December 31st, 1994
1994 had been a year of unimaginable pain for Julia, and everyone else around her. But...
There were no buts. She saw no silver lining, and could not try and rationalize the agony that 1994 had brought into her life. There was not a glimmer of hope, nothing mildly positive that had risen from the ashes of extreme misfortune.
She didn't even feel like a stronger woman. She felt weak, a shell of the woman she once was.
Julia was done with 1994. She wanted a new year, a new opportunity, a new life. She didn't really believe 1995 would suddenly restore her as a person, hell, she didn't even have much hope, but she was ready to be out of 1994.
She was slouched over on her couch, mindlessly watching a rerun episode of Cheers. She had gone into the office for once, editing an article she had written before submitting it.
She was still in her work clothes, a crisp white button up, black pants, and loafers.
She didn't have any plans for New Years, other than getting drunk by herself, of course. She considered calling Ellis, her one night stand from a few months back, but decided against it. Courtney had invited her to go out with her, Eric, and Billy Corgan, but Julia had turned down the offer, not in much of a mood to go out that night.
The sun had gone down, the sky now dark and full of twinkling stars. The moon was especially bright, illuminating Julia's apartment beautifully.
She grabbed a throw pillow from the opposite end of the sofa, slipping it beneath her blonde head. She then returned her focus to the television. As she blankly stared at the screen, her eyelids grew heavy. She yawned, content with the fact that she had not yet taken any pills, and had naturally grown tired.
It was a step in the right direction.
Eventually, a blissful state of unconsciousness enveloped her. She embraced it gladly.
________________________________
The shrill of the phone startled Julia awake. Her eyes shot wide open, a gasp escaping her throat. She groaned, miserably forcing herself off of her cozy spot on the sofa.
She glanced at the clock that hung above her front door. 11:26.
The new year was a short thirty four minutes away.
She shuffled over to the phone, ready to curse out some telemarketer who had interrupted her night. "Listen, I don't kno-" she began sternly, but was quickly cut off by a soft voice she had not expected to hear that night.
"Jules?"
Dave had quickly silenced her.
Her mouth fell open slightly, the sound of his voice immediately ridding her of all tiredness. "Dave? What's happening?" She asked, shock still evident in her tone. "Julia..." He croaked again. His voice was nasally as he cried out her name. "David, what the fuck is going on?" She asked again, a feeling of panic arising.
A plethora of worst case scenarios had plagued her head. She really, really hoped that her new year hadn't gotten off to another shaky start.
"I just love you, Julia. I love you so fucking much-" he paused, hiccuping. "that it hurts my heart. It hurts so f-fucking bad, Julia." He rambled, a sob ripping through him.
He was obviously drunk. She could tell immediately. His words didn't surprise her, not at all. They had an unspoken vow of love to one another. Sure, they tried to ignore it and pretend they had moved on, but they both knew the truth. But that didn't prevent the way her heart skipped a few beats when the drunken words rolled off his tongue.
"you're drunk." She declared plainly.
"No. I'm in love with you." He argued, his slurred sentences not helping his case much at all. Julia sighed, leaning against her door frame. "Is nate with you? Or pat?" She asked. "Both." He answered, hiccuping again.
"Where are you guys?"
"I don't know.." Dave answered again, slurring his words miserably. Julia huffed, squeezing her eyes shut. Before she could say another word, Nate's voice came in.
"Hey, Julia. He's shitfaced." He reported, sighing. She snorted. "Yeah nate, I couldn't tell." She mumbled, chuckling darkly. "I'm sorry. We told him not to call you, but I guess he didn't listen. We're at my house."
Julia nibbled on the peeled, chapped flesh of her bottom lip, contemplating whether or not to go and retrieve Dave. She knew it was a horrible idea, that would end in a poor choice of decisions. But he was absolutely wasted, and in need of someone to look out for him.
Dave had snatched the phone from Nate, his voice again filling Julia's ears. "Please come see me, Julia. I need to see you." He cried, sounding like a small child begging for their mother.
This had sealed the deal.
"I'm leaving now." Julia said, before hanging up.
She grabbed her keys, and quickly fled her apartment, rushing to Dave.
