Juliette

Did I want to see my other friends? No.

Did I want to go shopping for the hundredth time this week? No.

Did I want to do anything in this suddenly stifling city? Absolutely not.

Was I running away again? Meh. Possibly.

I ended up sitting on top of a saddle, coaxing my horse to trot faster. I had to bus for three hours (my car wouldn't be out of the shop until tonight), but it was worth it.

Back at home, I had my own stable, my own ranch beside the house. Well, the house I preferred to live in, at least. We had another one that was more urban. Both were big and majestic, but the one without the ranch was surrounded by a distinctly snobby encircling of houses- it was among the richest part of town. My home was a little more relaxed, a little separated from the city. I say a little because my mother never would have stood for being in a place situated too far from the core of the city. I could still get to the mall in less than an hour, and the house was far from appearing like that of a farmer's daughters. It looked out of place next to the stables, but my father found it cute to supply his daughter with a pony or two. My first stepdad, that is. He was intent on winning me over, which he easily did. My affection was easily bought.

I remembered how Shelby was better with the horse at Horizon than I was, how it was she who found little lost Gracie, how she had gotten the role of Juliet in Ezra's play. I used to envy her so much. I can't say that I don't any more, but I'm trying at least.

I didn't want to go back to the apartment. Scott had bought me some time, but from the look on Shelby's face as I left, I knew that she would bluntly make me talk or at least hover around me until I was ready to talk, as soon as I got back. It's not that I resent her concern, I just didn't want her to breathe down my neck, simply because around her I always seemed to cave in sooner than anticipated. She was so unpredictable and her aura always subtly coaxed the issue out into the open. Scott was easily manoeuvrable; I knew his tricks. And Auggie… looking at him with his patient worry would have me telling all my secrets before long. It hurt me so much to look at him and know that I had thrown away any chance of seeing him on a regular basis.

Of course, if I really didn't want to go back, I could easily have stayed with one of my non-Horizon campus friends.

I wish I could be able to say that I was too strong and proud to run away like that, but I ended up holing myself in with a sorority I had almost joined. I was friends with the leader or whatever they called her, and all I had to say was a brief mention of how my ex-boyfriend was back in town and how he wasstaying with his best friend who just happened to be my roommate and they clucked sympathetically with their manicured hands wide open. It's not like I just disappeared without telling my roommates- I sent Shelby an email explaining where I was, apologizing and telling her not to get mad at the boys.

I could have stayed longer; it was certainly comforting. Everything was easy there, I knew how to handle these situations without effort or thought. It felt natural and so much less worrisome than the apartment. Of course, I tore myself away from their sisterhood embrace and ended up staring at my apartment door just a week after I hid out.

I guess it wouldn't have been fair for Auggie. It wouldn't have been right to avoid him after he came this way. Besides, Scott had another football practice and Shelby had work, so I should be able to be at relative comfort level. For tonight.

Wait. If both of the blondes are out, what did they leave Auggie to do?

"How long have you been by yourself?" I blurted incredulously as I crossed through the kitchen to the living room to find him staring at the TV.

"Only an hour or so. Shelby didn't leave too long ago. You okay now? Finally got tired of running?"

"I'm sorry. How have you spent your time this past week? Shelby and Scott are pretty busy."

"Not too busy. It hasn't been bad, met up with some new people, talked to E-Z recently, actually. But then, I'm not the one who hasn't shown their face for the past week-"

"No, you're the one who hasn't shown their face for the past year."

"Jules-"

"Never mind that. I shouldn't have said it."

"You're done running, right? Ready to talk, maybe?"

"Can't we talk about what you've done this past year?"

"Okay," Auggie grinned, holding his hands up. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything." I smiled and sat beside him, leaning against him instinctively.

By the time Scott came back from football practice, Auggie and I were deeply in an animated conversation, food was strewn around us and I actually consumed quite a bit of it.

Somewhere during the night, we had fetched some drinks from the fridge and I was halfway through my third beer. They aren't supposed to be very strong, but I'm not exactly a champion drinker. I wasn't drunk, but if I had much more I would be. The empty cans were lined up over the coffee table, for once my neatness had given way. Our cans combined totalled ten, since Auggie insisted on doing shots and various ridiculous drinking games which he always feigned losing. He was a bit more tipsy than I, as should be obvious. I'm sure Scott looked at it all with a very sceptical eye when he popped in that night.

"You came back!" Scott exclaimed with obvious relief. It was in interruption of a conversation, so I grinned and nodded enthusiastically while finishing my sentence to Auggie. Scott's smile faded as he scanned over the living room, his eyes lingering on the alcohol. I could see what he was thinking- Juliette doesn't drink. He looked at Auggie, who happened to be a happy drunk, and frowned further. "Fuck man, did you get her drunk?"

"I'm not drunk." I protested.

"Prove it."

"You've seen me drunk."

"I've seen you get drunk on less than half of those cans-"

"And more than half are Auggie's. Sheesh. That's what you say after a week from my hiding out in refuge? Auggie was more receptive."

"Was he drunk when you came, too?" Scott raised his eyebrows but slowly helped himself to some cheerio snack mix. "How were the girls?"

"Good."

"And you?"

"Fine. Thanks for bailing me out last week."

"I didn't think you'd run, Juliette. I thought-"

"You were wrong then, weren't you? Don't know me as well as you think."

"What the hell is with the grrr?" He said defensively. "I bail you out and you repay me by disappearing and just leaving an email, to only Shelby, not even a phone call, and you're mad at me?"

"I'm not mad. Come on Auggie, let's finish our conversation before the night's ruined."

Scott bristled. "What's your problem? I thought we were cool."

