The crinkled edges of fall leaves scratched the concrete as they blew through the streets. The cool morning air stung Juliet's cheeks while she pulled her turtleneck sweater up over her mouth, trying to warm her face. Her boots clicked against the sidewalk as she walked through campus, clutching the strap of her bag around her shoulder. Old club posters decorated the grass while picnic blankets had been spread out and occupied by groups of students. Juliet pushed the doors open to the art building, heading down the winding halls of the large brick building. She turned the corner and knocked on the doorframe of an office. An older woman stepped into view, pressing her glasses up her nose. She motioned for Juliet to step inside. Juliet's eyes scanned the cramped office, which had been decorated with cat calendars and cactus drawings. The old chair creaked loudly every time Juliet moved in it, so she fought to keep herself still.
Across from her, the older woman's long nails clicked against her keyboard, aggressively typing away.
"Juliet Hart," the woman squinted at her screen. "You'll need to free your Christmas break to retake the classes you failed last semester."
Juliet hated thinking about school; it had always been harder for her than anything else. She squeezed the sides of her chair, nodding in understanding.
"Any idea of a career path yet, Juliet?" The woman asked, looking up from the computer screen.
Juliet shook her head, embarrassed.
"No, ma'am."
The woman sighed, pulling her glasses from her face. She rubbed the corners of her eye with her fingers, shaking her head.
"I don't understand, Juliet," she said quietly. "You're a smart girl."
Juliet leaned back, ready to hear the speech she was about to receive. The lectures were always the same, no matter who it was. They'd ask her what was going on, if something was stressing her out in her personal life, or if she needed to talk to someone. She'd always say no, and school was the only thing that was stressing her out. However, that was never the truth. Every time she and Bandon fought, it was like her entire life was placed on pause, leaving her only to ruminate on his insults to her.
"I'll do better, I promise," Juliet said, pretending to be as confident as possible.
The woman hesitantly nodded, leaning back into her chair.
"There's still time to turn it around, Juliet," The woman smiled warmly.
After Juliet closed the door, she could feel her chest begin to tighten. Her mind began to race while she felt herself tremble. She shoved through the bathroom door, tossing her bag onto the countertop and hovering over the sink. Shaking, Juliet used all her strength to grip the faucet, turning the knob. Juliet cupped her hands beneath the cool water, letting it pool before splashing it onto her face. The icy water brought her back to reality, letting her pulse slow to a normal rate and letting her mind settle.
Dabbing her damp face with a paper towel, Juliet then leaned down to grab her bag and pushed the door back open to the hallway, meshing back in with the other students. She climbed up another flight of stairs towards the third floor, turning the corner to her "Art History" lecture.
Pressing the swinging doors open, the lecture auditorium spread out in rows in front of a platform stage that looked out over them. A woman stood at the podium on the edge of the stage, looking out over the crowd of students.
A chalkboard hung behind her, written with the words: "What is Art?"
Juliet scanned the room, searching for a vacant seat. Her eyes finally landed on the last seat open in the center of the room. Juliet skipped down the steps towards the middle row, shuffling past the backpacks and pairs of feet to the vacant seat. Nearly out of breath, Juliet finally sat herself down, pulling the fold-out desk towards her. She unzipped her bag and pulled her notebooks out, spreading them across the desk.
Just as she'd settled in, Juliet heard a scoff from beside her. Slowly turning her head, she groaned when she saw Roman Hayes sitting beside her, resting his chin on his palm. He looked at her as he tapped the eraser of his pencil against his desk.
"Seems we keep crossing paths," Roman sighed, looking back at his papers.
"It would seem so," Juliet muttered back.
Juliet tried her best to shift her focus to the lecture as class began. However, her mind couldn't help but wander while her mysterious coworker sat next to her, the thick scent of smoke and wood coming off of him. He seemed perfectly focused, jotting down his notes into a notebook that was peeling at the ends.
