Flipped Into Place

Night Falls

Juli's POV:

As I entered the house, I saw both my brothers sitting on the couch in the living room. They looked like they were waiting for someone. I apprehended the situation as soon as a light bulb flickered on in my head.

They were waiting for me.

This morning, I didnt get to bid them goodbye as they were still fast asleep. You see, my parents and I are the first ones to get up in the morning. On the other hand, they slept in as I got ready for school. They don't usually wake up that late but they spent their night in Skylar Brown's house performing a gig. They were in a band. And there I was, late.

They eyed me suspiciously. I ran to my mom in the kitchen instead. I figured I'd say hi to her first before being devoured by my brothers who looked like they were about to burst.

"Uhm, hey mom," she still had her back turned on me as she was sautéing our dinner.

"Hi Juli. I noticed you weren't home your usual time. I reckon you were with Bryce. Am I right?" she turned her head to look at me.

"Oh yeah, I was. Uhm, we were partners for a project." I answered timidly.

"That's fine by me but your brothers had been asking me about you. They thought of going to your school but I told them to leave you be as I trusted Bryce."

After that, I heard footsteps approaching us. I didn't want to turn.

Yeah, so where were you, sis?" I heard Matt say. I turned really slowly knowing how dead I was. I saw their arms crossed. They hated me staying out late 'cause I was just 'a girl' as they put it.

"Coming home after dark? Going out early in the morning? That's new," Mark said as he rubbed his chin with his index and thumb.

"Boys will you let Juli get changed first before you lecture her?" I was grateful.

"Juli get changed and meet us in the living room. We're gonna have a talk," Matt said.

I was doomed.

I made my way, head down, to my room. I placed my books on my bed as I got changed. I was contemplating the scene of my brothers asking me tons of questions when I saw the rose on my bed. I picked it up, got out of the room and went straight to the kitchen first to get a thin transparent vase for the rose. I filled it up with water, removed the plastic and put it back into my room before I went to the living room.

As I sat down, they glared at me.

"Why were you out early?" Matt asked not wasting any time.

"Mom said you were with Bryce? Where did the kid take you? Were you late for school because of that?" said Mark.

"Chill, he just thought that watching the sunset was a good way to start the day. He was right. I had an awesome day. If you're wondering where we went, I believe that's the next question, we went to the newly opened park near the school so no, we weren't late."

"And the reason why you went home after dark?"

"Well, like I told mom, we were partners and we wanted to end the day with watching the sunset. Is that a crime?" I raised a brow.

"I guess not," they said.

"There we have it."

"We're sorry, it's just that we wanted to know you were safe," said Mark.