Chapter 2
I remembered that sentimental line Lucas dropped last night.
My heart felt like it was being stabbed by a thousand needles. So much pain, I was starting to go numb.
A year ago, I used a game as an excuse to ask Lucas and Autumn.
"Have you ever thought about getting back together?" I asked.
They shot each other a look of pure disgust.
They said in unison, "No way."
Lucas scoffed, "I'll never forget the disgusting look on her face when she thought I was poor."
Autumn shot back, "Please! You think I'd want a guy like you? Someone who just brushes everything off?"
They were arguing so hard their faces turned red.
My heart sank at that moment.
Later, Autumn asked me what I liked about Lucas.
I was too embarrassed to admit that I'd been crushing on him for six years, ever since college.
To get closer to him, I became a fan of his favorite band and sat through his dull lectures from the back of the classroom.
I even secretly added his roommate on social media to figure out what he liked.
It wasn't until his roommate told me he already had a girlfriend that I finally let it go.
She was at a different school, though.
That was when I finally buried my feelings for him.
But I never expected that the first project I'd be assigned to during my internship would be led by him.
That was when those buried feelings came back to life.
Back in college, I was too insecure to tell anyone about my crush, not even Autumn.
For Autumn, Lucas was barely a blip in her dating history. She never bothered to talk about any of her exes with me.
I honestly thought that even if they ever ran into each other again, there'd be nothing left between them.
*****
After I sent Lucas the tutorial, I drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
I told my landlord I was moving out.
Then I called my mom.
"That guy you mentioned before, I'll make time to meet him when I'm back home," I said.
My mom hesitated, as if she wanted to ask something, but ended up saying nothing.
"Okay. When are you coming back? Your dad and I will pick you up," she said.
Ever since Lucas bailed on me that time, my parents couldn't stand him.
Back then, I blamed them for judging Lucas unfairly.
I gave a self-mocking laugh.
Forcing myself to get up, I started packing my things.
I tossed out the couple mugs Lucas had made by hand for us two years ago.
I burned the photo of us that we had carefully picked out together.
I snapped pics of all the gifts he'd given me for birthdays and holidays and put them up for sale on eBay.
I had crushed on him for six years and dated him for three.
It was long past time to put a period on this story.
"What are you doing?" Lucas stood in the doorway, eyes fixed on the pile of junk I was tossing out.
I didn't glance at him and kept sorting through my closet.
"Nothing. Just clearing out things I don't need anymore," I replied.
He stood there for a long time, sounding defeated. "Are you really going to make a fuss over this?"
He came over and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
He held out a brand-new umbrella, the tag still dangling from it, right in front of me.
He said, "I saw the weather report. Looks like it's going to rain all week.
"Don't forget to bring it with you."
The familiar scent of The familiar scent of Autumn's perfume drifted to my nose.
It had never been this overpowering before.
I sneered, "Give it to Autumn. She probably needs it more than I do."
I reached out and pushed him away.
The umbrella hit the floor with a thud.
Lucas's expression turned stormy in an instant.
He snapped, "Evelyn! Why are you putting on airs?
"I never should've listened to Autumn and come over here."
"Alright, alright, why are you getting so worked up?" Autumn started.
Only then did I notice Autumn was here too.
She shot Lucas a reproachful glance and tugged him behind her by the sleeve.
Finally, she turned her attention to me. "Evelyn, do me a favor and stop being so stubborn, okay?"
My gaze lingered on her hand, clutching his sleeve.
I stayed silent.
Autumn paused, then tried to coax me. "Didn't you always want him to move back here? I talked him into it all night.
"He quit his job this morning, so you won't have to keep running back and forth between cities anymore.
"So, are you finally happy now?"
I forced a smile.
I'd been begging Lucas for half a year to transfer back.
Every time, he kept making excuses, saying the project wasn't finished and he couldn't trust anyone else with it.
But the moment Autumn asked, he was ready to quit his job.
Autumn gave Lucas a meaningful look.
"You two talk for a bit. I'm going to the bathroom." With that, she headed into the bathroom.
I picked up the black plastic bag from the floor and handed it to Lucas.
It was full of the stuff he'd left at my place.
"We're done. There's nothing left to say," I said.
Lucas batted the bag out of my hand, clearly annoyed. "Can you stop using breaking up to test me?"
"Ah! There's a cockroach. Lucas." Autumn's panicked voice rang out from behind me.
Lucas immediately tensed up, then rushed straight past me into the bathroom.
Then he scooped Autumn up, arms under her thighs, and carried her into the bedroom.
A glimpse of bare skin flashed by.
I glanced toward the bathroom.
Autumn's panties and skirt were left on the sink.
She was completely bare below the waist.
I was stunned, trying to process what I'd seen.
Lucas walked over, grabbed the clothes, and handed them into the room.
This time, he stood outside the doorway, not going in.
But his ears were bright red, and his eyes were practically on fire.
Autumn laughed softly from the other side of the door.
"Come on, when we were together, you saw everything. What are you acting all shy for now?" Autumn teased.
The disgust was so strong, it made me want to gag.
I couldn't take it anymore. I burst in and yanked Autumn out.
"Get out! Both of you, get out. I don't want to see either of you," I yelled.