Unspoken Goals

Unfair

October 7th

Juliette's alarm pierced the stillness of the early morning, pulling her from the tangled threads of a restless sleep. She groaned, pulling a pillow over her head as if to shield herself from the day ahead. Just a few more moments, she silently pleaded, but the memory of last night refused to release her. The almost-kiss with Abigail hovered in her mind, tantalizingly close yet agonizingly unresolved. Every detail replayed like a haunting melody, refusing to fade.

With a reluctant sigh, she pushed herself out of bed, her movements slow and deliberate, as if wading through thick fog. Her morning routine felt like an act of endurance, each step weighed down by the heaviness in her heart. As she made her way to the kitchen, she expected to find it empty—a quiet space to gather her thoughts. But there, amidst the morning light, was Abigail, chatting with Em.

Juliette paused in the doorway, her breath catching in her throat. She watched the two interact, their laughter and easy conversation a stark contrast to the whirlwind of emotions within her. A strange mix of longing and confusion swirled inside her, each emotion vying for dominance. She had been certain that Abigail would have left early, avoiding any chance of an awkward encounter. Yet here she was, as if last night had changed nothing.

"Good morning, Sunshine," Em said with a teasing smile as Juliette shuffled into the kitchen, her presence marked by a quiet heaviness.

"Morning," Juliette mumbled back, her voice heavy with fatigue.

Soph glanced over her shoulder from her position at the stove, where she was diligently cooking eggs. "Wow, you look great," she commented, her tone cheerful but her eyes flickering with concern. The morning sun cast a warm glow through the kitchen, hinting at the day ahead—a light morning practice before their game later in the evening.

"Thanks," Juliette replied dryly, reaching for the milk to pour over her cereal. She wore a hoodie and sweats, her wavy black hair piled into a messy bun. The dark circles under her eyes were like shadows, a testament to her restless night.

"Soph's lying, you look like shit," Em quipped, her words softened by the playful gleam in her eyes. Soph shot her a dirty look, but Em just shrugged, a grin tugging at her lips.

"That's because I didn't sleep well last night," Juliette admitted, finally allowing herself to meet Abigail's eyes for the first time that morning. For a heartbeat, their gazes locked, a silent conversation passing between them, deeper than words could convey. In Abigail's tired eyes, Juliette saw a mirror of her own restless night.

"How come?" Soph asked, her tone genuinely curious.

Juliette looked directly at Abigail as she answered, "Had a lot on my mind." Each word was a gentle plea, a hope that Abigail would look back at her.

"Like what?" Em pressed, sensing there was more to the story.

Suddenly, Abigail stood up, the bar stool scraping loudly against the floor, drawing everyone's attention. "I need to get some things together before we leave," she said abruptly, retreating to her room without another word.

Em watched her go, then turned back to Juliette, confusion clouding her features. "Anyway," she said, her voice trailing off as she searched for a thread of normalcy. "I'll tell you guys later," Juliette promised.

---

Later that day, Em, Soph, and Juliette walked together, their footsteps echoing along the path as they headed to meet Marco and Sully for lunch. Juliette was in the middle of filling the girls in on what had transpired between her and Abigail the previous night.