Chapter 25: Playing Pool

Days passed by and Julia was mostly focused on getting her book done which she now had a title for. "The Runway Scandals." She was pretty proud of herself and how much work she had put into the new book. Still, her mind would wander to Benoit and how much of a coward she was and every time it did, she'd take a few minutes to cry. They hadn't spoken in a week and she missed him more and more as the days dragged on.

It was the seventh night now and Julia was in the process of writing her book when she heard a knock on her bedroom door.

"Come in," she called out.

The door opened with a squeak and Marta popped her head in. "Hey. I have to ask you something."

Julia looked up from her laptop at Marta. "Sure, what's up?"

Marta walked in. "I'm going with some friends to go shoot some pool. Wanna tag along?"

Julia sighed, not really sure if she wanted to go out. "I dunno, Marta. I mean..." Julia rubbed her face. "I'm trying to get this book done and-"

"Oh nonsense." Marta walked over and shut the laptop. "It's Friday, you missed Thanksgiving, and you've been cooped up in here feeling sorry for yourself for a whole week. You need to get out and have some fun, Julia. It'll help lighten your spirits."

Julia frowned. "That's not entirely true. We went out shopping for a new car for you today."

"Yes and I love my new car but that's beside the point. You need to get out and go have fun, so c'mon," Marta said, dragging on Julia's arm. "Stop sulking, take a shower, and let's go."

Julia blew out a raspberry and squinted her eyes at Marta. "You're not gonna drop this, are you..."

"Nope!" Marta replied with a beaming smile. "Now get ready, we're taking my new car."

Julia grunted as Marta left the room. So, that was settled, then. Julia did feel the need to take a break from her writing. After all, she'd gotten a lot done. She turned off her laptop after saving her file and got up to go get ready.

She took her shower, applied makeup, and dressed in a light blue woolen sweater and black jeans. She left her hair down. Julia met up with Marta downstairs and grabbed her read overcoat. When they got outside, it was snowing lightly and Julia wished she'd had her damn hat. At least she had her gloves. They got into Marta's brand new blue CR-V and drove off.

They went into town to a local bar/billiards room called Shooter's. When they got in, Julia looked around. She'd never been here before. There was an oval wooden bar counter, stools, a few tables, multiple pool tables and someone was even playing karaoke. She watched Marta wave at some people and Julia followed her through the small crowd. Julia suddenly stopped dead in her tracks.

Benoit was here.

Marta turned to look at her friend with a grin and Julia narrowed her eyes. "Marta, did you know he was going to be here?!" she hissed.

Marta batted her eyelashes innocently. "I may have invited him."

Julia pulled Marta to the side. "Why would you do that?"

"Because you miss him, he misses you and you two need to get back together already. Now c'mon!" Marta said, grabbing Julia and pushing her towards the pool table Benoit was at.

Benoit and Julia locked eyes and she swallowed hard. He was wearing a black turtleneck and blue jeans. The man looked delicious, as usual, and Julia chastised herself for being turned on by him.

"Julia," he said simply.

"Benoit," she said back.

He looked happy to see her, yet there was a sad longing in his eyes that Julia definitely took notice of.

"I hate seeing him like this," she thought.

"How are you?" he asked hesitantly.

"I'm okay. And you?"

"I'm okay," he said with a frown.

"God, please kill me now for hurting this man."

Marta looked at the both of them and grinned. "I'm going to go get us some pool sticks. I'll be right back."

Marta left the two alone and Julia lowered her gaze away from Benoit. She missed him so much and seeing him just made it worse. Still, despite the circumstances, part of her was ecstatic to see him. A big part of her just wanted to kiss him.

"Easy, Julia. You cannot just go up and kiss the man."

"How is your book coming along?" he asked.

"Good," she replied, daring to look at him. "Even came up with a title. "The Runway Scandals"."

Benoit smiled at her. "Sounds like a good name to me."

Julia bit her lip. "Any new cases?"

"A couple. They were easy solves, not very challenging, unfortunately. Your grandfather's case seems to have ruined me," he joked.

Julia giggled then cleared her throat. "I see. So...um, how did Marta get you to come out here?"

"Actually, I was in the need to celebrate. We managed to take Peter into custody today," he said with a grin.

Jukia blinked madly. "You're kidding."

Benoit looked surprised. "You didn't know? Elliot didn't call you?"

"No, he didn't."

A frown formed in his face. "Well, he should have."

Julia looked down at the floor. "Is Emily still at large, then?"

