All Chapters of How We End II: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Chapter 11I was back in Bath.It felt good to be back but it was also hard to not miss the feeling of home and the time I spent with everyone. It felt good being back in my apartment which always had this warm and cozy feeling. The entire weekend, I spent unpacking and simply enjoying my own company. I also spent quite some time texting with Dean. I had sent him selfies with the pink jacket he got me just as I had promised and we just continued texting from there. At some point, I started to feel bad texting someone else's boyfriend so much, putting myself in Amber's shoes and wondering if I'd be comfortable with my boyfriend texting his ex that much. Every time the thought crossed my mind, I'd tell myself that I wouldn't respond again, but then I always found myself texting back whenever he sent a text.I struggled with my subconscious to convince myself that it wasn't such a bad thing. Dean and I did say we were back to being friends and friends text each other all the time, righ

Chapter 13"...and I don't care what anyone says, tonight is all about Grace-"I felt my phone vibrate in my purse and I took it out to see it was a text from Dean. I had to force myself not to respond and place it back in my purse, remembering Kendra's words yesterday."-and celebrating her big accomplishment, so we're turning it up tonight!" Lydia finished her energy giving speech.Seeing as I had a lot of work to get done yesterday, I couldn't make time to go out and celebrate as I should've. But tonight, which only seemed apt because it's a Friday night, my two favourite coworkers, Lydia and Connor, took it upon themselves to make sure I celebrate.Dean tried to FaceTime again last night, which I quickly dodged by sending a brief text stating I was busy. He also sent a text this morning which I ignored until he sent a meme which I plainly responded to with a laughing emoji.To tell you the truth, it wasn't easy and I kind of felt bad about it but I sucked it up because it was the

Chapter 15I was quiet for a moment.I definitely didn't expect to be ambushed like that. But the tone in which he asked the question caused the edge of my lip to tug up a bit. He had used this childlike and playful tone, like his question didn't hold that much seriousness, but at the same time, it did."Grace?" I heard his voice again. "Are you there?"I chuckled softly, "I haven’t been ignoring you, Dean.""Oh, yeah?" He made this thinking sound. "I don't think so.""Really, I'm not." I lied, taking off my coat and just dumping it on my couch. "I've just been, uh, I've just been really busy.""Oh, okay. I totally get it." His voice sounded like he knew I was bullshitting. "You know, I just wanted to, uh, make sure cause your energy's been kind of off for a while.""Oh." Was all I said. "Yeah, it's nothing. I've just been busy.""Are you sure?" He asked. "Are you okay?""Yeah, I am." I aimlessly kicked on the foot of my couch. "And, I don't know-"I couldn't see him but the silence o

Chapter 17"Wait, just like that?" I could make out the furrow in Lydia's brows from my peripheral vision while my eyes remained fixed on the road. "He just went full-on 'stay away from me, it hurts too much' on you?"I was driving Lydia and I to our favourite fast food restaurant to get lunch while I filled her in on what occurred with Connor shortly before I asked her to come with me."Yup." I replied, popping the 'p'.Honestly, I couldn't pinpoint a particular way I felt about what Connor said to me. I kind of felt bad when he said it because I believed it didn't have to come to that. But then again, I couldn't invalidate how he was feeling and tell him the way he was acting was unnecessary.But I guess Lydia didn't care much about that."He's acting totally unnecessary." She said flatly. "Honestly, it seems childish to behave like this because you rejected the offer of a relationship with him. I mean, he's a grown man, he should be able to handle rejection better.""I don't know,

Chapter 19It had been close to two weeks.The time had gone by as it normally would; my alarm would wake me up by 6AM and I'd spend a few minutes staring into space, letting my thoughts flood in. I'd finally get up and get into the bathroom. I'd brush my teeth and have a warm shower while listening to music or some podcast on Spotify. When I'm done, I'd get out and get ready. I'd either have a light breakfast at home or get breakfast at my favourite coffee shop on my way to work.Time at work would pass by with me in my office. Sometimes, Lydia would stop by and chat or I'd stop by at Kendra's and chat. There was also the awkward moments when Connor and I would run into each other and avoid any form of interaction immediately. I think I had gotten kind of used to the routine that it didn't really upset me when it happened anymore.I also spoke to Dean at least once everyday for the past two weeks. Some days, we'd have long conversations but some days it could just be a brief exchange