All Novel XO
23
She wanted him. He wanted her. But she was overthinking because she wanted to know that everything would turn out okay. They were products of their circumstances, but they didn’t have to let those circumstances steer the wheel of every choice they made. A lot of people did, but standing there in the restroom, she didn’t want to anymore.
When the sun rose in the morning, there was no way she’d look at Chandler with regret or disappointment. No, she couldn’t guarantee how this would play out, but what she knew about him and how he was making her feel was enough.
She touched up her makeup, then headed back to the party. Chandler wasn’t where he was when she left and so she stood at a place, searching for him with her eyes when a familiar voice said her name,
“Hello, Miss Davis,”
It took her a second to realize that it was Matt Harrington standing before her. A smile of recognition hit her face. “Matt!” she said, and shook hands with him, “It’s so nice to see you again, and please, call me Elena,”
Matt smiled broadly at her, “You look beautiful, Elena. Trust you are enjoying your new place?”
Elena nodded, “I am. Thank you. Wow, it really is nice to see a familiar face around here.”
“Yeah, Chandler sent me an invite. You know it’s a good opportunity to do some networking and to meet people. I saw him around minutes ago and then I lost him. Have you seen him?”
Elena looked around, “Yes, I mean… Not at the moment, but I’m actually here with him. I just had to use the ladies room,”
“Oh, I see,” Matt remarked. Elena thought the way he said it was weird, but she said nothing, and her eyes scanned the room once more for Chandler. However, the cheerfulness in his expression quickly dissolved into an unexpected confession. You know, Elena,” Matt added, his voice tinged with an unusual seriousness, “I finally understand why Chandler warned me off when I mentioned asking you out.”
Elena’s brow furrowed in confusion, her heart rate escalating as she processed Matt’s words. Anger flared within her, her cheeks flushing crimson with indignation. “What do you mean? Why would Chandler say something like that?”
Matt’s expression remained apologetic as he explained, “He made it clear that you and he were, well, a thing…. Or at least that you were going to be. I didn’t realize… I’m sorry, Elena. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
The shock and anger within Elena boiled over, a surge of betrayal flooding her senses. “A thing?” she repeated, her voice sharp with hurt. “Chandler had no right to interfere in my personal life! And we are not even together!”
Storming away from Matt, Elena’s frustration and confusion mounted, the anger fueling her rapid steps toward the exit. Chandler saw her leave, and sensing the tension, followed swiftly, and he caught up to her just outside the grand ballroom.”Elena, wait,” he called out, his tone a mix of concern and urgency. “What’s going on,”
Fury blazed in Elena’s eyes as she rounded on him, her voice cutting through the night air like a blade. “What did you say to Matt about us? You told him we were a couple? You told him to stay away from me?”
Chandler understood immediately that she must have run into Matt and he got mad at Matt. How dare he tell Elena what he’d said. He’d deal with Matt later, but for now, he had to talk to that angry woman standing before him… Who looked even hotter when she was mad, he observed, but he knew that telling her that in that moment would probably have one of her heeled shoes landing on his head, so he kept that thought to himself. “Please let me explain, Elena.” He said.
“Explain what, Chandler? I’ve just realized that you have been acting as if we’re in a relationship, dictating who I can or can’t date. Who gave you that right? We’re not even a couple!”
Chandler’s expression softened, his eyes pleading for understanding, but honestly he wasn’t sorry that he’d told Matt to back off. Maybe he was selfish, but the thought of her going out with another man made his blood boil. All he was sorry about was that he’d managed to piss her off for the second time that night. “I just wanted…. Look, Elena I care about you, and I thought-”
“I don’t care what you were thinking. I don’t need your thoughts or your interference in my life in any way!” Elena interrupted, her voice trembling with raw emotion. “Stay out of my life, Chandler. I need some space.”
The air crackled with tension as Elena turned and walked away, leaving Chandler standing there, grappling with a whirlwind of emotions and the undeniable ache of their heated argument. The fragile threads binding their connection seemed strained, hanging precariously in the wake of their impassioned clash. He only stood for a few seconds before he followed her out and into the parking lot.
The frigid night air rushed past Elena as she stormed out of the party, her heels clicking angrily against the pavement. Frustration churned within her, fueling her swift strides toward the quiet solitude of the parking lot. Chandler hurried after her, his voice calling out desperately amidst the fading echoes of the music.
“Elena, please, wait!” his plea hung in the air, laced with urgency and regret.
Elena didn’t stop, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and hurt. She reached the parking lot, her breaths coming in rapid succession, the faint glow of streetlights casting long shadows around her. With her back turned to him, she could feel Chandler’s presence closing in as she got to his car.
“Please, just give me a chance to explain,” Chandler implored, his voice strained with emotion as he got to her.
Elena turned abruptly, her eyes flashing with a mix of indignation and hurt. “Explain what, Chandler? You keep saying that but you have nothing to explain. What do you want to say? That you think you have the right to dictate who I can and cannot date?” The tremor in her voice betrayed a mix of anger and hurt, and Elena absolutely hated that he already could make her feel this way.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Chandler’s heart sank at the depth of her hurt, the weight of his actions dawning upon him.