Short stories :)

Old friends, new beginnings

I swear I write fluff but angst is my main lol. Also not proof read 💋
I also had no idea what to make the title idk I'm cringy ik
TW: mild language, abuse, substance abuse, but some fluff at the end:)
One more thing and then I'll shut up, THE PICTURE ^ I wanted to cry they're so adorable

"Set your story in a bar that doesn't serve alcohol"
But it's just gonna be in a bar:)

I walk into the familiar rustic-wood setting and sit on a stool. The sound of cue sticks and billiard balls being smacked against the soft green fuzz. I have a drink with my thoughts as I lean my elbow on the always-sticky countertop.
"Hey," I hear from my left. I turn my head and see a familiar girl standing there. I set my phone down; giving my thumb a break from the labor of scrolling and tapping and I turn my body to this 5 foot nothing girl.
"What's up?" I ask. She fiddles with the cue stick when she asks,
"Do you wanna come play with us?"

"That is such bullshit!" Phoebe says, I'll introduce you to these old friends. Julien, the short one. Phoebe, the crazy platinum. My favorite Lucy, the tall and full-of-wisdom one. Phoebe continues yelling from me smacking the 8-ball into one of the pockets.
"Y'know I am pretty impressed," Julien says, holding up her fist to me, to which I bump back instantly.
"I still can't believe I'm playing pool with you guys again," I say.
"Better believe it baby!" Phoebe shouts
"How many drinks have you had?!" Julien chimes in at Phoebe's woozy yet crazy state.
"She's been keepin' up with me," I say
"I still don't know how you are fine though!" Phoebe adds
"Not a lightweight hun," I say as I set my now empty glass on the bar I'm leaning against.
"One more then could you close my tab?" I say as the bartender with a nod garbs my glass.
"That's strong you gonna be okay with another?" Lucy asks me
"Oh yea I'll be fine don't worry!" I say, clearly not fooling them as I take yet another sip. I really don't feel anything, I mean yea I have a slight buzz but I-
"LET'S DO ANOTHER ROUND!" Phoebe shouts, cutting my thoughts off. I let out a laugh and say,
"How about I be the ref? If anyone needs help, I'll help with that too," I say as I lift myself up on the plush of the barstool.
"Works for me," Julien says with a smile.
"ALRIGHT!" Phoebe said nearly breaking my eardrum. I start to feel slightly fuzzy, now grateful that I Ubered here.
The friendly game of pool continued as I just sat there.
"Okay ref, was that fair?!" Lucy asked, but I didn't hear her when she walked into the bar. God does this bar serve anything stronger? I try to melt into the bar so she won't see me.
"Ref?" Phoebe asks. Julien puts her hand on my shoulder to try and get me out of my daze but I flinch.
"Sorry, what?" I say with my head still in her direction, following her around the room hoping she won't see me even though I'm following her every movement. Julien follows my eyeline with her eyes as she sees her.
"Who is that?" She whispers under her breath looking me right in the eye.
"Nobody. What did you say before?" I ask. They all look at me confused when she starts to walk over. I bolt to the bathroom and I feel her following in suit. I lock myself in a stall and try to still out my breathing.
"I know you're in there," Her voice is laced with evil as she speaks. She bangs the side of her fist on the door; nearly taking it off the hinges.
Call me a coward cause I'm too scared to leave.
I give in and open the door. A sideways grin plastered itself on her face when she pushed me into the big stall.
"Where ya been sweets?" She asked as she pinned me against the wall. It used to hurt when she would do that but I had gotten used to it, then I left in hopes she wouldn't ever find me. Her fingers dig marks into my sides as she brings her face closer. I thrash out of her grip when she slams me into the wall and holds me up by my collar. A strangled yelp leaves me as I claw out of her grip once more.
"Someone's gotten strong," She says with her head cocked to the side. I try to reach for the stall door when she slams her fist into my abdomen. I let out a groan and fell to the floor. I stumbled back on my feet as my knuckles met the center of her face. While she was distracted I rushed to the stall door and ran out of the bathroom. I walked back over to the boys as they all frantically tried to ask what happened.
"Nothing, just a person I don't like," I said with a laugh as I started to dig around my purse for my phone. When I tried to type in 911 my phone was knocked out of my hands.
"Hey baby, you okay?" She asked with a grin as she slipped her cold arms around my waist.
"Don't call me that." I said to her in a whisper; trying not to cause a scene as I pushed her off of me.
"Outside." She said in my ear. I had no choice but to follow so I told the boys she just wanted to talk to me in private. Julien gave me a look of disapproval as if she knew what was about to happen.
We stepped outside as she slapped me across the face and held her switchblade to my hip when she said,
"Car now." I shook my head as I tried to regain my balance from her slapping me hard. I tried to wiggle my way out of her grip when she pushed the tip of the blade into my hip. I let out a cry as I pushed her against the wall and knocked the blade out of her hand. I went on autopilot as my fist continued to make contact with her face until she was on the ground. She let out a laugh and gave me a blood stained smile, it made me sick. I just kept slamming my fist into her, not anywhere specific because I couldn't see anything from my foggy eyes as my tears fell on her face. I was pulled off of her by a pair of strong arms as she crawled her way away from me. I was screaming nonsense at her, just trying to get her away as I still have no idea who is holding me but it's helping. Strangled and loud sobs ripped out from my chest as she pushed whoever was behind me off as she held me against the wall and now it was her turn to break my face. She dropped me to the ground as I continued to shake with sobs when she said,
"I'll always find you, you know that honey." She said when she crouched down to me as red and blue lights came up to us she still looked at me. I spit out blood to the side as she was yanked up and  into a cop car. I couldn't hear anything around me from the ringing in my ears as I was pulled up by the same pair of arms. Julien's scent filled my senses as she pulled me up into her arms. I still couldn't speak when I was sat in the back of Juliens car with Lucy holding my hand and my head on her shoulder.
"I feel bad, you guys don't have to take care of me-" I tried to start
"Nope. You're coming back with us." Julien stated. I had no energy to fight so I just put my head back on Lucy's shoulder.
Back at Julien's place it was like I had never left. Beans came up to me wagging her tail. I couldn't help but let out a laugh when she licked my face when I bent down to pet her.
