AllFreeNovel
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I take the last bite of my pancake, before the waiter comes over and takes away our empty plates. We sit down for a while more, talking. Forgetting where we are. We should go back, but that means going back to all the problems. To overthinking everything again. I’d rather stay here.
Lorenzo then takes something out of his pocket and places it on the table. It’s a small box, wrapped in silver wrapping paper. I look at him, and he nods toward the box. “I got you something, too.”
Of course he did. I grab the box, opening it carefully. It’s a small jewelry box, as I expected. Everyone knows I am obsessed with accessories. I have two piercings in each ear, and am wearing a necklace, two bracelets on each hand, and almost three rings scattered across my fingers. Sometimes I switch between them, but it’s obvious I could never have enough.
I open the box and see a small silver ring hooked in the middle, under a red layer. It’s not a normal ring though. It’sdivided, the middle loose to give it the ability to spin. I take it out of the box and study it. I then look up at Lorenzo.
“I got it before I left Portland. You’re always spinning your rings around your fingers, and it can’t be good for your skin. So, I got you this,” he explains.
A feeling of warmth grows in my chest, and I look back at the ring. I extend my right hand in front of me, placing it on my index finger. It fits perfectly.
I lift my head and look at him, a smile on my face. “I love it, Lorenzo. You really shouldn’t have gotten me something.”
“Of course I should’ve. You’re my best friend,” he says.
He’s my best friend. He has been for the last six years. I can’t believe he still is. He’s still here with me, after everything. Even after now, after hurting him, and putting him through so much, he’s still here. And I know when he figures out about what really happened between Elias and me, he would stay. He might get angry or upset, but he’d stay. I hate myself for that. That I feel like I’m forcing him with this. Staying with me. But I hope he always does.
I hope he never leaves.
I stroll through the small crowd of people. After the café, Lorenzo went back home, and I came to the area near Times Square, to explore a bit. It’s almost midnight, so most stores are closed and not a lot of people are around. I don’t think anyone will make a big scene if they recognize me.
I look at the lights around the stores, lighting up the streets and alleyways. It’s so bright, it always is during the holidays. Sometimes I wish I could feel the excitement everyone else feels on the holidays. Something to look forward to and enjoy.Unlike other holidays, which are more specific, Christmas is for everyone. Everyone buys presents and has traditions.
I wish I grew up with that.
I drop my hands into the pockets of my black thick knit cardigan, cropped before my knee. The cardigan’s sleeve has a bumpy pattern with it, causing the end of the sleeves to be loose. I’m also wearing a high-neck white shirt with light colored jeans and a black belt. New York is colder than Los Angeles, even for me.
“Violet!” I hear someone call. I look around, barely anyone surrounding me. My body spins around, and I catch someone walking toward me. In the dark, the person is unclear. However, when the light shines on them, I’m easily able to identify who it is.
Elias.
“Elias. What are you doing here?” I ask as he gets closer. He stops a couple of feet away from me. He’s wearing his black jacket over his button-down shirt. The light of the shops hits the iris of his eyes perfectly, reflecting on them.
My body suddenly feels warmer, and I feel a shock in my chest. Something like electricity. “Hey. I was walking around the area and saw you,” he answers.
“Same,” I shrug, trying to form my mouth into a smile. He nods his head. He does that a lot now. Mostly when I talk to him. Like it’s his exchange for an answer when he doesn’t want to reply. Or when he doesn’t have one.
His left arm is still in a cast, and he digs his other hand into his pocket, looking toward the ground. “Are you going back to the hotel?” he asks, raising his gaze to look at me.
“Yeah, I’m just waiting for my ride,” I lie. I don’t know why I lie. It just comes out of my mouth, as if it’s the truth.
I release the breath I’ve been holding, feeling deprived of air. What’s wrong with me? Why is this happening regularly now?Feeling like this? Elias drops his head down, closing his eyes as if getting ready to say something.
“I wanted . . .” he begins, taking a step nearer while looking back up. It makes my heart pick up speed. “. . . to give you this.” He extends his hand, holding a bag. It’s small, all white with no logo to indicate where it’s from.
His eyes stare straight into mine, and I hesitate, not knowing what to say. I move my hand to take the bag, unable to move my eyes away from his. He lets his arm fall to his side when I get a hold of the object.
“Thanks. You didn’t have to,” I breathe out.
“It’s the least I could do.” He smiles.
I feel like I can barely breathe. I look down to try and keep myself together, letting out another deep breath. I then lift up the bag, opening it. There’s a rectangular object inside, and my hand reaches in to take it out. It’s made of a hard material, closed by a small magnetic fold on the short side. Jewelry.
My addiction.
I unpeel the fold, raising the cover of the box. Inside, a small chain is pushed into a cushioned base, showing only half of it. It’s weighed down in the middle by a pendant. A flower. Its petals are crystals, a light purple. In the middle is a small gem, a darker shade of the petals. My thumb touches the pendant in awe. It’s beautiful.
“I saw it at one of the shops, and it reminded me of you. Your name, or middle name, Violet, meaning both the flower and the colour. And the gem in the middle is an amethyst, your birthstone. It’s a coincidence it’s also purple,” he explains. A purple flower. A violet violet, for Violet. An amethyst, for February. He remembered.
