Bookstore- PJM

7.

Jules woke up the next day by her ringtone, the theme of Kim Possible. Her eyes slowly blinked open and she turned her head to look at the charging phone. She groaned and accepted the call before even looking at who it was.

"Hello?" She asked groggily in her cellular device.

"Hello Giuliana dear. How have you been?" The brash voice on the other side made Jules quickly sit up on her bed and she started taking  deep breaths.

"Hello father. How'd you get my number?" Her breaths got staggered as she quickly got out of her bed. She threw on some shorts and a sports bra, praying that someone was home.

"Your mother gave it to me."

"That's funny. I swear I told mother specifically not to do that."  She walked out to the living room seeing all her friends relaxing on the couch. None of them looked up to be aware of her presence.

"Well I'm calling just to ask you how you have been. It's been so long since I spoke to my little Gulia."

Jules gritted her teeth together. "Don't call me that. You don't have the right to call me that anymore." Her anger and raised voice caused all her roommates to look at her in confusion. She just ignored them and channeled all her energy towards her father.

She heard her dad sigh with an edge. "Whatever Giuliana. I was just trying to see how life out West was going." Her fathers irritation finally showing through.

"I'm doing just fine thanks Aaron. And I don't go by Giuliana anymore, but it's not like you respect my wishes anyway." The daggers in her voice threatened to slash at her throat. She was trying to hold back as much as possible and her roommates concerned looks didn't help either.

"You're so fucking annoying and ungrateful Giuliana. I don't know why I bother."

Finally, the knives she had hidden in her throat had slashed her open. "I don't know why you bother either. I've made it evident that I don't want you in my life or anywhere near my mom. Speaking of which, beat any women lately?"

She heard a gasp from all of her roommates. At this point Jules refused to contain the rage she had built up inside of her, a rage she suppressed since childhood.

She felt the touch Angelica on her shoulder giving her the strength to continue. "I don't care if you are trying to get better or not. I gave you multiple chances to get better and you shit on them. So I'm shitting on you. Don't call me, don't text me, don't even think about me. You treated me like nothing before so just pretend that nothing has changed. I don't even exist. Leave me be Aaron. And while your at it, leave my mother be too." With that she hung up the phone.

She took a couple shaky breaths before opening her eyes. Her roommates were staring at her with sympathetic eyes. They bore into her like lasers whether they meant to or not. She hated feeling weak, the feeling she had most of her life. She hated when her barrier was stripped from her and she was reminded of the frightened child she used to be. And the only person who made her feel that way was her father.

"What was that about Jules?" Kimberly asked in a calming voice.

"I have no idea." A silent tear threatened to fall but she shook her head and refused to let it.

"I'm gonna take a shower and then go down to the bookstore. I need to relax my mind."

She needed the release as the hot water cascaded down her back, causing her pale skin to turn a bright red. The steam that circled around her calmed her and forced her to take a deep breath. I hate this. This happens every time he does anything. I fucking hate this.