Six Secrets - Noa Olivar

6

The next morning, Jules woke up with a slight headache. She sat up, her hand clinging to her head as she reached to turn off her alarm. She sat her feet on the side of her bed as she tried to slow her breathing before she got up and downed more Tylenol. She didn't want to admit that she had become dependent on them as well as Advil but she doesn't go a day without taking one or the other. After she calms herself, she goes to get dressed. She picks out a white t-shirt with black stripes and blue ripped jeans. She matched it with black converse and tied her hair back in a ponytail. She put her brackets on her wrists, wincing slightly as she tightened them to keep them in their places. Once that was done she did her makeup, putting a lot on the spot that was still red from yesterday. She hated using a lot of makeup but she couldn't have anyone seeing her marks. Once she put on some mascara and a little eyeliner, she determined that that was the best she was going to look today and that she needed to just suck it up. Today was the day where they were going to humiliate Karen. Finally Karen would have what was coming to her, and hopefully Jules would feel better after the whole slushie incident. She grabbed her bag from her room, putting her vape in her bag before she slid it over her shoulder. Typically, she wouldn't use her vape and would just steal her mother's cigarettes but since her mother had just used up all her shit,  Jules knew she needed something to help her get through the day. She left her room, quietly walking down the hall to see her mother still asleep. She stared at her as she grabbed her keys, tears were building up in her eyes out of frustration. "What happened to you mom? What happened to us?" She whispered to herself. She grabbed the blanket behind the couch as she placed it down on her mother. She put a bucket below her mother before she sighed. A part of her wanted to give her mother a kiss but she couldn't, their relationship was too strained. She turned around and went out the door, closing it and locking it behind her. She went down to her car as she looked to see her phone got a message. Except it was from this unknown user, it was from Mouse. "Morning." Jules was confused why Mouse was texting her but it did bring a smile to her face. "Hey! What's up?" She sent it back. She sat in the car for a few minutes before she got another ding. "Just wanted to make sure you were okay. Plus, I'm kinda nervous for today." Jules liked that Mouse was checking up on her. It made her heart flutter slightly, but she also agreed with Mouse that she too was kind of nervous. If their plan didn't work, this would backfire on all of them, she couldn't have that happening. "I'm nervous too, but don't worry I got you back. :)" Mouse responded back with an "ok" and a smiley face as well, causing Jules to smile. She placed her phone in her bag before she turned on the car, took a hit of her vape, before she began to drive to school.

When she got there she was surprised to see Mouse waiting outside for her. What surprised her more was when Mouse gave her a hug, only to pull away and get nervous. "Sorry did you not like that? I've never really had friends before and I don't really know what you're supposed to do..." Jules thought it was so cute as Mouse rambled on. She put her hands on Mouse's shoulder to force her to stop and look at her. "Mouse, it's okay. I loved the hug. Hug me anytime you want. And don't stress yourself out too much. Can I ask you something?" Mouse nodded as Jules grabbed onto her hand. Her hand was soft, not to mention tiny, yet Mouse wasn't the biggest person, she was small like Noa, yet she was also the youngest so it made some sense. "Why do you not really have many friends? Did you have a falling out or something? I don't mean to be nosey, it's just, you're a really cool girl, just seems like more people would want to know you." Mouse tried to hide her smile as she began to blush, causing Jules to grin. She got her to blush so easily. "Well umm....my mother's have been very protective of me ever since I was young. They never really let me do anything fun or go out with anyone. They got me all the technology I wanted so that I didn't have to go out into the free world. At first I thought it was awesome, until I saw everyone else my age having fun and doing all these things that I never got to do. I mean I have childhood trauma and my parents never got over it but I still wish I could've experienced more." "Mouse, don't beat yourself up. Now you have me. You have the girls too. I'm not going to let you miss out on any more experiences. Minnie Honrada; I promise to make sure you experience everything." A smile grew across Mouse's face when Noa suddenly came up to them, along with Faran. "Hey guys, Imogen and Tabby are waiting inside for us. What are you guys doing out here?" Noa asked. "We were just talking for a second, right Mouse?" "Yeah." Mouse agreed as the two stood up. Noa felt like they weren't telling her something, but she also wasn't going to speak up to Jules with Mouse and Faran around. Maybe she would approach her later. She looked down to see Jules holding Mouse's hands and she had a weird feeling in her stomach. It couldn't be jealousy, she's straight and yeah she knows Jules is only into girls but was Mouse? And also she was in a loving relationship, she had Shawn, who was an amazing boyfriend and football player. Why was she tripping out about this? "Let's just go and see what Imogen and Tabby want." Noa cut them off as she immediately went inside. Jules was a little weirded out but said nothing as she clinched onto Mouse's hand harder. "Let's go." "Like this? Together?" Mouse asked. "Why not? I mean we're friends right? Friends do this." Jules says. Mouse smiles as she walks behind Jules as Jules leads her into the main foyer.