She was awoken by the sound of a rooster screaming its lungs out like its life was depending on it. She opened her eyes in a heavy daze, slowly gaining consciousness, realizing that her alarm had set off the annoying sound. She took her phone and there were five miscalls from Kelsey. She remembered Kelsey never made that phone call to check in with her about her date. She dialed her number.
The call was picked up after two rings and she can see white bedsheets tangled on Kelsey's long and leaned tanned leg. It slowly went up to her exposed breasts, Kelsey was yawning and stretching at the other end of that call.
"Jeez ... five miscalls just for me to see you naked after a hot date? I thought you were in trouble or something," Julie was relieved even though slightly annoyed, as beautiful as she was, she didn't really enjoy looking at her best friend's bare breasts first thing in the morning. She threw herself back on her bed, covered in her vintage T-shirt and long pants she felt so comfortable in for sleeping.
"Good morning to you too, Miss Sunshine," Kelsey's hoarse voice sounded sexy without her even trying.
"Where are you? Are you at your hotel?" The bed didn't look like it, hence the question.
"No, I'm at his place ... he actually owns a place on this island, his family's vacation home," she lowered her voice not wanting to be heard by the guy she was dating. "He is soooo fucking hot in bed, we had a fuckathon last night and we were slightly drunk ... it was ...." Kelsey's mouth was wide opened and she flipped her eyes to prove her point.
Julie rubbed her face, "God ... I don't think I want to hear the details so early in the morning, but ... good to know," she replied sarcastically.
Kelsey laughed again, "And you know what else?" it was a question that didn't need an answer. "He cooks!! He's an aspiring Chef and he's going to have his own restaurant chain and everything ... he was blabbering about it last night, the whole bit and pieces but I just couldn't wait to get his cock inside me ... and my godddd ..." she made another face that made Julie grimaced in slight disgust.
"Okay ... okay ... I get the point, I'm happy for you bitch, so you've found the guy husband worthy ... finally?"
"What?? Hell no ... not really ... I couldn't stand listening to him talking so seriously about almost everything ... but I don't know, I don't think this will go beyond fucking on the island, a girl needs a good fuck on her solo vacation, right?" she giggled.
Julie rolled her eyes, Kelsey had never taken things seriously, all the guys she had ever been with were solely measured by their ability to please her in bed. She never seemed to think to find a guy who has good qualities that can keep a relationship longer than he can fuck.
"Preston called ... he asked about you," Kelsey said.
Julie let out a long frustrated breath, "I saw him last night, I didn't pick up his call ... what did he say?"
"You finally unblock him? That's good, I think you should give him a chance, Jules, he was in a pretty bad shape after you blocked him ... he was checking if he can talk to you again, and I said no ... I think he almost cried." That explains why he didn't call again after the first ring.
"I don't know ... I'm still ..."
"I know, take your time, I'm just saying ... you have a special bond with him, I know you canceled on me because of what happened, but I think you just need time to figure it out, he loves you to death if you ask me."
Julie fell silent, she knew Kelsey was right, she just needed a little more time to be okay.
"Hey, I gotta go, I think he's done cooking ... I'll talk to you later, babe, or ... if I'm too busy fucking the Chef, I'll see you in a couple of days, okay? I miss you!"
"Take care, Kells, miss you too," she hung up the phone.
She got out of bed and changed to her jeans and fresh t-shirt, put on her oversized cardigan over it. Put on her vintage leather Dr. Martens, the only pair of boots she owned, and took her backpack. She was ready for another day of pure solitude of reading, studying, do her last test of the summer and enjoy the rest of the day to go to the bookstore and go crazy.
She stopped by at the coffee place near campus to order a hot latte to go, her usual, no sugar, extra shot of espresso for an early boost. When she got out of the shop, someone almost knocks her precious cup off her hand. It was a good thing she held on to it with her dear life.
"Hey! Watch it!" she exclaimed. When she saw the guy who had bumped her shoulder, she shrank and looked away.
"Jules! Sorry about that, I didn't see you there," Preston said. Julie shrugged and tried to hurry away, but Preston followed.
"Kelsey's not back yet? I haven't seen her around," he tried the safest question to ask her. She knew he was just making up conversations to stall her.
"Obviously not," Julie said irritated.
"When will she be back? What are you doing today?" His questions were unsettling.
She lifted her books, "Study ... test ... boring stuff, nothing you'd be interested in." She took a glimpse at him, his wavy brown hair brushed against his cheeks, strands of hair fell on his forehead, he tucked them behind his ear and showed his black earing in one of its holes, his dark blue eyes pleading for her acceptance, she shuddered at the thought.
"You wanna get together afterward?"
She hated it, to turn him down over and over again, she wished he could just take the hint and leave her alone.
"No ... I'm very busy ... Kelsey will be back in a couple of days, don't look for her until then," she rejected him and walked away.
"Oh come on Jules, let's hang out later for a few drinks?" he stopped following her, but still expecting a favorable response.
