Chapter 4
I took mom's car to work that Monday considering she went together with Nicole. It was raining today as well, and I was starting to grow really tired of it. I hated the rain. It was depressing and it destroyed my hair by getting it all wet and tousled. Fortunately, I didn't have to expose myself to it too much thanks to the car, though.
The second I entered the bakery, Dylan ran up to me with curiosity sparkling in his crystal blue eyes. "Tell me everything."
We didn't open the store until another ten minutes, so we sat down opposite each other at one of the tables in the bakery. I told him everything from the moment mom had informed me that her co-worker was Timothée's mom to my and Nicole's conversation that evening.
"So you live there now, just like that?" He asked in disbelief. "I mean, you live in the same house as Timothée fricking Chalamet?"
I bit my bottom lip as I looked at him. "Yeah, I guess so."
"That's insane. You have no idea how jealous I am of you right now," he said, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back in his seat so his disheveled blonde locks fell against the backrest.
"Dyl, I haven't even met him. Take a chill pill," I chuckled.
"But you're going to! When was he coming home? Next week?" He asked, spreading his arms.
I nodded my head slowly, looking down at the surface of the table. "Yeah, Nicole said he's been away for three months to record a new movie."
His facial expression turned curious and almost cheeky all of a sudden. "Oh, you're getting all the juicy stuff... Promise me you'll keep me updated about everything that has to do with him, alright?"
"I promise," I chuckled, rolling my eyes at him. It was impossible not to love this human being. He could always make you happy in the darkest days.
"Alright, the customers are probably waiting for us to open. Can you unlock the door while I start up the coffee machine?" He asked, to which I nodded.
-
When my shift of the day ended, Dylan's did too. We went to the changing room together and changed back to our casual clothes. Neither of us had any problem with changing in the same room. We were best friends after all, and it wasn't like we were checking each other out.
"Where are you heading now?" He wondered when I had buttoned my jeans.
I reached up to pull out my ponytail so my hair could fall freely down my shoulders. "I think I'm heading home to dad actually. I have to pick up some outfits because I can't keep living with only two different ones. It's a pain in the ass and disgusting as hell."
He shot me a smile from across the room. "I can't disagree with that. Besides, if you're going to live in the same house as the hottest guy in the country, I would even want you to own more than two outfits," he winked.
"Thanks a lot," I said, rolling my eyes.
He walked over to me with his bag in one hand. "I'm just telling the truth. I wouldn't want you to embarrass yourself."
I let out a snort. "That's probably inevitable. My aura screams 'embarrassing'. Only God knows how I am going to react when Timothée comes home next week," I sighed.
Dylan placed a hand on my shoulder while looking me in the eyes. "Don't worry about it, Jules. If you keep thinking about it, it's going to be even worse. I suggest you are yourself, then I'm sure everything will be fine."
I shot him an appreciating smile. "Thanks, Dyl. I hope you're right."
He let his hand fall from my shoulder. "Yeah, me too," he said, looking away.
I gaped at him. "Hey!" I accused, hitting him in the shoulder.
"Ouch! I was just telling the truth. I mean, you even said yourself that your aura screams 'embarrassing'. I'm just trying to be realistic here," he shrugged, looking at me in amusement.
Glaring at him, I crossed my arms over my chest. "Well, you're not making me feel better about this situation. Now I'm even more sure I'm going to mess everything up."
He chuckled at me. "I'm sorry, Jules. I was just messing with you. Believe in yourself, girl. That's literally everything you have to do."
"Easy for you to say," I muttered, picking up my bag and slinging it over my shoulder.
I started walking out of the building when I heard Dylan's voice behind me. "Aren't you going to ask me where I'm headed?"
Turning around abruptly, I could see that he had followed me. "Judging by that ridiculous smile on your face, I would guess you're going on a date with some guy, so I don't really have to ask," I shrugged.
"Man, am I that obvious?"
I was still mad at him for messing with me like that. He knew I had trouble meeting people for the first time, especially people I had respect for. Yet, he had to mess with me about it.
"Yes."
He rolled his eyes at my short answer. "Come on, Jules. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have messed with you like that. It was wrong of me, but you can't blame me. You are too fun not to mess with."
I walked up to him so we were standing face to face. "Fine, but you get away with it only because you're you, and I love you for some reason I don't know myself," I muttered, glaring at him.
A wide smile broke out on his face and he spread his arms to bring me in for a big, warm hug. "I knew you loved me, Jules. That's one of the reasons I know I can mess with you," he winked when he'd pulled out of the hug and flicked me on the nose.
I scrunched it up by the touch and the pain that came with it. "Watch what you're doing. You already have one warning, young man," I warned him, but I couldn't help the smile that was threatening to break out.
He sent me an air kiss. "Love you too, Jules."
I rolled my eyes and turned around to continue walking out of the building. "See you tomorrow, Dyl."
"Bye, Julieee," he sang, and I couldn't help but laugh. Damn him and his ways. He always knew how to get through me, that motherfucker.
When I got outside, I instantly pulled the hood of my jacket over my head and ran the short way to my car. I got behind the wheel, turning the engine on and the heat to max. It wasn't until I was ready to leave the parking lot that I started thinking about what I was about to do.
