He Looked Back

by Hollandaise, Melissa

  My eyes fall from the paintings to the man sitting behind the silver desk.

  Alec.

  He seems to look menacing as ever, writing something rapidly, his brow furrowed.

  William gives me a rough shove that I also interpret as part of the act and I step forward, looking down.

  “Alec, we’ve got a visitor.” William’ tone has shifted to how it sounded when he and Ethan stopped me on the street.

  Alec looks up from his work, a sinister smile spreading across his scarred face. Shivers run down my spine.

  “Well, well,” he says, folding his hands on the desk. “Katie Harris. How nice of you to show.”I swallow.

  “Leave us, Tomlinson.”

  William nods curtly and exits the room, leaving me ten times more terrified.

  “Have a seat, Katie.”

  I sit in one of the metal chairs in front of the desk with great trepidation.

  “Let’s chat, shall we?”

  I chew on my lip.

  “How are you?”

  “Fine.”

  “You’re looking lovely.”

  “Thanks.”

  Alec leans back in his seat. “What do you think of this room, Katie?”I look around. “It’s very clean,” I say.

  “Did you take notice of the paintings?”

  I nod. “Yes.”

  “What do you think they signify?”

  I’m about to open my mouth to tell him, when I stop myself. The key is to make him think I’m as stupid and unknowing as possible.

  “I don’t know,” I say.

  “Any guesses?”

  “No.”

  “None?”

  “No.”

  “Interesting.” He stands from his desk, holding his hands behind his back, beginning to pace. “Katie, I have been notified you possess knowledge of Lyone Enterprises.”I blink. “Lyone Enterprises?”

  “Yes.” He stops pacing. “Proceed to tell me what you know.”“I don’t know what...Lyone Enterprises, or whatever...is.”Alec blinks. “You know Dylan Wilson,” he states.

  I nod. “He works with me.”

  “Correct. And you are involved with him romantically.”

  I burst into laughter. “No,” I say, shaking my head. “No.”Alec stares at me, raising an eyebrow. “What’s funny here?”“I am not involved with Dylan in any way,” I say confidently.

  “You have no feelings for him?”

  “No.”

  “What does he mean to you?”

  “I—”

  “What does he mean to you?” Alec raises his voice, slamming his palm down on the desk. I jump slightly.

  “Nothing!” I shout. “He means nothing to me!”

  “Nothing whatsoever?”

  “No! I feel nothing for him, nor will I ever,” I spit. My chest aches.

  Alec grins widely. He slowly sits back down, leaning on the armrest of his chair.

  “Once again, Katie, the security cameras have betrayed you,” he says, his eyes flashing.

  “W-what?”

  “Wilson!” He shouts. The door off to the side I noticed earlier opens, and Dylan steps out.

  Chapter Fifty Seven

  My heart is instantly in my throat as Dylan shuts the metal door behind him.

  I had Wilson here monitor our conversation from the security office, Alec says evilly.

  Dylan's face is stoic as he stares at me.

  I have no idea what to think, or expect. My throat is dry and I can't seem to form words.

  Alec is using my false words about my feelings to get Dylan to turn on me.

  Wilson, can you vouch for what Katie has just said? Alec asks, the sinister smile still on his face. Do you feel nothing for her? For a split second, I see emotion flash before his eyes the green splashing from light to dark in seconds. I see visions of him holding me in the night, me cleaning his cuts, the two of us laughing together, his hand on my back as we stared at the stars only a few hours ago.

  Then his eyes darken, the green so muted it's almost black.

  I feel less than nothing for her, he snaps, tearing his eyes away from me.

  I feel my heart crack.

  I suppose I have misjudged, Alec says, raising his eyebrows. But there's always the chance that you're lying.' His eyes flash.

  Dylan swallows. 'I told you, she doesn't know anything. Why would I tell her anything?' Every word that escapes from him seems to hit me harder, but I keep my expression neutral.

  'Get her out of here, Wilson. I expect you attending meetings, from now on,' Alec snaps, picking up the papers on his desk and straightening them.

