Julia lies on her side with her phone in her hand, texting Robin. Yesterday at school, Robin helped her avoid Mason and Ash. She couldn't face them. Mason and Ash both tried to talk to her, though, but Robin stood tall. Her own thoughts and doubts confuse Julia too much. She's sixteen, and just wants some friends and a normal school life. Is that too much to ask?
After the hike, she cried in her mother's arms. Everything is difficult. It's like she doesn't even know how to act around people anymore. She doubts her own mind and everyone around her.
That's why she needed a day without the boys, the possible friends, and most of all, the stares and whispers. She doesn't know what she would've done without Robin. Robin cheered her up. After school, they had a movie night, and next Friday, they'll watch another slasher movie. In all honesty, she can't wait.
Another text appears on her screen. This time from Olivia instead of Robin.
US Olivia: Hi, hon. There's a party near the forest today. Wanna come with me, Matt, and some friends?
Julia bites her lip. A party sounds fun, and she missed the last one. Even if the party ends late, she can sleep the entire day tomorrow.
Julia: Sounds great. What time?
US Olivia: Starts at 8. Matt and I will pick you up.
Julia: Okay, see you then.
Sliding out of bed, she crawls to her suitcases. She picks out a dark blue summer dress with tiny white flowers scattered across. Her mother sits downstairs at the dining table house hunting. The rest of the house is empty. "Where's everyone?" Julia asks.
"They left early to visit Granny." Her mother looks up from her laptop. "Do you want to do something fun together today?"
Shrugging her shoulders, she takes a muesli bar. "There's this party I want to go to tonight. Olivia and Matt are picking me up at eight."
"Okay. If Olivia and Matt pick you up, maybe they can come early, and I'll order us some pizza."
Julia's face lights up. "I'll ask them."
***
At six, Olivia arrives at her house. Olivia wears a gorgeous white dress and perfect purple eyeshadow. "Hi, hun." Olivia hugs her before she looks over and whistles. "Damn, you look pretty. If I didn't have Matt..." Olivia winks at her.
Julia wears skinny black jeans with a forest green peplum top. She has braided her brown hair in a boho style with a few loose strands framing her face. Her lips are a light shade of reddish-pink, and she has drawn the perfect cat-eyes, which took forever.
"Hé, Jules, I thought we were friends? Why are you stealing my girlfriend?" Matt laughs.
"Don't worry. Pals before Gals, right?" She laughs with him. Olivia acts hurt and pokes Julia's side.
They eat their pizzas watching a new paranormal TV-show. Matt helps her mother clean while Olivia shows Julia the new necklaces Matt has given her. The necklace has a little basketball charm hanging with a star. Olivia and Matt's first date was watching the stars after Matt's basketball game. A perfect first date. Julia can't help but feel a little jealous.
"It's beautiful," Julia says. Her first date ever was with a boy named Johan, who took her to the snack bar after watching a sports game–it was the least romantic date she could have ever imagined.
Julia fiddles with her charm bracelet, and Olivia takes her wrist. "You need more charms."
"Maybe I'll get something to represent the US."
YOU ARE READING
Lost and Found
Teen Fiction[3x featured] Do you ever wonder if you are merely a wanderer in this world, lost forever and waiting to be found? Julia was suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, which left her socially isolated as her friends abandoned her. When she's finally s...
