"Friendship is not about who you've known from the longest or who you hang out with, it's about who walked into your life, said 'Hey, I'm here for you' and proved it. My friends proved it."
Everyone has secrets and Julie has one that has been eating...
"Oh my god, oh my god!" Ava screamed from the other side of the phone. It was too early for this. I pulled the phone away from my ear to check the time – I was supposed to have thirty more minutes of sleep.
"What's wrong?" I mumbled.
Ava excitedly started explaining to me, in-between squeals, that one of her favorite bands was going to hold a concert half an hour from our town. It was, apparently, a dream come true. "You have to come with me!" she said, and I told her to take Tyler or Nick instead.
"Huh, why do you have to be like that? Nick doesn't like this band and Tyler would probably ditch me for some girl. Please, pretty pleaaase!"
"Fine," I conceded. "I'll ask my parents, send me the details." A deafening squeal came out of the phone. Ava ended the call to immediately text me the information I needed to convince my parents.
My parents reluctantly agreed to let me go to the concert in the condition they'd drop us off and pick us up. "I want to meet this friend of yours too," my mom said. "Why won't you two have a sleepover here, after the concert?"
"That's actually a great idea. Ava will be thrilled. She's been pestering me for some girls' time." And she was. She immediately said yes and told me she was going to prepare beauty masks and a list of movies for us to watch.
The concert was fine. It would've been better if I actually knew the songs beforehand like Ava who sang every word of every song in harmony with the vocalist. Later that night, at home, she was scandalized by my lack of skincare routine.
"Oh sweaty, I'm so sorry for not meeting you sooner," she said hugging me as if my situation was traumatic. "That's what you get when you only hang out with boys. But I'm here now."
"You're so dramatic." I laughed and she pushed me away.
"There's going to be a party next week. It's the first one since I've been here if you exclude that little private party, you and Nick attended." I cringed at that, wishing to forget all of it. "So, it will be your first party with me, and after tonight I'm sure that means it will be your first time getting ready for real."
"I don't like where this is going."
"Oh come on, you're going to love it. We're going shopping tomorrow and I'll make you the most gorgeous girl at that party."
"That's not going to happen," I mumbled under my breath, dreading it already.
Ava forced me to buy a dress for the party. After an avid discussion on the type of dress, I should buy we compromised on a comfortable dress that accentuated my waist enough for Ava's approval.
The night of the party I met Ava at Nick's, and now her house. For some reason, I felt excited about being dolled up by Ava. She made my hair and make-up and I kept wondering if that was what all of the girls at school did before the parties. When she was done, I looked at my reflection and was blown away. I looked beautiful. It was my face, it looked natural but somehow Ava's makeup highlighted my features.
"I know, right?" she said proudly.
The boys were calling us impatiently. They've had been waiting on us for at least five minutes. We grabbed our things and joined them. I suddenly felt my legs shaking and my stomach twitching as I walked down the stairs. I heard a whistle. I looked up and was taken aback by their expressions. I looked at Nick, curious to see if he liked what he saw but was disappointed by his frown brows. And just like that my confidence was gone.
"Ow, you look hot Jules!" Tyler, the whistler, stated. I forced a smile, not even attempting to hide my burning cheeks. Noah and Micah nodded in agreement, still astonished by my party look.
"She does, right? I mean I did a spectacular job, but I have to admit I had a good canvas," Ava said, winking at me. "Now, where's my compliment?"
"Ava, you don't need that, you already know you're hot. I would totally go for you but that would be selfish of me. I mean... I do have to serve all of those girls' wishes of having a piece of this," he said, gesturing his body and I couldn't help but laugh at his arrogance.
"You're such a great person Tyler, sacrificing yourself for those poor brainless girls."
"Always working for the greater good Ava, always."
As we arrived at the party Nick grabbed my arm quickly before entering the house. "Be careful, okay?" he whispered in my ear. I looked at him puzzled but Ava pulled me away before I could say anything.
"Come on Jules, let's get the party ."
Our first stop was the kitchen where the drinks were stored. Ava mixed some drinks and gave me the cup to drink it. It tasted good and didn't burn my throat. I could only feel the taste of the iced tea she used. "Be careful Jules, this drink is dangerous. It doesn't taste like it but it has alcohol and a lot." I nodded and took another sip of the drink.
We then went dancing. Boys kept trying to dance with Ava, but she always pushed them away. I was amazed by her. She was smart, beautiful, and strong. It almost felt as if the whole world revolved around her wherever she went. After a few drinks and dances, I felt a little dizzy and decided to go to the backyard for some fresh air.
I opened the French doors and missed the step in front of me. As I stumbled forward, I prepared myself for the impact with the grass, but it never came.
"Careful there." I looked up and saw Nick, his eyes brighter than the lights of the house.
Beautiful.
"You're eyes are soooo pretty... Like, like they're brown but green at the same time and they also have like those tiny little flakes of amber. Sooo pretty. And complex, just like you, like I can't figure you out. Are you an ass or just shy? What's going through your head? I don't know. I like your hair too. You have good hair. It looks strong and shiny. I wish my hair was like that, I lose a lot of hair. I could knit a blanket with the amount of hair I lose, but that would be disgusting." I scrunched my nose. "Ava said I have nice hair, she also said I looked hotter than an afternoon in July." I snorted. "She did a good job, but I think she's exaggerating. The guys also said I looked nice. Is it true though or are they exaggerating too because they're not used to me looking like this? Do I look pretty?
"God, you're even worst at rambling when you're drunk." Nick let out a rare warm laugh. He looked at me, straight in the eyes, and cupped my cheeks with his hands, stroking them with his thumb. "You are pretty." He smiled, not his usual unnoticeable small smile. A real smile. Right then, in front of me was the sweetest and happiest version of Nick I had ever seen. And I couldn't help but foolishly grin between his hands.
At that moment I felt so close to him, both physically and emotionally. For the first time, it felt as if he had really put his walls down for me again. His eyes flickered to my lips then held me hostage. His face got closer as a song I knew started playing.
"Oh, oh, oh! I love this song! I want to dance! Let's dance!" I grabbed his hand and pulled him with me to the dance floor. "I don't know why I want to dance, I'm a terrible dancer, like really terrible. I look like a calf taking its first steps or an old, retired man, but this song is a must!" I said over the music, not knowing how much I would regret this moment the next day.
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