Good night, guys! :) I was faster this time. I'd been thinking about this chapter these last days and I needed to update the story ASAP. :D Besides, after my long absence, I guess this is supposed to be a gift to you. I hope you get addicted to the story after reading this chapter, 'cause I know you've lost interest in it and I get it. I mean, my lack of time made me update less frequently and I understand the lose of interest. :)

Enjoy the chapter, guys!

MJ: Hahaha. You mentioned drama, right? I hope you're ready. :D Thank you!

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

: Chapter 12 – Blindness:

There's a new boy at the office and I don't like him. Well, it's not that I don't like him, 'cause he's nice and always has a smile on his face. I mean, he's a likable guy and since he started working with us I only heard appraisals about his hard-working attitude and kindness. All women at the office are in love with him, because he's also attractive, so we could say he's almost perfect. I must be the only that hates his perfection, and the reason why I've come to despise him a little bit is because I saw how he looks at Paige. He's always smiling at everybody, but the way she looks at Paige is totally different. There's lust in her eyes and I know he wants something more with her. By the way, his name is Jason, he's tall, blonde and hot, so the chances he will get Paige are high and I hate him for that, even if it didn't happen yet.

I'm watching at them right now. They're talking to each other at the corridor right in front of my desk and I can't help but look at the two of them, even if it hurts. Paige is smiling at him and he seizes every opportunity to touch her arm and be closer to her, making me feel anger inside of me. Knowing that Maya is moving to the city and she will do anything in her power to contact me was bad enough, and now this. I don't know what I did in my previous life, but I must have been an evil person to deserve this suffering. It's not fair.

Their conversation ends and I realize that Jason keeps gazing at her when she turns around to make her way to her desk. I knew she had a thing for her. I don't want her to realize that I was watching them, so I try to conceal my disappointment and welcome her with my biggest smile.

"Hi to you too," she cheerfully says. "Looks like someone's happy to me." She doesn't really know the anger I'm feeling, because she looks really happy and I have a suspicion he's the reason why.

"I'm always happy to see you," I teasingly add. "You look happy too," I say, trying to bring up the subject that's been bothering me for a week now but didn't have the guts to speak about.

"I am." Brief and concise like always.

"So?" I insist. "Are feeling happier because of something… or someone?" She frowns at me, but I know she knows what I'm talking about. I understand she doesn't want to talk about it, but I can't keep ignoring the fact that there's something going on between them.

"Why do you say that?"

"Oh, come on, Paige! I have eyes. I'm talking about Jason." I admit that the tone of my voice was a little bit high and violent, but I couldn't help it. The anger that I've been keeping inside of me finally came to light. She doesn't say anything and avoids my gaze. She's obviously ignoring me. She just sits in front of the computer and starts looking at some papers that are on her desk. "Are you going to give me the silent treatment? I just asked a question."

She turns her head and looks me in the eye. She's not smiling anymore. "Can we talk about this later? We're at work. I'm not in the mood to have an argument right now, Em."

I didn't expect her to say that. So she realized I'm bothered by Jason's interest on her. "Who said I want to have an argument?"

"I know you, Emily. And I know that tone of voice you're using. I promise you we will talk after work, okay? Now I need to finish this, so please…"

I interrupt her and don't let her finish her hurtful sentence. She's making me feel even more insignificant and I hate that she treats me like that. "I won't bother you at all, if that's what you want." I look daggers at her and focus on my work. I put my headphones on so the music fills my ears and makes my mind stop thinking about her. I see that she's looking at me from the corner of my eye, but I ignore her. I don't even want to look at her. Doesn't she realize she's hurting me? The sad part of it is that she doesn't see what is going on right in front of her. That's the main problem of our relationship. She thinks I only find her attractive, but she doesn't know I'm actually profoundly in love with her.

We stay all day in silence, each of us focused on our work, avoiding another conversation that may end up in a fight. We usually leave the office at five PM everyday, so when I see that it's time to leave, I just wait. I see that she's looking at me, like she's trying to say something but doesn't have the guts to open her mouth after our previous argument.

"Emily…" Her shy voice makes me raise my head from the project I'm working on. I just stare at her, waiting for her to say something. I raise my eyebrows, signaling her to continue speaking. "Do you feel like having a coffee… with me." She says the last two words after a brief pause. I find her shyness adorable. It feels like it doesn't matter what she does, I will always forgive her.

"Okay," I briefly add. We both grab our things and leave the office and the building in silence. The silence continues until we're both sitting at a desk at the diner, Hanna staring at us. I guess she realized there's tension between us. She has a sixth sense for that kind of things.

"So… Are you going to say something or I'm supposed to speak by myself?" she finally adds, sarcasm on her words.

"If you're going to say stuff like that I think I prefer to be alone," I reply. I grab my things, implying that I'm going to make my threat a reality.

"Please, Em." She grabs my hand and looks me in the eye. That makes me stop and sit down again. "What is going on with you? Talk to me." Her gaze makes me melt. I don't say a word. "Is it because of Maya?" She's blind. It's funny she's so brilliant but didn't become aware of my crush. I mean, the whole Maya catastrophe and Jason appearing in our lives practically happened at the same time, but she doesn't connect Jason with my jealousy.

