Chapter Two - A Bearded Phantom

"Oh my God! This is so good!" Liam moaned into his sandwich, making me and Caroline exchange a look.

"Liam, people are watching us." She looked around nervously. There was a couple next to us. The guy was eyeing him weirdly while the girl looked amused. On the other side, two elderly men cast him disapproving glances before they went back to their conversation.

"I don't care." He took another bite and groaned. "Wow! We have got to come back here."

I crumpled a tissue and threw it on his head. "Stop it. Or I'll never let you touch my cracker stock again."

"You sound like a drug dealer." He laughed.

Rolling my eyes, I took a bite of my sandwich, chewed, and nodded, agreeing with him.

"I know, right?" He smirked.

"Yeah, it's good. But not that great!"

The girl behind the counter who was busy admiring her nails, looked up at me and I offered her a nervous smile, saying, "Maybe if you add some more of this orange sauce, it'll be great."

"Thank you for your feedback. We'll make sure to pass it on to the concerned staff," she said politely.

"We?"

She blinked. "I-I mean the team."

"Of course." I nodded.

"Awkward," Liam sang and went back to eating. So did I, but Caroline shook her head at both of us. I swear sometimes she looked so done with us. In her defense, we embarrassed her a lot.

"Let me play a song." Liam put in a quarter in the jukebox and pressed a random button, his eyes lighting up at the music. "It's your favourite song, Reb."

Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in between
How can we be wrong?

Sail away with me
To another world

I scowled at the jukebox, adding another quarter and pressing the button to change it.

"Come on! It's such a good song, Reb. Why do you hate it so much?" Liam complained.

"Never liked the lyrics." I shrugged, eating my sandwich.

Despite another song playing on the jukebox, the former one was now stuck in my head as flashes of a particular memory hit me. Me being pushed on the stage, a pair of brown eyes eyeing me warily in the middle of his performance, then me unexpectedly singing a song with him, him walking up to me to ask if I could help with the next songs, his presence, his voice, his scent—

"Don't you have a date with Brett?" Caroline's voice snapped me back to the present, and I blinked, looking down at my watch.

"Shit!" I took a big bite of my sandwich and quickly started collecting my stuff from the table.

"Who's Brett?" Liam asked curiously.

"This guy Rebekah met at the coffeeshop yesterday. They'd met once years ago," Caroline explained.

"Am I even a part of this group? Why am I always the last to know about stuff like this?"

"Sowie, Liam. Necks ty, I'll lay ya know befow Care, okay?"

He raised a brow. "Eat it. Don't choke on it."

I chewed faster, swallowed, and exhaled. "I said next time, I'll let you know—"

"Yeah, I got that. Now go. Good luck."

"Good luck, Reb. Bye." Caroline smiled.

"Bye."

The coffeeshop was a few blocks away, and I was really thankful to be wearing sneakers right then. I would've killed my feet in heels running like that.

The moment I pushed the door open, I smiled at the amazing smell. The coffeeshop was probably the only thing in my life that hadn't changed a bit in the past four years.

My eyes quickly began to scan the booths for curly blonde hair.

"Rebekah." Brett waved from the corner booth.

"Hey," I walked up to him and tossed my phone and bag on the table before settling down. "I'm sorry I'm late. How long have you been waiting here?"

"Not long. It was a task finding this place. You'd shared the location, but still, I'm not great with maps and stuff."

"Even with GPS?" My mouth opened a fraction.

He shrugged, offering me a smile.

"It's okay." I chuckled.

"So, what's so special about this place?" He looked around.

"You'll find out once you have their amazing milkshake."

He nodded. "I like the vibe, though. They've decorated it well."

"I know! I used to hang out here with my friends all the time. We would sit in that booth over there for hours after school. Sometimes, even before school. We were suckers for their awesome milkshakes."

I couldn't help but look at that booth and at the people sitting there. They weren't even having fun. Just sipping on their drinks in silence, talking occasionally. They were bringing our booth down.

I shook my head at my thoughts.

