Elijah made no attempts to contact me. He didn't actively avoid me, as I did him, but he remained expressionless if we made eye contact. I guess this is our idea of being friends. I thought bitterly to myself.

I threw myself into my schoolwork and tried to stay busy to avoid any thoughts about him. I was always either at the library or in my room. The end of the semester was approaching quickly and I wanted to finish strong.

I was in my room when I heard a knock at the door. My eyebrows furrowed, I was annoyed that I was being interrupted. I opened the door to Alex. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know this was your room."

"What's up?" I crossed my arms.

"I don't know, you tell me. Been acting real Hollywood lately." He smirked as he leaned in the doorframe.

"I've just been studying a lot." I laughed nervously.

Alex stretched his neck to look behind me, "Yeah, you look real busy." He said sarcastically as he pushed a flyer into my hands. "We're having a birthday party for Eli. If you come we'll waive the entry fee."

My interest was piqued immediately. "Did he send you here?" I tried my best not to sound desperate as I asked.

"No, but he misses you."

I scoffed, offering a meek apology as Alex snickered.

"No, seriously! Look, I think it'd mean a lot to him if you showed up."

"I'll think about it." I shrugged.

"Great! Wear something nice!" Alex winked as he ran off to the next room. I sighed and closed my door. I leaned back on it and began to scan the flyer. The event was scheduled for Friday night at 10. The entry fee was $15, but if I went it'd get waived. Why not?

If I was going, I'd go all in.

Unfortunately, Elaine was working Friday afternoon but she promised to meet me at the party.

I went to a local hair salon. I asked that they straighten my usually coily afro. My hair fell to the middle of my back and I could barely recognize the woman looking back at me in the mirror. They quickly got to work on my makeup. I wanted a look that made me glow, and I wanted something that matched with my dress.

I showed the makeup artist my dress and gave them full range. After thirty minutes of poking and prodding at my face he was done. "Do you like it?" He asked hopefully.

I opened my eyes and had to stop myself from biting my lip. The foundation enhanced my complexion. My eyebrows were crafted to perfection as were my cheekbones. My eyelids were heavy from the lashes he added to them yet they were also adorned with glittery green and grey eyeshadow. My lips were a wine red.

I left the salon feeling like a million dollars. I felt stares from both men and women but I was too giddy to care. Once I got back to my room I put my outfit together.

I had picked out an emerald green velvety dress with a cowl neck. It gave me curves I didn't know I had. The back was held together with strings. The dress stopped mid-thigh. I paired the look with silver hoop earrings, black heeled sandals and a small green purse. I couldn't stop staring at myself in the mirror.

I forced myself to keep my head held high as I walked through the halls and down to my cab. I deserved to be seen.

I sighed and clutched my purse nervously as I arrived at the club. The ground would shake every time the door to the club opened. I turned and the line stretched halfway down the block. I pressed my lips together and walked to the back, getting stared at by most of the people in line.

"Rona? Where are you going?" A voice called from the front. Alex waved me over.

"Okay, I see you sis!" He gave me a high five and ushered me inside the loud and dark club. "Eli should be by the bar!" He shouted before going back to tend the line.

The door shut behind me and I sighed. My body was vibrating to the music. I assessed the crowd until I saw him. He was sitting the bar, just as Alex said he would be. He was chatting up the bartender while sipping a beer. I needed to find a way to get to him.

I attempted to go around the crowd by hugging the wall. I got grabbed a few times by some touchy guys who I lightly pushed off me.

My heart jumped a little at the sight of him. I wanted to get what I came here for. I squared my shoulders and moved my hair from my face. I boldly walked over to his seat and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey!" I yelled in his ear. He turned his neck slightly and gave me a once over.

His eyes studied my face briefly before turning back to his beer. I tapped him again, with more vigor. "What?" He said annoyed.

