Unspoken Goals

Good Thing I'm Into Women

September 8th

Ever since returning to school, Juliette carried a gnawing pit in her stomach that seemed to deepen with every new hookup. The sense of liberation and thrill that once accompanied these encounters had been replaced by a rising tide of disgust and self-loathing. What used to be moments of fleeting joy now left her drowning in regret. She spent entire days lost in her thoughts, replaying each moment with a growing sense of unease, her mind a relentless storm of doubt and confusion.

Tonight was no different. She found herself on top of Austin, one of her regular hookups, but the feeling was more overwhelming than ever. The turmoil in her mind reached a breaking point, and she pulled away from his kiss, her heart pounding with confusion and unease. The intimacy that once brought solace now felt suffocating, her every instinct screaming for escape.

"Austin," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"Hm?" he hummed, his lips now trailing down her neck.

"Austin, stop."

He groaned, pulling away with obvious frustration. "What?"

"What if we just didn't hook up tonight?" she suggested, her voice tentative, a whisper of doubt.

He laughed, a sound devoid of any genuine amusement. "What else would we do?"

"I don't know. What if we just talked?"

His laughter grew louder, mocking her. "Good one, Julie. You and I both know that's not what we do."

Juliette felt her annoyance rise. "Well, I don't want to do this anymore," she said, getting off him, her resolve hardening.

He grabbed her waist, his grip firm and unyielding. "Come on, Julie. You can't get me worked up like this and then leave."

"Fuck off, Austin," she snapped, ripping herself from his grip, her heart pounding with both anger and relief.

"Whatever. You're gonna pay for this next time," he spat as she put her shirt back on, his words dripping with contempt.

Juliette scoffed. "Yeah, no. See, there will be no next time."

"Get over yourself, Juliette. You and I both know there will be. We're the best at what we do."

Juliette let out a harsh laugh. "The best at what we do? I know I am, but you, honey, are far from the best. You're mediocre at best, and that's me being generous. The only reason we keep happening is because you're convenient."

"You're a whore, Juliette Thompson, and the only reason any man would ever touch you is because you have a nice body," Austin sneered, his words venomous.

"Well, it's a good thing I'm into women then too," Juliette bit back, not letting him see how much his words stung. As she was about to exit his room, she turned to him with a smirk. "By the way, your teammate Clyde is a hundred times better than you. Have a nice life, Austin."

She stepped out into the night, the cool air hitting her like a wave of clarity. The city was quiet, the distant hum of traffic a comforting backdrop. It was only 2 a.m., and she knew her friends might still be out or awake in the apartment, but all she wanted was to crawl into the sanctuary of her bed.

When she opened the door to the apartment, she prayed for solitude, hoping to find the silence she craved. Instead, she was met with an unexpected sight.

Emily was perched on the kitchen counter, shirtless, with a shirtless Sully standing between her legs, his lips tracing a path down her neck. Juliette let out a startled gasp, quickly shutting the door and retreating back into the hallway. She leaned against the wall, taking a few deep breaths, trying to process the scene she had just stumbled upon.