Family Ties. (A The Strokes Love story)

Chapter 24

Julian's PoV

Everyone looked at Albert, somewhat in a state of shock.

"What?" Albert said, slightly less angrily than he did two seconds ago.

"God damn. What did she say?" Nick asked, raising an eyebrow.

"God, she's so annoying sometimes. She's too clingy." Albert complained, tossing his phone aside. Jacie shrugged.

"She does seem kind of attached." She said. I gave her a look, and she looked innocently at me.

"That's weird. June isn't really that clingy." Nick said confusedly.

"And even if she was, it was probably for a good reason, don't you think?" Fabrizio said to Albert, siding with Nick. Nikolai stood awkwardly, crossing his arms lightly.

Albert sighed, shrugging.

"I don't know. She was constantly calling and texting me at the party yesterday."

"Yeah. She told me she was looking for you. After a while, she gave up and hung with me. She seemed kind of upset." Nikolai spoke up, nodding matter-of-factly. I detected a slight edge in his voice.

"Maybe she was just worried about you, Al." Nick said, seeming kind of wary of Albert.

"Seriously. You didn't have to be so harsh with her. Unless she said something you didn't want to hear." I added.

Jacie sighed loudly.

"Who is this girl, anyway? And why is she so important to all of you?" She asked.

"June is Albert's girlfriend. Two years ago, she was my girlfriend. And also...Nick's girlfriend." I added watching as everyone looked at Jacie warily. She shrugged, and brushed her blonde hair over her shoulder nonchalantly.

"If she's your ex, why do you care, Julian? Or why do you care, Nicky?"

"She's still a good friend, Jac." I responded.

"Ugh, please don't call me Nicky." Nick grunted, exiting the room. Jacie huffed, and sat down.

"You guys are so weird. Whining over some girl who doesn't even matter."

"Funny, Jacie, because nobody's whining about you." Fab said, shooting a look at her, then one at Albert. He left, and Nikolai left with him.

"Your friends are so rude." Jacie said to me, giving me her puppy eyes.

"Not cute, Jacie." I said dismissively.

"I think I'm gonna go..." Albert said, taking his guitar. Nick stepped down the stairs.

"Not yet. Nikolai and Fab went to June. You, me and Julian? We're talking." Nick said in a confronting manner to Albert.

"What about me?" Jacie asked.

"Make yourself useful, and get out." Nick shot angrily towards Jacie. He can get rather mean when he's serious. I don't blame him. Jacie raised her middle finger to Nick, and stomped out angrily.

"Now tell us what's really going on." I told Albert. He sighed, and spilled everything.

June's PoV

The rain rattled against the windshield as I leaned over the steering wheel, staring blankly out of the window. My car sat in a parking spot. The street lights were on, but it wasn't even dark yet. I looked out at the harbor where fisherman would be, yet there were none.

The sign of TGI Friday's flickered above me lifelessly. I stared at the bridge, and contemplated running across. Thunder rumbled threateningly overhead, but it didn't stop me.

I threw the door open, and locked the car behind me. I ran across the slippery bridge in the muggy, summer rain. I got soaked instantly, but I honestly didn't care.

I closed my eyes, and sat back on one of the swings. I swung slowly at first, and then gradually picked up in speed. Lighting shot across the sky.

In my mind, I took myself back to two years ago, on my first date with Julian. I even hummed to myself the songs that we sang together.

I'm not sure how long I spent in the park, but I ended up laying on the slide, in a light sleep.

"June!!"

A shout startled me, and made me jump up so hard, I thought I would fall off the slide.

It was Fabrizio, and Nikolai. They were both soaked just as I was, and ran towards to me. They both had saddened looks on their faces.

"F-Fab...? N-Niko?"

"Oh my fucking g-god. What the fuck were you doing?" Fab shouted at me, throwing his arms around me tightly.

"We were so worried. We couldn't find you anywhere.." Nikolai breathed.

"Who made you come and find me?"

"Nobody. We heard Albert shouting at you over the phone, and nobody thought that what he was telling us added up." Fabrizio answered, helping me up.

"What did he t-tell y-you..?"

"Look, you're shivering. Let's get you home, and then we'll tell you."

Fabrizio hauled me onto his back, and carried me to my car. He got into the backseat with me, and I gave Nikolai the key. He took off, and we got home in an instant.

Fab wrapped me in a towel, then tossed one to Nikolai! then wrapped one around himself.

We all sat on the couch. Fab and Nikolai looked extremely solemn.

"Have you and Albert been okay?" Nikolai asked quietly. He seemed so sincerely worried.

"We've been drifting apart." I admitted.

Nikolai and Fab nodded in unison.

"I noticed that." Fab said.

"Me too. At graduation. And at the party. Why would he just get angry at you for asking where he was?" Nikolai asked.

I shrugged.

"I'm not being clingy.. Am I?"

"It's him, not you." Nikolai answered immediately. He dried off his hair with his towel, and looked at me.

"Albert seems like a pretty horrible boyfriend." Fab sighed, looking melancholily at me with his big, adorable brown eyes.

"He's best friend material. And nothing else." I declared.

"So what does that mean?" Nikolai asked me, looking worriedly at me.

"It's over."