Julius opened his eyes and sat up with a groan. He had fallen asleep sketching. In the end he didn't go see his mother. She must be wearing a grin with pain in her eyes. Julius quickly stretched and stood up. He checked his calendar. Thank goodness he had this year's one. Today was the flower festival. He groaned. His mother always made him help out with her shop during the flower festival. There was a knock at his door and Julius rushed out of his sewing room and opened the door. He ducked as Luna threw a punch at him.
"Good morning to you too." He grumbled.
"I hate you! Why do you always do this to Candace?! Your a friggin jerk!" She screamed. Her blue eyes were ablaze with fury and hate. The same as Claire's when she came.
"I already got my punishment, now i'm getting more? How cruel." Julius joked. Luna tilted her head in confusion, curiosity overcoming her anger.
"Whadda mean?"
"Claire already came and slapped me. She took care of it for you. No need to be angry." Julius scowled. Luna just stood, stunned. She then smiled.
"Well then, I guess i'll have to thank Claire. Bye idiot!" Luna cackled and ran off. Julius groaned again. Knowing Luna she could have Candace come to the flower festival and start up a shop on spring clothing. Hopefully they would be on opposite sides of the courtyard.
Julius fixed himself some breakfast then headed over to Mira's house. She was picking flowers in her yard. Julius had been right, she was setting up a shop this year. Julius opened up the gate and his mother turned around. She smiled brightly and waved. Julius walked up to her.
"You're not going to make me help you this year right?" Julius teased. His mother laughed lightly.
"I never forced you. I just asked. Once you volunteered because Candace was doing a shop. How are you two anyway? Anything there?" His mother smiled knowingly. Julius smiled weakly.
"Used to be. Nothing more." Julius smiled, but felt a little bad. The smile that his mother had worn drooped into a small frown. She continued to pick the flowers in silence.
"I would really like it if you helped out with the shop. Besides, I would really like to know more about that bandage on your face." Julius's hand immediately went up to the bandage on his cheek. "But unfortunately I have to get to the Town Square before 8:30 or I won't get a place to put my stand."
"I can help you set up, but I won't be staying." Julius took the flowers from her hands and placed them in the basket. His mother smiled again and continued to pick the flowers. Julius helped her until her basket was full. Then he grabbed the 3 white table top covers and placed them over the basket of flowers. Mayor Hamilton supplied tables for those who wanted shops. If you didn't show up before 8:30 you didn't get to put up a shop. His mother always prepared early so she always got a shop.
There were only a couple of people in the Town Square when they arrived. Mira went to go talk to the Mayor to get the tables while Julius followed slowly behind. Almost immediately he picked out Candace. Right beside her was Claire. As if she sensed someone was watching her Claire turned her head around and locked eyes with him. Her eyes narrowed as Julius smiled at her. She frowned and turned away, saying something to Candace. He watched in surprise as both girls laughed. He hadn't seen Candace laugh in ages. It was even more surprising that Claire was laughing. From the way she acted he thought that she was a more serious girl.
"Julius." He whipped his head around to find his mother waving a hand in front of his face. She was trying to carry a small table to the middle of Town Square. She smiled while Julius rolled his eyes. He helped her drag the table over and then helped her set it up. She grabbed two other tables and locked herself in the middle of them. Julius gave her a tablecloth and they worked together to put them all on the tables.
"Is that all you require of me?" Mira was now placing flowers out for people to look at.
"Yes, but I do wish that you would stay." She smiled hopefully, but Julius shook his head.
"I've got someplace to be. I'll see you for dinner later." She smiled weakly and let him go. Julius gathered up her leftover things then sped out of the Town Square. He wasn't going to risk having to talk to Claire or Candace. Claire scared him a little and her with Candace made things worse. Instead, Julius made his way to the church.
The cemetery was empty when Julius reached the top of the hill. Everyone was probably getting ready for the festivities. Julius opened the gate as it made a loud creaking noise. He brushed past every tomb stone, until he stopped a new one. He stopped and read the names
Terrence Lyon
Jane Lyon
Sylvia Lyon"
Darren Lyon
Death 2016 July 7th
It was a large tombstone and it looked almost brand new. Julius felt sorry and sad. It looked like a while family had been wiped out. He felt bad for the Lyons. He noticed a fresh batch of flowers sitting on the tombstone. Either someone in their family was alive or someone from the island took very good care of the families grave. Julius placed a leftover flower on their grave before moving on.
Julius stepped in front of the an old grave at the end. It looked worse than last time and Julius wondered if it needed to be replaced. He knelt down and slowly read the tombstone. He'd gotten the right one. Julius took all of the leftover flowers and dumped them over the grave. It belonged to his father.
Julius didn't really care about seeing his father's grave. He only came every time he left or returned to the island. Which wasn't often. His mother came every sunday. She had loved him quite dearly, even though he was a scumbag. Julius tood in front of the grave for a few minutes before turning around. He couldn't waste all of his time.
On the way down the path Julius passes Claire. She hardly gave him a glance before continuing up the hill. It was obvious that she hated him. Julius just shook his head and continued down the path.
"JULIUS!" Julius froze. There was only one person that lound. Luke. Julius inwardly groaned. Luke always messed up his hair or clothes whenever they crossed paths.
"Hello Luke, what a fine and beautiful morn-"
"Yeah yeah yeah! Have you met Claire yet?"
"Unfortunately yes." Julius's hand reached up to his cheek.
"She's so Radical right? Her eyes are silver! It's so cool! Only a couple of more days and all of up can hit the beach together. Your coming!" Luke grabbed Julius and put his arm around his shoulder. Julius didn't like to swim. He only went all those times because Candace was going. Even then he didn't really swim. More like sat underneath a breach umbrella and played beach volleyball with everyone. Julius wanted to say no, but for the sake of seeing old friends, it couldn't be that bad.
"Sure. I'm coming, I guess."
"AWESOME!" Luke let go of Julius then started jumping around like an idiot. Typical Luke. "Well I got to get back to the carpentry or the old man's going to blow his top. I'll come and get you when we decide to go down to the beach. BYE!"
"See ya." Julius smoothed his clothing out and fixed his hair. Luke had managed to ruin it again. It was just like him. Julius chucked at his old friends enthusiasm. Maybe it would be nice to hang out with him and all the other's again.
