14 - Between Lipgloss and Lies

JUNE’S POV

Jules usually walked into rooms like she owned them.

Today, she looked like she was trying not to fall apart in one.

I watched her take a seat in front of the class where she usually sat.

Her shoulders were slumped, the worst of signs. 

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I rushed to her side and asked immediately the class was over.

“Hi.” She replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“I asked you a question Jules, what happened?” I looked at her straight in her face. 

She wasn’t wearing mascara, Jules never forgot to put on mascara. 

“I’m fine, just tired. I was revising all night.” She lied through her teeth. She would rather get bitten by a mosquito than sacrifice her beauty sleep.

I let it go, planning to ask again at lunch.

“Okay, I’ll see you later.” I replied with a small comforting smile before she left for her next class.

Just then, I saw Adrien and his dad, professor Hayes walk into the school. He looked miserable. 

Immediately he noticed me, they both started walking towards me.

“Dad, this is June. My tutor.” He suddenly introduced. His dad stared at me for a second, suspicion crossing his face.

“Pleased to meet you June. Make sure you assist him in getting the best grades.” He said. It sounded more like a warning than advice.

“Nice to meet you too, and I will.” I responded firmly. 

“Alright.” He said and they both left. 

That felt weird but I was glad I’d met him. That ticks phase one off my plan.

By lunch time, Jules had barely touched her food.

Which was strange because Jules loved food as much as she loved gossip. This confirmed my suspicions.

“Enough is enough. Something is obviously wrong with you, please talk to me.” I held her hand in mine, trying to sound softer than demanding. 

“Come over after school,” she replied. I nodded and quickly sent my mum a message.

Thursdays meant revision lessons with Adrien. 

I got to the library immediately after my history class to find Adrien already waiting for me.

“Let’s get started.” I spoke and launched us into work. 

“Is everything okay? You seem… distracted.” He said.

“I’m fine. It’s almost three, let’s get this done.” I replied and he didn’t push further. 

He was right though. I was getting more worried by the minute. 

Once it reached three o’clock, I packed my things and left. Adrien would return the books.

I took the train to Jules’ house. 

I had visited Jules multiple times before but the design of her home never failed to amaze me. It got better everytime I saw it.

I greeted her butler and he led me into the house.

“Come up!” She told me from upstairs. 

I climbed the spiral staircase and entered her room. 

It was a mess. 

There were tissues on the floor, shoes sprawled all over the room. 

Then I noticed her face, her eyes were swollen and red.

“Why are you crying?” I asked and sat on the queen sized bed with her.

“It’s Alex.” She said. Alex was her most recent ex boyfriend, also her favorite ex.

“Why do you keep going back to him? He’s never going to take you seriously.” I told her.

“You don’t get it. I love him June.” She said.

“At what point do you stop calling this love and finally see it for what it truly is? This is a humiliation ritual.” My words sounded harsh but they were the truth.

I took a deep breath.

“What did he do?” I asked calmly.

“I was telling him how he wasn’t putting in effort as much. He called me overbearing. Said I was overwhelming sometimes .” She explained.

“Sometimes?” I asked. Immediately recognizing the manipulation. 

“When I tried to stop him from leaving.” She paused, rubbing the bruise on her arm.

“Did he do that?” I asked coldly.

She took too long to answer.

Something cold settled in my stomach, not shock. Realization.

“Did he apologize?” I asked. 

“He was angry June.” 

“That’s not an answer.” I responded.

I wondered if love was supposed to be this painful. 

“Don’t look at me like that.” She said.

“Like what?” I questioned.

“Like you pity me.” She said as she wiped a tear.

The more she spoke, I realized she wasn’t crying because she was confused. She was crying because she already knew the truth.

“Jules.” I called out.

“What?” She sniffled. 

“If someone makes you feel difficult for loving them, they don’t actually like you. Love isn’t supposed to make you feel humiliated.” I emphasized and let her cry her heart out.

“Alright, get up. Let’s watch Mean Girls while listening to Lana!” I sat her up and dragged her to the bathroom.

“I’ll sleep over!” I yelled while she was in the bathroom.

Soon, we were both looking refreshed and in her night clothes.

“Block him.” I instructed her and she was hesitant. I grabbed the phone and did it myself, deleting his contact in the process.

“Don’t you dare talk to him again.” 

“As you wish, queen.” She teased and let out a soft laugh. Her eyes were less swollen, still red but she looked better.

“You know, you actually can’t hide your emotions very well. As soon as I saw your eyelashes without mascara, I knew something was up.” I joked, trying to lift her mood.

“Oh well, you know me so well.” She smiled.

We put on her television and began watching, with music in the background.

Outside the window, the London sky slowly lost its color.

“Thank you June.” I heard her say softly. “I love you.” She said before finally dozing off. Her words warmed my heart. 

I adjusted her position so she would be comfortable. 

I went downstairs to grab a bottle of water. 

“Hi June, is she alright now?” I heard Jules’ mum say. 

“Yes, she’s asleep now.” I replied.

“Thank you dear.” She smiled at me before I left.

As I lay in bed with Jules, I thought back to her words. How she loved him.

It was mind boggling how someone could have so much power over another person. It was so hard to understand.

Honestly? 

I never wanted to.