Chapter 52: Chapter 52

"Julianna, there's yet another vase waiting for you on the step!" The sound causes me to groan as I push myself away from the desk in my bedroom.

The entire week, Chase has been sending flowers to me; I don't know if it's to try and apologize or what, but I can't deal with him right now because the grind never stops and I have school things to get done on top of what I already have to do at work.

"What is it that they are doing this time?" When I got back to the living room, I saw Mark holding a vase that was full of red roses. "What are those?" I asked. "Oh my goodness, why can't he at least send some nice flowers?" I let out a sigh as my irritation grew.

"Not a fan of red roses, are you?" I laugh at his jokes while removing the vase from his grasp and placing it on the countertop in the kitchen.

I despise them because of how cheesy they are. I informed him about it. "Up until now, they've all been red roses; if they were another kind of flower, I'd probably display them in my bedroom."

"Similar to what?"

"Like lilies." I confirm this with a resolute nod. They are breezy and stunning, traditional and enduring in appearance.

Do you want me to get rid of them? Kent inquires as he follows us into the kitchen and joins the conversation we are having. Because attacking another person is neither beautiful nor enduring, "because" He says it to me with a trace of irony, and my reaction is to snort a little bit.

"I'm not sure that the word 'attack' is quite the one that I'd use." I call his attention to it by taking the card out of the stack's top slot.

Julianna, please call me. I sincerely apologize, and I pray that you'll be able to forgive me.

-Chase'

If I did make an effort to communicate with you, the unfortunate truth is that I wouldn't have a clue what the hell to say. I've never been in this situation before, and none of this feels like the appropriate reaction to what he did. I've never been in this position before. This is not the kind of olive branch that a typical friend would extend in these circumstances.

"What does it say?" When Mark inquires, I sigh deeply.

"That he will call me, and he is hoping that I will forgive him." I mutter something under my breath as I pull open the lid of the garbage can in the kitchen and place the item inside.

I'm sorry, Julianna, but I had no idea he was even capable of something like this. Mark mutters something, and I shake my head in response.

"You are not to blame in any way:. I give him my word and assure him, "I am more than capable of forgiving him and everything, but I can't be his friend anymore."

You certainly have no reason to feel that way." Kent is adamant, picking up the vase and proceeding to the front door, where they are most likely going to be discarded in the organics bin.

"Hold on, let's get those back. When I go to see my mom later tonight, I'm going to give them to her." I tell him, and he smiles at me before putting them back where they were. "You know, the thing that makes me feel the saddest is that I no longer have that really good study group." They both laugh as I shrug my shoulders.

"It seems like a loss that can be lived with." It was Kent who told me, and Mark was the one who shoved him.

"Do you guys think that I'm approaching this matter with an excessive amount of severity?" I inquire while running my fingers through my hair. "What course of action do you take when something like this happens? Give it to me from the man's point of view."

"Julianna, I'm not an idiot." Mark laughs, and I find myself giggling a little bit as well. I don't make an effort to kiss girls who respond with "what are you doing" or "get off of me."

"Fair."

"And if I misread something and mess it up, I'll just send you a text message or something like that. I'm responsible for that, and now I'm moving on." He gives a shrug and then looks at the vase.

"So, are you saying that this is strange?" I will clarify.

"Julianna, you've got a stage-five clinger!" When Kyle adds his two cents from the living room, we all let out a muffled laugh.

"Yeah, you shouldn't feel like you need to fix this; the responsibility lies with him." Mark kindly reminds me, and in response, I nod and continue to emphasize the point to myself. "We were already friends with Abby, and it was only by chance that we became friends with Chase after we realized they lived together. Because of this, we have lost nothing, and there is no reason for you to compensate us in any way."

"Alright, I guess I'll just leave it alone for now." I give a shrug and notice that their laid-back attitudes towards this matter have a calming effect on me.

When I go to see Persephone later tonight, do you think it would be okay if I stole one of those roses? He asks while rubbing his hands together and looking at me with an apologetic smile on his face.

