Unspoken Goals

Gone

January 1st

The knock came too early.

Juliette stirred, eyes swollen, throat raw from crying. Her alarm clock glared 8:27 back at her. With a groan, she shoved a pillow over her head, praying whoever it was would give up.

The knocking stopped. Relief trickled in—until the doorbell started ringing in relentless bursts.

"God," she muttered, dragging herself out of bed. Her parents weren't home—they were away for the weekend—so it fell on her to deal with whoever was so determined.

She yanked open the door, ready to unleash, and groaned when she saw Drew standing there.

"What the hell do you want, Drew?"

He gave her a once-over, eyebrows raised. "Jesus. You look like you've been hit by a bus. Twice."

Juliette glared and immediately went to shut the door, but Drew caught it with his hand.

"Julie, wait." His voice had lost its usual teasing edge. It was too serious.

"What?" she snapped.

"Is Abby here?"

Juliette let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "No."

"Do you know where she'd be?"

"Nope."

"She's not at home," Drew pressed.

"Check her location," Juliette muttered, rolling her eyes.

"She left her phone in her room. And her car's in the driveway. She's just... gone."

That made Juliette pause. Her stomach twisted, but she masked it with indifference. "So?"

"So," Drew's voice dropped, heavy, "I thought you might actually care."

The words hit their mark. Juliette looked away, jaw tight. She didn't want to care—not after last night, not after the way Abigail had gutted her—but the thought of something happening to her made her chest ache.

"Come on, Julie." Drew's tone was pleading now. "You know her better than anyone. Do you have any idea where she'd go?"

Juliette closed her eyes for a moment. She hated that she already knew. Hated that despite everything, her heart still led her straight to Abigail.

--- 

The field stretched out, damp and gray beneath the heavy morning sky.

Juliette spotted her immediately: a lone figure in the center, legs sprawled, head tipped back toward the clouds. An abandoned vodka bottle glinted beside her in the wet grass.

Juliette walked across the field, her shoes sinking into the earth. She lowered herself down without a word, the cold seeping through her jeans.

Abigail didn't look at her at first. When she finally did, her voice was hollow. "What are you doing here?"

"Drew begged me to find you," Juliette said quietly. "So... let's get you home."

Abigail gave a faint nod. Her eyes were glassy, but not from tears—just empty.

"Can you just... sit with me for a minute?" she murmured.

Juliette hesitated, then stayed. The silence between them stretched, filled only by the sound of distant traffic and the whistle of the wind through the bleachers. The clouds hung low and endless, pressing down on them like the weight of everything unsaid.

They didn't speak, but they both knew. This was the end of something. Sure, they'd still see each other—living together, playing together—but this part, their part, was over. And there was no coming back from it.

After what felt like forever, Abigail surprised Juliette by being the first to stand. She brushed the damp grass from her pants, shoulders slumped.

Juliette stayed seated, watching her. Some part of her—the part that still loved Abigail fiercely—wanted her to turn around, to fight, to beg. To promise she'd do anything to fix it. But another part of Juliette, the part still bleeding from the night before, was almost relieved she didn't. Because if Abigail had begged, Juliette knew she would've folded in an instant.

Finally, Juliette sighed and got up too. She followed her back to the car, unlocking it wordlessly.

The drive home was silent. The kind of silence that wasn't just empty, but final.

When they pulled into Abigail's driveway, her family was already waiting on the porch, faces etched with worry. Juliette had texted Drew while driving to let them know she'd found her.

Abigail climbed out without a word. Her mom rushed to hug her, followed by Drew. Juliette sat in the car, hands gripping the steering wheel, watching the reunion with a hollow chest.

Drew glanced back at her once. His eyes were heavy, almost apologetic. He gave her a small nod of thanks.

Juliette nodded back, then shifted the car into reverse.

As she pulled away from the curb, she caught one last glimpse of Abigail, wrapped up in her family's arms. Safe. Loved.

Juliette drove off, the ache in her chest deepening as she pulled into her driveway.

[A/N]: A bit of a shorter chapter but two chapters in the same week!! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Please vote and let me know your thoughts :)