Page 13

Having a social life in university was basically impossible. The only time I saw Paige was at practice which I started missing because I had an insane amount of exams soon. I only saw Rose in the morning before class because by the time she got home I was either passed out or studying and she knew I didn't want to be disturbed. That had become almost everyone's life since exams were coming up. Paige was juggling school, basketball and the fame she had. Us seeing each other was almost a rare occasion these days. It was even worse knowing after school ended my mom was expecting me in New York to see her.

Every holiday I came up with an excuse on why I couldn't be home but summer was the one time a year where it was unavoidable. Even the thought of being home made me sick.

A week before I leave for university. Now was the best and worst time to tell her. Best because if it went horribly I would be leaving soon anyways, worst because mom was struggling with the divorce. To make it even worse, dad was already remarried with a baby on the way. I was happy for him, my parents' marriage was toxic. They fought more than they breathed, they were constantly putting me and my sister in this awkward situation to pick a side. I knew he was done with the marriage when I was 7 but he stayed for my sister and I's sake but when my sister turned 18 and I was 16 he finally filed for divorce and moved away. That was almost 2 years ago and mom still couldn't get over it.

"Mom, can we talk?" I asked, sitting on the couch across from her. I was nervously picking at my fingers and my lips were bleeding from how much I picked on them. Mom was the last person to tell. Dad knew and supported me, my sister knew all along and this was the last step.

"What Juliette." She sighed, rubbing her temple. What a good way to start this conversation.

"I have to tell you something before I leave." She rolled her eyes and looked at me waiting.

"Here we go again Juliette, always the dramatic one just spit it out." She yelled when I didn't start speaking right away.

"I'm a bisexual , which means I like boys and girls romantically." It was out there. Her face turned into a disgusted expression before she sighed.

"Juliette, all kids your age go through phases like this, you'll realize the nonsense you're saying soon enough." She smiled, content with her realization.

"No Mom, it's not like that I've known for a while."

"No, do not come to my house with this garbage. You are my daughter who has and always will like boys. You are going to marry a boy and bring him home. Do you understand me? I don't know where you got this devil garbage but I want it out of your mouth." She screamed. I knew she would react this way but having it be true just hurt even more.

"Yes mom." I put my head down and she walked over to me, wrapping her arms around my head.

"I'm your mother and I just want what's right for you."

Her touch made me want to scream. How could you completely disregard my feelings and then act all innocent and sweet. My eyes burned with tears that were threatening to spill out but I sat in my mother's arm, hopeless.

Thankfully Paige barging into my room made me snap out of the memory. One I'd been reliving for days.

"Hey Jules. What's wrong." She sat down next to me when she noticed the sad expression on my face.

"Every summer I have to go back home and I'm just dreading seeing my mom again." I sighed, resting my head against Paige's shoulder.

"How 'bout whenever you're done in New York come to Montana with me. You can meet my mom, Lauren and Ryan." She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and I looked up at her sadly.

"Really?" My voice was soft. I didn't want to intrude on Paige and her family but I would much rather be with them then my own.

"Yes, I know they're dying to meet you." She laughed, pulling me closer to her. "Cmon I finally got a day off and we are not spending it sulking around." She pulled me off the bed.

"What do you mean you got a day off?" Paige couldn't really take days off. If she was able to, she had to be at basketball or in class.

"Well more like I told them I was sick and switched all my stuff to tomorrow." She admitted and I hit her arm.

"P, what the hell." She just laughed.

"Don't be mad ok? I feel like I haven't seen my girlfriend in weeks and I hate it." She put her hands on my waist and looked at me.

"I know I just don't want you to push important stuff aside." I scolded. As much as she was cute I couldn't let her put me in front of basketball. I knew how much she loved the sport.

"It's one day, plus Geno could tell I was lying." She shrugged and continued pulling me out the door.

"I have so many exams." I groaned and she stopped again to look at me.

"Jules we both know you're extremely over prepared and stressed for nothing. You got this, you're the smartest person I know." She reassured and she was right.

I knew everything I could possibly know but I was an overthinker. I felt like there was more I could do so I just continued studying material I already knew. No harm in spending one day with Paige after not seeing her in what felt like months.

She dragged me to her car that was parked outside and opened the door for me and she got in the driver's seat.

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking over at her as she drove. She started holding my hand while she drove, even resting it on my leg sometimes which drove me nuts.

"The fair." She said, like it was completely obvious information that I should've known.

I smiled, knowing this was another thing Paige had planned for us to do. I heard of the fair before but just never ended up going and there was no one better to be going with for the first time. The car ride was longer and I got distracted playing with the rings on her hand.

'Jules, we're here." She smiled, getting out of the car and opening the door for me. I wanted to hold her hand but I had to stop myself. People could recognize her. It was almost dark out so the lights from the fair illuminated the sky. It was pretty full, with people of all ages running around and enjoying themselves. There were rides, games, food and music. My face lit up and Paige noticed putting her arm around my shoulder and dragging us through the people.

We went on rides, played a bunch of games, most of which Paige demolished me at and ate and a bunch of weird carnival food that I was sure would make me sick tomorrow. Paige had even won me a Domo stuffie, you know the brown square with sharp teeth. It was adorable and I was definitely sleeping with it tonight, with or without Paige there.

"Thank you for all of this." I looked over at her, holding the stuffy close to my chest.

"Don't thank me yet, there's still the ferris wheel." She grabbed my hand, dragging me in line for the ferris wheel. We got on fast since it was dark out and most people started leaving. When it started moving I gazed at Connecticut below, the lights of the city making it seem so much different then usual.

"It's so pretty from up here." I exclaimed, turning to Paige who wasn't even looking at the view. The wheel came to a stop when we reached the top and Paige grabbed my hand, intertwining our fingers.

"You're so gorgeous." She seemed almost mesmerized, putting her hand on my cheek and kissing me softly. I always wanted a ferris wheel moment and she just gave that to me. I almost melted under her touch, kissing back and before we knew it the wheel started moving again. She pulled away but kept holding my hand until we got off and walked to the car.

"What are you gonna name it?" Paige asked, driving back to the dorms.

"What about Romeo, you know Juliette and Romeo." I laughed at the cringey idea.

"Nah fuck that I'm Romeo, that thing can be Tybalt." She said, looking at the stuffie angry now.

"Tybalt doesn't like Romeo, Romeo ends up killing Tybalt." I exclaimed, grabbing the stuffy and pulling it closer to me.

"Exactly the point." She laughed and my jaw dropped. She was already planning the murder of my new favorite thing.

We got to the dorms and Paige came up with me, deciding to spend the night. She had clothes and all the stuff she needed at my dorm for whenever she came over. I changed into her huskies hoodie and pajama pants and laid in bed waiting for her, holding 'Tybalt' very tightly in my arms.

I closed my eyes for one second and Paige was ripping it out of my arms and threw it across the room, I rolled my eyes and wrapped my arms around her.

"You're a child." I said, already missing my little stuffy before Paige ruined our moment.

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