25
Eloise
All in all, a week has passed since the day Julian and I made love. The big problem was that he disappeared, he didn't call me once, he didn't even send a message.
Every day I walked to school and looked around for any sign of him, every man in a smart suit that bumped into me I thought it was him. The nights were worse, I spent hours looking out the window hoping to see one of his cars go by.
I called, I sent messages, I looked surreptitiously at his house, but he wasn't there, neither the car nor anyone else. ANYTHING.
I cried all those days, trying to hide my sadness as much as possible around my grandmother and my friends. Julian lied to me, he said he wouldn't leave, he said he wouldn't leave me, and he did.
I was so hurt that I didn't even eat properly, every time I walked into my room only tears came down, when I read the messages we exchanged a week ago, when I remembered the night he touched me intimately, the night he took me in his cabin, his smile that seemed like it was just for me, the caresses on my body, the kiss that took my breath away, how my body went up in flames just when he spoke my name in my ear.
I didn't know what was going on with him, maybe he had problems, the TV was still showing him, but it wasn't so constant, it just seemed like they were passing someone's orders. Maybe after he found out that Brenda and Antônio were alive, he went to take his revenge alone.
Besides, Julian didn't need me for anything. I just needed him like a spoiled child wanted a very dear toy, it was sad to have to think that way, that he just used me and didn't want me, that he was a magnificent man he was so handsome and that he could have any woman at his feet.
I was angry! But at the same time worried. My heart was split in two: the part that hated him for abandoning me when he said he wouldn't, and the other that desperately wanted to know what was wrong with him, maybe he was in trouble, sick, or dead.
Please, not dead.
"Let's go, Eloise! Please, please..." Olivia was begging, standing in my room. Already dressed in her beautiful party outfit.
"I don't feel like going out…" I mumbled.
"What's going on? I already begged you to tell me, even João, who is your darling, you didn't open up, you're having problems, tell us!" She insisted once more.
"It's nothing... I'm serious." I said with my aching heart.
"Harry's party is a great chance for you to have fun, go out, dance, drink... Kiss." He insisted once more.
"I can't, I won't, I won't. I have a headache." I replied with my eyes glued to the cell phone, I still had hope that he would call me and tell me that he had a good reason for being gone.
"Ah! How annoying you are!" She said with an air of who gave up and threw herself on the bed next to me. At the same time a message arrived for me. My heart freezes, but it wasn't who I wanted.
"I really hope you'll come. I look forward to your presence." Harry.
"Harry... Forgive me but I don't know if I can go." Eloise
"Really?! You promised me you'd come :(" Harry.
"Sorry... :)" Eloise.
"OK Bye." Harry.
Okay, now Harry was pissed at me because I wouldn't go. Great, very well Eloise. In addition to letting others hurt me, I still hurt others.
One of my big flaws, in addition to being whiny and sensitive, my conscience weighed when I owed something to someone. Harry was so happy I was going. He couldn't do that, Olivia was right. I would go, stay a while and come home. That way nobody would get upset.
I told Olivia that I had changed my mind and that I was going to the birthday party. I got ready in a basic way, a normal dress and loose hair, on my feet a sneaker.
When we went downstairs, my grandmother was sitting on the sofa hugging Mr. Mollina, both watching a movie that was playing. I said goodbye, she already knew I had plans to go to the party.
Olivia was very excited, but nothing could change what I was feeling, my anguish and sadness, Harry's house was very close to Julian's house, when the car approached my eyes soon found his fortress, where we had the most beautiful moment, where the best night of my life happened. I felt like crying at the time, but I had to be strong one more time.
"Wow how amazing!" She exclaimed looking at everything around her.
We were standing in front of the big gate listening to the sound of loud music playing, people dancing and drinking. The street was full of the finest cars. Inevitably I looked toward Julian's house, searching for something that would tell me he was there.
But only everything was dark, his car wasn't in the garage either, none of the several I saw the other day.
"With so many people it's hard to find the birthday boy."
I texted Harry. With that many people it would not be easy to find him. I had bought him a present, looked at his tattoos the other day and saw a black leather bracelet with some rock charms on it, I thought he was so cute so I bought it. I hoped he liked it.
It took almost no time for him to appear at the gate with a glass of drink in his hand. He also had a bandana tied around his head and messy hair, his white shirt exposing his arms and his tattoos.
"You came!" He said smiling with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Yes, I did. Thanks to Olivia, who convinced me." I said smiling.
"Thanks." He said looking at Liv and stomped to her.
"You're welcome, now let me ask you, who is that brunette over there?" She asked pointing to a boy who looked like Harry.
"Oh that's my cousin Liam." Harry replied.
"Interesting..." He spoke in a low voice. I looked at her surprised by her agility.
"Olivia?!" I scolded her with a look, she already understood.
"You know I like variety." He shrugged and I rolled my eyes. When I realized she was already inside dancing and flirting with that Liam. It was so easy for her, considering her beauty too.
"Here." I handed him a small box that contained the bracelet. "Happy birthday." I said and kissed her cheek. He looked taken back by that, but I ignored it.
"Did you buy me a present?" He asked surprised and visibly happy.
"Of course. I hope you like it." I spoke.
He opened it and already put it on his wrist, he praised the gift in every possible way, I've never seen someone so happy with a gift. Glad he liked it, I smiled happy to have pleased him with a simple gift.
"Come on, let me introduce you to some people." He said pulling me by the hand.
I followed with him without protest, I needed to forget about Julian, if only for a small moment. Harry introduced me to some of his distant cousins and friends.
Then he offered me a drink but I only accepted a juice, we spent some time talking and smiling. With him the matter never ended. He always asked about me and how I was feeling, not bothering to talk about him at all, but sometimes I would bring up a topic that might be interesting if Julian ever came back.
"Don't you think you've had too much to drink?" I asked when I saw him take the eighth glass of drink from the passing waiter.
"No... I need this. If I can't have your lips, I have to settle for another vice." He babbled and I realized that yes, he was very drunk.
"You've gone too far, you're even talking about things." I revealed taking the glass from her hand.
"Come on, Eloíse... My life is shit. The girl I want doesn't want me, my mother has an affair, my father is involved in drug trafficking. Only by drinking can I forget a little about this miserable life. " He mumbled taking the glass back.
I swallowed hard at his revelations, his mother had an affair and his father was a drug dealer. Poor that boy. It wasn't his fault, but I would have to be careful, no one under any circumstances could find out that I knew Julian.
I took the glass from his hand again and dragged him into his house. There I would dare to get him water and help him calm down a bit, as he was saying a lot of nonsense.
When I glanced back, it was almost Harry who had to hold me back. I saw Julian's car drive down the street and pull into the garage on the other side. I waited and saw him getting out of the car, as confident as ever, minutes later the lights in one of the rooms came on.
He was alive. Just wanted to ignore me. But it wasn't going to stay that way.