  Dylan nods and paces out of the room.

  I stand from my seat, taking one last look at Alec before turning and following Dylan.

  I hate Alec.

  When I emerge from Ivory and into the alley, Dylan stands by his car, which is parked across the street.

  'Get in,' he snaps at me when I near him.

  I sigh and comply.

  It seems that every time I'm at Ivory, Dylan ends up fuming at me.

  'I don't understand,' I say. 'What were you doing there?'

  'I went to talk to him beforehand, to make sure he wasn't pissed because I've missed meetings. He caught sight of you and William walking in and told me to wait in the surveillance room.' Dylan doesn't even look at me.

  I look at my lap.

  The car ride is silent.

  I lean my head against the window, shutting my eyes.

  'Don't fall asleep in my car again, I won't carry you up.'

  I flinch at Dylan's words, sitting up straight. 'I wasn't going to.'Dylan's hands grip the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles almost turning white.

  'I don't know why you're so pissed off,' I say to him.

  'I heard everything you said,' he snaps. 'Everything.'

  'So what?'

  'So, you basically said you could give a flying fuck about me.'

  'Why does that matter to you?'

  'Of course it matters to me, we're friends.' He shakes his head. 'We were friends,' he corrects himself and my heart sinks.

  'That's not the reason, and you know it,' I say. 'You have feelings for me, but you won't say.'I have no feelings for you, Katie. I would rather crawl on my hands and knees back to Abigail than ever have feelings for you.'His words hit me hard and I bite my lip to keep from crying.

  'You're lying,' I call him out as he pulls into the lot of our apartments, parking the car and getting out hastily.

  I follow quickly, having to run to keep up with his long strides.

  Alec did this, I know he did. He wants to tear Dylan and I apart, and he's succeeding.

  'What about all the time we spent together?' I shout, grabbing his wrist to make him stop walking.

  He recoils, coming to a stop.

  We stand in the parking lot, the wind blowing harshly around us.

  'What about when you let me stay those nights with you? What about when you let me sleep next to you? What about when you said if you had one wish, you'd wish for me? What about when you kissed me, Dylan?' My voice cracks.

  He doesn't meet my gaze. 'You're the one who said you didn't feel anything,' he snaps. 'You said it to Alec's face, right there. I saw it.'I said it because if he found out I did have feelings for you, we'd both be screwed!'His eyes snap to me. 'You have feelings for me?'

  'Of course I have feelings for you, Dylan! For the love of God, how could you not know that by now?' I look away from him, crossing my arms over my chest. 'You ignite this fire in me I didn't know existed, Dylan. Whenever I'm around you there's like this force that draws us together, and I don't know why or how but I'm addicted to it.'He doesn't answer and I look back at him.

  'It doesn't matter, though,' I say. 'Because you don't believe in any of that, right?'He looks down.

  I shut my eyes, taking a deep breath. 'You don't believe in happy endings, prince charmings, and certainly not love.'I open my eyes and turn on my heel, entering the lobby and leaving Dylan
to watch me walk away.

  I think I hear him call my name, but I ignore him and take the stairs up.

  I slam the door to my apartment behind me, tears overflowing in my eyes.

  I hate Alec, I hate him so much for doing this. He saw right through my lies, and he used them against me.

  I hate Dylan, too. I hate him for believing what I said, and for taking it to heart.

  I drag myself into the shower, trying to wash away the events of the day, but it's no use. Dylan's hurt, dark eyes still swim through my mind.

  I change into my pajamas and sit in bed, turning on the TV, flipping through the channels lazily.

  It's past eleven pm, and I have no desire to sleep, when I know Dylan will only lace my dreams.

  I finally fall asleep around midnight, the TV still on low volume in the background.

  And as I drift off, I realize I don't only have feelings for Dylan.

  I love him.

  When I wake up the next morning, the ground outside is white.

  I wrap my robe tighter around me and marvel at the fact that it's snowing so early in the year'late November, when it usually doesn't snow in Edinburgh until late December, if at all.

  I make myself coffee and watch the morning news, pulling my hair into a ponytail.

