Unspoken Goals

Stargazing

November 21st

On Monday, Juliette had casually dropped a hint to Abigail: Thursday night, she was taking her on a date, but the details? A secret, wrapped in mystery and met only with Juliette's sly smile and unbudging resolve to keep things under wraps. Over the next few days, Abigail tried everything she could think of to pry the plan from her—hints, guesses, teasing remarks—but Juliette's lips stayed sealed, only offering the time to meet and a simple "dress cozy."

Now, Thursday had arrived, and with the sun dipping low in the sky, Juliette was finishing up her surprise in the bed of Sully's truck. Somehow, she'd convinced him to lend her the truck without too many questions—though he had given her a knowing look before handing over the keys. She had spent the afternoon transforming the bed into a haven of blankets and pillows, arranging them for the perfect night of stargazing and a cozy movie. She'd even tucked extra blankets in the back seat to add to the warmth and softness.

Stargazing had always been their thing, even back home, before either of them had even thought of what this might become. As kids, they would lie side-by-side, watching the stars winking down at them, talking about everything and nothing. To Juliette, it felt only right that their first date would be under the same stars they'd known growing up, with a picnic and a movie as familiar and comforting as the night itself. A quiet space, just for them, free from the looks and whispers of others. She knew how much that peace of mind meant to Abigail.

Juliette headed back into the apartment to finish assembling the snacks she'd made for the night: sandwiches, her best friend's favorite chocolate-covered pretzels, and bowls of fresh watermelon and strawberries. She couldn't help but smile, remembering how Abigail's face lit up over the tiniest gestures.

Just as she was putting the sandwiches into containers, Soph and Em strolled into the kitchen, dressed to cheer for Marco and Sully at their game. "So, explain this to us again—what exactly is all this for?" Soph asked, a smirk forming as she watched Juliette transfer the treats into a picnic basket.

"Meal prepping," Juliette replied, her voice a perfect picture of nonchalance, though she avoided their curious eyes.

Em raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. "Meal prepping with a picnic basket?" she teased.

Juliette rolled her eyes, trying to keep a straight face. "I told you, Abs is staying late to study tonight, and I thought I'd be nice and bring some food for her group. To help them out, you know?"

Soph and Em exchanged a look, clearly not buying it. "Well, why can't you come to the game afterward?" Em asked, her voice suspicious.

Juliette shrugged, drawing out her words in an exaggerated tone. "Because I need to study too. Besides, you two can have fun with your boyfriends at the game without me," she added with a smirk. She knew exactly how to divert them—any mention of Em's little crush on Sully always did the trick.

Soph and Em shared another look, their suspicion softened by smiles. "Alright, well, if you need anything, let us know," Soph said, wrapping her in a quick hug. "Love you! And have fun... studying."

As they headed out, Em paused at the door, shooting a knowing look over her shoulder. "Have fun on your date!" she called before slipping out with a smirk, leaving Juliette to laugh in exasperation, caught off guard that they'd figured her out so quickly.

Alone in the quiet, Juliette glanced over her setup, checking every detail once more: sandwiches neatly packed, flowers gently nestled in beside them, and everything carefully wrapped to stay fresh. She took it all outside, carefully placing the basket and bouquet in the back of the truck among the blankets.