Borrowed Time Part 2

Chapter 255

Puking twice in two days was probably a marker of a low point in Juliette's life, she certainly couldn't remember a single time when it had been a cause for celebration, especially not when there was the same trigger each time.

This time had been worse though... People around, cornered backstage, puking nearly on someone's shoe was a lot more embarrassing than throwing up in the bathroom next to someone who had seen her do it a million times. She'd lied her way out of explaining, claimed she had a stomachache, must've eaten something bad, and Allison had sent her home instantly.

Now she was trapped in a car with Talia Hart who was looking at her like she was going to break at any minute... It was torture. She cleared her throat, shifting around with a tight smile on her face.

This was hell.

It had to be.

It was her hell.

"You know you didn't have to drive me home, right? I'm capable of doing that for myself." Juliette mumbled, shifting lower into Talia's seat as she chuckled, turning off onto the road that led to the trailer park. She wasn't sure what she was laughing about, there was nothing about this that was funny. Not a single damn thing.

"One, no you're not, I know you don't drive to school." Juliette frowned... Okay, that didn't mean she couldn't walk... Or maybe she wanted to get into grand theft auto, had anyone thought of that? She was struggling, she could want to commit a crime or two, what was so wrong with that? "You're a textbook passenger princess, Shelby told me about you hitting that squirrel." She groaned, shaking her head.

That was not Shelby's story to tell! And who wouldn't be a little bit shaken after killing a squirrel in an accidental hit and run? That was an objectively traumatizing experience to have.

"She needs to not tell people my business." She grumbled, hearing another laugh leave Talia's lips... She really was all smiles for someone who was having to drive someone home under the guise of them having food poisoning.

Was it real? No. She'd puked for other reasons, but like... What if it had been real, right? Like, what if? She could puke at any moment if it was... The raw skin by her teeth was still burning a bit from the last round, but that didn't mean much.

"Eh, but she did. And you don't drive." She said again, which... Not untrue, but there was an implication in there that she perhaps didn't even know how, which in and of itself was woefully incorrect.

She could.

She chose not to.

"I can drive." She snapped, her tone coming out harsher than intended. Talia didn't seem to mind, meeting her harshness with a shrug as she slowed to a stop at a stop sign, glancing over at her with a smirk.

God, the Hart genetics were strong, she and Shelby had the same fucking smile.

"If you had a car, sure, go nuts, but you don't." ... Fine. "Two... Marley's been very lovesick over Jackson lately, and I welcome the break." She sighed, which... Fair. But also, was it not clear that they both liked each other? Like... It was clear to her, and she famously was bad at figuring shit out. It had taken seeing Becky and Carly hooking up to realize that they were seeing each other, and that was apparently the worst kept secret of all time.

What was the harm in admitting it? In laying everything out there? Why not just do it?

"They both like each other, why not talk about it?" She asked, welcoming the distraction from herself for the moment. Talia grimaced, sucking her teeth before she shook her head.