The One That Got Away

Chapter 5 (Kinda) lunch date

Coffee Bean always had a special part of Julia's heart. Since Damien told her about it and how peaceful it was, it became Julia's hideaway. She did her school work there, ordered her regular coffee dosage, and met with her friends. She couldn't guarantee all her memories of this place were pleasant. This instance, in particular, she had her fingers crossed it wouldn't be added to the tally of bad memories.

Julia and Damien were seated in the far corner of the coffee shop. Julia had her back to the wall, viewing the whole vicinity. Her decaf coffee was losing its warmth due to the cold weather. Her fingers cradled both sides of the mug and pulled it to her lips. Her pink lips leaving a stain on the mug as a souvenir.

"You know you're the reason we're here, right? You wanted to talk, Damien. So talk." Julia finally broke the unbearable tension. It was devastating and it broke her heart that they couldn't even talk to one another anymore.

Damien sighed. "I'm sorry about what happened at the reunion-"

"Damien you-"

"No. Let me finish, please. I shouldn't have acted as if nothing happened. We should've at least talked before we threw each other into the deep end. I'm sorry, Julia. I truly am."

Julia stared at him expressionless. "This is it? You want to apologize for what happened happened at the reunion? It was not your fault. It's tradition to dance, Damien."

"Stop... stop acting like this?"

Julia straightened her posture. "Acting like what?"

"Like nothing happened. We both know that something did happen that damn night." Her breath hitched in her throat as he emphasized on his words with every syllable uttered from his parted lips.

"Something did happen, yes. But do I actually want to talk about it? No. I don't. Because I'd rather not dwell on something an eighteen year old me did so recklessly." She unintentionally raised the volume of her voice and she instantly felt guilt in the pit of her stomach when she saw the look on Damien's face that was replaced to stone in matter of seconds.

"Fine. Let's take you back on your house then." Damien rummaged through his wallet and pulled out a twenty dollar bill before slamming it on the table. Julia slung her purse over her shoulder and walked ahead. The drive back to her parents' house was miserable. Perhaps it was even worse than when she walked in the rain back to Magnolia's house years before.

As soon as she was out of the car, Damien's sleek black car drove into the night until she couldn't see it any longer. She wiped the stray tear that slipped her eyes and walked into the house to find Sadie talking with Genevieve and Caleb while her parents were nowhere to be found.

"How did it go?" Sadie asked her. Although she didn't get a verbal answer, however, assurance was when Julia wrapped herself in her brother's arms. Caleb's arms were instantly wrapped around her body. A hand was on her waist, holding her in her place. The other was in her hair, soothing her. His chin was over her head and his steady heartbeat was her comfort. Julia felt another pair of arms wrapped around her body. Sadie's voice was a soft lullaby as Julia's sobs stopped.

"What happened?" Caleb pushed her hair back from her face and took a good look at his little sister. It was heartbreaking how she looked. She looked so... defeated. Julia has always been a force to be reckoned with. She was not an easy target to take down. Now, she was a fragile flower in the pouring rain.

"He tried to apologize... for what happened that night." Realization washed over her big brother's face before a set of contrasting emotions were seen. Sorrow was the most evident as well as anger and sympathy.