*obviously I do not own these characters. I hope people are actually reading this, I intend to finish this story so shoot me some reviews and give me some advice on what you think should happen :)

FOUR YEARS LATER

Juli

Pulling up to our house was surreal. I hadn't been home in four years and thing has certainly changed. Just driving through town, things were different, shops now stood where blocks of land were before. It was different, but it was still home. It was lucky that we got to move back into our family home, the landlord said people moved in but rarely ever stayed for long. Mum wanted to move to a bigger house but dad and I pleaded and she eventually came around saying 'no house could ever replace the memories of this one' she was right. When we pulled in the driveway, the sycamore tree Bryce planted for me was standing tall. It was like it was welcoming us home with open arms, it had grown so tall, it was so beautiful. I got out of our car and stared at Bryce's house, my chest felt heavy, I checked my watch, it read 8.15am so I know that he would be on the bus to school and wouldn't be home.
"I'm sure he will be happy to see you Juliana" Mum said smiling, while starting to unpack the trailer.
"We haven't had contact in 2 years" I finally dragged my eyes off the Loski's house. Dad came up to me and put his hands on my shoulders.
"You don't have to go if you don't want too, it's been a long drive, you can miss one day" he said lightly
"No its okay" I smiled "Its senior year, I don't want to miss anything. Plus I already changed back at that gas station" I looked down to see my clean clothes and not my old moving clothes I had worn since we left.
"Okay, well I called ahead to the school so go straight to the office and everything should be fine" he pulled me into a hug and unstrapped my bike from the back of the car. Picked up my pre-packed bag, I waved goodbye to my parents and rode to the school where I once attended all those years ago.

Bryce

Waking up for the first day of school had always been a drag, but remembering that it was my senior year I practically leaped out of bed. I showered quickly, shaved, changed into blue jeans and a red t-shirt and made it to the breakfast table with time to spear before leaving for the bus. Had a piece of toast, grabbed my bag, books, and jacket and headed to the bus stop. Heading into school knowing I had one year left was a great feeling, I met up with Ben and Dana at the homeroom to collect my new timetable ready to start the year, saw we all had English first and headed down the hall way.
"Last year boys, are you ready" she happily chirped.
"Oh yes, can't wait to finally be done with all this" Ben motioned to all the books he was carrying.
"I hope this year flies by" I talked weaving through people standing in the halls "although I will miss it here"
"I know I will" Dana looked around smiling, we got to Miss Fredrick's class "so let's make it count" she laughed. I walked in and took my seat in front of Diana and Ben; I turned around to talk to them before class started. Everyone was coming into class and taking their seats like normal when Miss Fredrick's voiced filled the classroom.
"Class we have a new student starting with us today" her voice rang happily from behind her desk. I didn't look up, there were always a few new kids to the school every year and introductions were always first.
"A Miss Julianna Baker" Miss Fredrick's voice burned in my ears. I looked up instantly to see Juli turning around to face the class.
"Actually I'm an old student, just moved back" Juli corrected Miss Fredrick's with a sweet smile. I couldn't believe it, Julianna Baker was standing there. Juli was wearing a short sleeved, red dress that went across her shoulders, her long brown hair was curled and in a low side pony tail, over her shoulder and down to her waist. She looked beautiful. She smiled awkwardly towards the class, scanning the crowd with her eyes until they found mine and her smile faded slightly as she looked to the ground.
"Julianna please take a seat dear, over there next to Dana" Miss Fredrick's gestured in my direction. As Juli walked to her desk, whispers erupted through the class, they all remembered her. As Juli walked past me, we both looked at each other, her eyes were soft. She quickly looked away and quickly took her seat.
"Juli! Oh my god! When did you get back? I'm so happy to see you!" Dana gushed as soon as Juli sat down
"Hey, I'm happy to see you too" Juli laughed quietly, trying not to disturb Miss Fredrick's who faced the blackboard writing and talking "I got back just this morning."
"And you chose to come to school?" Ben laughed leaning across Dana
"Well I didn't want to miss anything exiting, especially on the first day now did I" Juli said back, I could hear the smirk in her voice.
"Good to see you Jules" Ben said
"likewise" Juli replied.

