Family Ties. (A The Strokes Love story)

Chapter 11

June's PoV

I stood in shock. Then, Aline came back, and smiled at me.

"Julian's your new cousin! How exciting is that?" She asked, squeezing my hand. I felt lightheaded. Was this seriously happening?

How exciting? About as exciting as finding out that you were making out with the wrong twin the whole time.

I felt my heart literally sink down to my stomach.

"C-Can you excuse me...?" I asked shakily, backing away from Julian and Albert.

I jogged away, my head pounding furiously with pain. I finally made my way to a pavilion with a bathroom, and I locked myself in it.

I was hyperventilating, and I tried the technique that my mom always told me to use for when I had an anxiety attack.

Count down from ten....and then close your eyes.

Then, breathe.

In through your mouth, and out, slowly through your nose.

Then, open your eyes.

I did this process slowly, only reaching the part where I closed my eyes when Albert burst in the ladies' bathroom.

"June!" He shouted.

"W-what do you want, Albert..." I said shakily. All that appeared in my mind was Julian, and I couldn't stop the tears from falling. Just Julian, and the fact that I couldn't even be with him anymore.

"June..." Albert called more softly, engulfing me into a huge hug.

"What am I supposed to do?"

I could feel Albert shrug from underneath my grip. I let go of him, wiping my years lightly. Albert wiped my cheeks, his face extremely sullen.

"There's nothing you can do." He said softly, his eyebrows raising sadly.

"Albie...." I wailed, looking at him through bleary eyes. He wiped my eyes with his thumb.

"Don't cry. We'll figure something out. Okay?" He said, nodding at me. He kept nodding, until I finally nodded with him. He helped me up, then pulled out a tube of mascara.

"...You left this in the car. Your makeup smudged, so...let's fix that." Albert decided.

I let him fix my mascara, and right as we were about to walk out, we ran into my cousin, April.

Her face was twisted in confusion when she saw Albert.

"Uh... Are you okay, June? I just noticed that you ran in the bathroom, and I thought you weren't feeling well or something." She said, in that nasally, pinchy voice I hated.

"No, I'm fine." I said, sniffling lightly. I smiled for her, and she returned the favor, brushing her platinum blonde hair out of her face.

"Hey, you call me when you need me, kay, Sunny June?" She said, using her childhood nickname for me.

"Of course, April Showers." I responded with a smile, letting Albert lead me by the hand out of the bathroom.

I hiccuped, my shoulders bobbing up violently as I walked to an isolated table. Albert sat next to me, and together we sat quietly. I could see Julian sitting, with his head down at a table far from us. I tried not to look at him.

I laid my head on Albert's shoulder.

"Damn, June..." Was all Al could say. I sighed, in agreement.

"I guess love is kinda like life. Nobody's promised tomorrow." I sighed, shrugging lightly. Albert ruffled my hair, hugging me tightly.

A squealing sound of feedback from a microphone startled a majority of the people in the tent, and at the tables. Aline stood at the microphone, smiling.

"Hello, everyone. Today, we are gathered to celebrate the merging of two very large families. The Casablancas, and the Sears." She began, causing my heart to pang.

I felt Albert squeeze my hand lightly. My fingers curled around his hand, trying to contain myself.

"I would like to welcome our new fiancés, Taylor Sears, and Stephano Casablancas." Aline concluded, smiling gently. The crowd went wild as Mom and Stephano walked up.

After their tiny speech about how they met, Stephano beamed brightly.

"Now, my nephew, Julian...is going to sing for us." He said, looking towards Julian. When I followed his gaze, my heart sank, and I felt tears coming on again.

Julian looked sadder than ever. His bright green-brown eyes were clouded over, his skin pale, and his hair was matted down. I watched as he steadily walked up to the small podium.

He fiddled with the microphone blankly. He tapped it twice, and then he raised it to his lips.

"Hey." He said, into the microphone. I smiled sadly towards him.

"So, I made this song with..my friend. And I guess it would've been cool if I sang it for everyone today, because it reminds me of her. So here goes nothing." He said with a blank expression, and a hollow voice.

'You said you couldn't stay..

You've seen it all before...

I know..

They sold you on their way.

Well, honey, that's okay...'

I grasped my heart, and wiped a stray tear. When he finished the song, I had to hide my face behind Albert's Afro.

Everyone clapped, complimenting Julian's voice and songwriting skills.

As a relative of Julian's walked up to the podium, a finger tapped my shoulder. I turned, and it was Julian. Another tear rolled down my cheek.

"It was beautiful.." I choked out, throwing my arms around his neck. He held me tightly, and warmly.

"So are you." He murmured into my ear, kissing my cheek lightly.

We stood there, embracing each other. When I pulled away from Julian, his face was slightly tear-streaked.

"Oh, Jules.." I stuttered, wiping his tear.

"June.. I love you. I love you so much." He said, biting his lip sadly and shaking his head lightly.

"I love you, Julian..." I murmured, kissing his lips gently. Julian smiled lightly, kissing me back.

"Guys..." Albert said, with a hint of mischievous tone in his voice.

"I think I know a way you guys can still be together."