I Always Be Here For You

VII

Julie's POV (In the Cafeteria)
I searched through the sea of faces in the cafeteria until I found the two people I wanted to talk to. I walked straight ahead of me with my head up and not looking at anybody. Girls were giving me dirty glares. Guys were staring at my ass as my hips swayed side to side as I walked. I didn't care though. None of these people were even the least of my concern. I finally snapped out of my thoughts as I reached the table where Addison and Liam were.
"Hey" I greeted casually.
"Oh hey, Julie" Addison happily greeted back.
This girl was always happy. I can see why Liam needed her in his life. He needed a light in the dark tunnel that he was living in. I remember when Liam used to be the drunk asshole that everyone talked about. He wasn't mean to anyone or anything. He was just always sleeping in class and skipping almost every class. He also had an anger problem so most people stayed away from him. That was until he met Addison. She was the new girl at our school. It was pretty cute actually how they met.
Flashback
I was sitting in the cafeteria with Bella. Yeah, Bella used to be my friend until her stupid boyfriend told her that I was flirting with him when I actually wasn't. He didn't like me that much so he wanted to end my friendship with Bella.
Anyways, I was just sitting there listening to Bella talk about her stupid boyfriend when Addison walked in. She came in with Matthew. They had met in their previous class. I felt slightly jealous because, at that point, I had a crush on Matthew. I wished that something happened to this girl so that Matthew didn't pay attention to her anymore. I guess my prayer was answered because Addison bumped straight into Liam. He was walking by, holding an empty bottle in the pocket of his jacket, when she had bumped into him. The bottle fell out of his hands and it shattered into a million pieces. He was already angry that day so he was ready to scream at the new girl until he got a glimpse of her. He just stood there dumbfounded. We were all ready to hear his angry outburst but it never came. He was actually smiling at her. All three of them walked to an empty table and from that day, they all became the best of friends.
"Earth to Julie," Liam said as he waved his hand in my face.
"What?" I asked as I snapped out of my thoughts.
"I just said hi to you but you were so concentrated in your thoughts" Addison explained.
"I'm sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. Do you mind if I sit with you guys?"
"Not at all" she replied.
I took a seat and noticed that another girl was sitting with them.
"How rude of me. I didn't introduce myself. My name is...." I was cut off by the girl.
"Julie Edwards. I know. You're the girl who flirts with everyone right?" the girl said.
"No. First off, I don't flirt with just anyone. I'm not a whore" I said, annoyed at what she just said.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude"
"It's okay. Just don't believe what other people say. They are all idiots"
"I won't. My name is Rosie Vasquez. It's nice to meet you" she said with a smile.
I smiled back.
"It's a pleasure"
"So, I heard that Owens was staring at you again," Liam said.
"Yeah. He's such a creep. I don't get why the principal keeps him around" I replied.
"Let me know if he tries anything with you. I'll go beat him up for you"
"Thanks, Liam"
I looked down at the ring on my ring finger. It was a ring that Matthew gave me. He said that it signified our friendship even though I wanted him to say that it signified our relationship but he didn't tell me how he felt yet.
"Are you okay, Jules?" Addison asked, with a look of concern.
"I just feel so disgusted. Owens kissed me. He even slapped my ass" I exclaimed.
"That asshole kissed you?" Liam asked angrily.
"Yeah. I just need to be on his good side. I always come late to his class after all" I said.
"You feel disgusted because of Matthew right?" Addison asked.
"Kind of. I just keep thinking that if he were alive, he would be ashamed of me. He didn't think of me as a slut or a whore as everyone else did. He knew why I acted this way and didn't judge me. But now, I don't know. I guess I just miss him, that's all" I said, letting out everything that I was thinking about.
"He will never be ashamed of you. He was in love with you Julie. The whole Owens situation will pass. Just don't let that asshole take advantage of you. I'm always here if you need me" Liam said calmly.
I hugged him. He was like the brother that I never had. I know what you are all thinking: why aren't you mad at him since he was the one who crashed the car which killed Matthew?
Well, I just don't see how Liam could have killed Matthew on purpose. They were best friends. Inseparable actually. Liam may have been a drunken asshole but he's not a murderer. He couldn't have been drinking either. He has never touched the stuff since he started to date Addison. He must have been tired. That's the only logical answer.
Liam hugged me back and rubbed my hair.
"Aww. Looks like the slut found herself a new man. Addison, you better watch out" Olivia said.
"Get out of here Olivia. Julie is not a slut. It's not her fault that guys throw themselves at her. She doesn't even want none of them" Addison exclaimed.
"Whatever. The only guy that ever wanted Julie was that idiot Matthew"
That's where I draw the line. No one talks shit about Matthew. I didn't know what I was doing at that point. I just saw red.
I pushed past Addison and jumped onto Olivia. I was yanking on her hair and punching her in the face.
I was gonna hurt her more badly but Liam grabbed me by the waist and pulled me away from her.
"You're such a psycho" Olivia screamed at me as she ran away with her friends.
I scoffed.
"Let me go, Liam," I said.
He released his grip from my waist.
"Are you insane Julie? You could have gotten hurt" Addison yelled at me.
"No, I'm not insane. I just lost it after that bitch mentioned Matt's name" I explained.
"You just gotta control yourself better. That bitch is probably on her way to Mrs. Garcia's office" Rosie said as she rolled her eyes.
"I gotta go then. I will be out back smoking. I see you guys later" I said as I started walking toward the door.
"I'll go with you," Rosie said.
"You smoke?" I asked.
"Sometimes," she said with a shrug.
"Let's go then," I said.
We both left the cafeteria. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder.
"We are gonna be great friends. I just know it" I said.
Rosie just smiled and nodded her head.
Outside the school building
As we were standing around taking puffs from our cigarettes, we began talking about Liam and Addison.
"They are cute together, aren't they?" Rosie stated, breaking the silence.
"Yeah. I still can't believe that they got together. They are total opposites" I said with a chuckle.
"I wish I could find someone who loves me as much as Liam loves Addison"
"Me and you both"
"You loved Matt right?"
"Yeah. I just didn't have enough time to tell him"
I looked down at my feet as I kicked the dirt on the ground. Rosie came closer to me and lifted my chin up.
"Don't be sad. He is still watching you from above" Rosie said with a smile.
She had a cute smile. I didn't know what I was doing at that moment but I leaned in closer to her face. She did the same thing. Our lips were inches away from each other before I broke the space. I gently placed my lips on hers. They were soft. I couldn't stop myself from wrapping my arms around her waist and she wrapped her arms around my neck. After some time, I moved my lips away from hers and we were just staring into each other's eyes.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that" I apologized as I picked up my bag off of the floor. "I gotta get going" I began walking away.
"Wait" she yelled as she ran to catch up with me.
I stopped walking.
"I don't regret what just happened. I mean it all happened so fast but I liked it. We just need to go slow" Rosie explained to me.
"How about I take you out to eat later? Is that slow enough for you?" I said with a smile.
"Yes. I'll love that"
"Great then. It's a date"
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders again. Tonight is gonna be great. I haven't been this happy since I was with Matthew. Rosie is right. He is watching me from above. He is protecting me. I just need to relax and live my life.