Broken and Fearless // C.B.

Chapter 38

Juliet's POV:

When we got back to the house, I instantly started grabbing stuff for a fort, meaning pillows and blankets.

I turned to Jake since he was in the room. "Wanna help me build a fort?"

"Will I be allowed inside the fort?"

"If you're not a butt and help me build it, maybe."

"I'll take maybe. How do you want it?"

I told Jake of my plans and we started making the fort. When we were about halfway done, Colby appeared and said, "Whatcha doin' babe?"

I debated sassing him, but decided against it. "I'm building a fort. Remember? Wanna help?"

"Sure. It's looking good so far. This is your design I'm assuming."

Jake nodded and said, "She spent ten minutes drawing it out."

Colby laughed. "I'm not surprised."

He grabbed a blue and white blanket, my favorite one, and was about to put it on the fort, but then covered me with it and held me hostage. I hit his back and said, "Let me go, igit."

"Say the magic word, Jules." Colby answered.

"I'll throw a frappe on you. No, wait. I'll throw a slush on you."

"You're mean. Fine. I'll let you go."

I was released and pulled the blanket from my head. I knew my hair was a mess and chose to ignore it. I resumed building my fort and 45 minutes later, I finished. It took me a long while because the boys kept distracting me, and I kept distracting myself.

Once the fort was finished, I smiled at my handiwork. "Thanks, guys. This looks awesome."

I climbed inside and immediately grabbed the book I'd put in. Jake stepped in and picked it up. "You're gonna read this and not talk?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. Been awhile since I read it. I've been in a Lord of the Rings kick recently, and so I'm re-reading Fellowship. Great book, great movie. We should watch Lord of the Rings. A marathon sounds like a great idea. Starting with the Hobbit movies, but LOTR is better."

Colby had an eyebrow raised and when I took a breath, he asked, "You done?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm done. Wow. I said basically all of that with one breath."

"That sounds like a great idea, babe, even though it'll take awhile."

I held a finger up. "But we have to do the extended versions. They have more detail and are better in my opinion."

Jake grinned. "Looks like we'll have to plan a weekend to marathon them all."

I returned his smile and clapped excitedly before grabbing my phone and taking both a Snap video and an Insta video. "We built a trap house fort! It's cozy and awesome!"

Once I pocketed my phone, I leaned against the couch and started reading. As Colby rested his head on my shoulder, I heard a female voice ask, "Sam, why is there a fort in the middle of the room?"

I popped my head outside and smiled. "That would be me. Come in if you'd like. There's plenty of room."

Kat smiled. "Party in a fort?"

"Yeah!" Jake cheered, causing me to laugh.

"Well, with Jake and Colby here, it's definitely a party."

Kat climbed in, followed by Sam. I turned on Mansion by NF and almost everyone seemed surprised. I frowned. "What? He's got good music."

Sam shook his head. "No, it's just rap. You don't really listen to rap. Like, ever."

"Not usually, no, but it's good stuff and really speaks to me."

"That's the important thing."

"Exactly. Hey, did anybody bring in food?"

Jake held up a pack of Oreos and said with a full mouth, "I brought some Oreos."

I grimaced and said, "Thanks. But don't talk with food in your mouth. That's gross."

"You asked."

"And you should've waited to talk until your mouth was empty!"

Kat frowned. "Are we gonna get a fight?"

Colby glanced at me and asked, "Are you?"

I shook my head. "No. Ooh, wait. I have other stuff in my cupboard."

I left the fort and made my way to the kitchen. When I reached my counter, I climbed onto it and opened my cupboard. I pulled a pack of mint Oreos from my cupboard and jumped down. I made my way back to the fort and as soon as I got in, Jake reached for my Oreos and I swatted his hand away. "Mine."

"But those ones are good."

"Then buy your own. These are mine."

"Please, Juliet?"

"Take one and die." I threatened menacingly.

Jake huffed. "Colby, your girlfriend's mean. She's not sharing her food."

Kat glanced at him. "She's a girl. She doesn't like sharing her food. I'm the same way with Sam."

I smiled. "Kat feels me. It's an honor if I share food with you, and I'm sorry Jake, you don't get that honor with my Oreos."

Colby let out a sigh. "I can't believe you two are arguing about eating Oreos. But I suppose I'm not surprised. You rarely share your food with me."

"And you should feel honored I do."

"I do, babe. Can I have an Oreo?"

I thought for a moment and handed him one. I then debated sharing with the others and decided to give them each one. Jake grinned. "Yes! Can I have another one?"

I shot him a look. "Don't push your luck."

"Thanks, Juliet." Kat said.

I gave her a nod. "You're welcome. Hey, I got my laptop. Let's watch something."

"What are you thinking?" Sam asked.

"Hercules?"

The group took a moment to think and nodded. I put the movie on and soon, the fort was filled with ringing voices, both on-key and horribly off.

A couple minutes later, I got an Instagram notification. Kat had tagged me. It was a video of me singing 'Go The Distance'. I had my eyes closed for part of the song.

Jake winced. "You're so dead."

While watching the video, I smiled softly. "No, I don't think so. People really like this. I think I'll start doing covers."

Colby glanced at me. "You don't have to."

"I know, but I want to. I think I'll do the first song for my mom."

Jake tilted his head. "What song will you do?"

"The Ghost of You. That was her favorite My Chem song. I'll play guitar and sing."