Ellen sat at a cozy corner table of the coffee shop, nervously stirring her latte as she peered out the window. The sun settled down, casting a warm glow over the room, but her heart raced with anticipation.
The door swung open, and in walked Julie, her blonde hair bouncing with every step. Ellen couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. Julie spotted her almost instantly, her brown eyes lighting up with excitement. "Ellen!" she called, making her way through the tables with an energetic bounce in her stride. "There you are!"
"Hey!" Ellen replied, standing up to embrace her. The hug was warm and familiar, easing some of the tension Ellen had felt. Julie pulled back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I can't believe I get to see you again and not in a bathroom stall!" she joked, her laugh infectious.
"Right?" Ellen chuckled, relieved at how easy it felt to be with her. "I brought your watch." She fished it out of her purse and handed it over, feeling slightly awkward but wanting to clear the air.
Julie took the watch, her expression shifting to one of gratitude. "Thank you so much for holding onto this! I thought I lost it forever," she said, turning it over in her hands. "Honestly, you're a lifesaver."
Ellen's smile faltered slightly as she remembered the concerned thoughts she'd had after the party. "I was a little worried about you, you know. You seemed really out of it. It's dangerous to drink that much."
Julie's playful demeanor softened. "I appreciate you looking out for me. I do tend to go a little overboard sometimes. But hey, you were there to save the day, so... thank you!" She grinned, her humor shining through.
"I just don't want you to get hurt," Ellen said, her voice earnest. "It's easy to lose control at parties."
"I know," Julie replied, her expression thoughtful for a moment. "It's just hard to resist the fun, you know? But I promise I'll be more careful next time. Scout's honor!" She held up her hand in a mock salute, and Ellen couldn't help but laugh.
"So, how did you get famous on TikTok?" Ellen asked, shifting the conversation. "I found your Instagram after a video of you dancing popped up on my For You page!"
"Oh, the dance videos!" Julie's eyes lit up. "That's my jam. I just started posting for fun, and one of my dance challenges went viral. It was like overnight fame! I still can't believe it. People started recognizing me in the street, which is both thrilling and a little terrifying."
"Wow, that's so cool!" Ellen said, her eyes wide with admiration. "I've never posted anything on TikTok, though. I mostly just draw and paint."
"Really? You should totally share your art!" Julie encouraged, leaning forward, her enthusiasm palpable. "I'd follow you in a heartbeat."
Ellen felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "Thanks! I've just never thought it was good enough to share. I get so caught up in my own head about it."
"Trust me, you're talented! You should let people see your creations," Julie insisted with a bright smile. "Art is meant to be shared!"
After a moment, Julie turned the focus back to Ellen. "So, where do you work? Do you like it?"
"I work at a art faculty," Ellen said, her eyes sparkling with passion. "It's honestly my dream job. I get to be surrounded by beautiful pieces all day, and I teach people to move the world with their art. It's like being part of something bigger, you know? I love it so much."
"That sounds incredible!" Julie replied, her admiration clear. "I can see how much you love it. You light up when you talk about it."
Ellen felt a rush of warmth at the compliment. They continued to chat, the conversation flowing naturally, until Ellen gathered her courage and asked, "What about your boyfriend? You mentioned him at the party."
Julie took a sip of her iced coffee, the cold drink contrasting with the warmth of the café. She leaned back in her chair, her gaze drifting out the window for a moment as if she were collecting her thoughts. "Tristan can be... a lot," she said slowly, her voice tinged with both affection and frustration. "He's really supportive when it comes to my TikTok stuff, helping me manage the money and all that, but we fight constantly. It's like we're two magnets that can't quite get it right."
Ellen listened intently, sensing the complexity of Julie's feelings. "What do you fight about?" she asked gently, wanting to understand more.
"Oh, it's the usual stuff—jealousy, misunderstandings," Julie replied, her fingers fiddling with the edge of her cup. "Sometimes it feels like he doesn't believe in me as much as he should. He can be really mean when he's upset, and it makes me cry more often than I'd like to admit." She paused, her expression softening. "But then there are moments when he's sweet and loving, and I remember why I fell for him in the first place. It's such a rollercoaster."
Ellen felt a pang of sympathy for her. "That sounds exhausting," she said softly. "You deserve someone who genuinely lifts you up, you know?"
"Yeah, I know," Julie replied, biting her lip. "But it's complicated. We've built this whole life together online, and our fans love our dynamic. It's hard to just walk away from that, especially when he has a side that makes me feel special."
Ellen nodded, feeling a mix of admiration for Julie's resilience and concern for her well-being. "You have to take care of yourself, too. It's important to find that balance."
Julie smiled, though it carried a hint of sadness. "I appreciate you saying that. It's refreshing to talk about it with someone who gets it."
Just then, Ellen's phone buzzed on the table, pulling her attention away from their conversation. She glanced down and her heart sank—a string of missed calls from Maud lit up the screen, each one a reminder of her best friend's growing worry. She bit her lip, feeling guilty for losing track of time.
"What's up?" Julie asked, noticing the change in Ellen's expression.
"It's just... Maud," Ellen sighed, her brow furrowing. "She's called me a bunch of times. I didn't mean to make her worry."
"Ah, so you've got a concerned best friend waiting," Julie said, her tone lightening.
Ellen nodded, grateful for Julie's understanding. "Yeah, I should probably call her back. But it's been so nice hanging out with you. I didn't realize how late it was getting."
Julie glanced at the time on her phone and sighed. "You're right. I should get going, too. Tristan's probably wondering where I am." She stood up, her energy returning, but there was a hint of reluctance in her movements. "Let's do this again soon, okay? I really enjoyed this."
"Definitely!" Ellen replied, feeling a warmth spread in her chest. "I'd love to get to know you better. Just... be careful, okay? With everything."
"Promise," Julie said, a sincere smile breaking across her face. "And thanks for being so awesome today. You seriously made my day."
They exchanged numbers, and with one last warm hug, Julie waved goodbye and headed out, leaving Ellen sitting at the table, a swirl of thoughts in her mind.
Once outside, Ellen took a deep breath, feeling a mix of happiness and concern. She pulled her purse closer as she walked toward her car, her heart still fluttering from their conversation. As she reached inside to grab her keys, something shiny caught her eye. She froze and pulled out Julie's watch, the silver glinting in the sunlight.
"Oops," she murmured to herself with a chuckle, realizing it had slipped back into her bag. "I guess I'll have to return this again." She felt a small pang of happiness at the idea of seeing Julie again soon, but it quickly turned to a sense of urgency. She had to call Maud back.
Ellen hurried to her car, her mind racing with thoughts of Julie and the complexities of her life. As she started the engine, she glanced at the watch one more time, a reminder of the bond they had begun to form. With a hopeful smile, she set off toward Maud's house.
