I couldn't believe what I was doing. Last night was a restless blur; I couldn't sleep, and by lunch, the weight of being an honored jerk was crushing me. Right after meeting Arthur, I didn't think—I just drove to Juliet's place.
Now, I was here, calling her nicknames and reaching out to grab her shoulder. As I got closer, the air around her hit me. She smelled like lavender and flowers—the exact scent of my mother. I leaned in, desperate to catch more of it, and looked her dead in the eye.
I was lost. How could I even name a beauty like this? I thought of the greats—Victoria, Thea, Pandora—but she was beyond them. Her eyes were doe-like: innocent, clear, and jet black. Her cheeks were flushed red because of how close I was, her mouth slightly open as she stared back. Aside from my mother, she was the first girl I had ever truly seen.
"Unacceptable!" she barked, shoving my hands off her shoulders. "You broke my brother's trust, and I'm not sure he'll forgive you if he finds out." She stepped back, eyes flashing.
"I know I'm irresponsible," I said, my voice cracking with a hint of begging I didn't know I possessed. "But I'm sorry."
She looked at me, her expression unreadable and sharp. "A feast would work," she said coolly. She was smart—she knew exactly how to make me pay for my mistakes. "But until then... the silent treatment continues."
She turned and marched toward the kitchen. I stood there and sighed—not because I was tired, but because the pressure in my chest finally let go. It was relief