When the lecture ended, Juliet shot up from her desk and hurriedly started making her way out of the aisle. Just as she exited the building, she saw Roman out of the corner of her eye, mounting a charcoal motorcycle. He flipped up the kickstand and roared the engine, before snapping his helmet into place and speeding into the street, disappearing with the other traffic down the road.
Juliet's apartment was close enough to walk to campus, giving her time to catch some fresh air during the day. The fall air was crisp, and the breeze tangled Juliet's mocha hair while she pulled her knitted sleeves over her knuckles, tightening her shoulders. She clicked the front door open to her apartment. Theo was sitting on the living room couch with his feet kicked up on the coffee table in front of him. At the counter, Skyler sat surrounded by textbooks and folders, hyper-focused on her accounting homework. She'd dedicated her entire college career to her studies, hoping to create a steady life for herself independently.
Juliet plopped onto the couch beside Theo, pulling one of the blankets that had fallen between the cushions. She leaned her head on Theo's shoulder, finally letting herself relax.
"So," he said carefully. "I have a proposal."
Skyler looked up from her computer screen, furrowing her brows. Juliet tilted her head up, waiting for Theo's offer.
"Peter invited all of us to this club downtown."
Skyler groaned, dramatically resting her forehead on the countertop.
"I think it could be fun…" Juliet said slowly.
A wide smile crept across Theo's face while he squeezed Juliet tightly.
"I knew I could count on you," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"Count me out on that one," Skyler said, hopping off her stool. "I have a date."
Theo and Juliet's heads snapped around towards Skyler, eyes wide.
"What?" They said in harmony.
"Yeah, he's some bartender in my class," she said casually. "Nothing serious."
Skyler had never been serious about a boy since her intense breakup in her sophomore year. She used to date a boy in Brandon's fraternity, until she walked in on him and another girl at a party. Since then, she'd completely sworn off men, focusing fully on her studies. Two years later, she'd maintained that same mentality, warding off any man who showed interest in her. So, it was a complete shock for her to even consider a date.
"What's the club called?" Juliet asked Theo.
"The Jewel," Theo replied. "It's super exclusive, so this could be our only chance to go."
Juliet excitedly jumped up from the couch and dragged Theo up with her.
"Then it sounds like we need to start getting ready."
The sparkles on her black starigirl dress shimmered in the dim light of her bedroom while Juliet curled the ends of her hair. She leaned towards her mirror, brushing her soft cheeks with a rosy blush and painting her lips a soft pink. The car ride was heavy with anticipation while Theo clicked his boots against the floorboards nervously, tugging at the collar of his blue button-down. The car pulled up to the curb of the club, and Juliet could feel the vibrations from the beat on the concrete. Peter stood at the end of the line, waving them over towards him.
Juliet trailed behind Theo when they reached Peter. The pair embraced each other, breaking the ice. Peter's blonde hair had been perfectly gelled back, leaving a few frayed pieces at the nape of his neck. He reached his hand out to shake Juliet's and nodded warmly. They finally reached the entrance of the club and made sure the group was together before entering. Juliet clutched her purse nervously while they were pushed into a sea of people.
Tablets and sections surrounded the club, illuminated by the neon strobe lights. The bar stretched towards the back of the room, lined with eager customers. Each tile on the floor shone a different color, moving in harmony with the strobe lights. Servers bent over tables in their short, skin-tight dresses with shimmering sequins decorated across the material.
Women dressed in feathered bras and six-inch heels danced suggestively at the edge of the stage with dollar bills pooling at their feet. They let the men inch just close enough to smell them, but not to touch. They wielded their sexuality like a weapon, sending men tripping over themselves and panting, like dogs waiting for their bone. Seeing how pathetic they looked, Juliet crinkled her nose in disapproval, looking the desperate men up and down.
The trio waited at the bar counter for their drinks, observing the people surrounding them. It was a euphoric feeling, like she was floating on a cloud. The bright lights made her dizzy, and the shots she'd downed back at the apartment flowed through her head, letting her unravel into a relaxed state. The bartender turned to face them and slid a cluster of drinks and shots across the countertop. Exchanging confused looks, the trio all three raised their hands in persistence.
