Chapter 38: The Explanation “Jim, I can explain—” Demitra started, her voice a rush of words aimed at defusing the bomb that had just walked into the room. I stood there, adrenaline still pumping, my mind a scrambled mess of worst-case scenarios. The sight of Noah, a gun in his hand, had triggered a primal protective instinct. But Demitra’s tone, her whole demeanor, threw me off balance. Something was definitely not adding up. “Explain what, exactly?” I asked, my voice dangerously low. “Explain why you’re rehearsing a scene from *Law & Order* with my suspect childhood crush holding a piece?” Noah looked just as surprised as I was, if not more. His brow furrowed, confusion clouding his features. “Wait, you think… this is real?” Demitra stepped forward, placing a hand on my arm. Her touch, usually a comfort, felt strange, almost calculated. “Jim, it’s for my acting class. Remember? We talked about it. I told you I was struggling to find a scene partner.” I stared at her, trying to reconcile the fear I had felt moments ago with the reality she was presenting. Acting class? A prop gun? It seemed… plausible, I guess. But something still felt off. My gaze flickered back to Noah, who looked genuinely apologetic. “Yeah, man, I’m sorry,” Noah said, setting the prop gun down on a nearby table. “We got really into it. The scene… it’s intense. Didn’t mean to scare you.” He ran a hand through his recently dyed hair – a dark, almost gothic black. Demitra followed his action by explaining, “I forgot to tell you about Noah. He stepped in to help me with the scene. You know how hard it is to find a partner who can actually act around here. This character is the one I'm playing right now. Noah even dyed his hair for the part.” I tried to process everything, the relief flooding through me mixed with a heavy dose of confusion. “So, the whole ‘stay away from me’ and the ‘you’re going to pay the price’ thing? That was just… acting?” Demitra nodded, a sheepish look on her face. “I know, I know, it was bad timing. I should have told you what we were doing. But you sounded so panicked on the phone, and I didn’t want to get into it then.” I looked from Demitra to Noah, trying to gauge their sincerity. Relief washed over me, the tightness in my chest easing. But as the tension dissipated, another emotion began to creep in, something far less noble. Jealousy. Now that I knew there wasn’t any immediate threat, now that the adrenaline had subsided, I could see the dynamic between them more clearly. The way Demitra looked at Noah, the easy camaraderie they shared, the intensity of their performance – it all pointed to a connection that went beyond a simple acting exercise. “Wow,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “You guys are really… convincing. I almost thought you were about to star in a low budget crime movie.” Noah chuckled, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension. “Thanks, man. We’ve been working hard on it. Demitra’s a natural, though. She really brings the character to life.” Demitra smiled at Noah, a genuine, unguarded smile that I realized I hadn’t seen directed at me in… well, ever. “Noah’s being modest. He’s the one who really nailed the intensity. He really brought a lot to the table and without him I don't think I'd be able to finish this class.” The air crackled with unspoken words, a silent conversation passing between them that excluded me. I suddenly felt like an intruder, an unwelcome guest crashing a private party. I folded my arms, trying to appear nonchalant, but inside, a storm was brewing. “So,” I said, forcing a casual tone. “What’s the scene about, anyway? Some kind of… domestic dispute gone wrong?” Demitra hesitated, glancing at Noah before answering. “It’s… complicated. It’s about a woman who’s caught between two worlds, two loyalties. She has to choose between protecting her family and doing what’s right.” “Sounds… relevant,” I muttered, my eyes fixed on Noah. “Especially with all the familial problems I’m currently dealing with.” Noah shifted uncomfortably, sensing the shift in atmosphere. “Look, man, I should probably get going. I’ve got an early class tomorrow. Demitra, I’ll see you later, yeah?” Demitra walked him to the door, her voice a low murmur that I couldn’t quite make out. I stood there, feeling like an idiot, a pawn in some elaborate game I didn’t understand. When Demitra returned, she found me staring at the prop gun, my jaw clenched. “Jim, what’s wrong? You’re acting weird.” “Weird?” I scoffed. “I just walked in on you rehearsing a scene with a guy holding a gun, and you expect me to act normal? What about all that stuff you were telling me? All the things you said to me when I was at my lowest? About how I need to avoid getting into trouble?” “I was trying to help you, Jim,” she said, her voice rising in frustration. “And I am still helping you. You showed up here unannounced in the middle of the night.” “Yeah well if you told me you weren't alone and that you were doing a reenactment of a criminal movie, I wouldn't have been as stressed” I retorted, crossing my arms and trying to appear taller. I realized I was jealous, an emotion I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was more than just jealousy, it was an ache, a longing for something I couldn’t quite define. Was it just the fact that they knew each other far longer than I knew her? They had chemistry, maybe the same hobbies or interests. I didn't know. “Look Demitra," I said, I couldn't keep up this conversation anymore. "I'm going to go, I'm sorry for interrupting your practice." “Jim, wait—” she started, but I cut her off. “I should go. I'll see you around.” I turned and walked out of her apartment, leaving her standing there, a look of confusion on her face. As I stepped out into the hallway, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just made a huge mistake. The events with Valeria were already taking a toll on me, and now this situation. My life was getting messier. Back on the street, the cool night air did little to calm my racing thoughts. I walked aimlessly, my mind replaying the scene in Demitra’s apartment. The prop gun, Noah’s intense performance, Demitra’s unguarded smile – it all painted a picture that I couldn’t quite ignore. I had come to Demitra seeking help, seeking solace, seeking… something. But what was that something, exactly? Was it just friendship? Was it gratitude? Or was it something more? The truth was, I didn’t know. And that was the scariest part. My feelings for Demitra were… complicated. I was attracted to her, no doubt. Her intelligence, her wit, her unwavering support – they were all qualities that I admired and desired. But was it love? Was it something that could ever compare to the intense, passionate connection I had shared with Valeria? The thought of Valeria sent a familiar pang of pain through my chest. Despite everything that had happened, despite the betrayal, despite the mess she had made of my life, a part of me still missed her. I missed the way she made me feel, the way she challenged me, the way she… Stop, I told myself. You can’t keep dwelling on the past. You have to move on. You have to focus on the future. But what was the future? Was it basketball? Was it Duke? Was it… Demitra? I pulled out my phone, my thumb hovering over Demitra’s contact. Should I call her? Should I apologize for my behavior? Should I try to explain how I was feeling? No. I couldn’t. Not yet. I needed time to sort things out, to figure out what I really wanted. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and continued walking, lost in thought. The city lights blurred around me, the sounds of traffic fading into a dull hum. I was alone, adrift in a sea of uncertainty, with no clear direction and no easy answers. As I turned the corner onto my street, I noticed a figure standing in the shadows near my building. A tall, broad-shouldered figure, wearing a dark coat and a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. My heart skipped a beat. Was it Noah? Had he followed me? Was this some kind of… confrontation? I quickened my pace, my senses on high alert. As I drew closer, the figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing his face. It wasn’t Noah. It was…