Unspoken Goals

Girls Night

Present Time: Age 20

A lot had changed since Juliette came out a year and a half ago. She had grown into herself, radiating a newfound confidence that lit up every room she entered. That summer after freshman year had been a maelstrom of fear and uncertainty, but Abigail had been her anchor, steady and unyielding.

Juliette had been a mess, paralyzed by the fear of her family's reaction. After countless sleepless nights and internal battles, she finally summoned the courage to tell her parents. Their response was nothing short of heartwarming – they wrapped her in their arms, voices filled with pride and unconditional love. With their acceptance as her shield, Juliette found the strength to face Abigail's family next, who had always been like a second set of parents. Abigail held her hand through it all, and their love was just as unwavering.

Returning to college that fall, Juliette felt invincible, shedding the weight of others' opinions. Her sophomore year became a revelation. She embraced her sexuality with an open heart, pushed her limits in the gym, and, to her surprise, began to release the feelings she harbored for Abigail. The tempest within her had calmed, replaced by a serene confidence that bloomed from truly knowing and loving herself.

But for Abigail, things were different. The summer after freshman year had been a pleasant escape, with Ethan visiting and meeting her family. However, as sophomore year unfolded, Abigail's world began to crumble. She watched Juliette thrive, blossoming into her authentic self, and it tore her apart. Jealousy gnawed at her—jealousy of Juliette's freedom, her ability to live openly and fearlessly. Abigail despised herself for feeling this way, especially when she saw Juliette with other girls. The bitterness and longing twisted within her, a constant reminder of the courage she lacked.

As the months passed, Abigail became a ticking time bomb, bottling up every emotion until they festered and grew. By the end of sophomore year, she was constantly snappy and agitated, her friends' concern deepening with each outburst. Ethan was her anchor, the excuse she clung to in her denial, but even that was beginning to fray. The turmoil within her was a storm she couldn't escape, a tempest that threatened to consume her entirely.

It was now a Wednesday night in mid-August, and the girls buzzed with the excitement of their first movie night of junior year. Since their freshman days, Wednesdays had been sacred—reserved solely for their girls' night, a refuge where secrets flowed freely and laughter echoed without restraint. As Abigail walked into the apartment, her day spent in Ethan's company still lingering, the warm embrace of the space wrapped around her like an old friend, comforting and familiar.

"Just in time," Sophie called out, her voice warm and welcoming. "I just pulled out your favorite brownies." She enveloped Abigail in a hug, the scent of chocolate mingling with the comfort of home.

Abigail melted into the embrace, a smile spreading across her face. "You're the best, Soph."

Sophie pulled away, a twinkle in her eye. "Anything for you, Abby."

"Abby! I missed you today," Em chimed in, her arms laden with a steaming bowl of popcorn fresh from the microwave.

Abigail laughed, a musical sound that filled the room. "I was only gone for like four hours."

"Four hours too long," Em replied, her eyes sparkling as she pulled Abigail into a hug, squeezing tightly.

Juliette was sprawled on the couch, flipping through movies, oblivious to the chatter in the kitchen. She looked up as her best friend approached, standing quietly beside the couch, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

"Hey," Juliette said softly, her smile widening with warmth.

"Hey," Abigail replied, her smile mirroring Juliette's.

Juliette's eyes sparkled with playful mischief as she opened her arms for a hug. Abigail rolled her eyes but couldn't resist the tug of her smile, leaning down into the embrace. With a swift movement, Juliette pulled her down, making Abigail fall on top of her with a surprised squeal.

"Jules!" Abigail laughed, her voice ringing with joy as she squirmed under Juliette's tickling fingers.

"Alright, you two buffoons, cut it out so we can watch this movie," Em called out, taking a seat in a chair, shaking her head with a fond smile.

Abigail shot her a grateful look, repositioning herself to cuddle into Juliette's side. "What movie are we watching tonight?" she asked, her voice soft and content.

"Ooooh, can we please watch 10 Things I Hate About You? I've been dying to see it again," Sophie said, excitement lighting up her face as she settled at the other end of the couch.

"That sounds good to me," Em agreed, nodding.

Juliette started the movie, then gently pulled a blanket over both of them, wrapping her arm around Abigail as Abigail nestled her head on Juliette's chest. Sophie and Emily exchanged a knowing look, neither truly believing Juliette when she claimed to be over Abigail.

As the movie played, the four girls laughed at the same jokes they had heard a hundred times before, reciting their favorite lines in unison. The comfort of their weekly movie night wrapped around them like a warm embrace, a ritual that had become a cornerstone of their friendship.

In a quiet moment, Abigail whispered, "I missed this," her voice soft and sincere, meant only for Juliette's ears.

"Me too," Juliette replied, her voice tender as she pulled Abigail closer. A smile danced on both their lips.

As the movie ended, Abigail stood up and began gathering the empty bowls and plates. "I'll clean up. You guys relax," she offered, feeling it was only fair since they had done the setting up.

Juliette followed her into the kitchen. "Let me help."

In the quiet of the kitchen, they washed dishes side by side, their movements synchronized in a comfortable silence. Their hands brushed every time Abigail handed Juliette a plate to dry, a gentle reminder of the closeness they shared.

"How was your day with Ethan?" Juliette asked, breaking the silence with a softness in her voice.

"It was good. We just got some lunch and walked downtown," Abigail replied, her tone light but her mind elsewhere.

Juliette gave her a sincere smile, one that reached her eyes. "I know in the past I wasn't always the nicest to your boyfriends, but I really like Ethan for you. I can see how happy he makes you." She felt that the final step to moving on from Abigail fully was accepting that Abigail was happily in a long-term relationship.

Abigail, caught off guard by Juliette's words, forced the best smile she could muster. "Thanks, Jules. That means a lot coming from you." Inside, she felt a turmoil she couldn't express. The one person whose validation she craved had given it, and it left her feeling more conflicted than ever. A part of her wanted Juliette to hate Ethan, to tell her he wasn't right for her.

The two returned to the living room once they finished, finding Emily and Sophie deep in conversation about their weekend plans. Joining them, they poured a bottle of wine and settled into the cozy atmosphere, spending the next couple of hours chatting and sharing stories from their summers.

"Alright, I have some things to do tomorrow before classes start next week," Sophie said, stretching as she stood up. "Goodnight, love you guys." She blew the girls a kiss and walked towards her room.

One by one, they all headed to their rooms.

Juliette lay in bed, a sense of contentment washing over her. She felt a newfound peace, believing she was finally ready to fully move on from Abigail and embrace whatever the future held. Meanwhile, in her own room, Abigail stared at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't silence. The weight of her emotions pressed heavily on her chest, another sleepless night ahead. She felt torn between the joy of seeing Juliette so happy and the ache of her own unresolved feelings. The darkness of the room seemed to amplify her inner turmoil, each tick of the clock a reminder of the time slipping away, and the courage she lacked to confront her heart's deepest truth.

[A/N]: We are getting closer to big things happening between the girls! Please let me know what you think of this chapter and vote if you liked it!