"It's Verona!" I yelled in his ear. He pulled back and the look of recognition flashed across his face. He looked at me again, analyzing every part of my body, lingering in some places more than others.

"Oh, hey." He forced a look of disinterest.

I took the empty seat next to him and played with my nails as I waited for him to acknowledge me again. Unsatisfied with how this was going, I thought about leaving, but I didn't spend all this money not to get what I wanted.

I tapped him one last time. "Alex said my first drink would be on you. Will you buy me one?" I smiled.

"No, I'm good." He downed his beer and asked the bartender for another. My cheeks flooded from embarrassment. He had shot me down so quickly, my mood changed. Tears stung the corners of my eyes. Even a makeover couldn't change his mind about me.

"Hey, man let me get a shot of tequila for her?" He called the bartender over and ordered.

The bartender quickly prepared my drink and placed it in front of me with a wink. I turned to thank Elijah but he was already retreating through the crowd.

"He paid already, it's cool." The bartender yelled over the music. I nodded and finished my drink.

The one reason I came here ran for the hills as soon as he saw me. It was time to give it up. I slumped in my seat as the alcohol started to set in. I needed to get back to my room. I shakily grabbed my clutch and tried my best to walk straight in my heels.

I couldn't get outside fast enough. The cool air settled on my skin quickly. I never seemed to remember to bring a proper jacket to these functions.

I leaned against a brick wall as I struggled to put in the proper address of the club. "The party is inside last time I checked." Alex put a hold on tending to the line while he playfully scolded me.

"I'm going back to my room." I pouted as I fumbled with my phone.

"You just got here," Frustration wrinkled his features as he stepped closer. "What about Eli?"

"He got me the drink as promised." I shrugged, looking back at him.

Alex sucked his teeth and pulled out his phone, presumably to call Eli but there was no need. I noticed his figure from behind Alex's, just as he was

exiting the club.

I only had to deal with this for a few more minutes while I waited for my Uber.

Alex followed my eyes and turned to see Elijah going through his keys as he trekked back to his car. Nearly exclaiming, he flagged the distracted man down, not before snatching my phone out of my hands.

"What the hell? I already called my Uber!" I yelled after him, but he ignored me. Alex tapped and slid his finger across the screen quickly."Did you delete the app? What if they charge a fee for missing my ride?" I whined from the wall. I was afraid if I moved I might fall.

"My man's got you, I promise." Alex handed Eli my phone as he responded from afar, likely to steer clear of my tipsy wrath.

"You going back to campus?" Eli sauntered up to me and asked as I took my phone from his hands.

I looked up from my phone at Eli, whose eyes were trained on the ground for some reason. "Yeah, I just have to RE-DOWNLOAD UBER." I purposefully yelled in Alex's direction.

"I can drive you back." Eli said reluctantly, a long, exasperated sigh left his lips as he scratched the back of his head.

"Oh," I chewed the inside of my cheek. I couldn't bear another awkward car ride with him. I wasn't drunk enough to do anything stupid like profess my pathetic, undying love again. I was tipsy enough not to be able to stand up straight without a little support.

There weren't exactly any guard rails leading directly to his car.

"No, it's cool." I shook my head. "I'm sure I can get another Uber."

Eli said nothing as he nodded, slowly backing away until Alex aggressively cleared his throat. Apparently he stayed within earshot of us. "Don't be an idiot." Elijah muttered, turning back to his car.

My eyebrows furrowed together as I pouted. "Are you coming?" He groaned. I wasn't an idiot, but I didn't want to be a burden either.

"Yeah," I pushed myself off the wall. Wobbling dangerously in my shoes, I held on to the wall. "Can you walk me to the car, please?"

My hand hurt from how hard I was griping Eli's sleeve. My legs were trembling and I could barely contain my shivers. "You know you can hold my arm, right?"

"Yeah, but I'm fine." I reassured him, but he only sucked his teeth in annoyance. His free arm pulled me so that I would walk in front of him as he anchored me with his arms.

