Borrowed Time

Chapter Nine

Going to the drive-in was something that had been essential to Juliette's friendship with Shelby and Micheal since they'd been kids. Before her mom died, they would do it like a big family - all of them in Micheal's parents truck, sitting in the hatchback... It was the best time Juliette could think of... and they kept it up, now using Micheal's truck... But it felt almost like Juliette was interrupting a date, even though she wasn't trying to, and it made her feel like she should leave, even though both of them would insist that she shouldn't. Maybe that was part of growing up; letting two people grow closer together even if it means you don't get to grow as much with them... Too dark of a thought process for the drive in, but Juliette decided she should probably think about it again later, when Micheal and Shelby weren't inches away from her.

"So... Are you and Esme friends again? Or is that whole thing like... going to the wolves?" Micheal asked, and Juliette lifted her head off of Shelby's shoulder, squinting over at him in the dark. Had she ever said that she and Esme weren't friends? And was the middle of a drive in movie really the right time to ask about it?

"Huh?" She asked, and he looked at her, a clear, concerned sort of look that she couldn't be mad at even if she found the question to be a little weird. Had she been giving off the vibes that she and Esme weren't friends anymore? Because that hadn't been her intention at all.

"Did you make up?" He asked, and she sighed, settling back down as she looked up at the screen. Yeah, being friends had never been the problem, the problem was that both of them wanted to be more... but she knew that if she went with what she was feeling, she would ruin her own life and that wasn't something she could afford right now... or ever.

"We never weren't friends, Micheal... We just had to talk some stuff out and now that we've done that we're stronger for it." Juliette explained, and Shelby smacked her arm, giving her a look. Ow. And also what was the look supposed to mean in the first place? They only had one secret they were sharing and as far as Shelby knew, she hadn't acted on anything they'd talked about... She hadn't gotten around to telling either of them that she'd kissed Esme... it just seemed like something they could talk about at a different time... Or never, either one was fine with her.

"Did you tell her?" Shelby asked, and Juliette glared at her, pressing a finger to her own lips as she jerked her head toward the screen. They didn't need to be talking about this, they were at a movie... sure it was a drive in and they were allowed to talk, but she wanted to use any excuse she had to not get into this right now.

"Shh..." But Micheal had heard something, even if it was just her shushing Shelby. He leaned around Shelby's other side, giving her an expectant look. Goddamnit, this was supposed to be private.

"Tell her what?" Micheal asked, and Juliette grimaced. This was not the place or time to tell Micheal, she didn't want a hug and to be told that someone was proud of her right now... which was odd, because she pretty much constantly craved that validation... She could address that later, maybe.

"Nothing, Micheal." He wasn't convinced, honestly she hadn't thought that he would be... but she could certainly hope that he would be. Was that too much to ask for? To not have to drag this all out right now?

"C'mon-." Not right now. Not the time, and not the place.

"Look, if I were to tell you this, I wouldn't say it somewhere where everyone else could hear it, it'd have to be in a private place." Juliette explained, and Micheal rolled his eyes, clenching his jaw as he leaned back against his car, taking a sip from his soda before he spoke.

"Then it's really good that you two are sleeping over, huh? Maybe you could clue me in?" Micheal asked, his tone sounding frustrated. Juliette winced away, nodding... she really hated making Micheal upset, especially since it was something that was remarkably hard to do. But she'd done it.