Untamed

9. Losing Juliette

Seeing Archie's house has never made me happier. As we walk up the steps the front door swings open. Jughead is standing in front of us blocking the door.

"Juliette you're okay," he almost sounds genuinely worried, he could've fooled me.
"I found her at the school," Sweet Pea tells him after a moment when I don't say anything.
"I was worried," Jughead's eyes go a little soft.

A small scoff leaves my lips.

"I'm going to take a shower," I look at Sweet Pea while talking.

I push past Jughead, ignoring everything he just said. I know he doesn't actually care. If he cared why would secretly tell Betty about my drug problem or that I went to boarding school without even asking me? I don't want people knowing that especially strangers!

Rage seeps through my body as I grab my duffle bag. I'm sure it shows as I walk upstairs to the bathroom. Why did Jughead have to do that? I needed him!

No Juliette you don't need him, you have Malachai. A smile forms when I think of his name. He's the only one you need. He's the only ones who's ever understood you. He's never judged you. He's never betrayed you.

Juliette: When can I see you again?
M: Missing me already?
Juliette: Yes...
M: Is everything okay?
Juliette: Not really
M: Jul what is it?
Juliette: Can we just see each other?

I turn on the facet and let the water warm up. As I begin to strip out of my clothes my phone buzzes again.

M: I don't think we should see each other tonight. It'll be kind of suspicious
Juliette: :(
Juliette: Since when did you start caring so much?
M: I've always cared about you

How fantastic I can't even count on Malachai to help me better. So much for always. I scoff at the memory.

I set my phone on the counter and finish what I was doing. The water feels great against my skin. My worries however are not being washed away like I had hoped. Although instead of Jughead on my mind now it's Malachai. Why is he so concerned about it being suspicious?

It didn't matter 2 years ago because we were kids dipshit, I tell myself. Don't get mad at him. With or without Malachai I still need to go out and blow off steam tonight or I'll do something bad.

The bathroom door sounds like it's being opening and suddenly I can't remember if I locked it. Holding very still until a I hear click confirms that someone has entered the bathroom. There's only one person brave enough to do so. I start putting in the first application of shampoo into my hair.

"Juliette please talk to me," I rinse out my shampoo and put in a second application of shampoo. "I'm sorry about what I said to Betty," Jughead apologizes once again. "I can't stand you being mad at me."

I keep quiet and rinse my hair out. I squeeze the conditioner into my hand and run it through my hair with my fingers.

"You've been gone for two years Jul, don't keep yourself from me for longer..."

Keep myself from him?! I wash my body while the conditioner sits in my hair. Then rinse off my body and rinse out my hair, then turn off the water. I grab the small towel to wrap my hair in, still staying behind the shower curtain.

"Here," he speaks while meeting my hand with the towel that I was struggling to find.

I dry my body off, wrap it up tightly and nicely, then open the shower curtain.

"You hurt me Jughead."
"I know Juliette, and I can't tell you how sorry I am. I can't make any excuses because I know it was stupid to go behind your back, I should have just let Betty think whatever until she grew a pair to ask you."
"That's what everyone else at the school is doing!" I raise my voice. The pain I'm feeling is starting to show.
"I feel awful, I hurt the person I care the most about."
"Don't lie to me, you know I hate that too." I look away from him. It's too much right now. We never did address what happened between us we never got our closure.

I finally build the courage to look him in the eyes again. His green eyes stare right back at me. They hold so many different emotions, so many I can't define, that I want to ignore, but mostly pain. I don't know what pain he's holding on to but it's doing a good amount of damage to this kid.

My back is up against the sink, his against the wall. He has one hand in his pants pocket the other rubbing his neck. Normally this situation would make a girl all warm and fuzzy, make her heart skip a beat and have her on cloud nine, but I just feel like crawling into a bed and hugging a pillow while tears run down my face for hours.

"Betty has made you soft Forsythe Pendleton."

He steps away from the wall.
"No," he puts his hand on my cheek, "losing you made me soft, Juliette."