𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒𝐘 - 𝐡𝐬𝐦𝐭𝐦𝐭𝐬 | ✔

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 𝒙𝒊𝒗. 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧
━━ 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏

"What happened to you?" the girl asked once she reached him.

"Gina threw punch all over me," E.J. started, "your turn."

"My turn to what?"

"Confess something so I don't feel as stupid."

"Ricky and I nearly kiss and he left me in the middle of the dance floor just so he could argue with Gina," Juliette confessed looking down at her heels. A brief second later, she felt E.J.'s arm around her shoulders, making her open her eyes in surprise (her junior year was, apparently, full of surprises) and look up at the boy.

"He's an idiot, believe me," he smiled, "he should have kissed you."

"Thanks but... I don't know, I just..."

"Hey, I've seen you two, okay? He should have, as much as I hate to say that out loud. I don't know if you have noticed but Ricky is not exactly my favourite person. You're too good for him anyway."

"I just...," her phone beeped at that moment, "he just left the dance to take Gina home."

"Well then fuck him, let's go back to the gym and have at least one fun dance," he offered, taking Juliette's hand and dragging her to the gym again.

When they stepped into the instance, Born to be Brave filled the air and Carlos and Ashlyn dominated the dance floor. Juliette looked up at E.J. with a huge smile on her face and, after he nodded, she joined their friends (since even Big Red was dancing) and danced with them. On the other hand, E.J. took a seat and looked at all of them, not really daring to join. Shortly after, nevertheless, Juliette approached him and took his hands to drag him with her into the group, which he accepted without must opposition. They even lifted Carlos above everyone's heads.

Sadly, the song soon came to an end and all of the students went back to their places, most of them sitting exhausted at their tables and the few ones who still had energy, reuniting with their dates for the next slow song. After everything, Seb appeared and joined Carlos on the dance, excusing himself for being late and apologizing to the boy.

The event was nearly over anyway and Alexandra and her date had already gone home together so the girl was planning on leaving as well. After taking her coat from the desk at the front, she walked to the door and, just as she put a hand on the handle, ready to open it and start walking home, E.J. stopped her.

"You're not thinking about actually walking home, right?"

"I was, in fact," she looked at him, "I can't drive, Ricky took me here and Big Red is staying."

"Let me give you a ride, at least," he offered, but Juliette refused at first, not wanting to make the boy go out of his way. E.J. ended up convincing her and they both got into the boy's car.

"Thanks so much, E.J."

"Don't mention it. Are you feeling better after Bowen being a dickhead?"

"Yeah, I guess. I mean, dancing with you all really helped to take my mind off of him but now I don't know, I cannot stop thinking about why. Maybe he did not want to kiss me after all."

"Or maybe he's just being an idiot as per usual, Juliette," E.J. stated, "please don't feel bad because of him. He's stupid and he'll realise that he had a great girl in front of him and then he'll want you back."

"Thanks, E.J. You really are a sweetheart," Juliette smiled.

"You have lover boy on your doorstep," E.J. observed once she parked in front of her house, "are you going to confront him?"

"I don't know... should I?"

"You should actually punch him but that's on you," he laughed upon arriving at Juliette's house, "there you are, m'lady."

"Thanks again, E.J." the girl flashed a smile towards the senior, "for the ride, for the dance and for everything. See you at rehearsals."

"See you Juliette, sleep tight," he wished, flashing a charming smile to the small girl getting off his car.

"You too, E.J. See you at school."

As soon as Juliette stepped out of the car, Ricky stood up and approached her. He did not seem too pleased about her coming with E.J. but he did not say anything and instead simply apologized to the girl.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"For standing you up on your favourite song, for leaving you at the dance... for..." he started, but he stopped himself there.

"For?" she inquired, prompting the boy to continue talking.

"For not doing this sooner," he whispered and, taking her waist, leaned in and kissed her softly. He wanted until the girl reciprocated to move his lips and there they stood for a solid minute.

"Ricky I..." she whispered once they broke the kiss. The whole street was silent and the only thing they could hear was their agitated breathing, "I'm not sure I caught that, sorry for not doing what?"

The boy chuckled lightly and leaned in again, kissing the girl one more time. This time, Juliette put her hand around his neck and stood on her tiptoes so Ricky wouldn't have to bend down. She started playing with the curls at the back of her neck as he gripped her waist tighter.

"I knew it," they heard behind them, making them break the kiss immediately. Turns out it was Big Red, who had taken Ashlyn home.

"Fuck, you scared me," the girl laughed, "how was the dance? I saw you with Ashlyn."

"Dude, you and Ashlyn?" Ricky looked at him, trying to change topics.

"Don't divert my attention, you were kissing."

"You were what!?" Lisa and Ava appeared behind him.

"Great, we are all here now. Do you want me to call mom and dad too?" Juliette rolled her eyes, making Ricky laugh besides her. He still had his arm around her waist.

"I want my 20 bucks, Lis," Ava told her twin, turning around to look at her.

"You bet on us?"

"I bet that you would kiss at the dance and Ava thought that you would kiss afterwards."

"What would have happened if we hadn't kissed?"

"We would have punched both you," the sisters laughed. Ultimately, they went back inside and left Juliette alone with the two boys to say her goodbyes.

They walked towards Big Red's house but, just some seconds after they had parted, Ricky turned around and ran towards Juliette to gave her a quick peck and wished her goodnight.