All Chapters of VELVET: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

EVE“Congrats on getting through your first week here. Passez un bon week-end,tout le monde." [have a lovely weekend,everyone.]All of my classes this week consisted of getting familiar with the campus and going through endless packets of syllabi, causing the past four days to go by in slow increments. The one thing that proved to be the hardest though was finding somewhere I fit in. Unlike back home, it seemed much more difficult to make friends here as most students at Beaux-Arts were from Europe. Aside from surface level conversations with a few people during orientation, none of themactually stuck.Packing up my stuff, I walked down the steps of the lecture hall and made my way out of the room. As I only had one class today, it was barely noon, meaning the rest of the day would consist of being at the museum. Seeing Alex.Having not heard from him since the last time we spoke, I had no idea what was going on with the break-in situation aside from a few text

EVE A Month Later"The jury finds the defendant guilty on all charges. Lucas Ramirez, you are hereby sentenced to twenty years imprisonment without parole. Court adjourned."The words I had been waiting to hear for the past month, spilled from the other end of the phone. After the arraignment, Luke had been expedited back to California for sentencing so the closest I was going to get to that courtroom was over the phone with Eli."Holy shit, they did it. They convictedhim," Eli spoke in disbelief."-I can't believe this is happening." My words came out as a whisper. "It's really over?""Yes, it's over, Eve." Eli confirmed."Say it again," I asked, still in shock."Eve, he's out of your life for good, " Hereassured, immediately triggering thetears that had been threatening to spillfrom my eyes.Covering my mouth with my hand totry and stop myself from making noise,more tears fell.For the past month and a half, my dayshad been spent const

EVE“thank you” I expressed to Alex as the water grew warm against my worn skin.Climbing in behind me, he gently pulled my body against his and began to slowly massage away any knots that sat on my shoulders.Closing my eyes, I grew comfortable under his touch as he kneaded at every aching muscle that coerced my body. Laying my head back against his shoulder, I fully fought the urge to fall asleep in his arms. My nose filled with scents of rose and vanilla as I felt Alex begin to lather Soap over my body, making sure not to irritate my slightly broken skin, courtesy of thesharp knife that had just been pressedagainst me not too long ago.Cupping handfuls of water, I helpedhim wash the bubbles from my body.Feeling his lips meet the side of my neck, I tilted my head and let out a meager moan as he left tiny kisses to the end of my shoulder. He then brought his hands to my breasts and softly groped, making me lean against his body a little more.Turning my h

EVE Final lectures before midterms, never-ending nights at the museum, and the occasional 2am rendezvous with Alex. It's been yet another asked this question, no one chooses to stay. Although, I made the decision of moving thousands of miles away from home so I can'tblame them for also choosing to leave. I try to narrow down a location but nothing sticks."I don't think I have one," I answer."Places are not dreams to me."Not even Japan?" He jokes as he hasspent so many nights teaching me theart of shibari.I laugh along and tell him that maybeJapan's the exception, then I think back to when I first thought of France as a fantasy oasis and I realize it was never about landmarks or traditions.I could've moved ten miles away from home and my outlook on life would've still drastically changed. My dream is with me, not with Paris."As much as I'd like to think I am a person that knows when to walk away, I am more somneone that stays too long."I admit; a walk

EVEThe air stills a bit and so does our breathing but the look in Alex's eyes doesn't follow. It's a simple question, ano-brainer, and I have no clue whyhe'd overthink this."For winter break? I'd absolutely love to," I reply, giving him a genuine smile. He doesn't return the excitement and I feel a pang in my stomach; a gut feeling. His silence is stalling and I feel my skin grow warm underneath my sweater. I brushed the feeling off as I knew better than to make assumptions with Alex."Why are you being weird?" I huff, playfully smacking him on the chest.bStill, he doesn't speak."Alex?"He brings his eyes up to mine and they're like porcelain. I feel my eyebrows slightly twitch and I realize this is maybe more than a vacation proposal. His expression acts as an apology, trying to confess the things he can't say out loud."Just tell me," I reassure, sinking myteeth into my lip."I'm leaving Paris next week," hefinally confesses and my head starts tospin.