All Chapters of The Choice of Us: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

 TIANA  BlueChartreuse The colours spread around the canvas and my head involuntarily tilted to the side trying to decipher just what the artist was attempting to exhibit in the zig-zag like pattern they painted.The sound of a deep chuckle caused me to snap my head to find Luis observing me. "What?""It's fascinating to see you so engrossed in that painting.""Don't get me wrong it's nice. But the one that really got me was at this shop that sells antiques and other items," I mumbled sauntering over to another painting that hung on the wall."I remember that place," he chuckled rubbing his chin," I was pissed at you."I smiled at him taking note of the light that flashed across his face," I wasn't planning on ever apologizing.""It's okay, your gratitude is more satisfying," he smirked as I rolled my eyes."If

 TIANA  Tears trailed down her cheeks, fortunately, they were only motivated by the outcome in the courtroom when we won the case. No other feeling I'd ever felt in the life I've had could compare to the joy I felt knowing good had prevailed."I don't know if I've said this enough but. . . thank you," she sniffled as her mother, Lisa rubbed her back soothingly. I could see in her mother's eyes the emotions dying to spill down her own cheeks. Seeing the love and support between them almost had me succumbing to the need to cry as well. My mother leaned against the counter observing them and the way her eyes were constantly blinking, I knew she was on the brink of breaking down too.I had only met Monica's mother on a handful of occassions when we met up to discuss the case. But she seemed like a nice individual from the times we spoke. What I was sure of was the love and protective nature she had fo

 LUIS Arched browsHigh cheekbonesSlender jawI had the pleasure of studying English Literature abroad and despite being equipped mentally with numerous words to describe beauty, I always found myself tongue-tied anytime I saw her. The words wound up a jumbled mess in my head when hidden away in the secrecy of my thoughts of her.She had a fiery spirit that intrigued me exceeding all I thought I knew about her. And deep down I wish I had returned a lot sooner like what Rita suggested to apologize. . .Many things have happened in my life, I had skeletons that oftentimes howled in my closet, reminding me they weren't dead. However, for as long as I could- I'll push them down and ignore it all. But when an unexpected message surfaced, I grew fearful. It was bad enough Tiana hadn't been fond of me because of what happened to her brother, but if she knew. . . Even a

 A few days laterLUIS It had been a few days and I hadn't seen nor heard from Tiana. A part of me hoped that she wasn't pushing herself away from me given the last time we spoke. And I had been fighting with myself to not pick up the phone and call her in an attempt to appear indifferent. But truth was I missed her.Sitting here in my home in the silence only made it worse. Aggravating the wishes I had to the forces amongst us that somehow she could appear out of thin air and bless me with her drawl and eye rolls.My attempts to focus were all futile and in a few hours I planned to meet with my publicist for the book. Enough time to wipe away all thoughts of her at least until the meeting was over-When I heard my phone ring, my heart almost leapt out of my chest in anticipation that maybe that was her on the other end. But alas, it was only Rita such that I answered the ph

 TIANA My mother had been unrelenting with the interrogation and I refused to yield because I couldn't even name what this thing between Luis and I was. All I did know was that we had stepped across the lines of deeming ourselves friends.I was too grown to ignore that his acts of care, melted the glacier making up my heart. I was growing compliant to the way he invaded my space or graced me with his touch. The grey-eyed man's persistence had worked and whilst I expected a burst of anger at myself for allowing it. The only thing I felt was a sense of acceptance.Eventually my mother gave up in her attempts to make me open up, but I knew at some point we'd have to talk about it. And another thing that has been bothering me is the fact that I couldn't find Tim's book. I had searched every inch of my apartment and wound up feeling both frustrated and sad at the fact that I couldn't find the only other thing that