Borrowed Time Part 2

Chapter 263

Juliette looked down at her phone, willing Esme to text her... She knew she'd see them the second they were at the coffee shop, but she wanted to check in once more, make sure that they were doing okay.

They seemed fine at school... Anxious, but fine.

She didn't want to go off that thought though... She needed Shelby to be ready now.

"Are you still giving me a ride to the coffee shop so I can meet Esme?" Juliette asked, leaning her back against the cool lockers as Shelby froze, her hand still on the door, head still behind it... But she knew the face she was making, it was that stupid anxious grimace that she always got...

Had she forgotten? She literally just would've had to say something... But then again, how could she have said something if she forgot?

God, this was frustrating... Not... Not like enragingly so, but like an irritant. Like a tag on the back of her neck.

"I... Cannot." Yeah, she'd gathered that. Shelby shut the door to her locker, a wide, apologetic smile on her face, guilt behind her eyes. She didn't have to do all of that, Juliette wasn't even that upset... Shit happened, stuff got forgotten, she'd be totally over it in like... Ten minutes. "But! I arranged other transportation for you." Juliette raised an eyebrow, frowning.

Okay, so she hadn't forgotten, that was actually more irritating. Because that meant that communication could've happened. That meant that plans didn't have to change on the fly, why would she change plans on the fly like that? Fucking evil.

"Mmm... You know, most people communicate that change in plans." Juliette sighed, and Shelby nodded, reaching over to squeeze her hand apologetically as she hauled her bag over her shoulder.

"Yeah, most would." Shelby gave her a knowing look, seeming far too pleased with herself for someone who was almost groveling moments ago... She didn't like that one bit. "But I don't think you'll hate my pick." Huh?

"What the fuck does that mean?" Shelby shrugged, turning away from her to grab the rest of her stuff as Juliette tried her hardest to get her attention again... That was not something that she wanted to decipher for herself. "Seriously Shelbs, that's so ominous-." She felt arms around her waist and her heart dropped out of her ass before she looked down and saw Penny's unmistakable bracelet glittering.

Fuck.

"Hi." She felt Penny's breath against her ear and felt something in her chest unlock as she collapsed against her.

"Jesus fucking Christ." She breathed, turning around in Penny's arms to cup her face, noting the concern on her face as she searched Juliette's face for the answer to what was going on.  You're too smart for this, come on... "Oh, you are so lucky that I recognized it was you, I almost kicked you." Penny grimaced, the remorse instant as she nodded.

"In hindsight this was not the best time to surprise you like that." She gave her a smile and leaned closer, pressing a kiss to her lips. Hi. "But I'm your ride." Oooo.

Yeah.

She did like Shelby's pick.

"Oh. Shelby, you could've-." She turned around and saw an empty hallway behind her. How the fuck... "Where the fuck did she go?" She asked, looking back at Penny, who shrugged... Annoying considering Penny saw which way and how Shelby left. She could fill her in. This could be group knowledge.

"She's quick." "Not supposed to be when she's recovering, but I'm taking the win of her actually not competing yesterday." Right... That actually did nothing to tell her where Shelby had gone, and now she really needed to know that.