~ chapter 08 ~

   °Julia °

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That man with the giant flower bouquet was now sitting on my couch while I got my makeup done. I don't know if it's polite to ask him to leave and come after I get ready. So, I let him in .

I'm just gonna battle through this.

I finish my makeup and put on my travel joggers and a sweatshirt. Packed my "maid of honor" lilac dress, as I can't risk getting it all wrinkled by the time I get there.

When I come out of the bedroom I don't see Enzo on the couch!

Where the hell did he go?

I move my eyes across the room and see there he is, near my table. He was looking at a picture from my childhood. I don't know why but I do not move to let him know I was ready.

He has the picture in his hands and he trails his index on the frame and then the entire palm on the picture.

Weird! But maybe he's just cleaning it to get a better look.

He picks up my binoculars next.

Shit! Why even did I keep it there!? Now it's gonna get all awkward.

He thumbs the binocular. I don't know what exactly he's looking for on it. But, his eyes seem fixed on it.

Is he?

Nah... He certainly is not. 

He's certainly not looking at the engraved name of 'Mike' on it, with such intent eyes.

Alright, I shouldn't let him snoop more, and find out more awkward things like my journals and a few letters I've kept inside the drawer. Though, I highly doubt he'll look inside. I cough to let him know my presence and he puts the bino down, and looks at me with a grin on his face.

"What you doing there?"

"I was just," he covers the binocular on the table by standing in front of it. I don't know why he does that.

"I was just looking at your picture... um.. and the frame is really beautiful with the golden details in the black."

"Thank you. I'm kinda embarrassed that you had to see that."

"What?"

"My picture where I look like a homeless child, who's been starving for days." I move a few steps towards him as I point towards the picture.

He scoffs, "who the hell said that!?"

I smile as I look away. That's when he moves forward in front of me, forcing me to notice the sudden intrusion in my personal space.

"You're beautiful. You always were."

He says that with so much belief, his eyes fixed on mine, as if he has always known me.

"You're just saying that." I mumble.

"No, I'm not Julia. I'm really not." He brings the picture from the table, and points at it. "The little girl in it, she's beautiful. She looks like a little angel, trying to believe. Because that's what she does. Her eyes... tired but hopeful. Those dark black, big eyes, shines just like what her future is gonna be. She doesn't know that yet. But, she's gonna be an amazing woman when she grows up."

He says it all without looking up at me, as if he's talking to the little girl in the picture. He says it all, as I can't help but look into his eyes fixed on the 12y/o Julia.

I feel a lump in my throat and I quickly swallow it down, and chuckle as I take the picture away from his hand.

"You say that like you know her."

"I do."

I look up at him, with a question on my face, and he looks away quickly and shrugs, "I mean I do know you. I know that, that little girl grew up to be a wonderful woman who I have a date with. I mean, it's clear you're wonderful because, ahem ahem... Hello..." He points at himself, "I have got a good choice. And I know when I see an amazing human being. So, you can't deny the fact that I was being truthful to little Julia."

A laugh sets loose from within me, and he joins me to fill the house with sounds of laughter as I look at him, and wonder how easy it was for him to just calm my nerves down and to even make me laugh again.

Stop it, Julia. What are you doing?

"We should really leave, or you know very well how Lily's gonna react.".

"Yes, omg yes, you're absolutely right." he acts as if he's scared of Lily and I nod my head in amusement.

We both leave the apartment and I lock the door.

Well, a date it is then, 'as if' as I thought....or 'definitely a date' as believed by Enzo. ..

Whatever it is...

Here I come!