CHAPTER NINE
"LOVES FIRST KISS"
The mood back at the pad was electric. The party was in full swing, with music humming through the speakers, glasses clinking, and bursts of laughter filling the air. The Monkees' set at Gazzari's nightclub had been nothing short of spectacular, and the energy from the performance lingered in every corner of the room. The small apartment felt alive, buzzing with celebration and the unshakable sense that something big was just around the corner.
Stacy and Juliana stood by the snack table, chatting as they nibbled on chips and finger foods. Stacy's face was alight with joy, her eyes sparkling as she watched Davy across the room. He was in his element, gesturing wildly as he recounted a story to a small group of friends. Their laughter rippled through the room, a testament to Davy's charm.
"What a night," Juliana said, her smile warm but tinged with a quiet wistfulness.
"I know!" Stacy beamed, practically bouncing on her heels. "Davy's so hyped right now. He's going to strut around like a peacock for the rest of the week." She shot Juliana a playful look. "Not that I'm complaining. I think it's adorable. And, let's be real—he's extra sweet when he's like this."
Juliana chuckled softly, though her gaze lingered on the scene in front of her. "You're lucky, Stace. Davy really loves you. It's written all over his face."
Stacy leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And I don't know why Michael's holding back. When's he going to wake up and realize you're perfect for him? He's got eyes for you, Juliana. Anyone can see it."
Juliana sighed, her expression clouding. "Sure, he likes me as a friend. But one minute, it feels like we're getting closer—like he might actually feel the same way I do. And then he pulls back, like he's not sure. It's confusing.."
Stacy placed a comforting hand on Juliana's arm, her voice gentle but firm. "Michael's complicated, no doubt about that. But trust me—I've seen the way he looks at you. It's different. I think you're closer to breaking through than you realize. Just hang in there, okay? And remember, you deserve someone who knows how lucky they are to have you."
Juliana smiled faintly, grateful for her friend's encouragement, though her heart still felt tangled in uncertainty. Before she could respond, Davy appeared, his energy as boundless as ever.
"Hey, luv," he said, his voice warm and affectionate as he addressed Stacy. "I'm popping out to grab more drinks. Fancy a trip to the store with me?"
Stacy lit up, slipping her arm into his. "Of course, babe. Let me grab my purse." She gave Juliana a mischievous grin. "Don't have too much fun without me."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Juliana replied, her laugh soft but genuine.
As they disappeared out the door, Juliana wandered toward the drink table, pouring herself a strawberry soda. She sipped it quietly, her gaze drifting over the room. The party's vibrant energy felt almost at odds with the quiet swirl of emotions in her chest. The laughter and conversation around her blurred into a distant hum as she let her thoughts wander.
Her eyes landed on Peter, who stood near the corner, his hands nervously clasped in front of him. When their gazes met, he hesitated before making his way over. His steps were tentative, his usual easy going demeanor replaced by something more vulnerable.
"Hey, Julie," Peter began, his voice soft and uncertain. "Can I talk to you for a sec?"
Juliana tilted her head, sensing the weight in his tone. "Of course, Peter. What's on your mind?"
He took a deep breath, his eyes darting away for a moment before returning to hers. "I've been meaning to say this for a while… You're amazing. One of the kindest, most beautiful people I've ever met." His words tumbled out in a rush, as though he feared he might lose his nerve. "Would you be my girl?"
Juliana's heart twisted painfully. Peter's sincerity shone in every word, and the thought of hurting him felt unbearable. She cared deeply for him, but her heart had already chosen someone else. She took a steadying breath, her voice soft as she replied.
"Peter, that's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me," she began, her tone filled with genuine warmth. "But… I have to be honest with you. My heart's somewhere else. I'm so sorry."
Peter's face fell, his shoulders slumping as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "Oh," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "I guess I should've known."
Juliana reached out, squeezing his arm gently. "You're an incredible guy, Peter. Any girl would be lucky to have you."
Peter offered a faint smile, but his eyes flickered with disappointment. After a moment, his expression shifted, a sudden thought crossing his mind. "Wait," he said cautiously. "You don't mean… Davy, do you? It's always Davy with the girls. But look, I'm his best friend. I know him better than anyone, and… you should know—he would never…"
Juliana's eyes widened, and she quickly shook her head. "No, never. Stacy's my friend. I'd never do that to her." She hesitated, her voice dropping to a whisper. "It's… someone else."
Peter's brow furrowed, then softened as understanding dawned. "If it's someone else," he said slowly, "then you've got to tell him. If you don't, he might never figure it out."
Juliana nodded, his words hitting home. "You've given me some great ideas about what I should do. Thank you, Peter. Really."
