Chapter 6.
Juliette had her tour all planned out. The first leg was going to be 7 nights on and then a 5 day break and then they would pick up for the next leg, for another 6 nights. Her therapist had confirmed she would be able to come out to a couple of her dates to continue her therapy, with one session then being completed on the break and then another in the second leg.
Avery had turned down the offer of producing Juliette's album and going on tour with her. She was so upset by this and had not spoken to him since. This was not in a bid to hurt him, but just trying to protect herself from more hurt. She had decided it was time to keep her distance, it was growing unbearable to be in his presence.
Two weeks had passed and Avery had heard nothing from Juliette. He had tried to call her but there was no answer. He had stopped by her house, but there was no one in. He felt awful . He had promised to be there for her but suspected that turning down the offer to work with her had seriously hurt their already fragile friendship.
Her tour started the next day and he just couldn't get hold of her. He had spoken to Gunnar who had said he needed to come out with Zoey's friends again and try and forget her. Avery knew he was only trying to help, but Avery really didn't want to be starting to date again. Not when he and Juliette were still so in love, it wasn't fair on the other person and he really didn't want to hurt Juliette more than she was already hurting herself.
But what the heck, going out with some friends, was harmless and he did need to get out and try and move on a little. He couldn't stay home pining after her night after night. So he got ready to go out, making more effort than normal. He was almost ready when there was a knock at the door.
He moved across the room to open it.
"Juliette! Everything ok?"
"Umm, are you going somewhere, " she asked, biting her lip.
"I was yeah, only out with Zoey and Gunnar and a few people," he said, casually.
He stood aside and said, "Come on in."
She entered and he motioned for her to take a seat.
"What's up? I haven't seen you or heard from you in two weeks. I tried calling but I couldn't get hold of you. I feel like you've been avoiding me."
"I have a little. It's just so hard to be with you , to see you. But I really need you now. I had a horrible therapy session today. I just need you."
For him, that was enough. He picked up the phone and called Gunnar.
"Something's come up, Gunnar. I'm not going to make it, sorry. I'll catch you another night," he rung off.
"I didn't mean to spoil your night. Sorry," she said, looking at him anxiously.
"It's fine, really. I'm not that bothered. I saw Gunnar earlier. I haven't seen you in, like, two weeks! I want to catch up with you before you disappear off on tour."
Juliette nodded.
"So what happened at your therapy session? Do you wanna talk about it?"
Juliette sighed. "I had to talk about my childhood today. It was so hard. I had to talk about what happened to me, you know, with my mama's friends, and my mama's neglect. It was tough, and I just feel numb, because it hurts so bad, I have to shut the pain off somehow."
Avery nodded, his eyes didn't leave her as he moved closer and sat next to her on his sofa.
"Why didn't she protect me Avery? That's what mamas should do! I'm so angry that she put me through that. I always felt worthless, that I was nothing. That's why my career means so much. For once in my life, I was worth something to other people. Fans loving me, that meant so much to me. They chose to love me and I felt like I belonged somewhere. For the first time in my life. That's why when my career went so wrong, why it nearly destroyed me."
"But it didn't Juliette, you kept on going and you kept fighting. Because you are strong and brave and you work hard. You are amazing to have been through all of this and be where you are now."
"What? Loveless and in therapy?" she scoffed.
"You know what I mean."
"The only reason I didn't have a breakdown with my career was because I had you. And look what I did to that. With you I had so much. All I wanted was to love someone and be loved back, and you gave that to me. I destroyed it. I will never forgive myself," she shook her head.
He took both of her hands in his. "You have to stop thinking about that, I loved you…still love you, because you are worth loving. You were…are, everything to me and I wish I could make you see that. You're amazing and you have so much pain, and that needs to heal. You are doing the right thing by doing what you are doing. Hang in there, baby, you can do this!"
She looked at him, shaking her head still.
"You're the amazing one," she said. She couldn't believe, after all she had done to him, how highly he still spoke of her. He blew her away.
"Come here," he said, hugging her close.
"I'm going to miss you so much, when I'm on tour."
"I'll miss you too. Promise me you will answer my calls when I ring, " he said, gently.
"I promise," she said, resting her head on his chest.
They stayed like that for a while. They had a drink together and watched some TV and then reluctantly Juliette headed back home, after one final hug goodbye. So much hung in the air between the two of them, but after two weeks without contact, they both found comfort in it, knowing they were going to be apart again, even more so.