Julie was constantly looking on her phone during work and later that day when she had French classes. The certainty that Gianni ghosted her became bigger with every minute that passed.
Julie didn't know what she did wrong or what she should do now. If he doesn't want to see her anymore that's fine but he owned her at least an explanation.
He cannot act like he was into her and even agreeing on further dates in the next few days and then ghost her out of nowhere. That behavior was unacceptable.
Julie wanted to know if she was wrong about her assessment of Gianni's character. He seemed so honest and authentic. How could she be so wrong.
Usually, she was good in judging someone's character and she could easily detect fake people. That was one of her biggest strengths.
Was she so dazzled by his charm and handsome face that she couldn't see clearly anymore? That was so unlike her and Julie started to get more and more irritated about her own gullibility. She knew that will gnaw on her for a while.
When Julie came back home in the evening, she decided to call him. She couldn't let this situation go without knowing what his problem was.
Her phone beeped one time and then a voice answered her that the number was not available. "What the heck!", Julie cursed.
She sat down on her sofa and pressed her knees to her chest.
She saw that Gianni read her message. That means, he didn't lose or break his phone. That could only bring her to the conclusion that Gianni ignored her on purpose. Maybe he even blocked her and that's why his number is unavailable.
Julie felt more miserable every second. She desperately wanted to know what went wrong. What did she do?
She wasn't experienced in dating. So she thought that she has done something that turned him off and she didn't even notice.
But when he left it seemed like he wanted to kiss her. It all didn't make sense.
Julie pressed at her temples. The more she was overthinking this the more her head started to hurt.
Did he not like her? What was wrong about her? Wasn't he attracted to her or did he not like her personality? Did he find her too boring?
Julie head was spinning but she couldn't make her mind stop with the hurtful thoughts.
She thought back at yesterday morning when she met Gianni for the first time. She felt never that attracted before to a man. But even though he was a total stranger, there was something about him that pulled her in his direction.
Now she realized this feeling was one sided. She felt like such an idiot.
'Will I always be alone? Am I not worthy of love?' Julie thought while a lone tear was running down her cheek.
She wasn't someone who would cry easily but before she could compose herself the single tear turned into many more and she just let her emotions take over and sat there crying for half an hour.
Julie was pulled out of her miserable state when she heard a knock on the door. She swiftly wiped her face and opened the door to be greeted by a smiling Pierre.
"Hey, I know you have plans. I just wanted to know if you want to hang out on Saturday. Me, Lucas and the girls wanted to go to a club. If you want you can bring your date," Pierre said while fanning innocence.
"No, he won't come", Julie said in a small voice.
Pierre frowned. "What happened. Were you crying?" He asked noticing her red cheeks and glossy eyes.
Julie didn't know what to say. She already felt new tears coming in so she just kept quite.
Pierre leaned down on Julie's level and looked at her with concern. "Hey, what happened? Did this guy do something. Was he mean or did he hurt you."
Julie shook her head.
Pierre reached for her cheeks that were tainted by new tears. He wiped them away and then raised her head to make her look at him. "No matter what happened. You mustn't cry over a guy like him."
Julie looked at him with tears in her eyes. Her nose and cheeks were slightly red and her eyes sparkled from the fresh tears.
Pierre was sure that even like this she was the most beautiful woman in the world and seeing her like this made him wish to protect her.
The moment was intimate. He was gently holding her face in his hands and she was looking up at him like he was the only man who could help her out of this sadness.
He couldn't help his eyes that were darting to her lips and the desire for her swelled within him. He knew it wasn't the right time but he couldn't control himself.
Before he could do anything he would regret Julie was throwing herself into his arms.
"Pierre, why does no one like me?" She cried into his shoulder.
He was puzzled for a moment but than proceeded to hold her tightly against him.
He wanted to tell her how much he likes her. No, it was even more than this. He was deeply in love with Julie but he couldn't tell her now. It wasn't the right moment. He was determined to make her fall in love with him first.
"Why are you saying this. There is nothing unlikable about you. You are a smart, beautiful and very kind and every guy who can't see how great you are doesn't deserve you anyway."
Julie didn't answer instead she continued to cry.
Pierre felt guilty about what he did. Julie was sad now because of him. He wouldn't have thought that this would effect her that much.
But the bigger part of him was still glad that he acted so quickly. If she is this emotional over a guy, she just met yesterday they would have been in a relationship in a few days.
It was good that he got rid of this guy immediately. Julie will get over it and he will be by her side helping her.
When Julie calmed down instead of talking about it Pierre cooked her a tea and they sat together on her sofa while Julie drank the tea in silence.
"Are you feeling better?" He asked after some time.
Julie wasn't feeling better but she nodded nonetheless. She was out of tears but still felt horrible.
Julie felt pathetic for being this sad about a guy she barely knows but her meltdown wasn't only about Gianni. She was afraid that she would never meet someone who would love her and she would love back.
What if she stays single forever. She already waited this long for her Mister Right, a man that would sweep her off her feet. And when she thought she had found him, it was all just in her head.
What if what she wants doesn't exist? What if her expectations are too high? Will she be forever single? Maybe she should stop living in a fairy tale and lower her standards?
Pierre noticed that Julie was deep in her thoughts and tried to bring her back to the present. "Julie can you tell me what happened. You don't have to if you don't want but maybe I can help."
Julie exhaled sharply and put her tea cup down. "Nothing happened. He didn't show up and he doesn't answer my texts and calls. I think he blocked my number."
"Oh", was all Pierre managed to say at first. "But I already told you if he can see how cool you are he doesn't deserve you."
"Thanks Pierre." Julie gave her best to smile a little. She appreciated that he wanted to cheer her up.
"I just wish he would have told me why he doesn't want to see me anymore. Yesterday he seemed so excited about meeting me again. I can't believe he would fool me like that."
Gianni seemed so real at their date. His talkative personality, the passion in his voice when he talked about art and music. He didn't strike her as a dishonest person. Not even as someone who would hold back what he really thinks.
"Maybe that guy doesn't have the guts to reject a woman in person. If you ask me that is not a desirable trait in a man. A real man is honest with his feelings", Pierre said almost not noticing the irony in his statement but he decided to not think about it.
He will tell Julie what he feels at the right time and this was definitely not the right time.
"Anyway, you might never find out why he isn't answering you, so there is no use in thinking about it."
Julie realized that he was right. Crying about it won't change a thing and she didn't want to be sad anymore.
"You are right. Let's talk about something else. What was with this party on Saturday that you mentioned."
Pierre smiled at her glad that this topic was over. "Jade invited us all to celebrate that she finally got her masters degree."
"But she goes clubbing every week-end anyway."
Pierre shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say. She goes on parties every chance she gets. But I guess it makes her feel better to now have a good reason for it."
Julie laughed. "Yes, I guess it feels more deserved. Do you want to order some food. We can watch a movie if you want to stay longer."
Julie didn't want to be alone now. Pierre distracted her from drifting back into negativity and she liked his company.
"Yes how about I order pizza and you decide on a movie."
"Sounds good. I'll take the usual."
The two of them spent the evening together watching two movies while eating plenty of food. During the second movie Julie fell asleep. Her head landed on Pierre's shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her and pressed her head on his chest.
In that moment he didn't regret a thing. Too good was the feeling of having Julie in his arms and he wanted it forever that way.
'I will make you mine no matter what,' he thought looking at her with an enamored gaze.