"You know how I complimented your eyes years ago?" Brett asked, capturing my attention. He had a little smile playing on his lips as he appeared to be studying my face. "Has anyone ever told you about this spark you have in them when you talk about something you like? That's even more beautiful, Rebekah."

I smiled. "That's sweet of you, Brett. Thank you."

For a second, he just watched me. Not in a creepy way, more in 'I can't take my eyes off you' way, and I cleared my throat awkwardly. He looked away, saying, "So suggest me something nice."

"I love the strawberry milkshake here. You wanna try that?"

He made a face.

"Chocolate?" I asked hopefully.

"That sounds good. I'm gonna go get it for us."

"Uh uh! Sit down. My suggestion, my treat. I'll get it."

I got up and made my way to the counter before he could even begin to argue. Judy offered me a bright smile. "Rebekah, I don't see you here very often anymore."

"I stopped by yesterday. You weren't here." I pouted.

She chuckled. "I'm getting old now, I don't work very long hours. So, what can I get you today?"

"I'll have a chocolate and a strawberry milkshake."

"Strawberry milkshake is in demand today. Every other person wants it. Have you been promoting it on your social media for us?"

I laughed. "If only I were that famous, Judy."

She started preparing my order with a smile, and I tapped my fingers against the counter. The bell hung over the entrance chimed, announcing new customers, and I turned around. A group of school kids talking and laughing loudly bustled in.

I smiled at them, wondering if that's what I used to look like with my friends.

"Here!" Judy placed the two giant glasses in front of me, and I passed her the money, collecting the milkshakes. "Thank you, Judy."

"Your change." She started pulling the money out of the cash register just as I spun around to walk back to my booth.

"It's okay. Keep—" I gasped as I bumped into someone, spilling both the milkshakes all over their clothes. It was one of the persons from the boring booth, and his black suit was now stained with pink and brown of the milkshakes.

"Oh my God! I'm so sor—" I stopped talking when my eyes lifted to his face, instantly recognizing those brown eyes that seemed to be slowly taking me in as well.

I froze, feeling all the air getting knocked out of my lungs as my brain tried to register if it was really him.

It was.

The one person whose memories still tormented me, the one who'd broken my heart so mercilessly, the same one I'd never wanted to see again.

Matt

He'd been at the boring booth? I instantly realized why I hadn't been able to recognize him. It was because of his beard. I'd never seen him with one. It wasn't scruffy, instead neatly groomed to adorn his already perfect face.

I didn't know how to react or even react at all, and wondered if I should just completely ignore him and walk away. But his gaze held me in place, and no matter how much I tried to move, my feet felt heavier than a boulder. Was he expecting a hey! I haven't seen you in forever? But we hadn't ended things on the kind of terms to meet like that after years.

I swallowed.

A thousand memories and thoughts flooded my mind at once, and the one that stayed afloat amidst them all was how different he looked. How....hot. Hotter than before.

What the hell, Becks?

I blinked, swallowing hard again.

"I-I..." I faltered for a second. "I'm sorry?"

I placed the milkshake glasses back on the counter, grabbed a few tissues, and started cleaning his suit while he just watched me in silence. Then I stopped abruptly, took a nervous step back, and handed him the dirty tissues. "You can do that. Sorry."

I flipped around, and Judy had already taken the milkshakes back. "I'll make you new ones."

"T-thanks." I offered her a smile and walked past Matt, feeling his eyes following me as I moved.

"Becks."

I froze in my tracks again, neither being able to move nor being able to turn back around to him. Hell, it all felt like a dream—a phantom from the past hovering over my shoulder. A very bearded phantom.

Finally mustering the courage, I shook my head—a clear no—and made my way back to my booth.

Brett looked up from his phone, saw my face, and frowned. "Are you okay?"

I nodded.

"You don't look okay."

"I-I accidentally dropped the milkshakes. Judy's making new." I let out a nervous laugh. "I'm so clumsy."

"Oh, it's fine, Rebekah. Just sit down. I'll go and get them when they're ready, okay?"

