This one is Part Four of my Julie/Brett Weston fic. If you haven't read the first three parts then don't worry, because it goes a little something like this: Brett likes Julie. Julie likes Brett. Brett likes taking pictures. Julie likes that Brett is creative. They make-out a lot. They go to the Alamo Freeze and see Matt. Matt isn't happy. Now on to part 4!
Bitter Sweets
Julie/Weston/Matt, (Not) Unlike Me- Part Four, PG13, 683 words, Title from Pushing Daisies
--
Matt looks at Brett and Julie, standing in front of him, holding each other's hands. He knows it's none of his business what they're doing and he's got something going for himself, but for right now, he's so pissed he could punch Brett in the mouth.
He watches Brett whisper in Julie's ear. She goes to sit down as he walks towards the register.
"Hey Matt," Brett says, like if they're good old pals. Matt tries his hardest not to laugh in his face.
"What do you want?"
Brett raises his eyebrows just a little bit. He's not exactly sure what's going on, and he doesn't want any trouble so he tells Matt he wants two rocket launchers to go and hightails it right the hell out of there when he finally gets them. Julie gives Matt an "I can't believe you just did that" look as she walks out with Brett.
Matt sleeps alone that night, trying to convince himself that he's not jealous that Brett has what he wants.
--
Matt spots Julie at her locker the next morning. He wants to forget about it all and just keep walking, but he needs to know what's going on between them and walks up to her.
They exchange their small hellos. It's awkward and they both know it. Julie knows something is up because Matt hasn't talked to her since that night after the football game where he basically told her to fuck off and never come back.
"So…" Matt starts off. "You and Brett…"
Julie laughs a little bit. It's not like she's surprised he brought this up. But it makes perfect sense either way.
"What are you mad that I was with him or something?" Of course he is. What a stupid question to ask.
Matt tries to answer with something Julie knows will be a lie, so she keeps going because now she's all fired up.
"You know, I watched you and that Robot make out all the time, and I decided not to say anything, because it was none of my business. But then you see me with Brett and you get all pissed and act like some jock asshole. It's real pathetic. I hope you know that."
Matt tries his best to respond but Julie slammed her locker shut and walks off. The weird part is Matt agrees with everything she said.
--
Matt watches Brett closely at practice later that day. He notices how calm and collected he is standing on the sidelines. It makes him sick to his stomach. Matt tries to brush his feelings towards the side. Julie is right; it's pathetic that he feels like this. He doesn't understand why he's being so angry towards both of them. He has no right too. He should be happy for her. Brett is a good guy. He'll treat well.
Matt decides to apologize to Brett after practice. Brett isn't exactly sure what he's apologizing for (Julie hasn't told him about talking to Matt yet) but he'll take it either way.
--
"Well, today was pretty eventful," Brett tells Julie after a nice long make-out session in the back of his car.
"Odd is more like it."
"Yeah, that works too."
Julie sits up and fixes her hair. Odd was the order of the day. She liked Brett, but a little bit inside of her loved the fact that Matt still cared for her. Even if he had a bitter way of showing it. She knew she couldn't go back to Matt. That flame had fizzled out, that's for sure. Maybe she could try being his friend. She wasn't sure if that would work, but she had to at least try. She couldn't go any further than that.
"Hey."Julie takes herself out of the trance she's in when she hears Brett's voice. "You okay?"
The way he looked at her made her melt.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I am now."
Brett smiles and kisses her, getting rid of every worry Julie has at that very moment.
Yep, she thinks to herself, this right here is pretty sweet.