↳ COME BACK TO THE SEA ༉‧₊˚✧ C.F

30

⋆·˚ ༘ * YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, KID
"you're on your own, kid.
you always have been."

"When the night has come and the land is dark..." Maude sung, her fingers snapping, blonde hair sweeping over her shoulders as she leaned into her daughter.

Juliette covered her face, laughing. She sat between Susannah and her mother, Maude. The two woman singing Ben E. Kings famous tone in harmony.

"And the moon is the only light we'll see. No, I won't be afraid..." Susannah belted, the white blankets covering the three's legs. "Oh, I won't be afraid. Just as long as you stand..."

"Stand by me." Juliette gave in, rolling her eyes.

Maude sighed, her temple resting on her daughters shoulder. "I hope you guys never loose this. Especially...especially when I'm gone."

Juliette exhaled, her breathe shaky. "We won't." She wrapped an arm around her mother. "'Cause we're not loosing you."

"Ever." Susannah added, her arms extending to cradle her girls as they chuckled softly, all leaning into one another.

"Juliette! Juliette!" Her fathers voice rang, her body being aggressively shaken.

Juliette jerked up, rubbing her eyes from her blurry vision, making out two silhouettes. Her brows furrowed as her eyes made out the familiar faces. "Dad? Laurel? What...what are you doing here?"

"You called me." Liam's jaw went slack as he stared around the empty room, eyes glaring at his daughter. "Were you drinking?"

"I..." She scrunched her nose up, guilty. "I'm just really tired. It was a long night."

Liam chuckled, shaking his head, appalled. "You're unbelievable. We're leaving, now. Go wake Belly up."

"No." She scurried, throwing the sleeping bag off of her as she stood up, facing her father with frantic eyes. "I can't leave. You don't get it."

"No, Juliette. I don't get it." He shook his head, biting his bottom lip. "And I don't think you do either. You lied to me. What if something happened to you?"

Juliette's face fell slightly, meeting Laurel's gaze. "Dad, I know. Conrad and Jeremiah needed my help." Her eyes faltering. "All of our help."

"Well, I hope last night was worth it." Laurel broke her silence, disgust on her features. Liam placed an arm on her back in an attempt of comfort before blinking at the girl. "I'm so done with you."

Juliette furrowed her brows. "We didn't come here to party, dad. We're here for the house, for Susannah..."

"Enough!" Liam shouted, making her lips snap shut in a flat line. "You need to stop using Susannah as an excuse. You're acting out. You've been like this since April. Before she even passed."

She nearly flinched at the mention of April, the nights of prom flashing through her head. "You act like you care. You don't." She laughed softly. "Ever since mom died you've hated me. Even at Susannah's funeral."

"You embarrassed me, us, at Susannah's funeral." Liam corrected. "That day was about her. You made it about yourself and Conrad. You've been using that boy and his mother as an excuse for you just being a bad kid!"

"An excuse? No, dad. It's not an excuse, I've been hurting! You just don't see that because you don't want too. You don't want to be a father." She fought back, cocking her head to the side.

He chuckled. "Be a father. You have no idea how hard it is to raise a kid who barely acknowledges your existence and is a complete liar!"

"Because you've never cared!" Juliette cried. "Mom died and you forgot about me. She would never forgive for abandoning me. It should've been you!"

Her words struck a nerve. His hand flying upward in instinct, striking his daughter across her cheek.

Laurel gasped, her eyes widening as she looked between the two. Juliette whimpered as her cheek stung, her watery eyes staring at her father.

"Juliette..." He trailed off, his face paled.

She stormed out of the room, her palm flat against her cheek. She passed Jeremiah, feeling his stare on her backseat. Her feet halted as her eyes locked with Conrad's worried ones. Her chest heaved as the tears trickled down her face, she hurried past him.

Juliette left the house, finding her way onto the beach. The only place that could bring her comfort. She sat, turning her head slightly. There, she saw the moments of Conrad and her.

"I think I'll be falling in love with you every day for the rest of my life." Conrad muttered, the light layer of snow coating their clothes as their backs pressed against the sand.

Juliette felt her skin grow hot, her hands covering her face as she became flustered. "Shut up." She whined.

"What?" He smiled, gently bringing her hands down, lifting his fingers to brush the hair from her face. "You're all I think about."

She brought her palm to his cheek, pressing her nose against his. "I'm nothing without you, Conrad. It'll always be you."

Juliette blinked, her eyes burning as the sun rose, the dawn bright. She dropped her head, staring at the sand.

"Can I sit." Belly asked, her voice horse as she sat beside her friend, bringing her sleeves down over her hands. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Juliette nodded, sadly. "Everything's a mess, Belly."

Belly crossed her arms over her chest, leaning into Juliette. "You'll figure it out, you always do."

"But what if I don't?" Juliette whispered, her eyes glazing with sadness as she watched the waves crash. "They both hate me. My dad probably hates me. Susannah. My mom..." Her voice cracked. "She's probably so disappointed in me."

"She's not." Belly shook her head in her neck. "You're mom loved you more than life itself. We're going, Jules. We make mistakes. Conrad hating you would cause the world to end. It's not possible."

Juliette chuckled softly. "Yeah..." She nodded. "Maybe my dads right. Maybe it's time we should all go home."

authors note<3
& ik u got daddy issues...