Juli

Throughout English I couldn't help but look at the back of Bryce's head more than once, the boy who I was infatuated with for more than five years. I couldn't concentrate on what Mrs. Fredrick's was saying because all I could think about was Bryce, was he going to talk to me? Should I talk to him first? I didn't know what to think. All I know was that he still had the best eyes I've ever seen.
"Bryce Loski are you paying attention?" Mrs Fredrick's voice snapped me back to reality.
"Um what?" Bryce stuttered "Oh sorry… yes I am, sorry"
"Good then come up here and you should know the answer"
"What?" Bryce stated nervously
"Quickly Bryce!" Bryce jumped to his feet and made his way to the front of the room, he turned and looks to the floor "Okay Bryce, seeing how you were paying such inventive attention, this should be an easy one. What year was William Shakespeare born?" Bryce is still looking at the floor but his eyes widen and his face goes red. Anyone could tell he didn't know the answer, he finally looked up and scanned the room with pleading eyes, and he seemed to be begging everyone in the room to help him out. When his eyes finally got to me, we stared at each other.
"Well Bryce?" Miss Fredrick's stared at him through her glasses. He was still looking at me so I grabbed my pen and quickly wrote the answer; made sure Mrs. Fredrick's wasn't looking and held up the paper. Bryce's eyes flick down to the paper
"1564" he blurts out. Mrs Fredrick's eyes lose their hardness
"Good" she mutters "Sit". Bryce lets out an audible sigh as he walks back to his desk, which gets a few laughs from the class. His eyes find mine for only a moment and then he sits down without a word.

Bryce

As the bell rings I instantly get up and leave out the door, I wanted to thank her for saving my butt but I just couldn't find the right words to say, I wouldn't even know what to say! The thought makes me sick. I wind through everyone on their way to class when someone grabs my shoulder
"Juli" I sound dumbfounded
"Bryce" she smiles at me, now I'm even more lost "I have to get to class but I want to talk to you after school, meet me out the front?" I must be nodding because she smiles and me again and then she's gone. As soon as I walked into the cafeteria I did an instinctive search for Juli when I noticed she wasn't sitting with Diana at our lunch table.
"She's not here" Dana stated not even glancing up from her lunch, I slid into my seat.
"I don't know what you're talking about" But I did, Dana looked up and smirked at me with her eyes saying 'yeah right'. Dana knew everything about me, even things I didn't know yet. I'm glad she's one of my closest friends; she's always one step ahead.
"I just had chemistry with her, she's as smart as always" She smiles "She said she had to sort stuff out at the office, moving back and all. I think she's just too scared to talk to you" Dana smirks at me
"Yeah when are you going to talk to her" Ben fills the vacant seat next to Dana
"Well actually after school-" I start
"And tell her you're still mad for her" Now they're both smirking
"I am not mad for Juli Baker" I said a little too quickly "She asked me to meet her out the front after school. So I guess I'll be talking to her then". Ben quickly turns to Dana
"Oh Juli! I love you so much, these day have been so hard without you" Ben is leaning on Dana's shoulder and looking up into her eyes, she nudges him off laughing
"Oh Bryce!" now she's off, she leans in close to Ben "I didn't know what to do without you, I've been so lonely". Oh hell these two, they're both laughing so hard and somehow I'm laughing too. Lunch hasn't been this fun in a while and I cannot help but think this is all because Juli Baker has come home.