"You do that." I nodded, throwing a hesitant look over my shoulder, expecting to see Matt, but he wasn't there anymore. He wasn't even at his booth.

Did I imagine him? Was that really him?

Of course it was him. He called me Becks.

I shivered as his voice played in my head, that single word—my name—in his voice repeating like I was stuck in a loop to the point where I couldn't breathe anymore. My chest felt really heavy, and I had to suck in a deep breath.

"Hey! Are you sure you're okay?" Brett scrutinized my face with concern.

"Yes." I ran a hand through my hair, cutting back a glance again, and just then, Matt stepped out of the bathroom after cleaning his suit as best as he could, eyes finding us and falling directly on me. "On second thought..." I turned to Brett. "...no. I feel a little under the weather. Maybe I just need some air. Can we get the milkshakes to go? We can have them somewhere else."

"Of course. You don't have a fever or anything, right? You're turning pale." He placed his hand on my forehead and felt. "No temperature."

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Okay. I'll go get the milkshakes. You can go and wait outside if you want."

"Sure, thanks." Without looking in Matt's direction again, I reeled out of the coffeeshop and took in deep breaths in the fresh air.

I watched the cars pass by and wrapped my arms around myself, still trying to let the fact that I'd seen my ex after four years sink in. Not just any ex, the ex. The one who'd left a deep impact on my soul and heart and the one who'd taken all the love with him. The one who, despite not being in my life anymore, had influenced my relationship with every other guy after him, making sure there wasn't much of a relationship at all, just superficial feelings and emotions. The one who'd made sure to ruin me enough so I'd never fall so deeply for anyone ever again.

I wasn't nearly half done navigating my thoughts when the door behind me opened, and to my surprise, Matt stepped out, advancing straight towards me.

My eyes widened, and I spun back around, focusing on the cars again. If I pretend not to notice him, maybe he'll go away.

I casually ran a hand through my hair, then touched my face and throat, not being able to decide what to do with my hands until I finally crossed my arms.

I felt him walk up to me, and I inhaled a deep, shaky breath. With each step, his boldness invaded my peaceful vicinity until his presence was the only thing I could feel. I could smell his cologne and feel his chest dangerously close to my shoulder.

"You dropped this."

My eyes fell on the wallet he was holding out. It was mine. I must have dropped it when I'd bumped into him.

"Thanks," I muttered, turning slightly in his direction and extending a noticeably shaky hand to grab it. The moment I did, he turned around without so much as a response or glance and went back inside.

What the hell?

I blinked after him. Okay, yes, I didn't want to talk to him, but I was not expecting that either. Oh, so you wanted him to run after you, Becks?

"Feeling any better?"

I jumped at Brett's voice as he walked out the door with our milkshakes.

"Y-yes," I lied, taking the strawberry one from him as we started walking down the street.

The silence between us allowed my mind to go back to what had just happened and build up theories—the worst of them bothering me like fingernails on a chalkboard. What happened was so long ago that he just stopped caring and feeling anything for me altogether. Maybe it was all in the past for him now, just one bad relationship that he got over a long time ago.

Why I was suddenly acting like it was any different for me was beyond me. It was just one bad relationship that I got over a long time ago, wasn't it?

"Rebekah, you really don't look okay. If you wanna do this some other time, I'm totally cool with it," Brett said, concerned.

"No! Of course not. Sorry, I zoned out." I let out a nervous laugh. "Let's talk. So where are you staying?"

He took a moment to answer, still not convinced that I was okay. "I'm sharing an apartment with another guy near campus."

"Why didn't you get a dorm? That's where I'm staying, too."

"The apartment's more private. I don't like being surrounded by so many people all the time. I don't know how people even live at dorms."

I gave him a little smile. "These college years have been the best years of my life because I live at the dorm. I love being surrounded by people. Always having my friends there for me and being there for them. It's amazing."

"Well, aren't you a social butterfly?"

"Maybe I am. I literally know everyone at the dorms. You cannot imagine how excited I was when I first moved in and realized I had so many people around to befriend. Honestly, the worst thing I can imagine is having no company at all. No one to share stuff with. I'd probably drive myself crazy."

