Chapter 4

Before Kelsey could finish, Colton had already pulled her in and pressed his lips hard against hers.

Kelsey pushed him away at first, shoving at his chest, but she could not break free.

Then she stopped fighting. Her arms hooked around his neck, and she kissed him back just as hard.

The room went so quiet that a pin drop would have echoed. Every pair of eyes turned to Juliette, waiting to see what she would do.

Juliette stared at them. Her mind went blank.

She did not know how long it lasted. Eventually, they pulled apart.

Kelsey was breathless, slumped against Colton's chest. His arms had wrapped around her on instinct, but his gaze had drifted to Juliette.

"Juliette... I..."

Kelsey snapped to her senses and shoved Colton away. She spun to face Juliette.

"Juliette, I'm sorry. I had too much to drink. Please don't take it the wrong way. There's nothing between me and Colton. I don't have feelings for him. It's just been so long since I've dated anyone, and I..."

She rambled through one excuse after another. Colton stood off to the side, his expression grim.

"She's right. We had too much to drink. Juliette, you know we didn't mean anything by it."

"Don't you?"

Juliette stood up. There was a hollow smile on her face, and tears she could not hold back were already rolling down her cheeks.

"If it didn't mean anything, why was she the one you kissed and not me?"

"Juliette." Colton reached for her, but Juliette stepped back and let his hand fall through the air.

"We really didn't do it on purpose. Juliette, you know me. He's not my type at all. If you're mad, I'll punish myself, okay?"

Kelsey raised her hand and started slapping herself across the face, again and again. Juliette did not stop her.

Colton could not watch anymore. He grabbed Kelsey's hand. "Enough. Stop hitting yourself."

He turned to Juliette, his voice hard. "You're out of line, Juliette. Apologize to Kelsey."

Juliette let out a stunned laugh. "You want me to apologize? She's supposed to be my best friend, and she just made out with my boyfriend in front of everyone here. And you want me to apologize? Colton, you're unbelievable."

"I told you it was a misunderstanding. It was too dark in here and I thought she was you. Juliette, there are a lot of people watching. Stop making a scene. If you keep going, Kelsey's going to be humiliated."

"Her dignity matters, but mine doesn't? I'm the one who got cheated on in front of everyone, and I'm not even allowed to say something?"

Kelsey bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. "Colton, stop. This is my fault."

She looked at Juliette. "What do I have to do for you to forgive me?"

"Walk away. Get out of my life and Colton's. Give up Lakewood. Can you do that?"

The room went silent. No one had expected things between the three of them to unravel this far.

A few people opened their mouths to tell Juliette to let it go, that they were all friends, but the words never made it out. Juliette was the only victim here. Nothing Colton or Kelsey said could change that.

"Are you out of your mind, Juliette? You can't ask Kelsey to give up Lakewood. Don't you know that's been her dream? If you don't want to see us, then you're the one who shouldn't go to Lakewood."

It was the first time he had ever spoken to her with that kind of edge.

"Fine. If that's how you feel, then I won't go to Lakewood. It's all yours.

"Colton, we're done. And Kelsey, we're not friends anymore.

"From today on, the three of us will go our separate ways. Stay out of my life and I'll stay out of yours."

She turned and walked out without looking back.

Kelsey burst into tears behind her. "Juliette! Don't go! Colton, what are you standing there for? Go after her!

"What if she's serious and won't come to Lakewood with us? Her scores can't get her into anything better than Lakewood. If she drops any lower, she won't have a decent school left."

Colton did not move. His voice was cold enough to cut.

"She won't skip Lakewood. She's clueless. Without us, she probably can't even take care of herself. Relax. She's just throwing a tantrum. I'll grab some of her favorite snacks tomorrow and smooth things over."

Juliette heard every word, and she smiled bitterly.

This time, Colton was dead wrong. Without the two of them, she would only do better.