trying to push the memory away.
“That’s because it isn’t.”
His voice echoed again.
“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “This is getting out of control.”
“You keep saying that.”
She froze.
Then turned.
Alexander stood behind her, calm as always, but his eyes fixed on her.
“You shouldn’t follow me,” she said.
“And you shouldn’t walk away,” he replied.
“I needed space.”
“And I didn’t give it to you.”
Amara crossed her arms slightly. “You’re making this complicated.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. This is simple. It’s a contract. Nothing more.”
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
Her breath caught.
“You’re trying hard to believe that,” he said.
“I don’t need to try.”
“Then why did you leave?”
She hesitated.
“I was uncomfortable.”
“With the crowd?”
She shook her head.
“With you.”
Silence filled the space between them.
His gaze didn’t leave her.
“And why?” he asked.
She exhaled softly.
Because you don’t act like this is fake.
But she didn’t say it.
“Because you’re not following your own rules,” she said instead.
“And you are?” he asked.
Her lips parted.
No answer came.
“This isn’t what we agreed on,” she added.
He stepped closer again.
Too close.
“This stopped being just an agreement a while ago,” he said quietly.
Her heart skipped.
“That’s not true.”
“Then look at me and say it.”
She met his eyes.
“Say none of this affects you.”
The words hung in the air.
Waiting.
Amara opened her mouth—
Then closed it again.
She couldn’t say it.
His gaze softened slightly.
“That’s what I thought.”
“I didn’t say anything,” she replied.
“Exactly.”
Amara stepped back quickly.
“This doesn’t change anything.”
“It already has.”
“No, it hasn’t.”
“It has. You just won’t admit it.”
Her chest tightened.
“Even if it has… it doesn’t matter.”
He paused.
“Why?”
“Because this ends,” she said. “One year. That’s it.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
“Is that what you want?”
She hesitated.
“I want things to stay simple.”
“And this isn’t simple.”
“No,” she admitted softly.
Silence settled again.
Different this time.
Real.
Amara took another step back.
“I’m going back inside.”
He didn’t stop her.
But as she walked past him—
She felt it.
That pull.
Stronger than before.
And this time—
She knew she wasn’t imagining it.
- Writer
