↳ TIDAL WAVES ༉‧₊˚✧ C.F

11

CHAPTER ELEVEN
✧.* AM I CUT FOR THIS? ✧.*

To say Juliette felt out of place wasn't enough to describe how much of a misfit she felt like, glancing around the room filled with trust fund babies.

She shook her head, looking down at the gloves covering her hands, debating if she'd made the right choice on this entire deb scene.

"Hello, debutantes." Paige began to speak to the younger girls, making the chatter in the room quiet out, "A few small housekeeping bits I'd like to go over. We have a lot to look forward to this season. Now, I understand some of you might think that debbing is outdated. It's something you're doing to appease your families. But the Cousins Debutante Ball is a part of history. Venerated, yet ever evolving, it's a tradition you'll someday pass on to your own daughters. It's a formal marking of this passage of time between your teenage years and your adulthood. One ends, and the other begins."

Juliette watched carefully at the girls at her table passed around a silver flask, pouring into their ceramic teacups, she stifled a low chuckle at them in pure amusement.

Nicole flashed her a smile, offering her the flask which she accepted, pouring some of the mysterious drink into her own cup, passing it back down to Shayla.

"It's a journey generations of women before you have taken. Women who you can learn from and who can inspire you. Debs, at each table is a big sister who will guide you through the season. So, please introduce yourselves." Paige announced, exiting the center of the floor.

Nicole turned to both Belly and Juliette, her bright teeth showing, "Hey, little sisters."

"Hey." Belly giggled softly, leaning over to join the conversation.

"Honestly, my parents made me do it last year because, you know, like, all the women in my family have done it. But my big sis was great, and I actually ended up having a lot of fun. So just don't be nervous." Nicole explained with a subtle eye roll, bringing her laced drink to her lips.

Juliette grabbed her own drink, curious on to what had been in the flask, the minute it reached her mouth she scrunched her face up at the pure vodka.

"Strong, huh?" Nicole teased, opening her mouth to speak more but she was cut off by a frantic Belly.

"Sorry, uh, Juliette. C'mon." Belly reached down for her friend, nearly yanking her out of her chair as the two rushed out of ballroom.

Juliette had her brows furrowed, titling her head towards the steps, Charlie and Cam making their way down them.

"Cam! Charlie!" Belly called out to them, making them halt and turn over their shoulders, grinning up at the two girls as they walked to them.

"Hey." The boys replied in sync, laughing at one another.

Charlie's eyes lingered on a dressed up Juliette, sneaking away from Cam as he approached her, "Well, don't you clean up nice."

"Are you saying I didn't clean up nice the other night?" Juliette cocked a brow at him, crossing her arms.

His eyes went wide with panic as he immediately started shaking his head, "No! No, um, sorry, fuck."

"I'm joking." She laughed, shoving his shoulder gently as he breathed out in relief, shaking his head with reddened cheeks.

"Um, Cameron is asking Belly to go to a drive in later, would you wanna join? We'd take separate cars. Plus, I really didn't wanna third wheel." Charlie asked, scratching the back of his neck.

Juliette rolled her bottom lip into her mouth, peering up at him due to the height, she needed a solid good night out, especially to take her mind of Conrad, she nodded, "Yeah. I'll join."

"Great." Charlie reached for something in his back pocket, pulling out his cell phone as he handed it to her, "Just put your number in."

Juliette typed in the numbers, handing it back to him with a beaming smile, he leaned forwards, kissing her unexpectedly on her cheek, "Bye."

"Bye." She muttered, her eyes shooting to Belly, the brunettes jaw surely dislocated as she gawked at the interaction.

"What was that?" Belly rushed to her friends side, the two squealing like middle schoolers over the simple gesture.

Juliette shook her head, speechless, "I'm not sure...It was cute, though. But, more importantly, we're both going on a date tonight at the drive in!"

Belly jumped up and down with excitement, "This is so exciting! What are we gonna wear? Oh, we didn't think this through what-so-ever."

"We'll figure it out. We still have a few hours to spare." Juliette chuckled, attempting to comfort the girl who just scoffed lowly.

Juliette thought this summer was destined to be Conrad Fisher, but maybe she'd just found her new Fisher.