This Wasn't Over

Elliot

The drive back to her place was quiet, but it wasn’t the kind of silence that suffocated. It was charged, alive, humming with the weight of everything unsaid. Every glance I stole at her told me she was fighting something. I wanted to reach out, brush my fingers against hers, just to feel that electric connection we used to share. But I didn’t. Not yet.

We pulled up in front of her apartment, the streetlights casting a warm glow over her as she reached for the door handle. She hadn’t said much since dinner, and I didn’t push her to talk. This wasn’t about rushing things.

“Thank you for dinner,” she said flatly, her tone cool, distant. She didn’t even look at me as she opened the door.

“Susan...”

But before I could get another word out, she was already stepping out, closing the door behind her without sparing me a glance. No goodnight. No lingering hesitation. Just a quick, determined retreat. She disappeared into her building like she couldn’t get away from me fast enough.

I stayed parked for a moment, gripping the steering wheel as I stared at her front door. If this had been anyone else, I might’ve felt defeated. But this wasn’t just anyone. This was Susan...stubborn, fiery, infuriating Susan.

And she didn’t realize it yet, but she’d just lit a fire under me.

I leaned back in my seat and exhaled slowly, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. Oh, she thought she was building walls? Fine. Let her. I’d tear them down brick by brick, and I’d enjoy every second of it. I didn’t care how long it took or how hard I had to work. She wasn’t walking away from me this time.

Not without knowing exactly how much she still mattered.

This wasn’t just about making her fall for me again...it was about reminding her why she’d fallen for me in the first place. Because despite everything, I’d never stopped loving her. And whether she wanted to admit it or not, I could still see the flicker of something in her eyes, the way her walls would crack for just a second when I got too close.

I turned the key, the engine purring to life as I drove away, the smirk still on my lips. She’d given me a cold shoulder tonight, but I wasn’t worried.

This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

***

Susan

The moment I stepped into my apartment and closed the door, I leaned against it, exhaling a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. My heart was still racing...not from the dinner, but from the way Elliot had looked at me all night, like I was the only thing in the room that mattered.

It was infuriating. And intoxicating.

I dropped my bag on the console table and slipped out of my heels, wincing slightly at the ache in my feet. My plan was simple: take a long shower, crawl into bed, and let sleep wash away the memory of Elliot’s relentless gaze.

But as I turned into the living room, I stopped dead in my tracks.

Meera was sprawled out on my couch, wearing a pair of my sweats and munching on a bag of chips. She looked up at me, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

“Finally!” she exclaimed, sitting up and tossing the bag of chips aside. “You’re back! Now spill. How was dinner? Was it romantic? Did he say anything swoon-worthy? Did you kiss?”

I blinked at her, my exhaustion instantly replaced by incredulity. “What are you still doing here?” I asked, gesturing at the clock on the wall. It was well past 10 PM.

Meera waved me off. “Oh, please. Like I was going to leave without getting the full report. I even ordered takeout and made myself at home. You’re welcome.”

I sighed, shaking my head as I walked past her and into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. “There’s nothing to report, Meera,” I said over my shoulder. “We ate, we talked, he dropped me off. End of story.”

Meera followed me, leaning against the counter with an exaggerated pout. “Oh, come on, Su! You’re telling me Mr. Tall, Dark hair, green eyes and Brooding didn’t pull any romantic moves? No lingering touches? No confessions of undying love?”

I snorted, setting the glass down. “The only thing he pulled was my patience. Honestly, I don’t even know why I agreed to go. It was awkward, tense, and...”

“And you’re still thinking about it,” she interrupted, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t lie. I can see it all over your face. You’ve got that ‘I’m totally annoyed, but deep down I’m swooning’ look.”

I glared at her. “I do not.”

“You do,” she said with a grin, crossing her arms. “Admit it. He’s gotten under your skin again, hasn’t he?”

“No,” I said firmly, though the heat rising in my cheeks betrayed me. “This isn’t some fairytale reunion, Meera. It’s complicated. Messy. And I don’t have the time or energy for it.”

Meera rolled her eyes. “You can’t lie to me, Susan. I know you too well. You’re trying to convince yourself you don’t care, but you do. Otherwise, you wouldn’t look so flustered right now.”

I opened my mouth to argue but stopped when I realized I didn’t have a rebuttal. Instead, I turned back toward the living room, grabbing the blanket she’d left crumpled on the couch. “It doesn’t matter,” I said quietly. “It’s all in the past. I’ve moved on.”

Meera followed me, her expression softening. “Have you, though?” she asked gently. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like the past just walked right back into your life...and you don’t know what to do with it.”

I sank onto the couch, hugging the blanket to my chest as her words sank in. She wasn’t wrong. I didn’t know what to do. Every time I looked at Elliot, it was like my heart and my brain were at war. One wanted to hold onto the anger, the hurt. The other wanted... something I wasn’t ready to admit.

“I don’t know, Meera,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. “I really don’t.”

She sat down beside me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Well, here’s what I know,” she said, her tone lighter now. “You’ve got one hell of a story brewing. And whatever happens next, I’ll be here. Ready to dissect every single detail.”

I couldn’t help but smile, despite the knot in my chest. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”

“Absolutely,” she said with a wink. “Now, start from the beginning. What did he say when he picked you up?”