"Hi angel," I said, talking to the dog. I sat with Beans on the floor for a while until I was hoisted up abruptly by Julien.
"I could've gotten up myself!" I said just standing next to Beans now as she, along with the two others sat down on the couch so I sat back down on the floor in front of them with Beans laying next to me once again.
"So how long?" Phoebe asks,
"W-what?" I replied back with my head tilted to the side. I had kinda fell off the face of the earth after she pushed me off.
"You know what." Lucy said coldly. Oh. I never realized that I was this much of a problem to people.
"Listen I know I ghosted you guys and I'm sorry I did that, I know I fell off the face of the Earth and I don't remember why and- this was stupid." I said getting up walking towards the door. The worst part is, they didn't even try to stop me. I don't blame them.
Back at my place I just stared at the black screen of my tv that was turned off. My phone was ringing and so were my ears. I sipped at the burning liquid that traveled down my throat. My vision started to go in and out as I don't even remember what I took, until I passed out.
I woke up the next morning with a raging headache. The day went on in a blur and I couldn't even really do anything. I felt so awful. Awful about hurting my friends. Awful about hurting my old friends. Awful about hurting everyone I connect with. Maybe I deserve this.
9:00 came around and- happy hour.
"Hey maybe I should cut you off for the night,eh?" My friend was now behind the bar, kinda wishing it was the other guy so I wouldn't have to hurt her too.
"Hey, look at me. Is there someone I can call?" she asked. I don't know if it was the alcohol or just my true form. I angrily slammed down money from my bag and stumbled my way out of the bar.
JULIEN
I should go check on her. I need to check on her. If almost on cue Phoebe said,
"Alright I can't do this, c'mon." She said getting up.
We got in the car with my stomach doing flips. I called her over and over. I was starting to panic, I should've ran after her. I should've called her twice, but I didn't. We pulled up to her apartment complex as I desperately rang her to let us in. Until a janitor let us in.
              "You seem like you're in a rush," he said with a smile. We thanked him as we all sprinted up the stairs, knowing the elevator would be too slow. I got to her door and banged on it a couple times I heard things falling over and stuff being thrown. I dug around the door frame and mat in desperate need to find a spare key. I dug out my keys from my pocket realizing I had never taken her key off of my set of keys. But I don't know which one. Shit. My heartbeat only quickened as I heard more chaos and I couldn't find the key. Is that a sign that I don't break into her home? I dropped the keys and that's when I had enough. Phoebe picked them up and tried to find which one it was while I continued to bang on the door and yell for her to open it when Phoebe finally got it open. So much for letting her open it. But I can't lose another friend. We walked it to an apartment that looked like a tornado had run through it. Glass shattered from a fallen vase, things were thrown around but now I don't know where she is. I opened the door to her bedroom as her head snapped back at me. I looked at her with a face of sorrow, but it wasn't her.
"How'd you get in here? Who the fuck are you?!" She shouted as she harshly chucked a pillow at me. She backed herself in a corner and continued screaming profanities. I felt absolutely helpless. I turned to look at Lucy and Phoebe and they had that same look on their faces.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY APARTMENT BEFORE I CALL THE COPS!" She barked. Until yet another person came into the room, someone I didn't recognize. Wait. Zoe. She walked over to her like this had happened before and somehow she knew who Zoe was. (Random name idk) She held her close to her chest as she sobbed and clung onto her for dear life. Zoe just let her cry on her.
"I don't know what's happening," She frantically said before backing away from Zoe.
"I know, it's okay, just breathe. That's Julien, Phoebe and Lucy you know them-"
"NO I DON'T!"
"Yes you do." Zoe reassured her calmly. I saw her put herself even farther in the corner as she bawled her hands into fists and punched her lamp on her bedside table. Zoe caught it before it could break as she grabbed her by the shoulders and walked her out of the room.
"Don't fucking touch me!" I heard her yell.
"I've had enough. Just let her be. If she wants to act like a child then be it." Zoe said angrily.
"You are aware that she's not even kinda sober right now right?" Phoebe said.
"Yea, she never is." Zoe said before walking out in the living room.
"HEY!" Zoe yelled at her trying to get her attention.
"This is gonna kill you someday you know that right?" Zoe stated flatly, and what she replied with made my heart hurt.
"Thank GOD! Now get the fuck out! All of you." I looked dead into her bloodshot eyes, trying to read her mind or trying to get her to recognize me. I saw her start to crack as her hands shook violently with her whole body she let out a small but audible,
"Julien?" A breath of air was released from my chest as I started to worry she was too far gone. I didn't know if I should hug her or let her hug me? I just stood there and nodded my head after she said my name a few times.
"She trusts you more than anyone. You do know that too, right?" Zoe said next to me.
"Do you want us to leave?" Phoebe said to me. Without breaking my gaze away from the girl on the floor in hysterics as I nodded my head. I heard the door shut as I sat down on the floor with her. I felt like she was some stray animal that I was trying to gain the trust off again. She brought her knees up to her chest and put her head on her knees. I anxiously tapped my hands around trying to see if I would have to be the first one to talk. I watched her every move like a hawk as her eyes anxiously darted around the room but not on me. I felt scared almost, it wasn't her even if it was. Her crying stopped and she just let out small sniffles.
"How about you go to bed and we can talk in the morning, okay?" I said cautiously, trying desperately not to upset her. I've only really ever been in her situation and I don't really remember it. She nodded her head and walked to the bathroom.
"Unlocked." I said flatly. She just nodded her head once more. A couple minutes went by and she came back out. I could barely hear her when she said,
"Where do you want me?" She kept staring at her feet or anywhere else but me.
"Wherever you don't mind me being." She just nodded her head and went into her room. I followed almost directly on her heels as she picked up the pillow she chucked at me and placed discarded things back where they were.
"Can you- can you turn around?" I nodded my head at her words and turned around so she could change and get into bed.
"You're good." She said as she turned on her TV as Friends started to play.