I stood up and half pushed Auggie through my open door, adjacent to the living room, before turning back to Scott.

I found myself in a mood a bit like the one I had before I ran away the first time at Horizon, and I don't think it was alcohol induced. I strolled up to Scott and looked him up and down. "You look different."

"You've only been gone a week… how different could I look?"

"Maybe it's just the sweat. You look good sweaty." I grinned. His hair was sopping from sweat and his body held the tell tale signs of a refreshingly exhaustive work out. Go football.

"What is it with you and sweat?" Scott's tone wasn't amused. My grin dimmed as realization hit- it was just like last time.

"Go find your woman." I glared and attempted to stomp off.

He grabbed my hand. "I hate it when you get into these moods."

"Yeah? Well I hate you." I struggled against his hold and he finally released his grasp, which made me stumble back against a wall.

"Fine. We'll talk when you're more rational." He rolled his eyes.

"I'm not drunk!"

"No. Just Juliette."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're being a total idiot. I wish that I hadn't told them to leave you alone now that it seems like you really won't ever admit to anyone what's going on."

"Maybe I just don't want to tell you. Do you believe in me anymore, or do you think I've sunk down beyond recognition? You're such an ass, and when you're not one, you still pretend that you are. You don't have a decent bone in your body, at least not for me." I went into a tirade, jabbing my fingers into his chest forcefully.

"If you think I'm such an ass, why are you still is dependent on me, then? You can't walk three steps in this world without looking to me for validation. It's pathetic."

"I thought that was called friendship. Excuse me for mistaking." I glared and pushed him aside. "Now, I'm going to resume my night with Auggie. He's more agreeable and infinitely better company."

"Why? Because he's still a hopeless lap dog around you?" He sneered. I didn't respond, but I did slam my door in his face.

I instantly brightened when Auggie handed me my beer and pulled me down to sit next to him on the floor.

"Ignore him. Where were we?" He grinned. This was what a normal relationship was, not whatever dysfunction Scott had. Bah.

I woke up the next morning with Auggie at my side. We were on the bed and Auggie was still out cold. He had shrugged off his shirt during the night and I felt a smile spread across my features. He wasn't exactly built like Scott, but the time away had done him good. His body leant towards the scrawny at one point, but it had developed into a streamlined leanness. He didn't have huge bulging muscles, but you could still see the strength rippling under his arms. It was a different kind of fit. I was apparently a blanket hog and had left him with barely anything so I got an unobstructed view of his bare chest. Auggie's jeans were resting lower on his waist because of his position and I could see the elastic of his boxers, and the line that dipped down leading to-

I quickly looked away and blushed. I had seen him shirtless before, obviously, but in our year and a bit together I was too shy to go much further and he was too kind to push me. We had done some things, but my experience was still very tame for someone my age.

Auggie woke up groggily after a while and I knew that he'd likely have a hang over.

"Are you all right?" I asked him, keeping my voice low.

"Sure. Pain. It'll pass." He smiled but winced. He looked back at me, at his low pants and bare chest, at the bed, and at me in my over sized t-shirt that I had chosen to sleep in that night.

"I didn't get drunk." I told him, answering the other question that was just occurring to his bleary mind in the process.

"Of course not."

"Auggie? I'm really glad you're here. I don't think I ever apologized for everything that happened. Because I think you might have… I, the thing is, I-"

"I know, Twig. I'm not mad. You haven't been cutting while you were gone, right?"

"I promise I didn't."

"Have you been eating?"

"A bit. I ate a lot last night."

"Good." Auggie nodded and plopped back against my pillow. "You've got a soft bed, Jules. Better than the couch."

"You should just share my bed then. I mean, if it's not too weird. I don't think it's weird. Well, maybe it's a little weird. But I don't mind. It's kind of soothing. I mean, if you think it's a good idea."

"Mmm. Wake me up in two hours, ok?" He was already falling back to sleep. My eyes lingered on his form for another beat, and I realized with a jolt that he could feel me staring as the smile appeared on his lips. "You like what you see, bonita?"

"Sorry." I muttered and looked away again.

"No me molesta, Jules." He chuckled. "I don't mind."

He was guapo and attractivo, from the fractured Spanish I knew. Not that I'd say that out loud. I had learned a little bit of Spanish in high school and learned a bit more from being with him. Normally he used English with only the somewhat rare lapse into his native tongue, but no doubt a year in his homeland would make him revert back slightly. Not that I had too much trouble understanding him- he either used words I somewhat recognized or would repeat the phrase in English. Unless it was really a slip of the tongue, in which case I'd have to wonder and look it up via the net. That's what I did after he swore at Scott- and holy geez, he was angry.

I threw the blanket over him somewhat and curled back on the bed myself. I could still feel his soft laugher beside me so I kicked him lightly.

"You embarrass easily."

"Shut up."

"We friends again?"

"If you'll let us be." I answered.

"Good." I felt him shift around in the bed so I allowed myself to turn as well. I was facing his back now and blinked up at its smoothness. His skin was such a perfect shade and I almost wanted to reach over and touch it. That'd be inappropriate, obviously, so I made myself shut my eyes and try not to think about the fact that a half naked Spanish hottie was laying next to me.

"You gonna stare all day, or actually sleep?"

I pouted and seized this opportunity to touch his bare back. I pressed my palms against him and shoved him unceremoniously out of the bed.

"Hey! You were the one who said I could sleep here!" He groaned, staring up at me piteously from the floor. I laughed at him and turned my back to him.

"I'm sleeping now. I don't care what you do."

"Friendly, Twig. Friendly." He climbed back on the bed heavily and pulled the covers over him. We fell asleep with our backs to each other, each with a smile on our faces.