"Not Persephone, you should start fucking girls with shorter names," the other person replied. When I tell him, he just rolls his eyes at me.

Julianna, it's a wonder that he remembers their names! If I were you, I wouldn't stand in the way of progress! Mark sighs and rolls his eyes as Kyle gives him a call.

"Fine, Mister promiscuous, but don't make a habit out of it," the woman said to the man. I tell him while separating them and taking one out for him to look at. What makes Persephone such a special person that a flower is given to her?

"She has completely ignored me for the past few months, so my strategy is to show her that she has made a grave error by hanging on to this for so long." I snort, and he shrugs his shoulders.

"Genius." I scoff and roll my eyes in response.

"Bring her a rose and tell her about my dog that passed away when I was seven years old to tug at her heartstrings before you engage in sexual activity with her. After that, I give her just enough to make her want more and then I go home."

"If only you would put your abilities to some good use." Kent chuckles and shakes his head as he considers Mark's peculiar plan. It was always a possibility that Persephone was a terrible person, but even I had to admit that it seemed manipulative and I was the one who had to admit it.

Who is to say that she wouldn't want more? I inquire while attempting to rearrange the flowers in such a way that my mother will not be able to tell that I have removed one of them.

"Trust me Julianna, I'm good in bed." He says that, and I look at Kent, who gives me a skeptical headshake, and I try my best not to laugh at what he just said. Mark instantly turns his attention to Kent, whose expression alters, and Kent presses his lips together as if trying to suppress a laugh of his own. "You're doubting me?" When he asks us, I give him a confused look.

Kent responds with a shrug and the word "No."

"Because I'm really good at giving head," she responded. Mark takes a defensive stance by crossing his arms.

"You're aware of what, right man? That information is not really necessary for me to have." Kent tells him while patting him on the arm, and Kyle and I can't hold back our laughter as we lose it.

"Women to the t!" Mark is adamant, and everyone else and I end up laughing at his mistake. I even have to hold onto the counter for support because I'm laughing so hard. "There are a whole bunch of jackasses among you." He mutters to himself as he makes his way to the front door to put his shoes on.

"Is Persephone a female character?" Kyle asks. "Because we wouldn't view you any differently as a result of that, Mark, you're my friend,"

"Oh shut up." When he does, all of us in the room laugh it off. We all laugh as he hastily exits the building while we watch him go.

"You were probably being mean with that." I will freely admit that I am running my fingers through my hair.

"But funny." Kent reminds me and I nod.

"In addition to that, I'm certain that he now feels compelled to demonstrate to us that he is skilled in the bedroom. The fate of Persephone is up in the air." Kyle lets out a chuckle, and I clamp my lips together, doing my best to suppress a smile.

"I'm glad things worked out for Persephone." As I pick up the vase of roses, I can't help but let out a chuckle. "What are your plans for tonight, guys?"

I start work at six o'clock. I am informed by Kyle, and I look at the clock that is hanging above the stove.

"Dus, that will be in about twenty minutes," the speaker said.

"Oh shit." He mumbles something as he turns off the television. "Good, look out Julianna." He says to me, "Shooting me finger guns," and I laugh while shaking my head and walking to my room down the hall.

I am supposed to be ready by seven, and my mother is coming to pick me up, which in reality means that she will be here at six forty in order to come in and look around, talk to me, and ask me questions.

I believe that it was Kyle who left for his shift because I hear the front door close, and I start looking through my closet for something to wear when I go out with her. Because I know she's going to take me to a nice restaurant, I anticipate that it will be a pleasant experience.

"Julianna?" I turn to see Kent standing in my doorway after I am startled by the sound.

"Yeah?" I ask, aware of the constriction that forming in my throat. Friends Julianna, just friends. Who were once adversaries and were unfamiliar with one another prior to that.

"Is he making you uncomfortable?" He inquires while squaring his shoulders and leaning against the edge of my door frame.