3AM came around and I was still up. I ended up watching Friends for a while and watching her to make sure she was still breathing.

I woke up to the sun shining through the curtains. I sat up and let out a small groan from the ache in my neck from being in such a weird position. I froze as my stomach churned when I saw her side of the bed was empty. I eased when I heard the shower running with her music. Making the bed by Olivia Rodrigo, Liar by Paramore, Xanny by Billie Eilish. They were all sad songs. I stood up and heard her singing along. I pondered on if I should leave or wait for her. We needed to talk but I didn't know if she wanted to. The water turned off and I texted her.

Do you want me to leave? We still have to talk,
I want you to talk too:)

I added the smile so she would know I wasn't mad, I got a reply back a few seconds  later.

Sure just give a minute
and I'll be out
        I didn't know how to bring this up. I just keep replaying the image of her in my head backed up in the corner like a scared animal. I think about what would have made her turn to the path she was on. As much as I want to dig another and better trail for her, I worry that she won't follow if I do. I get up and out of her room, also grateful that she surprisingly has two bathrooms. I sat down on a chair for her island in her kitchen when she came out of the bathroom. She was still avoiding eye contact with me. I really didn't want her to be scared of me.
"I'm gonna go back home and brush my teeth and all that should I-" I started.
"I have new toothbrushes in there if you want." She said cutting me off with her back turned to me as she made coffee.
"Okay, thanks,"
"Do you want coffee?"
"Sure, uh two-"
"Two sugars, two creams." She still knows how I like my coffee. That made me smile as I walked into one of her bathrooms and brushed my teeth.
"Do you want the boys here for this?" She asked in my direction.
"If that's okay with you?" I said as I walked out of her bathroom. She just nodded.
The boys arrived and we all sat around her living room. No one had spoken yet until Phoebe did.
"Alright, talk to us babe." She gave her a smile at the lighthearted comment even though this conversion was going to be far from it.
"Alright so about the whole bar fiasco. Harley (I stole this name from another JB fic ;)), she was abusive and controlling and I swear I never meant for her to completely push me off the face of the earth it was just so drowning and I didn't know how to leave. I was scared to leave I guess but I also wanted to fucking kill her at the same damn time. After I left I thought, "This is it, she'll never find me again."  I couldn't have been more wrong. But even then I got back to my old ways just trying to shut up my brain. For a while it worked until I turned to even harder substances, like last night. Last night was awful and I'm so sorry-" She choked back a sob and continued to talk.
"And I'm so sorry you had to see me like that. I'm sorry I threw things. I'm sorry for everything. You guys really weren't supposed to find me. At all. The bar and last night and ghosting you guys and never seeing your shows, when you were on tour but came back home and just had to run into me again and all my glory." She continued with a sad chuckle. After that we just talked and talked about how to get better even without professional help as the first time didn't really work for her. We also just talked about the band and how we were doing, after the heart to heart we had all she wanted to hear about was tour. It felt nice to have her back in our lives again. Back in mine. She was staying this time.

Just a reminder i don't know what Julien has been through completely this is just a fictional short story:)
-El