Elena's POV

It's now been a few days since my date with Noah and the end of my first week at work. It's been eventful and honestly it feels way longer than that.

I told Em to meet me for lunch today so we can talk and I can give her all the details she's been waiting for.

I enter the small diner we agreed to meet at and look around to see her seated in a corner booth at the back.

When she spots me she waves me over and stands to hug and greet me.

"How are you?" I ask her.

"That doesn't matter. Tell me about your date," she says eagerly getting straight to the point.

I roll my eyes. Always the impatient one.

Before I begin I take a seat and the waiter comes over to take my drink order. Em already ordered my food before I got here, so once done she saunters away.

She looks at me expectantly.

"It went well," I tell her.

She looks at me incredulously.

"I came here for the good stuff. You better stop being so vague or I'm going to throw a fit and turn this place upside down," she says in a deadly voice.

I try to hide my smile. I know how she is. It's just fun to rile her up a bit.

"Nothing much really happened. We talked about our families, Mia, and just other random things. Like any other first date," I simply reply.

She scrunches her nose.

"Oh sounds boring."

Then her eyes brighten. "Did he kiss you?"

I knew she was going to ask that. I could just tell her no and not mention Pierson's interference, but I would feel bad for not letting her know.

"He tried to but..."

Just then the waiter brings us our food and interrupts our conversation. As she sets the two burgers and fries in front of us Em glares at her fiercly. The poor girl takes notice and leaves hurridely without saying anything else or before I can even tell her thank you.

I look at Em and her eyes are wide as she leans forward getting in my face urging me to finish. It's comical.

"Pierson interrupted us," I come out with it.

Her eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

"Really? How? Why?" She shoots the questions off.

"Yes. We were about to and he just appeared. We broke apart before anything had happened and the moment was suddenly gone. And I don't know why he did it."

Then a sudden thought comes to mind.

"Did you know he and Rachel were no longer together?"

Her eyes widen once more and she glances down avoiding my gaze. Oh my gosh. She knew!

"Emerie," I growl lowly.

She gives me a sheepish smile.

"I'm sorry E. I found out when Grayson and I returned from London. I wanted to tell you, but you were doing so well. You were finally going after what you really wanted. If I told you I know you would've come back here and tried to convince him again that you two were meant for each other. I didn't want him to break your heart all over again. I wanted what was best for you. You have to believe that I did it because I care about you," she expresses pleadingly.

I can't argue with her there because I know she wanted what was best for me. She's right though. If I didn't become a doctor I know I would've felt like something was missing in my life even if Pierson had wanted me. It was something I wanted for myself. Something I needed to accomplish.

"It's ok. I understand,"I tell her. Her shoulders visibly relax. She was probably thinking I would blow up on her. I wouldn't blame her for thinking that. I probably would have a few years back.

"Do you know why they broke up?" I continue.

She shrugs her shoulders. "I have no clue. I thought it was because Rachel had found her mate, but I've heard they ended it before that," she says and takes a bite of her burger.

What? Before she found her mate? That makes my heartbeat pick up a little bit. Then the reasonable part of my brain steps in and reminds me that if he really wanted me he would of chosen me from the beginning. But the words he said to me that night come back to me.

"He told me he missed me."

Em's drink she just took sputters out of her mouth and onto the front of my beige sweater. My mouth opens in shock and my hands fly up automatically in response. She did not!

I look down at the mess then at her disbelievingly and suddenly she bursts into a fit of laughter. I try to remain mad, but her laugh is so contagious I can't help but join her.

I grab a napkin from the metal dispenser as our laughter dies down and dab at the liquid which is sure to leave a stain.

Em's face suddenly turns serious.

"He wants you," she says bluntly.

"What?"

"It's obvious E," she says while rolling her eyes. "Why else would he say that?"

I think about it. I don't know why he would. How can you miss something you never had or even wanted for that matter?

"The bond is still there. It was never severed. He didn't mark Rachel and you're not marked either. I don't know if it may have weakened over the years or not. Only you and he would know that. But one thing is for sure..." She says pausing dramatically gazing at me.

"He still feels it and the only questions that remain are...One, if you still feel the bond and two, if you do, would you be willing to act on those feelings after everything he has done?"

Her questions catch me off guard.

I don't know. I look down and cover my eyes with my hands. Why does Em have to bring out these feelings in me I buried so deep down inside that I forgot they even existed at all?

The bell over the door chimes signaling a customer and I turn around looking for a distraction from these overwhelming feelings of mine. In walks a man. Just as I'm about to turn around his face comes into view.

My heart starts to thump so hard in my chest I can practically hear it in my ears. The man I wished to never see again takes a seat at the bar stool at the counter and grabs a menu to read over.

I can't stop staring at him.

He looks a bit older now, but it has been six years after all. From his side profile I can see the etched lines along the slit of his eye that weren't there before and his chestnut brown hair is now sprinkled with the color grey. He's cleaned up decently and his body shows that he has gained a few pounds making him look more healthy. He looks totally normal and not like the dead beat alcoholic I've come to know.

Just seeing him makes my stomach turn unpleasantly. I need to go before he sees me.

I turn back to Em who is currently stuffing a handful of fries into her already filled mouth.

"I'm leaving. I'll catch you later," I tell her.

"What? Why? You just got here. You haven't even touched your food." Her words are barely comprehensible through the food stuffed in there. Small pieces of chewed up food fall from the side of her mouth and I scrunch my nose up in disgust.

"I forgot a patient had an appointment with me in twenty minutes. I'll call you later. We'll make this a weekly thing and I got the bill on this one," I say pulling twenty dollars from my purse and throwing it on the table.

"Yeah you better pay," she says glaring at me.

I give her a smile and stand from my place. He's talking to the waitress with his back turned towards me so I duck down and make my great escape.

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Sorry this chapter was boring, but to make up for it here's a Gif of Zac Efron.😍