Chapter 50: Unwee Help


    “Alright, alright, that’s enough,” Enzo said, the red in his eyes fading back to a soft brown. “Get back to


    training.


    The team grumbled and set me back down on the ground, then started running again. I was still


    amazed at myndslide victory in the race, and stood there for a moment as they ran ahead.


    Enzo walked up to me now that we were alone and gazed down at me with a half-smile on his face.


    “You’re quite the runner,” he said.


    “I guess so,” I replied. “I don’t know what came over me.”


    For a few moments, neither of us spoke. We were standing close enough that I could smell his sweat


    mixed with his cologne. Involuntarily, we were both leaning closer to each other. Close enough to


    kiss…


    Enzo stepped back and shook his head. He drew in a sharp breath before speaking.


    “What you sawst night-”


    “Whatever it is, it’s none of my business,” I interrupted. “We’re just friends. You’re allowed to do


    whatever you want.”


    Enzo opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, the team started getting annoyed


    and calling for us to catch up. Turning on my heel, I ran to join the group so Enzo couldn’t see my


    tears.


    He lingered at the back of the group for the rest of the run.


    When we finished our run, we came back out at the same spot we went into the woods, having gone in


    a big loop. Tiffany was sitting on the bench and flipping through some paperwork when we returned.


    “Have a good run?” she asked, standing as I jogged up to her.


    “It wasn’t bad, actually,” I said, praying that the blush on my face would just seem like it came from all


    of the exertion and not from the feeling of Enzo’s red wolf eyes on me.


    “Good,” Tiffany replied with a smile, sticking her paperwork in her bag and. hoisting the bag onto her


    shoulder. ” I’ve gotta head back to the office. You did good work today. Go get some rest.”


    I nodded and watched Tiffany walk away. Then, taking onest nce over my shoulder at Enzo and


    the rest of the team, I started to head in the direction of home. My shower and my bed were calling to


    me after that run.


    “Nina!” Justin called from behind me.


    I pursed my lips and turned around, not wanting to be rude but also not wanting to give my ex any more


    false hope than he already seemed to have. “What’s up?” I said.


    “Can I walk with you for a minute? I just wanna talk.”


    Sighing, I nodded and started walking again. Justin followed along like a lost puppy.


    “I just wanted to apologize again for everything I’ve put you through this semester,” he said as we


    walked. “I know I’ve been shitty to you, and I’ll totally respect it if you just wanna be friends. But I also


    want you to know that I’m gonna work real hard to change and be better from now on.


    I thought back to the way Justin looked in the coffee shop that day. He had been dressed eerily simr


    to Enzo; in fact, he was even dressed a lot like Enzo now in his athletic clothes, and seemed to have


    grown his hair out a bit to look like Enzo’s.


    “Are you trying to be like Enzo?” I blurted out, stopping and looking at Justin.


    He stared back at me with wide eyes and stammered out a response. “N-No … W-What makes you


    think that?”


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    I raised an eyebrow and folded my arms across my chest for a moment as I eyed Justin up and down,


    but then sighed and rxed when I saw how he looked like a deer in headlights.


    “Listen,” I said softly, “I liked you just fine before, and I think you should just be yourself.”


    A slight smile started to y on Justin’s lips. “Does that mean…” he started to say.


    “No,” I replied, vehemently shaking my head. “Justin, the fact of the matter is that you cheated on me. I


    don’t resent you, but… I don’t see any way in which I can keep my dignity as a woman and get back


    together with you.”


    Justin looked sad, but nodded nheless. “I understand,” he said. ” I promise though that I’ll keep


    working on myself. Can we at least be friends?”


    I sighed.


    “Sure,” I replied. “If you really do n to work on yourself, we can be friends.”


    I just hoped that he wasn’t only working on himself because he thought we still had a chance.


    As I walked away from Justin, I took onest nce over my shoulder to see Enzo watching me from


    the athletic field.


    The next day, I was walking to my nextss of the day when my phone started buzzing. I looked at it to


    see that it was


    Phil, from the diner, calling me.


    “Hello?” I answered.


    “Nina,” Phil said, sounding chipper. “I hope you’ve been doing better.”


    “I have, actually,” I replied. Was he going to ask me toe back to work? I really needed the money,


    but I didn’t want to beg.


    “Listen,” he said, “we’re really missing your help over here. I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions before… If


    you’re not too mad at me, and if I gave you a raise to make up for it, would you be interested ining


    back to work?”


    “Yes!” I blurted out, then covered my mouth and cringed at my overly enthusiastic response. “I mean…


    Yeah, that would be good. When do you want me toe back?”


    “Can youe in tonight?” Phil asked.


    I had promised Lori I would hang out with her, but I knew she would understand. I really needed the


    money; I’d been living on the free meal n food and instant noodles for the past two weeks.


    “I’ll see you tonight,” I said.


    Later, I exined the situation to Lori. and she understoodpletely. I had just enough time after my


    last ss to shower and get changed into my uniform before I had to go to work, and I was honestly


    excited to be back; not to mention the pay raise.


    I was walking to work, however, when I ran into none other than Enzo on the quad.


    He looked me up and down and smiled.


    “Back to work?” he said.


    “Yeah,” I replied, blushing when I saw his eyes flicker down to my chest, which I had always thought


    looked quite good in my retro diner uniform.” Um, Phil called earlier and I guess he had a sudden


    change of heart. He even gave me a raise.”


    Enzo smirked. “Good,” he replied. ” You deserve it. I’m d he took my advice.”


    I was about to say something else, but my words caught in my throat as I realized what Enzo had just


    said.


    “Wait,” I said, taking a step backwards. “Did you… Did you talk to Phil?”


    Enzo looked a little embarrassed, but nodded. “Yeah,” he admitted. “After you told me everything that


    happened with Lisa, I thought it would help the situation.”


    I didn’t know what to say. I was happy to have my job back, but a part of me was also hurt that Enzo


    felt the need to take care of me.


    Enzo must have seen me struggling. I’m sorry,” he said. “I know I should’ve asked you first. I just


    thought… I don’t know. I thought it would be a nice surprise. Something to make up for how shitty I’ve


    been.”


    I shifted my bag on my shoulder and nodded pensively as I looked at the ground. “I do appreciate it,” I


    replied. ” Thank you. Just… In the future, let me handle my own affairs, please. I can take care of


    myself.”


    Enzo seemed visibly hurt by my words, but before I could take back what I said, he nodded and started


    to walk away. “It won’t happen again,” he said, sticking his hands in his pockets. “Good luck at work


    tonight.”


    I bit my lip as I watched him walk away.. I couldn’t let him leave like this.


    “Enzo!” I called after him.


    He stopped and turned around, and when his sad gaze met mine, my heart skipped a beat.


    “Really,” I said softly. “Thank you.”


    A soft smile tugged at the corners of Enzo’s lips. Without a word, he nodded and walked away.