He sighed. "Unfortunately, yes. But, she actually poses less of of a threat when it comes to, well..." he paused.

"When it comes to what?"

He looked into her eyes and took a step closer to Julia. "When it comes to me finding out about Alice. She is the less stable of the two and therefore not very organized."

Julia chuckled a little. "So I noticed."

He took another step towards her and the scent of his cologne filled her nostrils.

"God damn, he smells so good. I've missed his smell," she thought. "Hell, I miss everything about him."

"Julia..." Benoit uttered.

She looked up into his bright blue eyes. "Yes?"

"I..." he paused, pulling his hand up but then he let it fall. He looked past her and sighed. "Marta's got the pool sticks."

Julia looked over her shoulder at Marta who was just standing there. "Did I interrupt something?"

"No," Julia and Benoit replied.

Marta frowned. "Okay. Let's play some pool. Who wants to go first?"

Julia was sitting on her bed, staring blankly out the window. She was an emotional wreck after what happened at the party last night. She could still see the look on Alice's face when she stepped off the apartment building. The girl looked broken, and it was all Julia's fault.

There was a knock on her bedroom door, jerking Julia out of her thoughts.

"Yeah?" she called out.

"It's Ransom. Can I come in?"

"Sure, I guess," Julia replied, sighing and rolling her eyes.

The door creaked open and Julia saw Ransom out of the corner of her eye. He looked like he was at a loss. He shut the door and sat next to Julia on the bed.

"How you holding up?" he asked her.

Julia scoffed bitterly. "I'm not."

"Yeah, I bet," he said glumly. "You wanna talk about it?"

Julia felt a tear roll down her cheek and she sniffled. "Alice is dead because of me. I feel like a murderer."

Ransom wrapped an arm around Julia and pulled her into his shoulder. "You're not a murderer."

"But you heard what I said to her. I might as well have killed her myself. Now Kelly won't talk to me. She said she'd never forgive me for it."

"Hey, don't you worry about Kelly. She's to blame for this, you know. She should've been keeping an eye out for her sister, not spending all her time making out with Zachary Gordon. If you ask me, Alice shouldn't have even been there."

"But Kelly asked me to watch out for her, and what did I do? I berated and embarassed her in front of everyone."

Ransom sighed. "Well, sis, I dunno what to tell ya to help you feel better."

Julia sniffled and wiped another tear away. "Just sit with me a while?"

Ransom nodded and pulled her even closer. "Okay."

Julia bent down at the waist as she tried to line up her shot. She was stripes, Marta was solids. Julia moved the pool stick back and forth through her fingers. few times before hitting the cue ball. It hit the orange striped ball and she sunk it in a hole. She smirked and walked around the table, looking for her next target. She picked the red striped ball, aimed her stick, and struck the cue ball. It hit her ball but she didn't sink it.

"Damn," Julia said. "Your turn, Marta."

Marta grinned and examined the table with a quirked brow. While she was doing that, Julia stole a quick glance at Benoit who was patiently seated at a tall table by them, sipping on a beer. She'd never really known him to drink, but then again, he was celebrating. Sort of. He looked her way and she quickly turned away to hide her blushing. Julia didn't want to be caught staring.

"Your turn, Julia," Marta said.

Julia walked around to stand in front of Benoit, bent over and struck the cue ball. She missed her target. Damn.

As she stood, Julia turned to see Benoit's eyes had darkened. Oh shit. It must have been because of her ass and being bent over.

"Sorry," she said bashfully.

"Hmm?" He blinked and looked at her clearly. "What are you sorry for?"

Julia bit her lip and looked out of the corner of her eye. "For, um, bending over in front of you."

Benoit's cheeks turned red. "I...no need to apologize. I did not even notice," he said, clearing his throat.

Julia gave him a sly grin. "Liar," she said, calling him out.

He blushed even more. "I'm sorry. It...it was right there."

Julia sighed. "You don't have to apologize for staring at my ass, Benoit."

"I don't?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Maybe because I like it when you stare at my ass," she said with a wink.

"Christ, what the fuck am I doing?" she thought, suddenly blushing.

Benoit arched a brow at her and she sighed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

He suddenly smiled brightly. "I do not mind it when you flirt, Miss Drysdale. Just as long as it is only with me."

Julia smiled warmly at him. "Your turn," Marta said to her.

Julia turned back around and looked at the table. She walked around, bent over and was about to line up her shot when she heard a cat call whistle behind her. She rolled her eyes, stood up straight and turned to the offender. "Did you just whistle at me?"

