Hidden Flames

Chapter 8

[Pinball Pizza]

Noa and Juliette are working on shift and it's apparent after the interaction with Atlas yesterday, Noa is ignoring Juliette, which was annoying the shit out of her. Juliette had enough, walking over to where Noa was standing, "Hey, Noa. Um..." Noa walked away but Juliette followed after her, "Silent treatment? Really? I thought we were supposed to be acting normal, like friends?" Juliette asked but Noa continued to ignore her

Juliette just scoffed before walking to the table of Rosewood boys who had just got up, "Uh, hello?" They turned to face her, "Uh, did you guys, maybe forget something?" Juliette asked

"Dude, you didn't tip her?" One asked the other

"Uh, damn. I guess I did forget. Don't worry, I got a tip for you, baby" His friends laughed, "Actually, it's a lot more than just the tip" He said

Juliette slammed the check on the table, not wanting to deal with their dickhead behavior before walking away. Noa who had watched the scene immediately got in the Rosewood boy's faces. They messed with the wrong girl, "Where's her fucking tip, man?" Noa asked

"All right all right. Calm down" He handed Noa the money, "Can I at least get your friend's digits? Or yours?" He asked

She chuckled, "You want digits?" Noa's face went serious, "Well, here's two" Noa said, giving him the middle finger

Juliette sat in the alley, against the wall, calming herself down. Then the door opened, revealing Noa walking towards her, "Got your tip money" Noa said

Juliette looked up at her, "Oh we're speaking now?" Juliette said harsher than she had intended, "That came out wrong—"

"Take the money, Jules" Noa told her

"Thanks" Juliette said, grabbing the money

Noa grabbed a box, placing it next to Juliette before sitting down. There's a moment of silence before Noa speaks, "I'm...I'm sorry I got so pissed. I just...I don't know how to handle all of this, Lettie"

Juliette didn't respond immediately, eyes focused on the crumpled tip money in her hand. After a long pause, she finally said, "It's fine, Noa"

But they both knew it wasn't.

Noa shook her head, "No, it's not fine, and we both know that. I've been avoiding you, acting like an idiot...and I can't keep doing this"

Juliette stayed quiet, her heartbeat quickening. She had waited for weeks, months, for Noa to say something, anything that made sense of their situation. But now, sitting here, she wasn't sure she even wanted to hear it. Not if it was going to end the same way it always did—with Noa pulling away.

"I'm sorry" Noa continued, "I'm sorry for ignoring you, for making things weird between us. After Atlas showed up, I just..." She trailed off, biting her lip, "I can't stand seeing you close with someone else, and that's not fair. I don't have the right to feel that way when I'm still with Shawn"

Juliette swallowed hard, "Noa, I told you before, we need to stop pretending. Whatever we are, whatever this is between us, it can't just be swept under the rug anymore"

"I know" Noa whispered. She glanced over at Juliette, "I know I've been confusing as hell, and I don't blame you for being pissed. But I promise you this...I'm going to figure my shit out. I don't want to keep hurting you. I don't want to keep dragging this on like it doesn't matter"

Juliette let out a bitter laugh, "It does matter. It's mattered for a long time, Noa. To me, at least"

Noa's gaze softened, the guilt written all over her face, "I know. And I wish I could just flip a switch and make it all easier, but I can't"