cole & lili stories 🥀

Family Comes First (Part 2)

(<-- Go back to read Part 1)

Still Juliet's POV

Shit, shit, shit. This is the end of me. They know. I'm probably gonna get grounded for a month. FML.

"How... how do you know?" I ask with hesitation. 

"Camila heard her voice when you guys were watching it, " Dad says. "She called us."

Maybe we should have used headphones.

I drop my head and fiddle with my nails. They're probably so mad at me.

"We're not mad at you, Juliet," Mom adds. "We just want to know why you didn't ask us if you really wanted to watch Riverdale."

I look up, amazed.

"You're... not mad?"

"Of course we're not."

I guess I should just tell them why I started watching it in the first place.

"Well, my friend - Abigail - started watching it and told me it was really good. I told her that I'm not allowed to watch it but then she kept going on and on about it afterwards. I couldn't help it. I was just going to watch one episode, I swear! But then... I kinda got addicted to it..."

Mom smiles. "Thanks for telling us, Juliet. I've realised that we really can't stop you if you want to watch it..."

I smile. "Thanks, Mom."

"Tell you what," Dad begins. "Aunt Cami told us that you're in the middle of watching an episode. What if we watch the ending together?" He smiles.

Mom's smile disappears. She turns to look at Dad, with a confused look on her face.

"Cole," she whispers (obviously, I hear). "What are you doing?"

"Don't worry," he replies.

***

I'm now sitting beside Mom on the couch. She's going through Netflix trying to find Riverdale, as Ava falls asleep in her arms. Dad's in the kitchen grabbing some popcorn and mountain dew.

Honestly, what the hell, I think. My parents banned me from watching Riverdale, and now here we are - watching it together on a Saturday night.

Dad hops onto the couch beside me, as Riverdale comes on. Coincidentally, it's the part where Betty and Jughead are cuddling outside Southside High. I laugh out loud and turn to see Mom and Dad's faces. They're looking at each other, smiling and blushing at the same time.

"Wow... it's been years since I last watched this. We look so young, don't we? I don't think I can get my hair into a ponytail that high anymore."

Dad and I laugh.

"Seriously, though," I say, smiling wide. "You guys were so cute!"

"WERE?" Mom says. "Are we not still cute then?"

Dad bursts out laughing.

"No, it's not that..." I reply, giggling. "You guys are just so busy nowadays."

"Huh, is that so?"

Mom then leans over my lap to Dad. He grabs her cheeks and pulls them to his lips. They kiss. And I pretend to be sick.

"OKAY, CAN YOU NOT? I GET IT - YOU GUYS ARE STILL CUTE!"