Guilty

Zane

"Juliette," I say beaming as she walks into my dorm room. She's lugging a small suitcase filled with study prep for the both of us to pour over.

It only took me five days of threats that I'd quit helping her to get her to actually come inside my room. I argued it was bigger than hers, better decorated and had better heating.

Only partly true, mostly I wanted her in my room. Though I admit I forgot the reason I didn't like letting anyone else into my bedroom. It's like a secret key into my brain.

And Juliette snoops. She walks around my room and stares at everything I have hung up from flash cards to the organised folders on my desk.

"You're a neat freak I see," She says, staring at the alphabetically organised bookshelf.

I smile a little, I don't mind her looking. The things I don't want her to see aren't here anyway, "Yeah my dad was pretty strict about it. Old habits."

She nods, looking around and then she glances at the photo I have facing down. My heart begins to beat a little faster when she picks it up and turns it over.

I'm not sure what I expect her to say. It's not a bad photo, just me and my mom when I was a little younger. First day of school to be exact, she insisted on taking a photo together after we unpacked.

Juliette stares at the photo, her lips pulling into a small smile, "You look so young here."

"I was eighteen, just a baby. That was before I discovered all of the fun things that come with being an adult."

"I imagine you started dabbling into all that when you were twelve." She says, putting the photo down and walking back over to my desk so she can pull out all of our study prep.

She sits at my desk and begins listing out Lana's family history to me while I make notes of anything that sticks out to be important.

I don't think I'll ever forget that look on her face when she told me we were taking the case. I know Juliette loves the law but it was more than simple passion on her face.

It was almost personal. 

One good thing at studying the law and criminology; You figure out a trick or two about bending it to your will. I imagine Juliette would be able to if she wanted.

My train of thoughts are interrupted when I hear a loud knock at my door. Juliette looks up from her textbook and shoots me a confused look.

I have no idea who it could be, I told Josh to stay far away from me so he wouldn't be able to interrupt Juliette and I.

"Who is it?" I call out.

"Mackenzie, who else!" A shrill voice calls out and I wince.

For the love of god.

I sigh in response and Juliette stands up abruptly. Her cheeks are dusted a pretty pink colour.

"Okay well if you have a girl coming over-"

"I don't have anyone coming over. Mackenzie's had a thing for me since our second year. I mean her persistence is admirable if not extremely irritating."

"You sleeping with her didn't help that obsession I'll bet." Juliette says, shooting me an unimpressed look.

I always forget how harsh she can be sometimes "I didn't sleep with her, that would be taking advantage of her feelings." I say, quietly.

Juliette says nothing for a moment but her expressions softens, "I can pretend to be your girlfriend. If it will get her back off."

I don't even bother to hide the delight on my face at the idea. I open the door to see Mackenzie in a trench coat with, I'm guessing nothing underneath.

God if a guy did this to a girl it would be so fucked up.

"So I have a surprise for you-" Mackenzie says, with a flirtatious grin.

"Honey who is it?" Juliette asks, standing behind me.

I grin at the pet name, "Nothing...Pumpkin. It's just a friend."

I hear Juliette laugh quietly behind me as Mackenzie's eyes go as big as saucers as she stares at Juliette. "What's happening?"

"What do you mean? Didn't...muffin tell you about us?" Juliette asks, I try my hardest to stop myself from snickering at the absurd nickname.

Mackenzie splutters and stands there confused as she wraps the straps of her jacket around her tighter. No longer feeling as confident to expose herself to me as she did before.

"Now listen Pookie..." I say, turning to Juliette.

She snorts and shakes her head at me, "Oh my god Zane stop it."

I smile a little bit at her. And then Juliette side steps me to reach the door. She looks at Mackenzie who's turned the same colour as a tomato.

"Girl to girl, if a guy wants to be with you he will be. He isn't playing hard to get you're playing hard to get rid of."

Mackenzie stands there, her mouth dropping open, "Now if you had just let him go you wouldn't be standing there as embarrassed as you are now. Let this be a learning moment for you." Juliette says, shutting the door in her face.

"Damn," I comment.

Juliette shakes her head, "Call me Pookie again and I will gouge your eyes out."

"And risk losing the case?"

"I could win it without you, I just don't want to risk it." She says, beginning to pack her things up.

"Is this the closest I get to you admitting you think I'm smart?"

"Why do you care what I think? You have almost everyone in school singing your praises for a multitude of reasons."

Because your opinion matters the most.

I shrug as she opens the door to leave, "Look over the notes I made for you. Make your own notes and I will pick up the phone if you call me about the work." She tells me.

"So we won't be having hot phone sex?" I tease.

Juliette pauses at the door and turns around slowly, "You couldn't handle me, Zane."

My jaw drops open as she shuts the door behind her and leaves. Oh my god this woman might be the death of me.

She gives me an inch I swear it feels like a mile. Maybe anyone would think there's no way I have a chance winning over Juliette, But I'm happy to wait.

I know she's fucking worth it.

Besides I already know she's cracking because three months ago if I called her she'd have blocked me immediately.