  Around ten I get dressed and straighten my hair, and write out a grocery list.

  I feel almost numb from my encounter the night before.

  At eleven I gather my things and step out into the hall, turning to lock my door behind me.

  Of course, just my luck'so does Dylan.

  'Hey,' he says and I force myself to look at him.

  He wears a Rolling Stones t-shirt with a grey sweatshirt, his coat draped over his arm.

  'Hi.'

  He scratches the back of his neck, his eyes moving to the ground before back to mine. 'Do you want to get lunch?'I shake my head. 'No, thanks.'

  He looks disappointed for a second before composing himself. 'Are you sure? I was going to get Panera.'I love Panera.

  I love him.

  'I'm sure.'

  He sighs. 'Look, I'm sorry, alright,' he says. 'I shouldn't have said what I did last night.'I nod. 'Okay.' I shift my weight. 'I'm still not coming to lunch with you.'He runs his tongue over his lips. 'Where are you going, then?''Grocery shopping.'

  'I'll come with you, and we can get lunch after.''No, Dylan.' I straighten my posture. 'I don't think I can spend any time with you right now.' He stares at me for a long moment.

  He finally nods.

  I'll admit, it hurts to see him look at me like that, but I nod and walk down the hall, deciding on taking the stairs rather than endure an elevator ride with him.

  My feet sink in the layer of snow outside, and I leave footprints when I walk. Despite my relatively sour mood, the snow lifts my spirits as I trudge to my car.

  I blast the heat when I slide into the driver's seat, pushing hair over my shoulder.

  I chew on my lip as I drive along, paying close attention to the ice on the road. Snow like this reminds me of London, and I smile a bit, thinking about my home.

  I wonder how my parents are doing'they finalized their divorce only last week. I had meant to call them, but I guess I just forgot.

  I dial my mother's number.

  'Hello?'

  'Hi, Mom. It's Katie.'

  'Oh! Hi, Katie, how are you?' Her tone sounds tired, almost worn out.

  'I'm fine, how is everything? With Dad?' 'Oh.' She pauses. 'He moved out last week. I got custody of the house.'My heart sinks. My parents are really not together anymore.

  'Anyway, tell me about Edinburgh.'

  I tell her how it snowed last night, and how my job is going.

  'And how's James? Did you two work things out?' I almost laugh. 'No, no we didn't.'

  'Oh, I'm sorry, Katie. What about that neighbor of yours?'I freeze. I don't remember telling her about Dylan.

  'Neighbor?'

  'Courtney told me you have a, quote, 'hot neighbor.''I burst into laughter, pulling into a spot in the supermarket parking. I now remember telling Courtney about Dylan the night we made up'although, I didn't quite describe him as 'hot.''Well?' My mother asks. I can hear the smirk in her voice.

  'Dylan and I are friends,' I say. Can I even say that anymore?

  I would rather crawl on my hands and knees back to Abigail than ever have feelings for you.

  I feel less than nothing for her.

  'Oh. Well, I hear he's British.'

  The smile has fallen from my face. 'Yeah.'

  'Katie? Are you alright?'

  I shake my head. 'Yeah, sorry. Look, I'll call you later this week, I'm at the supermarket.''Alright, I'll talk to you soon. Love you, Katie.''Love you, Mom.'

  I drop my phone in my lap and take my bottom lip between my teeth.

  I feel less than nothing for her.

  I'd wish for you, Katie.

  I would rather crawl on my hands and knees back to Abigail than ever have feelings for you.

  I'd wish for you.

  His words swim in my mind, and I put my head in my hands.

  I should have gone to lunch with him, I should have apologized. I should have told him I didn't mean anything I said the night before, and things would go back to normal.

  I guess there really is no normal when it comes to Dylan and I.

  Thanksgiving week passes fairly quickly for me.

  Most every day, our 'alliance', as we've come to call it, has met. Most days we meet at Dylan's place, but sometimes we go to Oliver's. We've decided we need to be a lot more careful when it comes to Alec'he's unpredictable.