Juli

The whole day has been a blur, coming home and seeing all the people who I thought I would never see again. Diana and Ben were the same as always, they welcomed me into their group and there were no awkward silences, it was like I had never left. But I had left and the one person who always reminded me of that was Bryce. After English I just had to speak to him but faster than a speeding bullet, he was out the door. I ran after him and asked him to meet me out the front after school, I don't know why but out of everything I could have said, I said that. Maybe I could find the right words to say after school, although whenever he looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes, it would be hard. When the bell rang at three, I quickly hurried to the front of the school and waited. Swarms of kids came running out, and then out of everyone I saw Bryce. He looked so different from when I last saw him; puberty had been kind to him because I couldn't find a single fault. I waved at him and as soon as he saw me his face broke out into a light smile and he walked towards me
"Hi" we both said at the same time and then laughed
"How was your first day back" He looked so nervous as he spoke
"It was great! Dana and Ben were so welcoming. But all my classes are good"|
"That's good" he smile
"Also Mrs. Fredrick's is also a piece of work" I said smirking at him, his face slightly fell and he scratched his head nervously
"Yes, thank you for that. I was day dreaming about stuff" He stopped suddenly
"Well the stuff must have been very important to miss that answer, she was going on for ages" He looked wide eyed
"Yeah it was" He laughed nervously. This was going well, nothing was too awkward, and that was until Sherry Stalls came into the picture. She came bounding over with all her hair waving around her shoulders
"Bryce there you are!" she cried and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, right on the mouth! Bryce's eye widened but didn't pull away. I couldn't help this feeling of sadness and anger fill me up inside. I didn't stand around for the view, after the initial shock wore off I said a quick quiet goodbye, turned and left.
"Oh bye Juli!" Sherry called as I was walking away. I guess that although some people had changed, I guess not all for the better.

Bryce

When the bell rang I made my way to the front of the school. Kids were running every which way but I spotted Juli. She didn't spot me right away but she was staring at the ground chewing on her nails. As soon as she spotted me, she smiled, and I couldn't help but smile back.
"Hi" we said in unison, we both laughed. The conversation wasn't too awkward and was moving along nicely that was until Sherry Stalls came over. Sherry Stalls had always had a crush on me and since Juli moved away I made the mistake of going out on one date with her, and by her standards, that meant we were dating. I didn't like Sherry, but every time she saw me she acted as if we were together.
"Bryce, there you are!" she almost knocked me over with the force she came over with, I would have told her to go away if it wasn't for her putting her lips to mine. They were soft and tasted like strawberries but it didn't feel right, nothing about it felt right.
"Goodbye Bryce" Juli's voice was quiet and sounded hurt, I quickly pulled away from Sherry, the kiss only lasted a few seconds but felt like minutes. I was stunned for a few seconds, trying to process everything that just happened.
"Oh bye Juli!" Sherry called after Juli with a mischievous smile on her face
"Sherry, what the hell was that!" I yelled a little too loudly, some people turned to watch us
"I just wanted to say hello" she reached up to touch my face, but I knocked her hand away
"Well don't. Just leave me alone" I walked away quickly trying to catch up to Juli, but I saw her on her bike already heading down the road. When I got home I sat down at the kitchen table with a huff
"Bryce son, what's wrong" my grandpa asked walking into the kitchen, gingerly sitting down next to me.
"Juli's back"
"ah yeah I saw the moving van this morning" he smiled "I sure missed that girl. I thought you did too"
"I do…I did" I corrected myself quickly "I just don't know what to say to her" Grandpa sighed
"Just take it slow and the words will come. You should go over there and talk to her"
"No I don't think I will just yet, maybe later" grandpa frowned "What?"
"No time like the present Bryce. Remember what I told you a while back" he paused trying to gather the right words "Some of us get dipped in flat, some in satin and some in gloss; but every once in a while, you find someone who's iridescent, and once you do, nothing will ever compare."
"Nothing will ever compare" I said again smiling, that was Juli. No one else could compare to her. I instantly got up and out the door, across the street and knocked on the Bakers door, and Juli opened. She had changed out of her school clothes and was wearing tight dark blue pants that ended just below her knees and white t shirt, with no shoes. She reminded me of the girl who had left. And instantly, I forgot how to talk.
"Bryce?"
"You want to go for a walk?" I blurted out. It was the only thing I could muster up. She smiled, good sign.
"Sure, just let me grab my shoes" she left the door open and walked down the hall and turned into her room. The house was silent and there was no car in the drive way so I stepped into her house. I had been in her house many times before but now it felt different, the atmosphere was different. The house was filled with moving boxes and different things all over the floor
"Sorry about all the mess, we just got in this morning" she said gesturing to the boxes around us "you want to go?"
"Yeah let's go" I smiled.