She smiled at the response from Eli and me as she pulled up a chair and sat at our quaint table, made only for two. However, she obviously missed that memo and I watched as she scooted her chair closer to Eli's and shot me yet another shady look.
"Elijah?" Julia asked, as she posed in the seat next to me. She smelled oddly of vanilla and wood chips.
"Julia." Elijah stated, shocked as he eyed the girl beside him. I was tempted to yell "CLARE!" but I didn't want to mess this up for Eli, after all she was supposedly dead for a whole year without him knowing she was alive and well. This must be a shock to him, after digesting the fact that he believed she was gone and never coming back. But, here she was.
"I know this is awkward, Eli, but it's me," She said as she noted Eli's confusion.
"I know, but I thought you were dead. That car hit you." He gazed at her puzzled. Then, he looked over at me, smiling a reassuring smile. I hoped he meant it. I hoped that he really wanted to smile at me, at a time like this. I prayed that he felt the connection that I did and that he wouldn't let her ruin this for us. I eyed her up, wondering what move she would craft next.
"It's complicated," She stated as she got up, hugged him, and simply kissed his cheek as though it meant nothing. But I knew, deep down, she wanted to stir jealousy, and she was fulfilling her scheme. She didn't really think she would get away with it that easily, did she? I just merely pulled a fake smile across my lips as I sat there, observing the reunion that was taking place in front of me. She returned to her seat, smiling as she watched my expression.
"And who's this?" She asked, snarling as she scrutinized me, purely sitting there with my arms crossed staring back at her.
"This is my girlfriend, Clare," Eli beamed a smile across from me as he slid his hand in mine. His abnormally large wrist was covered with black leather bracelets and my father's broken watch.
"I see." She said bitter-sweetly as she eyed me up, again. She glanced over at me again, her eyes glaring. Then, she quickly pulled herself together and smiled the sweetest smile at Eli. So her personality type was sweet and sour? Huh?
"You know what? I'll let you two get acquainted. All this excitement is too much, I'll be right back." Smiling at the two of us, he shuffled across the room to the bathrooms and gave us one glance back before he opened the Men's bathroom door.
"What the hell do you think you're doing with a guy like that?" The words came scowling out of her lips glossed with too much black lip stick.
"Excuse me?" I asked, offended that her first words to me would be those. I always pictured Julia as a rational girl; I guess that image was changing. Fast.
"Stay away from him." She looked me straight in the eye as she threatened me.
"It is a free country." I shot back at her. She was not going to boss me around. We had just met approximately three minutes ago, and this is how she wanted to start of things with me?
"Who cares? Stay away. Or there will be consequences." Her expression didn't waver and I could tell this was serious.
"Eli thought you were dead for a year. And you decided to come back now? Looks like you have some explaining to do." I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest as a smug expression danced across my face.
"I mean it." She growled at me, her eyes solid with fury and her mouth a straight line that showed no emotion whatsoever, obviously she wasn't the sympathetic type.
"Try to make me." I threw another comment her way. I could tell she was getting fed up with me and I hoped Eli wouldn't take forever in the "little men's room" he needed to come, sweep me off my feet and carry me out of here.
She stared at me, her expression still definite as she glared at me with her blue eyes, which seemed to be buried under too much eyeliner and mascara. Correction, they were covered with too much eye make up. I casually glanced around the Dot as I still felt her eyes on me. We both turned as we heard a door open and close and Eli walked our way, he was smiling obviously oblivious to the brawl that had just happened.
"Are you two besties forever now?" He smirked as he returned to the table and sat back down.
"Whatever you say, Elijah." Julia simply stated as she threw a bitter-sweet smile his way. She was trying way too hard.
"If you want to label it." I smiled back at him, but worry was creased in my brow. I wondered whether he would believe me or deny that Julia would act like that. However, I felt no threat at all over Eli. I knew, he would never want to be back with that flat-haired rat again. At least, I hoped not.