Avoiding

Elena

The rest of the day passed with sickening silence.

Silas avoided me like I was a plague he regrettably invited in his pristine mansion. No witty comebacks. No arrogant smirks.

Just quiet brooding, unreadable glares, and the occasional ghost-like disappearance from whatever room I entered.

And yet, somehow, I missed the torment. Missed his maddening presence. God, was I that far gone?

I found myself watching the clock, counting the hours until I could leave the suffocating awkwardness behind and escape to the only place that felt like mine ,my little art store.

By 2 p.m., I gave up trying to make him talk and grabbed my bag. If he wanted to talk, he'll find me!.

"I'm going out!" I called, unsure if he could even hear me.

No reply. Not even an echo.

Rude!.

I headed to my shop, a small cozy space tucked between a bakery and a boutique downtown. The moment I unlocked the door and stepped inside, I sighed with relief. The air smelled like paint . This was my world.

Here, I wasn’t the girl who moaned her landlord’s name in her sleep.

Here, I was Elena Harper,an artist, a dreamer.

I threw on my apron, turned on some soft indie rock, and lost myself in colors. I started painting. My fingers were stained with more paint. It was bliss.

Hours flew by, I was planning on doing one canvas but one canvas turned to two. Then three.

Buzz.

My phone lit up on the counter. I glanced at the screen and nearly dropped my brush.

9:03 P.M.

Oh no!.

I was supposed to be back home by nine. Silas's one rule is to be home before dark. I never asked why. Maybe I didn’t want to know. But tonight, I was late.

I cleaned up in record time, locked up the shop, and started walking home, guilt bubbling in my gut.

Last time,I was late, Silas was fuming! I don't know what's going to happen today, I just pray,I get home fast.

The streets were already darker . The night air was sharp, slicing through my sweater. I quickened my steps.

And then…I heard it.

Footsteps.

Not my footsteps,but someone else's. It seemed like someone was behind me.

I didn’t look back. Just picked up my pace, hoping it was my overactive imagination because I watch way too many horror movies.

The footsteps grew louder and Faster.

I spun around trying to see who was behind me but the moment I did so I froze.

“Adrian?” I breathed,my stomach dropping.

My ex. The one who broke my heart, my trust, and the hinges of my sanity. Tall, charming, and full of garbage.

“Hey, Lena,” he said, stepping closer, like we were on good terms.

Bitch! Step the fuck away!

“What the hell are you doing here?” I snapped.

He smiled. That fake, smug, cheating smile. “I’ve been thinking about you. I want to talk.”

I moved to step past him. “Seriously? You want to talk? But the last time I recall we have nothing to talk about Adrian. We broke up for god sake!”.

But his hand shot out, gripping my wrist. Too tight.

“Elena, come on. Don’t be like that, I Know you miss me too”

I tugged. “Let go Adrian. And for your information,I don't fucking miss you! We're done Adrian!”

He didn’t though.

“I made a mistake, alright? But we were good together. You know that. I’ve changed.”

“You changed your whores like underwear, you dip shit!” I hissed. “Now let go.”

He yanked my hand harder. “Don’t be dramatic Elena, let's just talk”.

My heart pounded fearing he might harm me like he used to do. Now I look at him,I realize he wasn't the man I used to love,he changed.

He was a stranger now,angry all the time, distant, and nothing like the man I once loved. His eyes were cold, his words were sharp like he didn't care about anything, and the gentle smile I used to know was gone.

He was cold, unrecognizable, with no warmth left in his eyes.

I kept struggling from his hold, trying to find a way to run away from him when I heard a car approaching the sidewalk.

A sleek black Jeep Wrangler pulled up beside the sidewalk. Its engine roar like a predator.

The driver’s door opened and someone dressed in full black and a cap covering half his face stepped out. Radiating cold aura

Silas.

“Get in the car, Elena,” he said, his voice clipped and controlled.

Adrian blinked. “Who the hell are you?”

Silas’s gaze flicked to Adrian’s hand on my wrist.

Adrian’s fingers instantly released my hand like they’d touched fire.

“I said,” Silas repeated, quieter now, “get in the car.”

I didn’t hesitate. I bolted past Adrian and slipped into the passenger seat.

Adrian took one look at Silas ,at his death-glare and stillness that somehow screamed violence and took a shaky step back.

“This isn’t over Elena, I'll find you” Adrian muttered, then turned and sprinted down the street like a coward.

Silas slid into the driver’s seat and drove home without a word.

The silence wasn’t comforting. It was thunderous. I curled into my seat,my heart still racing.

“Thanks,” I said quietly.

He didn’t respond.

I snuck a glance at him. His jaw was tight. His knuckles were white on the wheel.

“Silas?”

He pulled up into the driveway and killed the engine. “Do you understand now why I said not to be out after dark?”

I bit my lip. “I lost track of time. I didn’t mean to…”

“I don’t care about excuses,” he snapped.

I flinched.

His eyes softened, just slightly. “Don't repeat this behavior again Elena. When I say be home by 9pm I mean it.”

That stunned me into silence.

He was scared?

“Why?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer.

We sat there in the quiet night, the only sound was our breathing. I wanted him to talk more but it looked like he wasn't going to any moment from now.

Finally, he got out. I followed him inside, my mind spinning.

Why did it feel like something just changed between us? He was scared that I would get hurt? Seriously, this guy was so confusing. One time he's soft,then the next he's cold as ice

He didn’t look at me again ,didn’t speak another word.

Fine! If he wants to ignore me, I could do the same.