The guy looked to be in his late thirties, was blonde with a goatee and was considerably tall. He smirked at her. "I might have."

Julia pivoted her hip. "Well, I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that."

Julia turned back around to line up her shot once more. "Well, maybe if you didn't have such a fine ass, I wouldn't be cat calling you."

Julia stood up again and was about to address the man once more when Benoit walked over with a glare on his face.

"Excuse me, would you mind not offending the lady? I think she has made it quite clear that she is not in the mood for your advances," he said coldly.

The guy looked at Benoit and scoffed. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?"

Julia growled and shook her head. "He's my boyfriend."

Benoit looked at her in shock and the man laughed. "Yeah right. He hasn't touched or kissed you all night."

Julia rolled her eyes. "Well that's because he-"

Benoit yanked Julia to him and kissed her. She immediately returned the kiss heatedly.

"God dammit, I love you, Benoit."

Without missing a beat, Benoit ended the kiss, turned to the man and said, "now are you convinced?"

The guy put his hands up and walked away. Julia looked at Benoit in disbelief. "Detective Blanc..."

"I'm sorry, Julia. I was tryin' to deter him from pursuin' you further," Benoit explained.

"Well," she looked in the direction of the guy then looked back at Benoit with a smile. "I suppose I can't be too mad since it worked."

"At least I was allowed a kiss. I've been dyin' to do that all week," he purred.

Julia realized they were still holding each other and she cleared her throat before backing off. "It's uh, ahem, my turn."

She bent over the pool table to take her shot. When she hit the cue ball, she sunk a striped ball. She walked around the table, thinking about where to go next but her eyes quickly drifted to Benoit who was trying to hide a smile. She couldn't help but smile as well before taking another shot. She sunk another ball but scratched.

"Dammit," she said.

Marta and Julia took their respective turns until Marta won the game. Now it was Benoit's turn to play Marta. As Marta racked the balls, Benoit went over to Julia.

"So how much of your book did you get done this week?" he asked her.

"Quite a bit. I'd say I'm a little more than halfway done," Julia replied.

"Ah. Did you do anything for Thanksgiving?"

Julia's head lowered. "...No."

Benoit looked at her, his brow furrowed. "Why not?"

She wasn't going to look at him. She kept her eyes averted to the floor. "Just...wasn't in a Thanksgiving sort of mood, I guess."

"Because I miss Benoit too much," she thought.

Benoit frowned, leaning his pool stick in a slot on the table. "Julia, don't you think this has gone on long enough?"

She looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Us being...apart," he said.

Julia sighed. "Benoit, Emily is still out there and I'm still not ready to tell you-"

"I know," he said, taking a step closer and looking into her eyes. "But I miss you so much, Julia. It has been drivin' me absolutely insane being without you."

"Boy, you are preaching to the choir," she thought.

Julia lowered her gaze, grabbing his hands and holding them tight. "Benoit, I've been goin' crazy, too. Trust me. But," she looked up at him, "I need more time."

"How much more time?" he asked with a sad tone in his voice.

"I don't know."

Benoit sighed and closed his eyes before opening them. "Okay," he said before dropping her hands.

He grabbed the pool stick and looked at Marta. "You break," she said with a frown.

As Benoit bent over to hit the cue ball, Julia fought tears. She excused herself to go to the bathroom and walked away.

Benoit broke the triangle and landed a solid colored ball. On the outside, he was calm and collected. On the inside, however, he was deeply upset about the whole situation between him and Julia. It was maddening. It was making him grow impatient. It was making him feel things he didn't want to feel, like anger and frustration.

He didn't usually get mad but he felt like he was at a boiling point.

Benoit struck another solid and sunk it. As he stood up straight to walk around and examine the table, he took some deep breaths and counted to ten in his head.

"I know she's being stubborn right now, Detective, but she'll come around," Marta explained to him.

"I know," he said with a nod. "I am a patient man, Marta, but bein' without her is causin' difficulty to maintain my patience."

Marta quirked the corner of her mouth, looking apprehensively at the detective. "Would it help if I told you that she's in love with you?"

Benoit blinked and looked at Marta. "What?"

"I know it's not my place to say, but this rift between you two is growing tiresome. I mean, all she's been doing is working on her book and staying cooped up in her room. She even skipped Thanksgiving with us."

Benoit looked towards the bathroom. Julia was in love with him? "Did she tell you she loved me?"