"Which Mark? No, that's only him doing that. It makes no difference to me how many women he's dated."

"No, not Mark. I was referring to Chase, the one with the roses." While he elaborates, I'll just go ahead and clear my throat.

"The fact that he is maintaining his distance does not excite me in the least. In the event that it does not cease by the end of the week, I will simply send him a text message telling him to leave me alone." I shrug. The way I phrased it gave the impression that I routinely rejected men's attempts to kiss me and just shrugged them off.

"Alright, tough girl," the guy said. I smile and he gives a shrug.

I reach around my waist as the ringtone from my phone, which is stored in the rear pocket of my jeans, begins to play. "Sorry." I mumble.

It's fine, go ahead and take it." I let out a sigh, and he gestures with a quick wave. I didn't want him to leave because I wanted to talk to him and things had been going really well for the past few weeks.

On the other hand, I reach for my phone, fully anticipating a call from my mother. Instead, the words "Dane from Apex" are scrolling across my screen. This causes me to become extremely alarmed, and I immediately lock the door to my bedroom. I wasn't even sure if I liked him, so I suppose I should just let this go to voicemail.

But I was supposed to pay him for the cab the other night, so I heave a sigh, press the button that says "answer," and put the phone up to my ear. "H-hello?"

"Julianna?" The moment I hear a voice respond, I flinch. It definitely was the Dane.

"Um yeah, hey." I mutter in a low voice as I make my way back to my closet in search of an outfit to wear when I go out with my mother.

"Hey, I was hoping to hear from you about that date, but I haven't heard anything yet." When he does, I clamp my lips together in response.

Consider an alibi for yourself. Julianna, it has been five days since the car he sent came to your rescue and saved your behind.

Oh my goodness, I had no idea you were being so serious. I murmur in a low voice.

"Yeah, you can take me seriously." He laughs, and I let out a sigh. "I still am."

"Why on earth would you want to take me out to a public place?" I inquire in a low voice. "I'm a little too young for you," the speaker said.

That is not how I see it at all." He is adamant. "You are so much more mature than your peers, and I'll say it once more because it's so important: Julianna, you don't look like a student." When he told me, I gagged slightly. "How about the day after tomorrow? Dinner's on me."

"I have a shift at work scheduled for tomorrow."

"Have someone take care of it for you." He begs.

"No, I'm the supervisor, and as such, it's imperative that I be present and everything else. I'm sorry." I let him know, and then I go to my closet to get a pair of olive-colored dress pants to wear with a black turtleneck.

"I get it." He says, expressing his dissatisfaction in a tone. I most likely did owe him for the car that he sent, and on top of that, he could be a great deal less appealing. What would the loss of one date mean? "Julianna, if you'd just let me take you out for a walk, I'm sure I could convince you to change your mind about this," she said.

"How about we get together on Saturday night?" I stammer out the words while squeezing my lips together. "You can have me at eight o'clock."

"It's eight o'clock, and I'll be there to pick you up."

"No, I won't go with you. I'll meet you wherever we end up." I informed him about it.

"Why?"

"Since I don't know you very well at this point, I can't rule out the possibility that you are a serial killer." I defend and he chuckles. "Text me the address where we can meet."

"Fine." He has a chuckle. "Until then, take care, Julianna," I said to you.

"Bye," I mumble as I feel my heart begin to race.

I really ought to be happy because this extremely handsome man had asked me out and expressed interest in being with me, but I just didn't feel that excited about it. However, once we started talking and everything, maybe that would change; perhaps I just didn't know him very well at the moment.

After hanging up the phone, I quickly began getting ready, realizing that I only had about twenty minutes before I needed to leave. I start by applying some makeup and touching up my hair, then I make my bed and give my room a speedy once-over. After that, I take some time to organize my belongings. If it was even somewhat dirty, Mom would want to look at it as soon as she got here, which would be a huge pain in the neck if she wanted to see it.