Carnivals: Claimed By The Deranged Alpha Prince [BL]
Chapter 161: Thanks, but no thanks

Chapter 161: Thanks, but no thanks

Jules pov

I took another step away from him, feeling disgusted.

"This was the same thing you did in the elevator back then. It’s nothing but blackmailing."

This time, he threw his hands up. "Stop calling it that, Jules."

"Since you remember our encounter in that elevator, then you definitely remember when I told you that you’d undoubtedly realize when you’re being blackmailed by me, don’t upu?"

He had a dark grin across his face and I put more distance between us, already starting to feel creeped out.

"I should never have agreed to have this conversation with you." I spat out and whirled around.

"Relax, Jules. I was only pulling your legs about the blackmailing thing." He called out behind me but I didn’t stop, I just kept walking.

After about a few seconds, I trot someone grab my arm and when I turned around, it turned out to be Kai. I tried pulling away but he didn’t let go.

"Can you stop touching me without my consent?" I demanded but he only rolled his eyes.

"Relax, Jules. Stop getting so worked up around your friend, especially one who’s always looking out for you." He drawled and a frown formed on my face.

"You’re not my friend though." I informed him and the smile slowly wiltheted on his face.

"Say what now?" He demanded and I shrugged.

"Maybe we were friends in the past but not any longer. We’re definitely not friends right now."

"And why’s that?" He inquired and I huffed, trying to pull my hand from his grip once again to no avail.

"Because friends don’t blackmail each other. Friends don’t act a certain way because there’s something in it for the person. Real friendship doesn’t work like that."

He let out a long sigh this time.

"I really wasn’t blackmailing you, I promise. All I’ve always done is look out for you, since the first day you got enrolled into Carnivals."

When I tugged my hand this time, he let go and I completely pulled free.

"I never denied your friendship in the past, but now... you’re only looking out for me because you want me to get together with you, which means you’re claiming to genuinely look out for me when you’re actually doing it because of what might be in it for you. I’m sorry but I can’t be friends with that kind of person."

Once I was done, I whirled around and headed back to the front of the cafe. This time, he didn’t follow me.

When I reached the table I shared with Elio, it was empty and I don’t Blame him since I was gone for over thirty minutes with that insufferable Kai.

I noticed a note underneath my own cup and pulled it out.

’I know it’s your treat but I already settled the bills. Something came up and I had to leave. Maybe we can hang out one more time before we have to return back to school.

Elio’.

A smile stretched out across my face as I tucked the paper into my pocket and picked my my stuff.

I was walking without an actual pace because the weather was currently nice, and that was when I sighted Taylor and Josh when I glsnced up from the ground.

A stab of jealousy and hurt flashed through my insides again at the sight of them walking together. Josh and Taylor had clearly settled things and they didn’t bother to work things out with me.

I scrolled my expression and made sure to look neutral as we walked past each other.

After taking two more steps, Josh’s voice called out.

"Jules? Can we have a moment, please?"

I stopped in my tracks and let out a long sigh, contemplating if I should give in to the call of lie that I have something I needed to urgently take care of.

I ended up doing the former and I slowly turned around till I was facing them. Taylor had a small frown on his face but Josh eyes actually litted up when I walked towards them.

"How have you been?" He asked and I shrugged a little, eyes straying towards Taylor for a moment.

"I’ve been good. What about you?"

"I’ve been better." He responded and I nodded awkwardly, unsure of what to say next.

I gestured between him and Taylor.

"So... you’re both back together."

Taylor looked sideways and Josh chuckled awkwardly, hand settling over the back of his throat as he responded. "We got to talk about it and then... yeah."

I glanced between them again, feeling another stab of jealousy in my chest.

"That’s good for you guys then. Congratulations." I breathed out, knowing it sounded as fake as the emotions I’m currently feeling.

Taylor rolled his eyes this time. "You don’t have to force it." He mumbled and a frown settled across my face as I focused on him.

"Okay so now you’re speaking to me?" I demanded, noticing as Josh let out a long sigh while starting to massage his forehead.

"Can we do this later? We have to go take care of something." Taylor supplied and I let out a laugh while shaking my head.

"Actually, there’s no later. There’s not gonna be one. It’s clear as day right now that we were never friends. What was I even thinking?" I stopped for a moment and glanced at the sky for a bit.

"I’d always be the outsider in the mix. The one that was just added but never actually belonged. That’s why all three of us had an argument but the two of you worked things out behind my back but never bothered to reach out to me."

Taylor threw his hand up this time. "Did you reach out and apologize? Josh reached out to me. If you really cared about the friendship, you’d have reached out too!"

I let out a disbelieving laugh this time. "Are you inside, Taylor? Can you listen to yourself? You were the one in the wrong, why the hell would I be the one to reach out and apologize?"

Before Taylor could say anything else, Josh wrapped a hand around his mouth, muffling his words.

"Alright, that’s it, we’re not gonna embarrass ourselves in public this way! We can have an actual conversation later when you’re both calm." Josh glanced at the two of us as he spoke right before Taylor shoved his hand away.

"Actually, I’ll pass. Thanks, but no thanks." Once the words were out, I turned away from them and continued to make my way forward.