Unspoken Goals

I Think I'm Bisexual

Age 19

Months had passed since the kiss that had changed everything and nothing. Abigail and Juliette had slipped back into their familiar rhythms, but beneath the surface, Juliette felt as if she were slowly drowning. It was as if the kiss had never happened, a forgotten whisper in the night. Yet, it haunted Juliette, especially now that Abigail had a new boyfriend, Ethan.

Ethan was the epitome of everything Juliette despised, not for his own sake, but because of what he represented. He was tall, with brown hair and green eyes, a star on the basketball team with a bubbly personality that endeared him to everyone. Her friends had accepted him into their circle effortlessly, much to Juliette's disappointment. It wasn't just his charm or his looks—it was the way he was perfect for Abigail, the girl Juliette couldn't admit she loved.

Two weeks after the kiss, Abigail had started dating Ethan. It sent Juliette into a spiral, a self-destructive dance of weekend escapades where she flirted recklessly, leading people on with no regard for their feelings. This frenzy lasted for a month until her roommates, concerned for her well-being, staged an intervention. She toned down after that but still had her moments of wild abandon.

It was a Saturday night in mid-April, and the group was out. They were leaving a bar, preparing to move to the next, with Juliette, Sully, and Em leading the way. Sully had his arms draped around the girls as they laughed drunkenly.

"Hey, three stooges!" Soph called from behind.

The trio halted in their tracks. "Guys, are we in trouble?" Sully asked, feigning innocence.

"No, you idiot, we haven't done anything yet," Juliette replied, bemused.

They turned around, wearing matching confused expressions. "What?" Em asked.

Soph and Marco stood hand in hand, while Ethan had his arm around Abigail. "We are calling it a night and going home," Soph announced.

"What? Why?" Juliette protested. "It's only like 1:30, and we only have a few weekends left together." She pouted.

"We are going to watch a movie if y'all want to join," Marco offered.

"Hard pass," Sully said. "We are going to continue on."

Abigail looked worried. "I don't know if I trust those three out on their own anymore," she admitted, recalling the last time they'd gone out without supervision. They ended up stealing a baby duck from a nearby park and bringing it back to the apartment. How they managed to take it from its mother is still a mystery, but they were forced to return it the next morning.

"They'll be fine, babe," Ethan assured her, pulling her closer and kissing her head.

"I hate couples," Juliette muttered.

"I second that," Sully agreed. "Now, let's go," he said, pulling them along.

"Bye, we love you guys!" Em called over her shoulder.

They found themselves in another bar, mingling with more friends. "I'm going to get a drink. You guys want anything?" Juliette asked.

"No, I'm good," Sully said, usually the first to sober up when it was just the three of them, always ready to protect the girls.

"Vodka cran, please," Em requested.

"Alright, I'll be right back."

As Juliette waited at the bar, a shorter girl with blonde hair and hazel eyes slid next to her. "Hey, sorry to intrude," the girl said, her voice a soft melody amidst the bar's clamor. "I haven't been able to take my eyes off you since you walked in."