The Butterfly Effect

Chapter Thirty

"Do you have a thermometer? I think you've got a fever," Juliet mumbles with widened eyes but loud enough for him to hear. Miles scowls at her, giving her a disappointed look.

"I'm serious!"

Laughing at his pouty face, Juliet places her palms on both of his cheeks. "I was just kidding! And Miles, you should know that the way you are is what was supposed to be, and you're the kind of man I was looking for. I don't need anything eye-catching or lavish, blue or green eyes that are so talked about. Your brown eyes, black hair, no chain or tattoo, and replace the bracelets with a leather strapped wrist watch-that's the real Miles, and I love him! God made you perfect as you are."

He flashes her a smile, humbled as she wraps her arms around his neck and presses her cheek against his. "And throw their spotlights and cameras in the trash, we can live in our cozy little bubble adorned with fairy lights. And we'd hang a 'no entry' sign board on the door, okay?"

"Sounds about right," Miles says with a laugh.

......

"It's been a while. Where is everyone?" Tristan asks, looking around as he sits himself on the couch, and Maddie takes the seat next to him.

"Bridget is in her room, probably sleeping, and Juliet is out," she replies, somewhat hesitantly as Juliet's name comes up. Last night, Juliet asked her if Tristan was alright since he hadn't come to visit them in a few days, and unwillingly, she had to lie. Maddie didn't want to burden her with extra stress when she was already coping with the aftermath of staying away from home and her father. Because now Miles is here, it has become a little easier for her, and if she told her about Tristan at this moment, she would have another reason to be upset. And that leads Maddie to tell her everything is fine and Tristan is just busy. She only hopes that it all works out among them.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing just fine," he utters reluctantly before quickly changing the topic. "How's college for you?"

"It was okay. Nothing interesting happened, not that I was hoping for something to happen. Life is boring outside of Juliet's romance books!" A hearty laughter escapes her mouth, making Tristan smile slightly.

"Though I wish she gets to live out the bookworm's dream life she holds dear, at least something close to it. She's too idealistic for the real world, and this stark mismatch between her vision and reality might become overwhelming if life is too harsh on her, like it is for some of us."

Maddie nods, agreeing. "But I know, to some extent, she knows that reality is not so much like books, and even though it's a hard pill to swallow, she understands. Maturity and romanticism together are a strange combination and must be tragic."

"Most probably," Tristan replies. "Anyway, Maddie, are you attending Kinsley's party tomorrow? She invited me, but I don't want to go," he asks, referring to their mutual friend from high school.

"I would have, but Mom wouldn't let me go without Bridget, and she has a lot of homework to do. And you know Juliet doesn't go to parties."

"Then I wouldn't go either," he announces, leaning back relaxed.

"But why?"

"I wasn't looking forward to it anyway, and now that you all are not going. So yeah. Do you have any other plans?"

Maddie seemingly hesitates for a moment before finally telling him, "Miles will be coming home to meet us all tomorrow."

Her words cause his face to fall momentarily, but he regains his composure and forces a smile. "I see."

"Mom wants to talk to him too. We are really excited..."

"I would also like to see him sometime later. He sounds like a gentleman from all that I've heard from you."

She appears a bit anxious immediately as he says that, her face showing concern. Noticing her expression, he opens his mouth.

"Why do you look nervous, Maddie? C'mon, I'm just curious to see him too, like you. That's all. I swear if you think I will be like those homewrecker people who betray their friends just because they are too cowardly to accept rejection, I will never talk to you ever again."

"No, no! It's not that, I promise. I trust you," Maddie replies back hurriedly in her defense. "I was just thinking about you. I don't want you to get hurt more. I know you are already going through a lot."

Tristan shrugs mindlessly. "It's okay, really. Juliet is such a pure soul. Everyone who comes across her would fall for her charms. She's funny; she used to make me laugh a lot with her jokes, and I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her. She is caring. It hurts a little... but I know I will be fine. But when someone betrays the beauty of a friendship just when it doesn't meet their personal demand anymore, that is never okay, and I don't want to end up like one of those backstabbers, Maddie."

Giving him an empathetic look, she hugs him in consolation, feeling equally distressed to see him like this.

"You won't, Tristan. You are the best friend one could ever have. We love you."

"Thanks," he mutters, giving in to her protective embrace, even when his heart breaks under the facade of bravery he puts on. It hurts a lot more than a little, and it's so painful to see her slip away through his fingertips, never to return. No matter how much he tries not to let it show, the anguished thought tears at his insides mercilessly. The haunting realization that the colorful dream he was living in, the blossoming hope he was nurturing within himself, was only there to fade to black soon.

That's why I always say never fall in love with someone who is in love with someone else but y'all never listen to me bruh

Suffer the consequences now 😒

Drop the names of all the books you're currently reading. I need book recommendations >>>>

It's 6:37 am right now. I swear to God someday I'm gonna turn into a panda with all the eye bags I'm getting 🥴

I love pandas. I wish I had one. The way they eat bamboos looks so cute it makes me want to eat some bamboos with ketchup and mayonnaise lmfaooo