Unspoken Goals

Warmth of Their Lips

November 13th

Juliette's footsteps echoed softly on the wooden floor as she reentered the living room, a large bowl of popcorn cradled in one arm and an assortment of drinks balanced in the other. The room was dimly lit, casting a cozy glow over the space. Soph and Em were already settled on the couch, scrolling through movie options on the TV, their faces illuminated by the soft flicker of the screen. Yet, a glance at the empty space beside them, where Abigail should have been, brought a sharp pang of disappointment to Juliette's heart.

She tried to mask her disappointment, but it seeped into her voice as she asked, "Where's Abs? I thought you were getting her, Em."

Em looked up, her expression tinged with sadness. "I tried, but she said she wasn't feeling up to it tonight. She promised she'd join us next week." Em hesitated before continuing, her voice quieter. "She saw Ethan on campus today... with that girl who used to flirt with him right in front of her. It really messed with her."

Juliette's chest tightened, a mix of empathy and anger swirling inside her. It had been a little over two weeks since they caught Ethan cheating, and though the physical marks of that confrontation had almost faded, the emotional scars clearly hadn't. Juliette's fists clenched instinctively, the urge to refresh those bruises flaring up again.

A sudden idea struck her, "Guys, can we postpone movie night until tomorrow? I think I know what might help her feel better."

Soph turned to her with a soft smile, nodding in understanding. "Of course. Let us know if you need anything."

Juliette nodded back before hurrying to her room. She quickly changed into a pair of soccer shorts, a long-sleeve compression shirt, and her college quarter zip. She pulled her hair into a messy bun and grabbed her soccer bag, throwing in an extra pair of cleats. After grabbing a few water bottles from the kitchen, she rushed out to her car, loading everything into the trunk before heading to Abigail's room.

Juliette knocked softly, the sound barely audible before she cracked the door open, her head peeking in with a smile. Abigail, curled up on her bed, shot her a half-hearted glare, though the spark of playfulness in her eyes was hard to hide. "I didn't say come in," she teased, though her voice lacked its usual fire.

With an exaggerated roll of her eyes, Juliette stepped fully inside. "I wasn't knocking for permission, just giving you a warning," she quipped, a mischievous grin tugging at the corner of her lips. In response, Abigail lazily tossed a stuffed dolphin at her, which Juliette caught with ease. "Oh, now you're going to regret that," she warned with a gleam in her eyes before launching herself onto the bed, fingers flying in a relentless tickle attack.

Laughter filled the room, bright and unguarded. Abigail squirmed beneath Juliette's hands, gasping between fits of giggles. "Okay, okay! Stop!" she managed, her laughter bubbling over as she struggled to catch her breath. With a final burst of strength, she shoved Juliette off the bed, sending her tumbling to the floor in a soft, undignified thud. For a moment, the room held a suspended silence before both girls dissolved into shared laughter.

When the laughter died down, Abigail sat up, her breath still unsteady but her smile now genuine. She looked at Juliette with a mix of curiosity and affection. "Okay, now tell me why you're really here," she asked, her voice softer.

Juliette feigned an overly dramatic look of hurt, pressing a hand to her chest as if deeply offended. "What? Can't I just come hang out with my best friend?" she teased, her tone playful.

Abigail raised an eyebrow, her gaze knowing. Juliette sighed, letting the playful act drop as she extended her hands to her. "Alright, you caught me. Get up and get changed. I'm taking you somewhere."