"We didn't order-"
"It's on the house," Another bartender's voice sounded, walking to face them.
Mason Clark folded his arms across his chest, letting his dirty blonde hair messily fall over his forehead. He smirked at Juliet, waving over to her. Juliet smiled widely as he leaned over the countertop to embrace her.
"I didn't realize you worked here!" She exclaimed.
Mason laughed and pulled the untucked rag from his pocket, wiping down the glowing counter.
"I just come to Inferno for fun," he tried to fight with the volume of the music. "I've known Roman for years."
Juliet paused for a moment, licking her gums. She looked back up at him and tilted her head, curious.
"Was he always like that?" She asked.
Mason knit his brows.
"Like what? A total dick?"
"Basically," Juliet replied flatly.
"Uh, yeah," Mason clicked his tongue. "He has good reason, though."
Those words sifted through the air for a second, making Juliet wonder what he meant. Without trying to pry, Juliet wanted to ask more.
"What do you mean?"
Mason suddenly stopped, realizing that perhaps he'd said too much. He scratched the back of his head, leaning his back against the counter.
"Listen," he sighed. "Just take it easy on him. That's all I'm gonna say."
Juliet nodded slowly, letting his words sink in. Still confused, she decided not to press any further; it probably would only make things worse. She suddenly noticed that Theo and Peter had already headed over to their section with the drinks, waiting for her to join them. Awkwardly smiling at Mason, Juliet waved goodbye and stepped back into the crowd.
Theo and Peter sat across from her on a couch that stretched around a wide table, enclosed with a velvet rope. The section had been stationed with a security guard at the base of the steps. Theo yelled towards Juliet and motioned for her to come inside. The security guard nodded and unclipped the rope, clearing the entrance for Juliet. Buzzing from her pre-game drinks, Juliet fought for balance while she climbed up the steps. The table was decorated with ice-filled buckets that carried bottles of tequila and vodka. Glass bottles of juice were clustered beside the buckets, along with shot and drink glasses. Theo squealed when she finally reached the couch and sat beside them. Peter's arm was wrapped around Theo while they clinked their glasses together.
Theo set out three glasses, pouring them each a drink. He handed one to Juliet, and she hesitantly sniffed the potent liquid. She scrunched her nose while the thick scent stung her nose; whatever he'd made was strong. Pressing the cup to her lips, Juliet let the liquid burn down her throat into her stomach. She coughed, trying to force down the rest of the drink.
When Juliet felt her phone vibrate from her purse, she could feel the anxiety begin to rise in her. She pushed herself to forget about it, clutching one of the bottles of tequila and taking a few swigs. Theo raised his brows when he watched her quickly down another drink before settling back into her couch.
"Careful there," Theo warned, looking beside her.
Juliet silenced him with her hand while she sipped on her third drink. She was determined to numb the stress that tore through her chest every day. Alcohol seemed to be the only antidote that could provide her with the relief that she desired.
Juliet looked out over the sea of strangers, noticing the alcohol finally starting to hit her. Her head began to buzz and spin, and she shot up with a burst of energy, shaking her cup-filled hands. She hopped on her toes while she looked down at the pair.
"Let's dance!" she yelled, kicking Theo up to his feet.
Juliet let the music flow through her body while she punched her hands into the air, nearly rolling her ankles in her heels. She leaned down over the table to down another shot, shaking her head to cover the burning in her throat. Behind her, Theo and Peter exchanged worried looks.
Juliet's head spun while she grabbed Theo's hands after noticing she'd sat back down.
"Dance with me!" She yelled, drunkenly stumbling while fighting to drag him upwards.
Theo quickly snapped his arm forward, freeing it from Juliet's grasp. She lost her balance, nearly tumoring backwards before catching herself. Theo's face hardened, and his eyes narrowed to her.
"You need water," his voice was cutting.
Juliet frowned at him, blowing a raspberry.
"You're no fun."
