Borrowed Time Part 2

Chapter 217

Juliette was pretty sure that her English teacher had learned how to tell when she was actually hungry and those were the days that he wanted to spend the most time talking, because getting out late on the one day that she was actually starving was cruel... She couldn't blame the guy because this was normal. It just felt cruel today because she actually wanted to eat.

Carly didn't seem to love it either if the way that she stormed after Juliette to catch up with her once class was over was anything to go off of... She hadn't been leaving her behind, Carly had been held behind for a second by the teacher and she had to get out of that room, it wasn't personal.

Luckily, she seemed to get that.

"I don't understand why he feels the need to let us out five minutes late every single day. It's like he gets some sick pleasure from starving his students." Carly grumbled, pulling her bag higher over her shoulder as Juliette chuckled and shook her head... While she could see someone at this school being sadistic enough for that to be the reason behind something like that, she was pretty sure it was just because Mr. McRae was really good going off on tangents and not good at remembering that clocks exist.

He didn't have enough thoughts that weren't about Beowulf to be malicious.

"Personally, I think it's just because he gets really into it and forgets that we have lives." She said, earning her a look from Carly that made her raise her hands in surrender. "Or your torture theory, sure. Whatever you want." Her backbone was non-existent when she was around someone short enough that they could lean down and bite the fuck out of her kneecap for no reason. Would Carly do it? Probably not. Was it still a huge fear of hers? Mhm.

Carly's smile and nod told her that her response had saved her kneecaps for another day. Praise be to God.

"Good, that's what I like to hear." Mmm... No, she was gonna make her talk about whatever the hell was bothering her because that tone mixed with the look seemed like a bit more than what Juliette had been bargaining for. Better nip it in the bud now.

"You are in a bit of a mood today, are you alright?" Her question was met with a stiffening of Carly's shoulders as she seemed to try to speed up, but Juliette easily matched her pace. Hard to get away from me when you're too short for some roller coasters, of course I caught up. Short ass legs.

"Mhm." Right... Yeah, she wasn't letting Carly do this, it'd only lead to her self destructing out of stress and that just wasn't something that sounded like a good time.

"Okay... So that's a load of shit, why don't you tell me what's going on?" Juliette asked, and Carly let out a sigh, hanging her head as she tucked her hands into her pockets. She could act sheepish all she wanted, that wasn't going to do a damn thing to deter her from asking what was wrong.

"I don't wanna bore you with my problems-." Juliette cut her off, wrapping an arm around her shoulders before she leaned over, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. There was no reason to stand here and protect her from things that were causing no harm. Hearing her friend's problems wouldn't hurt her.

"You're my friend, you would ask me to talk to you about what's going on, right?" She squeezed her shoulders, hoping that she was being as comforting as she was trying to be to Carly. She wanted her to talk, to feel comfortable enough to know not to suffer alone. "I'm gonna do the same." She said, and Carly sighed, nodding as she slipped out of Juliette's arms, crossing her own across her chest.

Speak.

"Becky and I were lying in bed last night." Don't speak. Suffer alone, I lied. If she had to have back-to-back days hearing about them, she was gonna swallow a bowl of glass.