Julian Devorak x Reader/Self-Insert

Chapter Three

"You're cold, I wouldn't want you to get hypothermia and have our second meeting in my office." He laughed, continuing his sentence. "Wear it."

"Fine." I said, pulling the black and red sandy hoodie over my head. I fixed my hair, ruffling it to give it a messy look. I pulled the sleeves up to make sure i could still use my hands.

"Well, i'm going to Asra. Care to join us or are you going to relive your pirate fantasies?" i asked, hoping that he'd come with me. I felt bad enough wearing his jacket. Wasn't he cold? Didn't he want his jacket? I started slow towards Asra, who had gotten the signal and started packing the picnic blanket away. He tipped his head to me, signaling that Julian wasn't following. I turned, watching Julian. I couldn't help but feel conflicted. Should I call him? Should i keep going to Asra? I took a breath through my nose and trekked through the sand to Asra.

"What'd you say to him?" Asra questioned almost immediately. I shivered, pulling my hands into the hoodie to keep my body heat in.

"We just talked about him wanting to be a pirate, then i said he should join us. Why's he still standing there?" I asked, assuming Julian would follow us home. Asra chucked Julian's crocs to him.

"He just likes to brood." Asra laughed, pointing to me when one of the crocs hit Julian in the head. I whipped around but Julian had already waved Asra off, sliding his shoes turned weapons on his feet. Asra shook his head, handing me my flip-flops, which I had forgotten about and started toward the sidewalk. I turned once more, seeing Julian still standing there. I caught up to Asra, who was now waiting for me on the sidewalk.

"I still have his hoodie, doesn't he want it back?" i asked, pulling the hood over my head. Asra rolled his eyes.

"Nah, you're special already." He responded. I furrowed my brows.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked again. Asra only shook his head, rolling his eyes.

"He hasn't changed his theatrics, i'll say that." Asra cooed, sighing a bit. I huddled closer to Asra. His body heat was able to seep through the thick fleece fabric. Well, that didn't help answer my question. I shook my head as we neared the building. Asra opened the door for me, allowing me to run upstairs and get into warmer clothes. Asra set my bag on the couch before going to change.

"Hey, River?" He called from his room.

"Yeah?" i replied, pulling the hoodie off. I shuttered as the cold of the room hit my bare chest.

"Let me wash that, get some of the sand out of it." Asra said, peeking into my room. He was wearing really comfy clothes. A gray college sweatshirt and magenta sweatpants.

"Can we just shake it off the balcony?" i asked, handing it to him.

"We can." he smirked, taking the hoodie. I shuttered, turning to slide on some gray sweatpants and a tank top. I wrapped a blanket around my shoulders as i joined Asra on the balcony. He gave the hoodie one brutal shake before handing it to me. I thanked him briefly before putting it on.

"So, Julian?" Asra questioned.

"What about him?" I asked.

"Be careful." Asra's tone shifted and so did his body language. He seemed tense. I snuggled into the hoodie.

"Why?" i asked, moving to see Asra's serious expression.

"I don't want you to fall in love with him and be heartbroken." Asra stated.

"Did he break your heart?" There was a long silence after I had asked. I sighed, nodding and turning to go to my room. Asra must've added me to a group chat with everyone. They had already sent their names in the chat and were blowing up my phone with messages of nonsense. I added everyone's contacts in my phone, making sure to put my name in the group chat so they could add my name. I plugged my phone in, lying it on the bedside table and rolling over. I know it was stupid and childish of me to leave a conversation. It just became too awkward. The sound of Asra's phone buzzing in his pocket as we sat in silence, awaiting his answer. I looked at the door, then I looked at my hands, my hands which were drowned in the black and red hoodie. Julian's black and red hoodie. Was i just so desperate as to hope for romance? I know i'm a hopeless romantic but, am I really this hopeless? Hopeless enough to hope that Julian, a man i had just met, has fallen in love with me? Offering me his clothing and sacrificing himself to the cold for my comfort. I took a deep breath, sighed at myself. I shook my head. I'm as hopeless as Anna from Frozen. A man i just met. Now that was a comedy. New show! Hopeless Romantic Falls for Every Man that comes their way! I slammed my head into my pillow and screamed. Like one of those teenage girls in those rom coms when they get frustrated. This cannot be happening. So, it won't happen. I'll make sure of it. Somehow. I stared at the ceiling for a few moments before picking up my phone and scrolling through TikTok. I was stuck in what the internet called 'BookTok', which i wasn't mad about. It helped me find books to read and escape with. Then it hit me. I would play the part of the friend getting the exes, who clearly have feelings for each other and get them back together! I just have to find a way not to make it suspicious. My phone buzzed; Asra had texted the group chat. He suggested that we all go on another dinner together. We all agreed that it was nice and said we'd plan something later. Perfect. That gave me just enough time to talk to Julian and Asra about the other. I needed to get into their heads and rattle their brains about their counterpart. I set my phone back onto the bedside table, scheming as i fell asleep.