Family Ties. (A The Strokes Love story)

Chapter 31

June's PoV

I pulled up to the house, with June in the passenger seat, and Albert in the back seat. Julian squeezed my thigh gently, and although I wasn't looking, I could feel his expression of worry. I was going to tell my mom that I was back with Julian, and I was hoping for the best.
"You ready June Bug?" Julian asked me, his voice being the only sound other than the rumble of the engine and the raindrops pattering on the windshield.
"No, Jules. I'm gonna head up by myself."

I fished my keys out of my back pocket and left them in the car. I let myself inside, hearing the television softly. I walked into the living room to see my mom watching some Lifetime movie, gingerly smoking a cigarette even though she prohibited smoking in the living room.

"Hey mom," I said, scratching my arm gently. She turned around, and smiled, accentuating the deep parentheses near the corners of her mouth.

"How was the trip?"

"It was good, mom. Where's Stephano?"

"Out with a couple of his friends, he should be back later." She answered coolly, taking another drag of the cig. I sat next to her, and put my hands in my lap, taking a soft, deep breath.

"Mom. I have to tell you something." I started, trying to keep my composure.

She tilted her head, looking at me questioningly.

"What's up?"

"Mom..Me and Albert.." I started, folding my hands together. She gave me that look of concern blended with sympathy and I smiled, shaking my head as if to reassure her.

"We didn't work out, but we're still the best of friends, mom. But.. I realized that Julian is the one. The one for me, okay?" I said, keeping a strong tone as my mom's face transitioned from happy to disapproving.

"And I don't care about the fact that you and Stephano are married. I was with Julian before you and him ever started seeing each other." I finished.

Slowly, my mom got up, as did I.

Her eyes, stone cold, glared knives at me. Stale smoke blew out of her mouth as she opened it to speak.

"Get out."

Her face was stony and nearly emotionless, as was her voice.

"Huh..?" I said, not understanding what she meant by that.

"I said, get out. Get your belongings, and get out of my house. I will not tolerate you disrespecting me, or Stephano like this. Get the hell out."

I was beyond enraged, and I couldn't even bear to look her in the eye anymore.

I stormed out of the house and threw open the door to my car, sat down in the seat, and slammed the door so hard that the windshield wipers rattled violently before returning to their rhythm.

Julian and Albert both looked at me with wide eyes, their mouths agape.

"She kicked me out. I'll get my shit in the morning, I don't want to see her face." I said darkly, pulling out of the driveway and speeding off. Julian nor Albert said a word until I pulled up to Albert's house to drop him off. He thanked me, got his belongings and went inside.

As I pulled out of the driveway, Julian sighed and rested his hand on my thigh again, melancholily looking up at me.

"Listen, kid. You're gonna be alright. You have me, right here...Hey now... No crying.." He said in a gentle voice, lifting his hand up to my tear stained cheek. He wiped my tears, and leaned forward and kissed my cheek.

"Come on. Back to my place, and we'll figure out what comes next, baby."

I nodded, and drove off.

Nothing was more embarrassing then telling Julian's mom about what happened, and she accepted me to live with her and Julian with open arms. I gathered the things that I had from the beach trip, and placed them on the floor of Julian's bedroom.

It was late evening and I was so upset that I didn't want to be around anybody except for him. He got into bed with me, and wrapped his arm around me tightly.

"What now, Jules? We're out of school. What's next?"

"I don't know what's next. But whatever it is, I know that I want to spend it with you."

His words warmed my heart, and he kissed my forehead.

"And I think we should get a place together."