↳ TIDAL WAVES ༉‧₊˚✧ C.F

36

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
✧.*PREPARATIONS✧.*

Juliette stammered down the steps, everyone in the kitchen talking ecstatically, Jeremiah, Belly, and Susannah by the island while Laurel stood by the oven. No sign of Conrad. She breathed with relief.

"Julie!" Susannah beamed, nearly toppling over as she ran over to her, rubbing her shoulder gently, "Are you ready for your big day?"

"You can say that." Juliette nodded, chuckling softly.

Conrad stepped into the kitchen, holding the small teal cardboard box, the smell of fresh muffins hitting their noses, his eyes flicked over to Juliette, "Hey...I picked up some of those good muffins."

Belly and Jeremiah hurried to grab one, stuffing their faces with no shame.

Juliette tucked her light hair behind her ears, nibbling on her bottom lip as she gazed at the box, "I...I'm good. Thanks, though."

"Okay." Conrad nodded with a tight lipped smile.

"Oh, girls, you should get going." Susannah suggested, cringing at the time, "Oh, and everyone, stay out of the family room. I've done all your paintings and tonight after the ball, we'll have a big unveiling. Oh, honey, can you put those in Laurels car."

Jeremiah easily lifted the two thick dresses, lying comfortably in the sealed packaging from the dry cleaners, Belly glanced over at her mother, "Yeah, aren't-aren't you driving us?"

"I'm going over with Susannah, so I thought maybe you could drive." Laurel lifted her keys with a shrug, watching her daughters face twist with excitement, "It's only a few blocks. Unless you don't want to?"

Belly was quick to snatch the keys from her mother with wide eyes. "Yes. Yes, yes."

"Drive slow, obey the lights, wait four seconds at each stop sign." Laurel reminded, "Juliette make sure she's paying attention.

The two girls nodded, smirking at each other.

"We'll see you at the club in a few hours." Susannah smiled largely at them.

Belly hurried out of the house, Juliette trailing behind slower than her, she had only made it through the doorway of the kitchen before she was stopped.

"Hey." Conrad's voice made her halt her steps, turning on her heels to face him, "Break a leg."

"That'd be bad." Juliette crossed her arms, tilting her head to the side, his brows furrowing, "I'm supposed to be dancing all night."

His lips parted, his eyes contact faltering as he stared at the hardwood flooring, "I just... I just mean good luck. It's, like, a thing people say. Um... For what it's worth, Jere was the right choice."

Juliette could feel her heart beat faster, due to the sincerity in his voice, she just nodded with a hum, "Yeah, I know."

Before he could reply, she was hurrying to the front door, shutting it, and disappearing off the porch.

Jeremiah closed the trunk, stuffing the white dresses into the smaller space, a large grin on his lips as he turned, facing the blonde.

"Don't be nervous. We're gonna be the best waltzers out there." Jeremiah assured, seeing the unsure expression taking over her features.

Juliette sighed lowly, leaning on the car, "No, it's... it's not that."

"What? You nervous about seeing the girls?" Jeremiah asked.

"No, I mean, everyone must know what happened by now." Juliette shrugged, picking at her fresh manicure, "They all probably hate me."

Jeremiah lifted her chin gently, "Want me to come with? I could be your hairstylist/bodyguard."

"No, you can't be in the green room. It's girls-only." Juliette laughed, holding his wrist.

"Listen, Julie, you've got this. All right? I'll be right by your side the whole night." Jeremiah insisted, the two now facing one another, "And if anybody gives you sh¡t, I will..."

Juliette flickered her eyes between his, fighting laughter as she egged him on, "You'll do what?"

"I'll be like, "Yo, that's not cool at all."I'll grab your hand, and we'll dance away from everybody." He spun her, giggles leaving her lips as she faced once more, her palm resting on his chest, "I'll see you at the club."

He leaned down, kissing her lips gently, smiling into it before he walked away, leaving her with pink cheeks and a Steven storming out of his truck.

"What the freak? Are you kidding me? You and Jeremiah?" Steven whined, his brows pulled together in shock.

"It just happened." Juliette lifted her shoulders, feeling his angry glare.

Steven looked around, completely baffled, "Like when? Just now?"

"Like, a-a week ago?" Juliette stuttered, forming her lips into a flat line, watching him be over dramatic as he grabbed the neckline of his T-shirt.

He began making gagging noises, pretending to throw up, making a scene while Juliette just rolled her eyes, shaking her head, he glanced at her, his heart burning with disgust and betrayal, "Oh, oh, t-this is sick. I feel like I'm gonna throw up. Oh, oh, my God, and you guys were, like, wh... like, what, like, sneaking around, keeping it a secret from me this whole time?"

"This has nothing to do with you, Steven." Juliette argued, breathing out with annoyance.

"Oh, my God, are you guys, like, a couple?" Steven gawked.

Juliette shook her head, her hand on her forehead, "No! No, I don't, I don't know. We just... We-we just kissed a few times."

"Wait, wait, wait, wait. So-so what about Conrad?" Steven questioned, cocking a brow.

"What about him?"

"Uh, I don't know, maybe the fact that you've been, like, goo-goo gaga over him since you were ten." Steven fought back.

Juliette groaned loudly, "Well, I'm not ten anymore."

"I ju... I just... I just don't want things to get all screwed up. All right, come on, they're like our family, Julie. And, like, you're, like, my little sister. This affects, like, way more than just you." Steven reminded, his hands on his hips.

She nodded, "I know. But you don't get a say in who I date. You're just gonna have to trust me."

And with that she left him, saying the last word as she hurried into the passenger seat, Belly speeding off the second the door shut.

10k??? you're all so amazing ily