GoodRead"Hah." Everett chuckled above her head, "Seems like I'm the one dreaming.” How could it be her? He'd been harboring this dream for more than a decade. The longer it persisted, the more he dreaded waking up.
"Hmm? What?" Dorothy didn't quite catch that.
Everett, of course, wasn't about to repeat himself. He already felt low enough in front of Dorothy.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"It's nothing. Just wrapped up at work. Where do you wanna go?" "Is Jeffrey at the office?" Everett's thick brows furrowed. "Why do you ask about him?" Dorothy blinked, "Karen mentioned grabbing dinner together, that's why | asked." "He's there." "Oh." Dorothy nodded, leaning in closer to Everett with a teasing arch of her eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're getting jealous just because | asked about Jeffrey? He's your buddy!" "I don't like you snooping around other men." Dorothy couldn't help but laugh.
She had no idea Everett had such a possessive streak. She used to think he was cool and somewhat detached, not paying her much mind and even giving her plenty of space. Turns out, the aloof act was just an act.
It was convincing, sure, but it must've been exhausting! "When did you get so sour?" "If you knew about it earlier, would you have bolted?" Dorothy thought for a moment, smiling guiltily, "Probably." The last thing she wanted was someone's overbearing affection or someone trying too hard to make an impression. It felt like being forced to accommodate a stranger in her world, and her first instinct would be to push back.
"See? That's why." Everett spoke as if it all made perfect sense.
Dorothy pouted, "Why do you know me so well? You didn't go and do homework on me, did you?" "Do | need to? For someone who sat next to me for years and never even borrowed a pen, | think | got the gist." Back in school, her mantra was to owe nothing to anyone, and to have no one owe her.
It wasn't about avoiding a loss, but more that she wasn't good at socializing or handling people's kindness and affection.
"Was | really like that?" The words slipped out before Dorothy could stop them. Reflecting on it, she realized she really was like that.
"You were always by the book. If | even helped you with your backpack, you'd be sure to say thanks with utmost politeness." Dorothy was at a loss for words.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"So, when you returned that letter to me back then, | thought you were rejecting me." Everett still remembered how nervous he was placing that letter on Dorothy's desk. Unable to bear sitting down afterward, he made up an excuse about the classroom being stuffy and went out to shoot hoops with classmates.
His mind wasn't in the game. He lost miserably, consumed with thoughts of what she would say when he got back. Would she reject him or accept him? When the bell rang and he returned to the classroom, basketball in hand, seeing Dorothy with the letter was like a punch to the gut.
The remaining hope chilled instantly.
As he approached his desk, Dorothy's voice came softly, "Everett, is this yours?" "Yeah." "Here." He hesitated before taking the unopened letter back.
He knew then he was out of luck. Dorothy hadn't even bothered to read what was inside.
"There were lots of love letters for you back then. | thought that one was just another in the pile," she said, furrowing her brows and pouting slightly. "Besides, | asked you if it was yours, and you said yeah."
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