chapter 5

JULIANA'S POV

"Do you need any help" 

I turned around to meet meet the emerald green eyes of Tyberias. He looked handsome as ever, but I didn't miss the look of tiredness that washed over his face. My eyes ran up and down his body and I realised that he was dressed in an all black suit, even his shirt was black. Weird.

When I was about to accept his offer, I remembered how he didn't even bother to text me back

"No. I'm fine." I snapped and began to walk away before he lightly grabbed by wrist and began to reach for my bags.

"Let me help" he said taking the bags from my grasp.

"I said I'm fine" I replied pulling my bags back with too strong of a force causing one of my bags to fall on the floor. 

More specifically , my Victoria's Secret bag, revealing the lingerie I had just bought.

I quickly bent down, shoving the underwear in the bag, my embarrassment evident on my face. I heard him clear his throat before speaking

"Why won't you let me help you?"

"Why didn't you texted me back?" Oh god, I sound so desperate right now.

I saw him sigh.

"Look, it's been a tough few weeks. I was busy"

My anger slowly disappeared as noticed how tired he really looked. It seemed like he hadn't shaved in days and his hair was slightly messier than it usually was. His eyes didn't have the familiar friendliness that I was used to, instead they looked cold and empty.

"What happened?" I asked, deciding to place my right hand on his arm. 

It was like a punch in the stomache when I felt him tense beneath me. I quickly removed my hand, slightly embarrassed.

"Nothing you need to worry about now let me help you with your bags".

"If you insist" I said. My hands did ache, after all.

He led me to his expensive car. I was surprised that he was driving this time instead of his driver.

At first it was quiet. But then he broke the silence.

"So, how come you're living with your mother now, I never got to ask?" He asked

"She just returned from the military. She says she's not going back because she's 'too old' so she's going to find a normal job. I'm just glad she's back for good this time."

"What do you mean 'this time'?" 

"A couple years before she was pregnant with Estella, she got sent home because she was shot in the shoulder. I tried to convince her not to go but she was adamant and wanted to 'serve her county' plus, we were tight on money?"

"Are you still tight on money? I could help you out".

"No, we're fine now. I mean we don't necessarily have a lot, but I'm grateful because we're fortunate enough to be in a better position that others."

I looked over to him to find him staring at me intensely. The dull expression he wore was no more, instead it was replaced by... admiration?

The rest of the journey was quiet

We reached my apartment complex and got in the elevator. I pressed the button to take us to the 7th floor. I stared in the mirror and made eye contact with Tyberias. I quickly looked away. 

The elevator doors opened and he walked me to my door and handed my bags

I saw him scratch his stubble nervously. 

"I should get going, it's late" I said

He looked like he was about to say something but decided not to.

"Yeh,okay", he nodded 

No! This wasn't how it was supposed to go. He was supposed to apologise for being and asshole and ask me to let him make it up to me.

He was halfway down the hall when I finally decided to take control of the situation.

"Tyberias" I yelled not too loud. He stopped and turned around and starting to walk towards me. Here goes nothing.

"Do you maybe want to go out again sometime?" I stared down, not being able to handle rejection

He hesitated before answering.

"As much as I want to say yes, I don't think that's a good idea, Juliana" his eyes now dull.

"Why? What happened to you in the last month?" Oh god, I sounded so desperate 

"We don't belong in the same worlds, Juliana. I'm not good for you", he replied. With that he leaned down to kiss me on my forehead. His lips lingering there for a couple seconds, before he began to walk off, taking a small piece of my heart with him

Disappointed, I slowly walked into my apartment 

"Hey baby, how was shopping" questioned my mother

"It was good. But I'm really tired, I'm just going to head straight to bed".

"Okay"she said before heading back into the kitchen

I lightly shut my door, before stripping out of my clothes and into my pyjamas. I curled up into a ball and silently let out the first tear. 

My thoughts were disrupted when I felt someone crawl in my bed next to me and tuck their head in the crook of my neck.

"Are you okay?" I heard Estella's muffled voice say.

I quickly wiped my tears.

"Yeh, I'm just a bit tired" I smiled reassuringly.

"But why are you crying" she asked

"I just had something in my eye" I replied

"Okay" she sighed but I knew she didn't believe me.

I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and slowly let the comforting darkness engulf me.

At least now I could finally get some rest, even if it is only for a few hours.