| 29 |

| 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐉𝐀𝐗𝐎𝐍 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐄 |

I've looked into the kitchen and into the living room. There is no sign of her parents anywhere. Her dad did tell me that they might not be at home today that's why he told me there's a spare key under the Welcome mat outside the house. He said Holly would be sleeping.

He just didn't tell me with who.

My jaw tightens when the image appears in my mind that I witnessed two minutes ago.

Why the fuck did I even come here?

Oh right because I wanted to see if she was alright or not.

And guess what? She pretty damn well is alright.

I don't even know what I'm getting worked up for. Maybe it's the fact that after showing interest in me, I find her with someone else.

It's stupid. I'm stupid.

I'm here standing in the middle of the living room now, replaying everything in my head.

Her showing interest in me didn't mean she was actually interested in me. Why the hell did I even think any better? Of course, I was just an amusement to her until I had to spend time with her.

She's Holly Amanda Versace, the girl who people know of just by hearing her name, and I'm just some invisible nobody.

I should leave.

The moment I turn around to leave, a series of loud footsteps thud down the stairs and not even a minute later, Holly's blonde head pops into the living room.

"Castle." She stops when she sees me in the living room.

My jaw tightens again but I force myself to not show anything.

She bites her bottom lip, silent for a while.

"I don't think I can even explain what was going up there."

I stuff my fists in the pockets of my hoodies. "I didn't ask for any explanation."

"Yeah, you didn't..." She says, slowly.

I stare at her, unsure how to get out of the house now without seeming bothered. Why the hell shouldn't I be bothered? I come here expecting to see her still sick and sleeping but instead found her getting it on with him.

A furrow appears between her eyebrows. "Wait, we don't have to study anymore. The tests are over."

"I know."

"Then why are you here?"

Ouch.

"I didn't mean that you're not welcome." She says, quickly. "It's just, I thought you'd stop coming once our deal was over."

My fists tighten in my pockets and I'm glad she can't see them. "I came to see you."

"And see me you did, huh?" A hesitant smile spreads across her face.

I almost scoff, instead, I roll my eyes. "Uh-huh. Now, I'm leaving." I start towards the exit.

"Wait." She stops me by placing herself between me and the door.

I look down at her. She looks up at me and I swear for a moment I see the entire cloudy night sky right in her gray eyes. I instantly snap out of it.

"What?" I ask.

"You just came. Why are you leaving so quickly?" She asks.

"I have no business here anymore."

"No business, huh? Aren't you gonna ask me how the tests went? Was I able to complete it? Will I pass?"

I raise an eyebrow at her.

"It actually wouldn't matter even if you did ask." She mutters, lowly. "I don't remember most of it. I swear I was so dizzy the entire time. Dad came to pick me up right after my test."

I know because I came to look for you right after my class ended.

"Aren't you gonna ask me how I'm feeling now?" She asks me.

I take her in. Thin t-shirt, sweatpants, messy hair. For a moment I think I fully stare because she looks so different when she's at home than when she's at school. At home, she looks more...normal. I don't know.

At school, she's this whole other person. Confident, demanding, wanted. She's either the person that people love and look up to, or she's the absolute worst person you could ever imagine crossing if you mess with her. She's made a reputation of herself. But at home, she seems easy, chill and sometimes like a little kid, especially with her dad.

"I'm doing well, Castle, thanks for asking. I'm not that dizzy anymore, and my temperature also calmed down a bit." She says and I realize I haven't replied to her for a long moment.

I nod at her.

She's still looking up at her, her eyes searching. She bites her bottom lip again. "I'm sorry for what you saw up there..." As she says those words, a tiny frown comes on her face as if she doesn't know why she's apologizing.

Even I don't understand it. I'm the one who barged into her room. I thought she'd be sleeping.

"What else could I have expected coming to Holly Versace's house when her parents are not around?" I make an attempt at joking, to get rid of this awkward feeling.

Instead, she grimaces. "This is weird. I don't even know why."

Another image of her naked under Sean crosses my mind and I grimace too.

"It's nothing." I try shrugging this off. I need to get it together. I can't possibly start thinking that Holly might have any actual interest in me.

"Castle—"

"My mom invited you."

"Huh?"

I obviously kept on rejecting mom's constant persuasions to call Holly home. But she threatened that the next time when I'll be going to Holly's house, she'll follow close behind no matter if she's in her wheelchair or not.

I don't understand mom's sudden interest in Holly. Like...why? Holly appeared at my house for only like what? Ten minutes? And mom's already singing Holly's name in the house.

"She invited you over this weekend," I say.

"Oh." A genuine smile spreads across Holly's face. "That's great. I'll be there. How's William?"

My heart flutters a bit. It confuses me. She only asked about my dog.

"Happy and annoying," I respond.

She sighs. "I wish I had a pet. But we can't. Mom's allergic."

"How about a goldfish?" I ask.

"They're not that fun," She says. "Where'd you get Will? He's adorable."

A smile almost breaks across my face. I stop myself.

I found Will a few years back when I was making my way home in the middle of the night after a very tiring day of work. He was just a pup, sleeping on the corner of the street. I thought he was dead, so I went to check on him, but the moment I touched him, he jumped up and tried to attack me.

I had the full intention of leaving him there on the road and running home...but looking at him just lying all alone on the street made me feel something.

I decided to take him home with me and God did that take a whole two hours or what? He wasn't ready to come with me at all. I basically kidnapped him from the street.

"Found him," I reply to Holly.

"Like in the movies." She smiles.

"Something like that," I mutter.

"Why are we still standing? Want to sit?" She asks, gesturing to the couch.

My lips press into a thin line. "I'll actually head home."

She furrows her eyebrows. "Why?"

"I need to get something done." I lie.

"But you just got here." She points out.

"I came to see how you were doing. Now I'm leaving." I repeat.

She furrows her eyebrows, looking up at me in scrutinization. "Is there...something going on?"

My body goes rigid. She can tell?

"Like what?" I question.

"Like with your mom or at your house." She asks.

Oh. My shoulders relax at that. She meant like that.

I shake my head. "Everything's alright."

"Castle—"

"I'll text you." I cut her off, suddenly wanting to get out of here as quickly as possible before she does something that'll make me stay.

She hesitates. "Okay."

Finally, she moves out of my way.

I give her one last look before stepping towards the door.

She trails after me.

I open the front door and get out, the cool air immediately biting into my skin.

I walk down the porch steps aware of her eyes on me.

"You'll text me, right?" She calls out to me.

I turn around to look at her. "Yeah."

She stares at me before nodding. Then she closes the door.

I gaze at the closed door for a moment, the air around me seems to suffocate me.

I need to stop this.

★・・・・・・★

Castle is going to go through one BIG heartbreak. He knows Holly will break his heart if he starts to like her, but those are the things about feelings. It just happens without you knowing and then you find yourself in deep shit.

Or maybe Holly might change...?

AUTHOR'S NOTE

I might not be able to update for a few days because I'm moving. I'm moving from Kuwait to Canada which is approximately a 16-hour flight. I'll be able to edit my chapters but Idk when will I be able to post them. I'm excited to move to Canada. I'm settling in Calgary, Alberta. It's gonna take a few days before I can update soon. My flight is this coming Monday at 3 AM, 28th March 2023.

Are any of you from Canada? How is it over there?

Words: 1,400

Date of publishing: 22nd March 2023