Was it a good idea to drive to the house? I mean, I was positive dad wasn't home yet, so I wouldn't have to worry about that, but what if I would break down when I saw the place? Not to mention when I was inside the house I had always lived in?
In the end, I decided I didn't really have a choice. I needed those clothes now, and I couldn't wait one more day to get them. It was better to do it sooner rather than later, which meant it was best to do it right now.
With a deep sigh, I started driving to the place I had always called my home but didn't anymore. It was depressing even thinking that way, but I had to remind myself I couldn't do anything about it. It was dad's fault things were like this now.
The second I pulled over outside the building, I felt a lump start to form in my throat. I had to make this fast so the realization of what I was doing wouldn't get to me before it was over. With that in mind, I opened the car door and sprinted up to the porch.
I bent down to pick up the key I knew was hidden under the doormat before unlocking the front door. Instantly, I was met by the scent of... home. It made tears form in my eyes in a second. Damn it.
During the entire way up to my bedroom, I tried keeping them back, but the second I turned the handle to the room and entered it, I couldn't prevent them anymore. They started running down my cheeks uncontrollably. "I fucking hate you, dad," I cried, walking over to my bed to throw myself on it, my face hitting my pillow.
When I smelt it, the tears only escalated. How could he do this to us? Everything had been so good. I didn't understand. I didn't understand anything.
What felt like five minutes but was probably half an hour later, I finally found the power to get up from the bed and walk over to my wardrobe to pick out more outfits I liked. I put them in another bag I had under my bed and left the room, but not before snatching the pillow from my bed. I had to bring it with me.
Once I was back in the car, I shut the door behind me and exhaled a deep breath. Taking a look at myself in the rearview mirror, I noticed my face was all red from the crying I had done. I reached up to wipe the almost dried tears away in an attempt to make it look better, but I was sure I didn't make a good job at it.
After that, I waited another five minutes to let myself breathe before I turned on the engine and drove off towards my 'new' home. During the entire ride, I forced myself not to think about anything that had to do with what had just happened. I knew it wouldn't make anything better. If anything, it would only make me start crying again.
Twenty minutes later, I parked the car outside Nicole's house. I didn't wait before running into the building to get as little raindrops on me as possible.
"Julie?" Mom called out when I slammed the door shut behind me.
She came into view a second later, her eyes widening when she saw my face. "Where have you been, and what happened?" She asked worriedly.
I got rid of my wet jacket and tossed my two bags and pillow to the side before taking off my sneakers. "I had to get more clothes," I muttered without looking at her.
"Have you been home?" She gasped, her gaze glued to my pillow and the bag I had brought with me from the house.
"I just told you I had to get more clothes," I repeated, picking up my things again and stuffing my pillow under my arm.
"Julie, don't go," mom stopped me when I started moving towards the staircase.
I turned around reluctantly, letting out a sigh. "What?"
She walked up to me and placed two fingers under my chin to get a look on my face. Looking me in the eyes, she asked; "Are you okay?"
With her staring me so deeply in the eyes and the look she was wearing on her face when she did so, I couldn't stop my eyes from filling up with tears again. God, I couldn't even hold them back when I wanted to the most.
With a shake of my head, I dropped my things to the floor and wrapped my arms around her. "I'm sorry, mom," I sniffled against her shoulder. "I'm supposed to be the strong one and help you through this, but it... it hurts."
"Oh, sweetheart," she sighed, stroking my hair. "You're not supposed to be anything. This is just as hard for you as it is for me. It's okay to let your feelings out, honey."
I pulled back to look her in the eyes. Wiping the tears away with my hands, I sniffled again. "I'm just... I'm just sad, and... and disappointed, I guess. I wish things were as usual because I miss it, mom. I... I miss everything."
She reached up to help me wipe the tears away, sympathy showing in her brown eyes. "I miss it too, honey. I wish things were different, but none of us can change what he did. We'll get through this though, won't we? Together?"
I made an effort to smile but it came out as a grimace. "Together."
With that said, mom helped me get my stuff up to my room. She even helped me unpack the bag with my clothes and put them in the big wardrobe. Meanwhile, I placed my pillow beside the other one on the bed.
"Where's Nicole?" I wondered, only now reflecting on the fact that I hadn't seen her since I entered the house.
"I think she went to the living room. Timmy called just before you arrived," she explained, sending me a small smile.
"Oh."
We were quiet for the next couple of seconds before she broke the silence again. "Will you help me make dinner tonight? I was thinking we can make our special Chicken Alfredo and show Nicole what master chefs we are?" She proposed with a hint of humor in her voice.
It made the corners of my lips twitch, and I nodded my head. "Sounds like a great idea."
"Then it's settled."
-
This chapter was necessary because 1. I wanted you to get to know Dylan more and 2. Julie needed to let out her feelings about what's going on before anything else takes place.
Timmy's making his first appearance in the next chapter! ;)
Fun fact: I'm currently writing chapter 10! That's how much far ahead I am haha XD
Pauline .xx