Julie didn't look back, she just waved at him and took a little run toward the campus building. She was panting when she arrived at the lobby, felt relieved for having to get rid of Preston. Usually, it wasn't that easy.
Three years almost, when she first had a crush on that guy. She would shrivel down to a lump of mousse whenever he was near. For him to even know that she existed was a day of celebration for her. They were acquainted because he was friends with Kelsey first, that was pretty much how Julie was acquainted with anyone on campus. She used to daydream about Preston in her reading time at the library, or anywhere. They gradually became friends. They became inseparable just like her and Kelsey, but then it happened one day, and it was never the same again for her.
She wouldn't let me take her out on a date. She wouldn't let me kiss her, or touch her. Three months after she came back to Ardor, she went island hopping with Kelsey on her 21st birthday. I wasn't invited, obviously. I couldn't sleep that night, wondering if she was going to get wasted and ended up with some strange guy, willingly or unwillingly. There's no other girl that has kept me up all night as often as she did. For all different kinds of reasons.But to end up with a strange guy was not the problem with her, it was only that one guy. I hate him. He calls her much too often for my liking. They would talk for hours, it burned me, and I couldn't do anything about it.The almost-kisses we had was driving me insane, but I've promised her I'd wait however long it takes. I think she was torturing me on purpose.Six months after she was back, she finally let me in. We kissed. Every kiss was better than the last. I love k
Her mom and dad came on her graduation day. They took pictures together, a pat on the back, a clumsy hug, a kiss on the cheeks, a congratulations. The three of them again after eight years. She was smiling the whole day.She told them about her plans, they told her how proud they were, shared one last hug and asked her to call them more often. That was pretty much the depth of their relationship.After her parents left, Kelsey was there. They shared a long hug, enough to replace a thousand words they wanted to say to each other.Kelsey tilted her toga hat with a smile, "I hope I'll look good in these next year." They laughed. "I guess this cause for a celebration ... let's go get some coffee, my treat," she added.They went to The Morning Brew, still in her toga and her diploma in her grip."I can't believe you're leaving in a few days ... do you realize we've never been apart si
Despite of making up at the end of their argument, Kelsey was distant. She kept to herself. Julie woke up the next morning feeling like a zombie, lost all sense of directions. She had to come up with a new plan for her future. There was no way she could go back to Ardor.She made the report and told the faculty that she had to finish early because of a family emergency. The only time her family was useful for her. She didn't have the courage to contact Nathan, but to her relief, the faculty informed her that he had turned in the assessment sheet for her internship. She passed with flying colors. She texted to thank him, he didn't reply.Two weeks in after she got back to Gastonburry, she started to prepare her final presentation. Finalized her internship report, created slide shows, crunching numbers, drew diagrams, and all the bits and details needed for the final show. She also submitted a new application through the University to find emp
She managed not to cry when she left his hotel room. She told him to take a shower as she left because she didn't want a sappy farewell that will make her weep the entire day. So they left it at that. The memory of their last day together was to be remembered as something extraordinary and beautiful.When she arrived in front of Nathan's villa, she took a long deep breath to ready her for what's waiting. She took long, slow and dragging steps toward the house, expecting to see both Nathan and Kelsey for another awkward social situation. The house was quiet, she opened the sliding door from the balcony and stepped into the kitchen. There was only Nathan."Where's everybody?"Nathan sat on the island stool, not looking his best. "Kelsey ... umm ... she left."She raised her eyebrows, put down her bags on the floor. "Left where?"He looked down on the kitchen counter, played with hi
Their silence speaks more volume that night. They poured drinks back in the room, browsed through the movie selections they wanted to see. They put on the one they agreed on, not really caring what it was because their minds were wandering to places that don't exist. A place where they would go through life without each other by their sides.She laid her head on his shoulder, stared blankly into the TV. He held her hand and played with her fingers, something he will miss terribly. He took a deep breath.She remembered when she first saw him, his smile, his cheeky comments. His playfulness, his laughs, his annoying ways to get her attention. Those dark blue eyes, and his beautiful face. She glanced over to the tattoo on his chest, and she touched that "J". He looked down and shivered from her gentle touch.He turned to look at her. That was when she pulled himgently and pressed her lips against his. She closed her e
It was a good night's sleep she needed. Her sweet smile was back on her face the next morning. Her mood was lighter, and she couldn't wait to spend the day with Preston. He wanted to explore the island with her and end the day at The Rockabillies. She took him to her favorite beach, favorite hangouts, a cool vintage clothing shop that Preston would love. Nathan Sommers was not in her mind that day.He didn't want to ruin her mood, so he held it for a while longer. The thing he was going to tell her will be hard to hear, as much as it was going to be hard for him to say. She was laughing at his jokes, mocked him as he was trying on funky clothes. Preston loved to shop. He had a wide collection of strange outfits that he can pull off easily. Julie was probably the only girl he knew who had the patience to wait on him while he shopped.She always chose the items for him, he always listened to her. She's the one he goes to for any advice, school