Chapter 161 - Moving Forward From Here

Music Recommendation: Never seen a look like that before- Kim Yeon Jeong

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Julie and Roman stepped out of the Winters house, and while Roman's hand lightly swung the helmet in his hand, he sighed, "It is upsetting that I cannot call you Winters in there. The probability of two others responding is high."

She smiled at his words and said, "You very rarely call me Julie, don't you?" 

Roman pulled out his lighter and cigarette box as if he needed a smoke to push his thirst for blood away for a few minutes. But just when he did, one of the next-door neighbours caught Julie. 

"Good morning, dear. It is good to see you visiting. Your uncle worries about you," said the woman before her eyes fell on Roman and his hands that held the lighter and cigarette. 

Roman didn't bother to hide what he held in his hands, and the woman turned to look at Julie, who offered her a polite smile. 

"Good morning, Mrs. Philips. How are you?" asked Julie, and she saw Roman, who brought the cigarette to place it between his lips before lighting it with no care in the world. She couldn't tell him not to do it, as she knew his thirst for blood was increasing. 

"I am doing very well. I have been hoping to see and meet you, your uncle said that you are now studying in Veteris. How is the place? Is it as fancy as the rumour has been?" asked Mrs. Philips, before eyeing Roman and asking, "And who is this?" 

"Julianne Winter's boyfriend," replied Roman, with the cigarette still between his lips. 

The woman nodded her head before saying, "Looks like you are living your life to the fullest, Julianne." 

"I think I am," Julie laughed. She was dating a vampire, and she had found out that her actual parents, her mother was a witch and her father was a Corvin, a dead being. And her false father was trying to kill her, knowing she came from a witch's lineage. 

"So how is Veteris?" asked Mrs. Philips with much curiosity that she stared at Julie for an answer. 

"Veteris is wonderful. Nothing one could imagine would come close," replied Julie with a bright smile, "The food is amazing." 

Roman gave her a look as if that was the first thing that came to her mind about the university. Julie then continued to praise, "They have excellent education, and the staff… they are wonderful. Very polite people to be around and have a high class. The way they carry themselves."

"That's sounds just like the posh Veteris that everyone have been talking about," laughed Mrs. Philips, and she then said, "I will catch up with you later then."

Seeing the woman leave, Roman turned his head, watching her keenly before he blew the smoke in the air. "Seems like someone nice," he commented. 

"Yeah, she's nice, but a little nosey," replied Julie, and they headed towards the motorcycle. 

"Who isn't nosey these days. Some do it openly and some hide it," said Roman, picking up the helmet and placing it over Julie's head. He then fixed the belt. He then picked up Julie's hand and saw the palm that she had cut. "You're an idiot. Don't do that again," he said in a serious tone. 

Julie pursed her lips, "Did it upset you?" 

"It does, when you sacrifice yourself for me. I can tell by the looks of it that it hurt and was painful," remarked Roman, and Julie lowered her eyes to look at her palm. "Not that I don't appreciate it."

Roman didn't know how he had missed it or if Julie had suddenly turned good in handling physical pain. He was thirsty since the middle of the night, and all he wanted was to sink his teeth into someone's skin and drain the blood out. But at the same time, he didn't want to leave Julie alone in the bed. It was her very first time, and if she were to wake up and find him not there… he didn't want her going through that kind of feeling. 

He pulled something else from his pocket, and he said, "Keep your hand still." 

Julie noticed it was a bandaid that Roman had pulled from his pocket, and he stuck it on her skin. "People are going to think that you are a potential patient of self harm." 

"Ah, about that. Aunt Sarah thought, I gave myself these," said Julie, showing her wrist that had the two scars on them. Roman placed his hand on the helmet that she wore and said, 

"Come let us go and meet your mother or your ex best friend. Do you want to make a stop at the florists?" 

"Yeah, flowers would be nice," said Julie, and they left from the front of the Winter's residence. 

After picking up a bouquet of lilies, Roman and Julie travelled to the cemetery where Harriet Winters was resting. It was a sunny day, the sky clear, and the grass that had grown around had lost some of its colours. She was glad that Roman was here with her because she knew that she would take a turn and bolt from here. Carrying the flowers in her arms, she made her way to the headstone where the woman lay. 

'Harriet Winters.'

Bending down, she cleared the twigs and dried leaves that had come to settle on it before she placed the flowers on top of it. Roman stood behind Julie, who had no interest in paying his respects. 

It was strange. Coming here while knowing that this person was her ex-best friend and that she was placing flowers for her. But Julie had decided to let go of the past and look forward to the future. 

"I wish I could have helped you in some way, for helping my mother and keeping your word in carrying me with you," whispered Julie, while looking at the headstone and running her fingers on the cold surface of the stone. "I will honour the memories that I have shared with you. All the good ones. When we were friends, and also when you turned to my mother, who loved me. I will cherish them all… Natalie, while hoping you have found your peace." 

Spending a few more minutes there, Julie stood up and turned to see Roman, who had been watching her quietly. 

Roman placed his hand on Julie's cheek stepping forward before embracing her in his arms. He asked her, "Are you alright?" 

"Mm," Julie nodded her head, hugging him back before they finally pulled away. "I am better now." 

"Then that's all that matters," replied Roman, and he asked her, "Where do you want to go from here?" 

"I was thinking about the house, but before that, there's a place I would like to visit. It might take a little time I think," said Julie, letting Roman hold her hand in his as they started to leave the grave they had come to visit. 

"We have all the time in the world. Even if we don't, I will see to it that we do. Where do you want to go?" he asked her, and Julie turned her head to meet his gaze, a sheepish smile on her face. This had Roman look at her curiously. 

"You will find out soon," said Julie, tugging Roman's hand as she walked forward, and they stepped out of the cemetery. 

After nearly forty-five minutes, Julie and Roman stood in front of a tattoo parlour, where she looked slightly nervous and excited at the same time. 

"You want a tattoo?" questioned Roman, knowing well Julie was scared of needles, but then she was also someone who had cut her palm this morning.

Julie stretched her hand forward, looking at the scars on her wrist, "I think it is time to change some things and somewhere… I have been wanting to get one."

"It's going to be permanent," Roman reminded her, and he added, "Did you even pick a design?" 

She nodded, "I did." 

Stepping inside the shop, one of the assistant's noticed them and asked, "Who's getting the tattoo?" 

"That would be my girl here," said Roman, looking at Julie and everytime he did that, it put a smile on her face. 

"Follow me. Do you need samples on what you want, and where you intend to have it?" asked the man. He pushed the door, and both Julie and Roman entered the room. "You can sit here." 

"I want it here, on my wrist," said Julie, showing the spot, and the man noted the scar. "It's a name. I need you to connect these two lines with the 'M'.. I want the name Rome."