Unspoken Goals

Birthday Girl

December 7th

Abigail stirred to the sound of a soft knock at her door. She groaned, her body reluctant to move, and pulled the covers tighter over her head. "Come in," she mumbled, her voice muffled by layers of blankets.

The door creaked open, and the faintest whisper of footsteps padded across the floor. The bed dipped under a familiar weight, and a hand began tracing slow, comforting circles on her back.

"Good morning, birthday girl," Juliette's familiar voice greeted her softly. Abigail peeled the covers down just enough to reveal her face, her sleep-heavy eyes meeting Juliette's. A small, sleepy smile formed on her lips.

"Hi," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. Juliette's giggle was light, almost melodic, as she leaned down to press a feather-soft kiss to Abigail's forehead. The touch sent a shiver of warmth through Abigail, scattering butterflies in her chest like they'd been startled awake too.

"What time is it?" Abigail asked. She fought to ground herself, but Juliette's presence always made it harder to stay tethered to reality.

"About nine," Juliette replied, her tone casual but amused.

Abigail bolted upright, the blanket falling to her lap. "Nine? Why didn't my alarm go off? I have to start getting ready..." Her words tumbled out in a rush, her panic mounting.

Juliette's hands found Abigail's shoulders, steadying her. "Relax, Abs," she said, her laughter soft and reassuring. "I turned it off. You still have plenty of time before your parents get here."

Abigail hesitated, her mind caught between urgency and Juliette's unwavering calm. Finally, she nodded, trusting the reassurance in Juliette's eyes. "Wait, when did you even get up?" she asked, her brows knitting together.

"Around seven-thirty," Juliette admitted with a casual shrug.

Abigail's eyes widened. "Seven-thirty? Why so early?"

Juliette shrugged again, her lips curving into a playful smile. "Why not?" She didn't elaborate, but in truth, she'd been up with their friends, preparing Abigail's favorite breakfast: golden pancakes, crispy bacon, and fluffy scrambled eggs. She'd insisted on being the one to wake Abigail.

"Well," Abigail said, her voice softer now, "help me get ready?" Her eyes were hopeful, a silent invitation Juliette couldn't resist.

"Okay," Juliette agreed, her voice dipping into something tender. "But first, I want to give you something."

"Give me what?" Abigail asked, her curiosity piqued.

Juliette rolled her eyes, though the gesture was softened by the faint blush coloring her cheeks. "One of your birthday gifts."

Abigail shook her head, her expression shifting to something gentle. "You didn't have to get me anything, Jules. Having you in my life is more than enough."

For a moment, Juliette didn't respond, she only smiled. "That's sweet and all, but here," she said, handing over a neatly wrapped box topped with a bow that was just slightly crooked.

Abigail took it, her heart swelling as she carefully undid the wrapping. Inside was a delicate necklace with two small gemstones, their colors catching the morning light like fragments of a sunrise. Abigail's breath hitched as she stared at it. "Jules, this is beautiful."

Juliette's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. "It's our birthstones," she explained, her voice quieter now. "I thought it'd be better than something obvious like initials. You know, make it less noticeable." She rambled, her usual confidence faltering under the weight of vulnerability.