"It's frustrating she affects me so much even if I didn't see her yet," I admit. However, that's not the whole truth. I mean, Maya coming to the city is obviously annoying and I don't know how I will handle that if I see her again after our break-up. But Jason's interest on Paige is bothering way too much right now.

"I'm really sorry," she says, caressing my hand at the same time and making my heart flutter. "Don't think about that, okay? Just focus on positive things." I realize Hanna is still staring at us and I also know she will be drawing mistaken conclusions about this hand holding.

"Just you're focusing on Jason?" I couldn't help but bring the subject, 'cause it's consuming my happiness.

"I kind of like him." She flushes and I just die inside. I knew this was going to happen, but knowing it for sure it's even more hurtful.

"And?"

"I'm going to meet him right now." She takes a look at the watch and then checks her cellphone. "We're going to the movies." A huge smile appears on her face, making me even sadder.

"Right now?"

"He's already here." She stands up and waves at the guy that just entered the diner. Hanna is witnessing everything and I know she will want to know every detail. I fear that moment is coming sooner than later.

"I thought that we…" She interrupts me.

"I will call you later, okay?" She leaves with a huge smile on her face and she greets him with a kiss on his lips. That's when my world crumbles. I knew this could have happened, but I didn't want to see it right in front of me. I see Hanna approaching me and I know what is about to happen.

"I'm sorry, Em. But that doesn't mean…"

"What? It doesn't mean she will realize she actually likes me?" I raise my voice and Hanna takes a deep breath. "Stop this bullshit, okay? She will never fall in love with me because she's not into girls. I should have stopped listening to you and your stupid ideas."

"Em, please." I stand up, ready to leave.

"Let go of me. I want to be alone." She grabs my arm but she lets me leave when she realizes this is not a good idea. I just want to get home and cry. I don't want Hanna lecturing me or trying to cheer me up, 'cause there's nothing that could make my anger and sadness go away.

After a long hot shower, I lay on my bed and try to empty my mind, but I can't. Tears start running down my cheeks, non-stop. I'm glad Spencer is working the night shift so I can be alone and I'm not bothered. It's been three hours since I saw their kiss and I can't erase that memory from my mind. This is going to be tougher than I had expected. My phone has been vibrating since I left the diner, but I know it's Hanna and I'm not in the mood for her explanations. However, I decide to check the messages in case it's not her. Hanna sent me 50 messages, she must be worried about me and I feel like I'm behaving like a bitch, but I don't want to deal with her right now. I write her a "I'm fine" message so she stops being worried about me. I guess that's the human thing to do. Hanna was not the only one that was worried about me though. I see ten messages from Paige, the first one from two hours ago. I always text her back immediately, I guess that's why the last five messages are about her asking me if I'm okay. I write her back, but instead of lying to her, I decide to be honest. I need to stop hiding the truth, that's another way of lying and I'm sick of it.

"I'm not feeling well. Don't worry about me, though." I press the Send button and leave the phone on the bed, right next to me.

She replies almost instantly. "Is it Maya?" I sigh when I see her name on my screen. I didn't forget about her either, but that problem seems small right now, although it really isn't.

"Not exactly. It's complicated."

Another beep makes me check the phone again. "Do you want to talk? We can meet right now."

"It's okay. I'm not in the mood. Thanks, though. I'll see you tomorrow." I don't want her to see my puffy eyes and wonder why I'm feeling so bad, because I don't want to pretend everything is great.

I wait for her reply, but it doesn't get, so I just close my eyes and rest. My mind, unluckily doesn't rest though. About fifteen minutes later, when I'm about to fall asleep, the doorbell startles me. The first thing that crosses my mind is that Spencer forgot her keys. I thought she was perfect, but this proves she acts like a human being from time to time. I jump out of bed and head the front door. I open the door and the person standing right next to me is not Spencer.

"I needed to know you were fine. I'm sorry, but…"

"I told you not to come." This was not supposed to happen. She is not blind and she will notice I've been crying and that will lead to uncomfortable questions that I don't want to answer.

"I was worried, okay?" She takes a step closer to me and closes the door, even if I didn't invite her in. "What is going on, Emily?" She places her hand on my arm and I just close my eyes and take a deep breath. She's making this way too difficult. She speaks again after a few seconds of silence. "I won't leave until you tell me what is wrong with you. I care about you, you know," she adds, making me feel even more nervous.

"Leave, please," I say, as nicely as possible, trying not to sound rude.

She's looking me in the eye and I can see she's worried about me. "I won't." She crosses her arms and frowns at me.

A tear runs down my cheek. I guess this is my body's reaction to all the negative feelings I'm having at this moment. She takes a step closer, shortening the distance between us. She wipes the tear with her right hand and her touch makes me start crying even more.

She takes a tissue from her bag and hands it to me. She seems mad now. I don't understand why, but her face expression changed suddenly.

"Stop this bullshit! Tell me right now what's going on with you!" she shouts at me. This makes me feel even worse. I already felt like shit, but her yelling is too much.

"I love you, okay? That's what's going on!" My shout is even louder. I couldn't help it. I needed to vent my feelings, but I regret my words once I see her face.

To be continued…

Stay tuned! ;)