"Yes. And it's quite clear to me that you feel the same way about her, Benoit," Marta said with a smile.

"I do," he said absentmindely.

"Then you should tell her."

Benoit looked at Marta with a grin. "You really think that will help patch things up?"

"I can't be certain, but I have high hopes."

Benoit smiled brightly and got another solid ball in but he scratched. As he stood up straight he saw Julia come out of the bathroom...with Mrs. Heller? What was she doing here?

He then noticed the gun pointed at Julia's back and his heart stopped.

"Just keep moving, Julia," Mrs. Heller said, pushing the gun into Julia's back.

Julia kept walking towards the front door, eyeballing Benoit who was walking to them hurriedly.

"Mrs. Heller, please. This is-" Julia began but was interrupted.

"Just shut up," Mrs. Heller hissed.

Benoit got in front of them just when they were about to leave. "Where do you think you're goin'?" he asked Mrs. Heller.

"Get out of my way or I'll shoot her," Mrs. Heller warned.

"Mrs. Heller, you need to think about what you're doin'," Benoit advised.

"I know what I'm doing!" she shouted.

Julia shut her eyes, wincing at Mrs. Heller's shouting. When she opened them, she looked around. Some people were looking their way to see what the commotion was about. Good. Perhaps some of them could help out. She saw Marta on the phone.

"Now, Mrs. Heller, threatenin' an innocent woman is-"

Mrs. Heller laughed bitterly. "Innocent? Julia's not innocent. No, she's as guilty as they come."

Julia kept her eyes on Marta, frowning out of fear. Hopefully she was calling the cops. Perhaps Benoit could stall Mrs. Heller.

"Mrs. Heller, whatever it is that Julia did, it is in the past and she is no longer that person," Benoit explained.

"Oh my god, that woman has a gun!" someone yelled.

Some people started screaming and backing away while Mrs. Heller kept her eyes on Benoit. "I don't care who she is now. She is responsible for the death of my daughter Alice! Now move aside or I'll shoot her!"

Julia stiffened, feeling the gun being pushed into her back more. Benoit looked conflicted on what to do. Julia held her breath, fearing for her life.

She doubted that she would get out of this situation alive.

Ransom and Julia arrived at the party in style having taken the Beemer. Julia was wearing a red spaghetti string tank top, blue jeans and red high heels while Ransom was in a basic blue t-shirt, black pants and brown boots.

They entered the apartment building and got to the elevator, Julia pushing the button for the 10th floor.

"You excited, sis?" Ransom asked.

"Oh, totally," Julia replied. "Say, did Dad seem a little...off today to you?"

Ransom made a face. "No, why?"

Julia shrugged. "I dunno, when he came into the garage earlier, he seemed...deep in thought about something, I guess."

The elevator doors opened and they walked out. "Eh, I'm sure it was nothing," Ransom observed.

"Probably," Julia said.

They got to the door with the number 1023 on it, music blaring from the inside. They knocked and eventually the door opened, revealing Ransom's buddy George. He was tall, dark and handsome in Julia's eyes, but he was also a total man whore.

"Hey Ransom, Julia, come on in!" George said, moving aside so they could walk in.

The party was in full swing. Some people were already drunk off their asses. Julia noticed a bunch of people she knew. Some were friends, some were acquaintances, but a small few were kids that she actually bullied at school. Huh. What were they doing here?

"George, I had no idea you were into charity work," Julia said loudly to him, trying to talk over the music.

"What do you mean?" he asked loudly. Julia pointed at the small group of unpopular kids and he laughed. "What can I say? I got a soft spot for the less fortunate."

Julia giggled and smiled. "I had no idea."

George beamed at her and leaned in close. "There's a lot of things you don't know about me. Wanna find out?" he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

Julia snorted into her hand. "Sorry, but no. I'm just here to drink, man."

George frowned playfully. "Man, why do you have to play so hard to get?" he asked as they made their way over to the keg.

"I'm not playing, I'm just not interested in you," she replied, grabbing a red plastic cup and pumping the keg.

"Psh, come on. I could show you a real good tine tonight," he flirted.

"George, you're not going to convince me," she giggled as she filled her cup with beer. "Now shoo, get lost."

George laughed, surrendered and walked away to find someone new to flirt with. Julia took a long sip of her beer then spotted Kelly making out with Zachary Gordon, her boyfriend and she rolled her eyes.

She spotted Alice on the balcony with a few other people and Julia walked over, opening the door and shutting it behind her.