He was wearing that cologne again. I wanted to bury my face in his chest.

Elijah's hands were so warm despite the cold temperature. Part of me wished he would offer me his jacket which definitely smelled like him too, but that was unlikely to happen since we had already reached the car.

I shuddered as he propped me up against the cold door while he fished for his keys in his pockets. I missed his hands but I was too shy to ask for what I wanted.

Regardless, Eli noticed I was cold. "I have a hoodie in the trunk you can borrow." My cheeks flushed at the thought. He opened the passenger side door and helped me inside.

After a minute in the car alone, he finally joined me, dumping the sweater into my lap. I mumbled my appreciation as I put it on. The car hummed as he started it and turned on the heat.

Eli leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. I kept mine down, trying to hide the fact that I was definitely smelling his sweater. Smiling at his familiar scent, I copied Eli's actions as the hum of the heater soon became background noise.

Our quiet was peaceful but there was something on my mind. "Elijah, do you hate me?" I said, keeping my eyes closed.

"No." I listened intently as he shifted in his seat.

"It doesn't feel like it." I muttered as I crossed my arms.

"And why is that?"

"I don't know..." I trailed off, not knowing where to begin. "Maybe because I can barely get you to say more than four words to me at a time?"

"Verona, I don't hate you." He sighed.

"Don't think you're off the hook because you said five words that time." I snickered as he sucked his teeth.

"What do you want from me?"

"I want the same thing as you: to be friends again." I swallowed a lump in my throat as the words left my mouth. I had to come to terms with the fact that Elijah would never see me in the way I see him.

He was a valuable friend, and I couldn't bear to lose him. I had blossomed so much from simply being around him. I couldn't deny the fact that my social skills and circle had improved dramatically within our short time knowing each other.

"We are friends." Eli insisted.

"I guess that's why you don't look me in the eye anymore?" I opened one eye and peeked at him. "I thought that was my thing." I chuckled to myself.

"Imitation is the best form of flattery." He took a deep breath as he smiled at his own joke.

"Right." I flashed a tight smile as I fastened my seatbelt.

Elijah began to pull out of the parking lot, "Rona, we're good. I promise."

"Okay, so when are we going back to normal?" I pressed. "Things haven't been the same between us for a while."

"Don't take this personally, I've just been busy." Eli said as he gripped the steering wheel.

"What does being busy have to do with saying hi?" My eyebrows shot up in curiosity.

"I told you before, I'm dealing with some shit—"

"But that never stopped you from saying hi." I interrupted. "It's like you're not even trying to be friends."

"Of course I'm not. I don't see a reason to try and be friends with you anymore." Eli admitted as he slowed the car at a stop sign. "We just are." He added quickly.

My chest felt a slight pang at his comment, but I pushed forward. "What do you mean?"

"I don't want to try to be your friend. If the feelings are there, then I will be your friend."

"If?" I asked incredulously. "You've been acting like a stranger, lately." The corners of my eyes stung as the pain in my chest grew. "Does that mean the feelings aren't there?"

"I said not to take it personally." Eli muttered as he rolled his eyes.

"How can I not when I'm the only person you do it to?" I trailed off quietly. Elijah was making me feel like I was crazy.

The car stopped, but I wasn't ready to end our conversation. Thankfully, neither was Eli. "I've been a little distant, but I think it might be good for us."

"If is good for us, why do I feel like I'm being punished?" I wrung my hands, trying my best to stay calm. "Have I been a burden on you?"

"No, Verona." After he parked the car, he put his forehead against the steering wheel and began rubbing his temples.

"I've been annoying you?"

"Verona, stop this."

"It's about the fucking kiss, isn't it." I spat. That damned kiss was supposed to be a cute memory that night, but it's been nothing but a thorn in my side.

"Yes." He admitted, matching my tone. "It's been hard to be around you since that happened." My heart dropped as my worst fears came true.