Tulips, they grow

24

5 YEARS LATER

I miss Juliette every day. I miss her laughter, her eagerness. Fuck, I miss how much she loved. How no matter what, she would always find a reason to love other people. It didn't matter how many times she had told herself she hadn't, she loved everyone.

I miss how beautiful she was. How she warmed my heart when she was excited. I miss how happy she was when Archer was around.

I miss her small tulip tattoo next to her ankle, a reminder that once, she had fallen in love with the perfect man.  And it wasn't Graham, it was Archer. She didn't even realize what the tulip meant, she was just reckless and wanted to go against our parents expectations. But she found the perfect love.

Their tulip had blossomed so fast, and it was so beautiful. It stood out from the rest, and soon it fell. But oh, how many tulips they inspired to grow.

I just know they would've rather died together than lose the other.

She was the reason I was able to leave the house. She gave me courage, she gave me hope. And now she is gone.

I have to thank Archer too, for without him, Juliette would've been miserable. He was her light and together they shined. He made her happy and I will forever be grateful that I was able to experience a 17 year old Juliette happy. I'm thankful that he stuck by her side no matter what since I was too selfish to do it myself.

Juliette was damaged and he happened to be the glue who put everything back together. They were kids, but they were in love. The type of love you could only dream of. He was her prince charming and she was his Cinderella.

They were only 17.

They had so much awaiting for them, and it was cut short.

"All done." The tattoo artist backed away from the side of my face. He gave me a mirror and I held it up against the side of my face.

Tears formed in my eyes as I saw the familiar tulip lying behind my ear.

"I want it on my ankle," Octavia smiled and sat down in the chair.

Octavia took the news the worst. She lost two of her closest friends and she was the one who found them. She had Maverick by her side. She started going to therapy and she visits their graves often. I know because I see her from afar every day at the graveyard.

I'm too afraid to see the graves they have. I'm afraid it'll take me back 5 years ago, when everything seemed to be going too good, and then it all fell apart.

Eva and Logan were devastated and couldn't even bear to look at the city they grew up in. The city where they grew up together. The city where they met Juliette. They left the state not long after. They still post photos of them with Archer and Juliette.

Caroline and Jonah had it hard too. Archer was Jonah's first friend, it broke him. Juliette understood Caroline like no one else. They moved out of town and visit on the anniversaries.

I can't help but know that I could've stopped it all from the beginning. If I had moved out earlier, Juliette and Archer would've fled by then, but they stayed for me.

"What are you going to name her?" Octavia asked, smiling.

"Juliette."

AUTHORS NOTE!!!!

I love you guys. This is the last chapter before the epilogue.

Keep in mind this hasn't been edited!