I almost did.

"Well, to each their own." He shrugged, holding my gaze while slurping his milkshake loudly in an adorable manner. "And wow, I gotta agree you weren't kidding about this milkshake."

"Right?" I nodded, finishing mine and dropping the empty to-go cup in a trash can just as I looked down at my watch. "And now, I think I'm gonna head back. I promised my friends a group study session."

"You help them? That's great! You must be really good at academics."

"No, actually, they help me. I promised I would study with them. I'm the one with the worst grades. They just care a lot about me." I shrugged proudly.

"Of course they do. I'd do too." He winked at me, and I rolled my eyes playfully.

"When am I going to see you again?" he asked.

"Maybe in class? If we share any, or I'm usually free at these hours. Right after classes. Just text me."

"Great! We can meet tomorrow here at the coffeeshop again." It was more of a question. A hopeful question asked carefully, making sure he wasn't starting to look clingy and desperate.

"Of course we can but um... not at this one. Maybe the one near campus, where we met yesterday?" I wasn't sure for how long Matt was back. I didn't wanna run into him again.

"That's fine with me." Brett nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow. Bye."

"Bye."

As I started making my way back to my dorm, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was mom.

"Hey, mom," I answered.

"Rebekah." I could hear the smile in her voice. "How are you?"

"I'm great. How are you?"

"I'm great, too. You never visit us, baby. Not even on the weekends. I miss you."

"I miss you too, mom. It's just that I've been a little busy with classes and I'm studying with Care over weekends."

"Oh! How's it coming up? Did your grades get any better?"

"Yes. And I keep working on them." I weaved past the people on the busy sidewalk.

"Good. Come over sometime. And bring Caroline, too. I haven't seen her after last year's Thanksgiving."

"We'll try."

"Oh, and I almost forgot. You have to come home this weekend. I've asked Blake to clear his schedule as well."

"Why? What's this weekend?"

"The Williams are back, and they've invited us over for dinner."

I scowled. "What do you mean back? Weren't Luke and Lily already living there?"

After Matt left for college, I noticed how both Luke and Lily were home more often. It was like they'd deliberately left both him and Aiden alone before to avoid Matt like they had some kind of problem with him. Or maybe I was just overthinking.

My entire senior year, whenever I was cooped up in my room after school, all I did was look out my window at his house, expecting God knows what. He never came back. Not while I still lived at my house at least.

"I meant the boys. Aiden and Matt," mom replied.

For some reason, I stopped walking and pressed the phone closer to my ear, squeezing it tightly in my hand. I already knew Matt was back. I'd just seen him. But hearing it from someone else made it more real.

"So, they're here to stay? Like permanent? Like before?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, but Lily did mention Matt moving his business here to New York. And Aiden's still in college, but he's started assisting Luke, so maybe, yes. They are moving back."

I knew Matt had dropped out of college in the second year to start his own record label. It was ironic for someone who wanted to stay away from music after giving up on a successful YouTube channel to start a record company out of nowhere.

"Good for them," I replied. "But I'm not sure I can make it. I told you I'm busy."

"What? Not even for a couple of hours? I already told Lily you'll be joining us. She was thrilled to know that."

I leaned against a pole for a moment, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Then why do you even bother asking me?"

"Asking you? I did no such thing. I was telling you to clear your schedule, sweetie."

I gritted my teeth in annoyance and hung up with a "fine."

I could not sleep that night. I just kept restlessly tossing and turning on my bed or staring up at the ceiling. Finally, I fetched my phone from the nightstand.

For some reason, I went to Matt's messages. I still hadn't deleted any of his messages from four years ago, the last one he'd ever sent me still sitting right there and mocking me.

Becks, I love you. I'll always love you. Come back to me when you can.

I scoffed, knowing that was a lie. He never texted me after that because he knew I'd caught him red-handed, and there was nothing he could say to convince me otherwise.

And then he forgot all about me. I saw that in the coffeeshop today. So much for always.

I locked my phone, placed it back on the nightstand, and shut my eyes.