The groggy retching sounds jumpstarted Greta's systems as she broke free from her dreams and entered the real world again.
Immediately, her eyes were directed to the cracked-open bathroom door. And as the sound continued, she quickly put together the realization that it was simply Lulu suffering from her morning sickness.
"Luna Rose Austin if you die in there, your wife is gonna kill me! So... You know, don't."
But the puking sounds subsided soon after. And reaching down to the mini-fridge at Malik's bedside, she pulled out one of the cold bottles of water and walked over to meet her morning-sick friend. "Y'know, if you're tryna convince me to not have kids, you're getting your point across pretty clearly."
Then, Lulu wiped her mouth with a fresh cloth, taking the bottle from Greta and drinking away at it before gesturing back a thankful smile. "I always imagined you and Malik would have one or two of those cute, little mixed babies running around this place soon."
Greta smirked, helping Lulu off the ground and towards the bed for a better resting spot. "We haven't actually gotten to that topic of conversation yet. Kinda hard to as of late, y'know? Plus it's hella early."
"Well from the way I saw you two go at it, I'm sure Chadwick's gonna have a playmate before he's able to walk."
With that, the brown-haired girl rolled her eyes and giggled as she too grabbed a bottle for herself. Still, in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but ponder Lulu's statement.
There was still so much about their future that Greta was curious about. Living together was the first big step. Spontaneous, but one she was surprisingly ready for. She wouldn't be surprised if he did want a child or two. But maybe when they see each other again, she'll reaffirm her assumption.
"Where is he anyway?"
"He's already back at the house cooking. He didn't want to wake you," Lulu told her. "Either Kelly or Cora will come and pick us up soon unless you want to call an Uber?"
Then, Greta simply shrugged before giving the bedroom a standard look-around. "If you want, we can just wait here until then? Watch Return of the King like we used to do back in college. Plus, I'm sure he's got something in that fridge for us to eat."
Cheekily, Lulu grinned at her friend. "Bitch, you just read my mind."
As they laughed and headed out of the room, Greta raided the kitchen. From Alex's fancy sparkling water to Olive's Nutella to even Malik's stash of Twizzlers, the girls took refuge on the couch and watched their movie.
This was another thing Greta could get used to doing. This couch, this television, this food, it was all just the start of her time in this apartment with him - even if Malik technically wasn't the one sitting next to her right no. But before she could delve deeper into the impending fantasies of her new relationship, they were all suddenly tarnished by Lulu's question of her old one.
"You broke up with him already, right?"
Greta made a face. For the first time since last night, she dared to remember the existence of her phone. But even with the recollection, she knew that there was little chance she'd hear from him right now.
"I'm working on it," Greta said casually, but not without acknowledging the grimace wearing Lulu's face in response. "I'm gonna break up with him. I'm just enjoying this little bubble right now."
"Okay, well Greta, when that bubble pops, Julien's gonna still be there thinking you're engaged. What are you gonna do about that?"
"I don't know, I haven't thought that far ahead yet! When he comes back later on, we'll have a talk and sort it out, but for right now, can't we enjoy this?"
But Lulu denied her of that. And instead, she paused the movie. "Greta, none of this feels right."
"What do you mean?"
"We're in your ex-boyfriend's apartment on Christmas day while your fiancé is probably wondering where you are right now!"
"OH MY GOD!" She exaggerated. "If you want me to break up with him now then I'll do it, jeez." With that, she stormed back to the bedroom to find her jeans, knowing her phone was probably still in there.
And as soon as she turned the screen on, she froze. For just a split second, she'd forgotten what it was that she was going to do. Staring at Lulu from beyond the room, then taking another cautious glance back down to her phone, she failed to ignore the screen any further than she already did.
Her phone background displayed an old picture of the two of them - Greta and Julien - wearing smiles that didn't seem fake or artificial. She bit her lip, letting her mind slowly drift into the recollection she was scared to experience.