Before walking away, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek lightly. "You're a good guy. Don't forget that, okay?"
Peter's faint smile grew just a little, though his eyes remained thoughtful. "Thanks, Juliana. You're pretty great, too."
As she turned away, her resolve firmed. Maybe it was time to stop waiting and start taking a chance on what her heart wanted. Because waiting on the sidelines of her own life wasn't an option anymore.
—
As Juliana turned toward the other side of the room, her gaze landed on Michael. He was striding purposefully toward the deck, his shoulders tense and his expression unreadable. A sharp twist of frustration knotted her stomach. This was it—the moment she could no longer delay. Whatever simmered between them, it was time to confront it head-on.
Her attention briefly shifted, scanning the room until she spotted Micky a few feet away, surrounded by a small group. He was laughing and gesturing animatedly, the life of the conversation as always. Juliana straightened her spine, determination propelling her forward. Micky caught sight of her approach, his grin softening as he noticed the seriousness etched on her face.
Meanwhile, the front door clicked softly, announcing Stacy and Davy's return. Stacy breezed in, her cheerful energy undimmed. "I'm heading up to the powder room—be back in a sec!" she chirped, disappearing up the stairs without missing a beat.
Peter lingered near the door, his gaze darting toward Davy with a mixture of nerves and resignation. Taking a deep breath, he stepped closer and muttered, "Well… I did it. I asked Juliana to be my girl."
Davy raised an intrigued brow, leaning in slightly. "And? What did she say?"
Peter exhaled heavily, his shoulders sagging. "She said she was flattered, but… her heart's somewhere else. Thought it might've been you, Davy, but nope. She turned me down." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Told her she should go talk to the guy she's into instead. And guess what? She went straight to Micky. They're talking now."
Davy's brow furrowed as he glanced toward the corner where Juliana and Micky stood in hushed conversation. "Wait—Micky?" he said, his tone a mix of surprise and disbelief. "That's unexpected. Stacy never mentioned a thing about this."
Peter gave a half-hearted shrug, the sting of rejection still evident. "Guess some things aren't as obvious as they seem. Who knows what's really going on there?"
Davy studied the pair for a moment longer, a flicker of amusement playing at his lips. "Well, I'll say this—things just got a whole lot more interesting."
"Micky," Juliana said, her voice steady but edged with urgency as she pulled him aside. "Can I ask you something?"
Micky's trademark grin stayed in place, though curiosity lit up his eyes. "Sure, babe. What's on your mind?"
She hesitated, the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her chest. Then, gathering her courage, she asked, "You're Michael's best friend, right? So tell me—why does he hate me?"
Micky blinked in surprise before breaking into a hearty laugh. "What—hate you? Mike doesn't hate you." His laughter faded, his expression turning serious. "He's into you. Big time."
Juliana's breath caught, her heart skipping a beat. "Then why does he keep pulling away every time I try to get close?"
Micky's gaze flicked toward the deck, where Michael had vanished moments ago. He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Mike's not pulling away because he doesn't like you. It's the opposite. He doesn't think he's good enough for you. You're this incredible person—smart, driven, comes from a great family. And him? He doesn't see himself measuring up."
The floor seemed to tilt beneath her as Micky's words sank in. "But why wouldn't he just tell me that? Why won't he talk to me?"
Micky sighed, shaking his head with a knowing smile. "You know Mike. He doesn't open up—especially about this kind of stuff. He's scared, Juliana. Always has been. Every relationship he's had? It was with girls who made the first move. He's terrified of putting himself out there and getting hurt."
Her chest tightened, her pulse pounding in her ears. The truth hit her with force: Michael wasn't avoiding her because he didn't care. He was afraid—trapped in his own insecurities.
For a moment, she stood frozen, processing the realization. Then, as the weight of the situation settled, a new resolve took hold. She wasn't going to let fear—his or hers—keep them apart any longer.
"I have to fix this," she murmured, more to herself than to Micky.
He grinned, stepping aside with a playful flourish. "Then go get him, Juliana. Before he overthinks himself right out of a good thing."
She didn't hesitate. With her heart pounding and her determination solid, Juliana turned toward the deck and followed the path Michael had taken. This time, she wasn't holding back.
Gathering her courage, Juliana stepped out onto the deck. Michael was leaning on the rail, his lanky frame outlined against the moonlit waves. The ocean stretched endlessly before him, its rhythmic crash mingling with the crisp night air, perfumed with the salty tang of seawater and a faint trace of orange blossoms. The moon hung low, its silvery light spilling across the sand in a soft, otherworldly glow.
She hesitated, her heartbeat loud in her ears as she crossed the deck toward him. "It's a beautiful night," she said softly, her voice nearly lost to the breeze. "I love walking on the beach after dark."