She ignored Theo's request and kept dancing alone before jumping off the steps and merging with the crowd on the dance floor. Her body drunkenly stumbled into the people around her, spilling some of their drinks onto the floor; Juliet was too hammered to even notice. Her shoulders knocked into the crowd, drawing disapproving glares. Suddenly, her body hit a hard force, sending her flailing backwards. Her arms knocked a drink into the air, sending wet sprays overhead.
"I'm so sorry-" Juliet scrambled, crouching to help pick up the fallen ice chips.
Juliet's breath caught when she looked up to see her victim. Roman towered over her, a brow cocked. Juliet dramatically rolled her eyes, groaning.
"Well, well, well," she slurred. "Loook who it is."
Roman smirked at Juliet, looking her up and down. Her chest tightened when she watched his eyes trace up her bare legs to the hem of her short dress. His tongue poked the side of his cheek, and he shoved his hands into his pockets. His black button-down had been rolled at the sleeves, showing the snake tattoo that slithered up his forearm toward his bicep. Juliet sighed; he looked good.
"Where are your friends?" Roman asked.
"Being lame," Juliet replied, sticking out her tongue.
Roman took a moment to examine her. He stared down at her blistered feet and messy hair. Sighing, he rubbed his temples with his fingers. Watching her tilt from side to side, barely able to hold herself up, Roman finally grabbed her by the shoulders, steadying her.
"You're drunk," he said, knitting his brows.
"God," Juliet groaned, slapping her hand over her forehead. "You're just like Theo."
"Oh yeah?" He towered over her. "How so?"
"You both are buzzkills."
Roman frowned at her, tilting his head.
"Ouch," he said, placing his hand over his heart. "Unfortunately, that's the general consciousness."
Roman glanced down at her trembling feet, barely able to support her. He looked up to scan the room for any sign of Theo or Peter; there was no such luck.
"Follow me," Roman muttered, motioning for her to follow him.
Juliet paused, hesitating. She looked behind her towards her section, vacant of Theo and Peter; she didn't really have another option. Growing more tired by the second, Juliet caved and nodded to him.
Roman held his hand out behind him for Juliet to hold. She clasped her fingers around his wrist as he paved a pathway for her through the sea of people. Juliet's weak toes made her trip over herself, clinging tighter to Roman.
They reached a wide, circular leather booth, centered with a round table. The table was strewn with discarded bottles and shot glasses, their contents pooling into puddles of liquor. Security unclipped the golden ropes for Juliet and Roman to enter. Roman kept his arm out as a crutch for her, slowly helping her up the steps to their platform. They were met with a small group, Rhea and Luca being two of them. Juliet smoothed out her dress when she reached the table, before looking up to the rest of the group. Luca's arms were spread across the top of the couch, the scattered ink showing beneath the sleeves of his black t-shirt, changing colors from the strobe lights overhead. His gray eyes brightened when Juliet came into view, and he patted the space beside him on the couch for her to join.
Beside him, however, Rhea Santos held the opposite expression. Staring daggers at Juliet through her sharp cat-eye makeup, Rhea licked the top of her gums, tapping the heel of her thigh-high boots against the floor. Her raven-colored hair had been slicked into a ponytail, and her black leather dress hugged her figure, showing her perfect curves. She pushed herself up from the couch, eyes glued on Roman. Rhea acted as if Juliet wasn't even there, nearly slamming into her shoulder on her way over to Roman. She gripped Roman's hair with her fingers, lightly pressing her lips to his cheek. Juliet's stomach turned while she watched Rhea's tongue snake up the side of Roman's neck, but she still kept her eyes glued to her. With an irritated expression, Roman brushed past Rhea and sat beside Luca on the couch, leaning over to whisper in his ear. Juliet noticed two other strangers she'd never seen before.
A girl sat beside Luca, peering over at Juliet. Her sun-kissed hair had been painted with pink streaks, framing her round cheeks and fair skin. A studded piercing decorated her brow above her soft mocha eyes. Her pink sequin dress dove down her back, exposing her thin shoulder blades. She smiled warmly while Juliet made her way over to the booth.
