Transform Me (A "Shatter Me" Trilogy Fanfiction)

THIRTY-FOUR: MATTERS OF THE HEART

34: Matters of the Heart

After almost five hours of strategizing, we decide to make our move tomorrow before sunrise. Because of this, everyone involved is required to turn in early, which is why I'm on my bed right now at 7:30 in the evening. My nerves feel coiled and sleeping is the furthest thing from my mind right now.

I wish I had someone to talk to, but I'm all alone since Caitlan's spending the night in Jun's room. I feel bad that their wedding had to end like this. Hopefully, once we abolish every last remnant of The Reestablishment, Jun and Caitlan could take a trip somewhere for their honeymoon. I know it seems like a far-fetched idea, but imagining this is somehow soothing.

On the spur of the moment, I hear three soft knocks against my door.

"Hiroko? Are you still awake?" It's Juliette. I wonder what she wants?

I quickly sit up and run my fingers clumsily through my bedhead in a pitiful attempt to make myself presentable. "Um, the door's open. You can come in."

The door swings open the tiniest bit and Juliette slithers her way through before shutting it once more. She wears a shy, apologetic look on her face.

"Hi there, Hiroko. I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all," I assure her, shaking my head. Then I gesture lamely towards Caitlan's empty bed. "Please, have a seat."

She obliges and rubs her hands against her knees. "You're probably wondering what I'm doing here."

"The thought has crossed my mind." I offer her a small smile to put her at ease.

She smiles back. "Well, I'm actually here because of Kenji."

I blink in surprise. "He sent you to talk to me?"

"He doesn't know I've come to see you." She hesitates. "Actually, he gave me very specific instructions not to talk to you about...well, about what I'm going to talk to you about. But being his best friend, I think it's my responsibility to talk to you about it."

"I'm not sure I follow you, Juliette."

"I'm sorry. Wait, let me back up a bit." She steeples her fingers together as if in prayer as she purses her lips in thought. "Kenji likes you."

"What? Did he tell you that?"

"Technically, I bullied the answer out of him, but yeah. I've also been observing you two. Ever since you came back from the military base, there's been a change in the way you act around each other."

"After two strangers spend two weeks together, it's only natural they'd grow closer."

"Point taken. It's funny...Kenji actually said the same thing." She muses. "But it isn't entirely natural that you'd end up developing romantic feelings for each other in such a short amount of time. Now, I'm not saying it isn't possible." She amends quickly before I can open my mouth to respond. "After all, I fell in love with my first boyfriend under similar circumstances."

"Adam Kent." Right. I remember.

Her eyebrows arch in mild astonishment. "Kenji told you about him?"

I nod sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I told him not to tell me about it."

"That's alright. I don't really mind. Sometimes it doesn't work out with your first love, and sometimes, it's better that it doesn't. Anyway, that's all in the past now and both Adam and I remain good friends." She shifts a bit on the bed so she could tuck her legs beneath her. "Throughout my relationships, Kenji has always been the person I go to when things get rough. He's an incredibly reliable listener and he gives very sound advice on love and relationships. And I find it funny how much wisdom he has on these things when, in fact, he's never been in love before."