Michael didn't turn immediately, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Yeah," he murmured, his tone distant and contemplative. "It's peaceful."
Juliana took a step closer, the rail now just within reach. "I was thinking of going for a walk," she said, willing her voice to remain steady. "But… I don't feel safe going alone. Would you come with me?"
For a moment, Michael didn't move. Then he straightened, turning to face her. The faint light played across his face, illuminating the conflict in his expression. "A walk?" he asked, as though testing the word on his tongue.
She nodded, offering a small, hopeful smile. "Just the two of us. Please?"
His eyes searched hers, unreadable for a moment, before he gave a quiet nod. "Yeah. Sure. A walk sounds good."
Relief bloomed in her chest, and without overthinking, she reached out and took his hand. His gaze dropped to their joined hands, surprise flashing across his face, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he let her lead him down the stairs and onto the beach, the cool sand shifting beneath their feet.
They walked in silence at first, their footsteps syncing with the rhythmic crash of the waves. The moonlit beach stretched before them. They exchanged small talk—about the music at the party, their favorite spots in the city—but beneath the surface, an unspoken tension simmered, unacknowledged but undeniable.
Out of nowhere, Juliana's lips curved into a sly smile. "You know," she said, tilting her head, "I've always wondered something."
Michael glanced at her, the edge of his mouth twitching in response. "Oh yeah? What's that?"
With a quick, playful motion, Juliana reached up and plucked the familiar green hat from his head. "What's the big deal with this hat that nobody is allowed to touch?" she teased, holding it out of his reach.
Michael blinked, caught off guard, before mock outrage crossed his features. "Hey! Give it back, Juliana."
She laughed, stepping back as he reached for it. "I think I will wear it better."
"Is that so?" he challenged, his grin widening. Without warning, he lunged for her, but she darted away, her laughter echoing down the beach.
"Catch me if you can!" she called over her shoulder, the wind whipping her hair as she ran.
Michael was after her in an instant, his long strides closing the distance between them. She squealed as he grabbed her by the waist, spinning her around to face him. "Gotcha," he said, his voice low and triumphant. "Hand it over," he demanded, his grin betraying the playful fire in his eyes.
Juliana held the hat behind her back, her breath coming in quick bursts. "Not yet," she teased, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I have to fix it first."
Michael raised a skeptical brow. "Fix it? What are you—"
"Shh," she interrupted, her tone mock-serious. "Lean down."
Amused, he tilted his head toward her, his dark hair falling across his forehead. Carefully, she placed the hat back on his head, tugging it snugly into place. Her fingers lingered, brushing against his soft hair at the base of his neck.
Their eyes locked, and the playful atmosphere shifted, the air between them charged with something deeper. Juliana's pulse quickened as she stood on her tiptoes, her lips brushing his in a tentative kiss.
Michael froze, his surprise evident, but he didn't pull away. When she leaned back, her cheeks flushed, his eyes searched hers, full of questions. "What was that for?" he asked, his voice low, almost husky.
Her lips curved into a shy smile. "I've been wanting to do that since the day we met," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But that kiss wasn't a fair test. I bet it'd be better if you were a willing participant and kissed me back."
Her words hung in the air, bold and vulnerable all at once. For a moment, Michael just stared at her. Then, slowly, his lips curved into a lazy, heart-stopping grin. "I bet, you're probably right about that," he drawled, his voice warm and teasing.
Before she could respond, he closed the distance between them, his hand sliding around her waist as he pulled her close. This time, his kiss was deliberate, unhurried, and filled with an intensity that left her breathless. The world seemed to fade away—the waves, the wind, even the cool sand beneath their feet. There was only Michael, his touch grounding her even as her head spun.
When they finally pulled apart, Juliana touched her lips, her eyes wide with wonder. "Well," she said, her voice light with awe, "that was definitely better."
Michael chuckled, his own breathing uneven. "Better? Juliana, that was—"
"Spectacular!" a voice interrupted from the deck. They both turned, startled, to find Micky, Peter, Davy, and Stacy leaning over the railing, cheering and clapping.
"You did it, girl!" Stacy hollered, her laughter ringing out over the beach.
Juliana groaned, burying her face in her hands. "This is so embarrassing." she mumbled.
Michael laughed, tugging her hand to pull her away from their audience. "Come on, we don't need an audience," he said, his grin as warm as the night. "Let's get out of here before they start passin' out scorecards."
As they disappeared into the shadows near the garage, the party sounds faded behind them. Juliana couldn't stop smiling, her heart light and full. Whatever this was between them, it was just beginning—and for the first time, the future felt full of possibilities.