But here, she remembered taking this photo as soon as they got back together. It was Holly's idea, for they were out having dinner with other friends to celebrate their resumed engagement. It was one of the few good dates she had with him, one of the few good days, recently, as well.
As badly distant the two had been lately, it paled in comparison to the nostalgia of moments like these. The longer she stared at it, the longer she felt her heart skip its beating. But she tucked her phone into the pocket of a pair of Malik's basketball shorts that she stole before compiling herself back onto the couch with Lulu.
"He didn't answer," She lied. "but I left him a message. When he comes back, we'll have a talk about ending it for good this time."
Lulu's satisfied smile would suffice for now. But on the inside, Greta felt cold with guilt.
Today was the day. She was finally going to call it off with Julien. Finally, break up with him after seven years. All that time they've spent arguing.
Laughing.
Hurting.
Loving.
She was going to end it all today and start again with someone else. All the fears of messing things up, of learning to know someone totally different. These were the next steps she'd take. And hopefully, she'll get it right this time.
Hopefully.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Wassup?"
"How'd you know you were ready to be with Kelly?"
And Lulu shrugged. "We just clicked, I guess. Things weren't without complications. We fought constantly; she was always worried about messing things up. Sometimes I was worried that she'd be right. But I trusted her. And we worked at making each other better. Working at it was the hard part, but it made things worth it in the end, y'know?"
And Greta understood everything Lulu had said. With the crumbling revelation, she almost didn't realize her own tears trickling along the edge of her eyes before her friend had noticed them.
"Sweets, are you okay?"
She sniffled, but the tears furthered past her eyes and down her cheeks. She was feeling it all now. Suddenly, being in this apartment didn't feel as good as it did the night before. Her heart had felt twisted, turned to tight, sloppy knots.
She wasn't ready to start anew. She wasn't ready to be with someone else - only to potentially mess it up in the future. Things with Julien were wonky now, and she may not feel the same things she felt for him years ago, but to think about ending things now seemed foolish.
"I can't stay here!" Greta confessed. "I need to fix things with Julien. I can't leave him like this!"
Flabbergasted, Lulu's eyes widened with the broadening confusion. "Wait! Hang on, what are you talking about? What about Malik!"
"He's not my fiancé," Greta countered as she stood to gather her things. "Julien is. And the only thing I know right now is that I need to fix things with him before it's gone for good."
"What the fuck?! I thought you said you didn't even love him anymore!"
"I- I was just in the moment. I can love him again. I loved him before, right? And you said it yourself, things with you and Kelly got rocky before, but you two worked it out."
Anything else Lulu could say to her right now was void. Her mind was set, and when she grabbed her phone again, she texted Julien to pick her up.
He had to have been back by now. And if not, then she thought to contact Holly as well.
She knew that she'd have to apologize for going so long without contacting him - and for being here of all places. But those would be the first of many things she'd have to hope they can put in the past.
Eventually, Greta made it to the door, fully dressed and ready to put whatever she could back together again. But Lulu put up one last fight by grabbing her arm. "Greta, you're not thinking clearly, alright? In what way does all those times with Julien make you think that it'd be good to go back?"
"Lulu, I have to try."
"No you don't! You're here, you're in Malik's apartment! You're spending Christmas with him!"
"And I'm spending Christmas with the wrong person. I'm meant to be with Julien. Not Malik. I've put too much work in with him to just let it all go away now..." She told her, then looked down to the text on her phone. "Look, Holly's pulling up. Do you want her to drop you off at Kelly's?"
But all that did was make Lulu step away from her friend. The silence between them was all the answer she needed. And so Greta opened the door, readying to exit.
"What am I supposed to tell him?" Lulu asked her then.
But she shrugged, unsure herself of what the right response would be in this situation. So instead, she pulled the key out from her pocket, then placed it into Lulu's hand. And before she could listen to whatever reaction Lulu would make, Greta left the apartment altogether, shutting the door behind her.