Free (Sequel to Through The Dark) Complete

Chapter 15

Julie walked into Niall's house and went straight to her room.  She was angry and frustrated.  Everyone kept pushing her.  Pushing her to talk, pushing her to open up, pushing her to commit to something.  Just pushing, pushing, pushing.  Couldn't they see that she didn't want to be pushed?  Couldn't they see she didn't want to talk, or bring anything up from the past?  How hard was it?  She threw her bag on the chair in her room and grabbed her pj's for a shower.  She was going to shower, get some extremely bad-for-you snacks, and then lay in bed and watch some bad tv until she slept.  What the hell was going on in her life?  Why would no one listen to her?  So what if she was closed off or went back to hiding things.  It's how she wanted it right now.  She threw her clothes she'd worn to the beach in the hamper and went and took a long, hot shower.  Maybe she would try to write tonight before she slept too.  She hadn't written in a while.  She had been busy with Amanda and Niall's party and things just seem to be going so quickly.  And today at the beach, between Daniel not getting the hint and Harry thinking he could control everything, she was wound up.

She got out of the shower and went to the kitchen.  She grabbed a bowl of black raspberry ice cream, the only kind there should be, and covered it with whipped cream.  She grabbed a spoon and a bottle of water and started back to her room when the door opened to Amanda and Niall coming in.  Damn it.  She wanted to be locked in her room before they got back.  She stopped and looked at Amanda when she said her name.  "Hey, I was just going to binge eat in my room for the night.  I won't be in your way.  I didn't expect you back so soon."

"Yeah, wasn't very much fun after you left.  For a couple of reasons."  Amanda said.  "JJ," she wanted to say 'let's talk', but she figured that would be a sure way to close JJ right back up.  "Can I come binge eat and watch movies with you?"  She looked at Niall, and he nodded.  He went and gave JJ a kiss on the cheek and then went to their room to shower.  "C'mon.  Let me shower and then let me chill with you.  It's been awhile."

Julie raised her eyebrows at Amanda.  "Fine, Panda, but just know you won't get all the answers you're searching for."

"Oh, yeah, I know that."  Amanda said.  She was hoping for some though.  "Just let me shower quick."  She ran to the bedroom and into the bathroom.  "Niall, hurry up, before JJ changes her mind.  I want to be able to talk to her."

Niall got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around him.  "She had a rough day today, I suggest you don't push her too much, babe.  I know she shouldn't be holding things in so much, but since she is."

"Yeah, yeah, I know.  She will just pull back further."  Amanda got into the shower and cleaned up faster than she probably ever had.  She needed to talk to JJ about Daniel and Harry.  She was JJ's best friend.  She would get something out of JJ no matter what.  She got out and towel dried her hair, threw on her pajamas, and headed to the kitchen.  She grabbed more ice cream for JJ and some for herself.  She also grabbed some M&Ms and some popcorn.  JJ had this weird habit of mixing the two when they watched movies.  Even at the movie theater.  She got to JJ's room and knocked on the door with her foot.  "My hands are full; can you let me in?"  She called out.  She smiled when JJ opened the door.  "I got all the best snacks."

Julie couldn't help but laugh at Amanda standing there with two bowls of ice cream, a bag of popcorn, and a large bag of M&M's.  She knew Amanda well enough to know that she expected to talk to her in detail about what had happened today.  Not only with Daniel, but Harry.  And maybe she needed to talk to someone.  She'd hidden back behind her wall.  She'd fought her feelings, because it was just too hard to deal with, and she didn't want to deal with it.  She had never really dealt with losing Harry either.  After the first couple of weeks, she'd just pretended it no longer mattered.  She was pretty sure she hadn't fooled anyone but herself, but it was something she felt she needed to do to survive.  "Well, I can't turn you away when you come holding snacks like that.  No Niall?  I'm surprised he isn't here, too.  He's seemed pretty into the girl talk recently."  She took her bowl of ice cream and the M&M's from Amanda.  She threw the bag on M&M's on the bed and sat down.  "Um, more ice cream?  I'm pretty sure my curves don't need anymore."  She took a bite.