Broken and Fearless // C.B.

Chapter 68

Sam and I returned from our Kansas trip, freshly unhaunted. I hadn't heard from Jules for a couple days, so I decided to FaceTime her.

She answered after the first few rings, which wasn't normal for her. She usually answered nearly right away. "Hi. Busy. Yeah?"

"You got some grime on your face. How's the clean-up going?"

"So dang slow. How was Kansas?"

"Good. Sam and I aren't haunted anymore."

"What caused the hauntings?"

"A box that he'd taken from a warehouse when we first explored it."

"Bad Sam."

I laughed. "Yeah, bad Sam. Anyway, we're talking about going international. Do you think--"

"Colby, I don't know, okay? This whole house is a wreck. We've barely done anything in a month, and there's so much more to do."

"Well try, okay?"

She pursed her lips and said, "I'm busy."

Jules hung up on me and I frowned, wondering what I'd done to piss off my girlfriend.

I looked to Sam and he shrugged. "Don't look at me. I don't know. Maybe she's stressed."

"Yeah, maybe. I hope."

I got a message from Jules. She'd sent me a picture of someone that looked like me kissing another girl. 'What is this?'

I frowned at the picture. 'That's not me'

'It sure looks like you.'

'Jules, you know I'd never do that to you'

'Okay. Sure. Good to know.'

She was texting with proper everything, meaning she was seriously pissed off.

I studied the picture and realized it was me before I'd met Juliet. Sam and I had recently moved out to LA. The kicker was I didn't recognize the girl.

'Jules, I don't know her. Who sent that to you?'

'Does it matter?'

'Yes it matters! Who sent the picture to you?'

'No one you know.'

I held my phone to my head for fear I'd throw it. Sam frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Jules sent me a picture from a few years ago of me kissing a random girl. I don't even recognize the girl. And now she's pissed because she thinks I cheated on her."

"Where'd she get the picture?"

"I don't know. She won't tell me."

I then got a message from Jenna. 'Next time I see you Colby, I'm kicking your 5'11 butt'

'Why?'

'Juliet is sobbing in the bathroom. Says you cheated on her'

'I'd never cheat on her. That picture is from several years ago, from before I met her. Who sent her the picture?'

'Someone named emily_br0ck'

'That's a fan she encountered awhile ago. The fan is obsessed with me, god knows why. I don't even know the girl. What I do want to know is why the fuck she's harassing my girlfriend'

After a long moment, I got a reply from Jenna. 'The girl says you're her future husband and Julie's in the way'

'The girl doesn't like Jules, clearly, and I'm gonna deal with it ASAP. You try to reason with her and I'll work from this side'

'Ok. Good luck'

'You too'

A week passed, and I'd still heard nothing from Jules. That meant she was either ghosting me, super pissed, or had just forgotten to answer, but I didn't think option three was very likely.

I got a call from Jackson. "Colby, Juliet's not in LA, is she?"

"No, I haven't seen her. What's wrong?"

"She's MIA. Jenna and I are freaking out. We've checked all the places she might be and we can't find her."

"Okay, uh, I can try to talk to her."

"You don't think we've already tried that?!"

"Jack, calm down, okay? We'll find her. I can't do much, being on the other side of the country, but I can call her. Whatever she says, I'll inform you."

"Okay. Please. Find her."

"I'll do my best.

I hung up with Jackson and called Jules. I got her voicemail. "Hey, babe. Your siblings told me they can't find you and they're worried about you. Give me a call or a text. Something. Let me know you're okay."

Juliet's POV:

I listened to Colby's voicemail as I looked about Faneuil Hall. I liked coming here to people watch sometimes.

I sighed, sending him a text. 'I'm okay'

Not even a minute later, I got a response. 'Where are you?!'

'Boston'

'Helpful. Jules, please. I'm sorry, okay? That picture was photoshopped'

'I know. I figured it out awhile ago'

'You... Then why have you been ghosting me?'

'Apologies. I haven't been on my phone much. Trying to focus on the outside world'

'Well, you could've told me that. On another note, how's the cleanup going?'

'Slow. We've gotten about half the stuff done. My grandmother isn't being super helpful, so it's taking longer than we'd like. Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to go on that international trip with you. Such a shame; always wanted to go to England'

'We'll find another time. How's your family doing?'

'Pretty good'

'And you?'

'I'm good. I should probably text my siblings. It seems like they're about to start a witch hunt for me'

'Lol. Love you, see you soon'

'See ya'

I switched to a group conversation with my siblings. 'Guys, I'm okay. Been hanging out at Faneuil, watching people'

I made my way back to my grandparents', ready to resume the tedious work.