On the girl's other side sat a tall, muscular boy with a cold expression and dark eyes narrowed towards Juliet. His charcoal hair had been buzzed, revealing the small slit in his brow and black ink covering his olive skin. He wore a black t-shirt that clung to his muscular frame. His ring-decorated fingers clutched a bottle of whiskey; his cold demenaor caught Juliet off guard.
Juliet sat on the couch beside Roman, quietly observing the group's dynamic,
"Juliet," Luca said, pointing to the two strangers. "Meet Olivia Morgan and Enzo Santos."
Santos.
It hit Juliet like a ton of bricks; Enzo was Rhea's sister. No wonder he was so cold; he was related to the ice queen herself. Juliet smiled awkwardly, shaking hands with Olivia and Enzo. Olivia pushed past Roman and crossed to sit on the other side of Juliet.
"So you're the infamous Juliet," Olivia said. "I've heard quite a bit about you."
Juliet blinked.
"What?"
"All good things, of course," Olivia replied, smirking.
Enzo stayed silent on the other side of Roman, glaring right at her. She swallowed, trying to ignore him. Rhea clutched a glass of vodka between her fingers, organizing a row of shot glasses across the table. She filled each of them, then grabbed one for herself, raising it into the air.
"Shots!" She yelled.
Everyone grabbed their own glass before tossing it back into their throats, letting it burn into the stomach. An eruption of couches and groans sounded from the group, the bitter aftertaste finally hitting them.
Suddenly, Juliet's purse started to vibrate. She unzipped it, pulling her phone out and clicking it on. She hadn't even realized how late it was; it was two in the morning. Her phone had been littered with texts from Brandon.
Where the fuck are you?-Brandon.
Juliet swallowed, her hands starting to tremble. It only took one of his texts to sober her up; now the floodgates were open. Juliet nervously began to type, trying to control the damage from her absence. She wrote paragraphs of apologies, explaining she'd lost track of time and was with her friends; Brandon wasn't having it.
You're out all night and don't even think to tell me? Wow, slut.- Brandon.
Juliet heard a gasp from beside her. Olivia's eyes were glued to Juliet's screen, eyes wide. Startled, Juliet shoved her phone back into her purse, hiding the evidence; it was too late, Olivia had seen enough.
"You let him talk to you like that?" She asked, concerned.
Juliet bit down on her lip, impulsively reaching for another drink.
"He'll calm down, he's just…." Juliet paused. "Protective."
Brows furrowed, Olivia decided to just let it go and enjoy the night. The loud music poured into Juliet's ears while her head started to buzz again, bringing her back into the moment. She leaned over the table and poured herself another drink, desperate to drown out the aching pain that tugged at her. Roman leaned over Olivia and wrapped his hand around the drink Juliet was holding. He looked towards her, eyes narrowing.
"Slow down," he ordered.
Juliet aggressively jerked the drink back, pushing her off balance. Nearly falling into the railing behind her, Olivia caught her arm, steadying her. Juliet finally realized in that moment what she was doing; her feeble attempt to numb herself had finally been exposed. She sighed, sitting back down on the couch. Rhea's legs were stretched out across Roman's lap, nearly falling off the couch when Roman stood. He quickly grabbed Juliet's arm, leaning close to her ear.
"I'm taking you home," he tried to yell over the music.
Juliet angrily shook her head, folding her arms.
"No."
Roman blinked.
"Yes."
Juliet shook her head again, leaning further back into the couch.
"You can't tell me what to do."
Roman clenched his jaw, and he angrily looked down at Juliet.
"I swear to God, Juliet, I will throw your ass over my shoulder and carry you out," his voice lowered. "Let's. Go."
Juliet stubbornly remained in her seat with zero intention of following his orders. Their eyes bore into each other, competing for dominance. Roman was finally fed up and suddenly wrapped his hands around Juliet's waist, hoisting her up from the seat and tossing her over his shoulder. He pulled the hem of her skirt down to cover her ass, then swung around towards the steps. The group silently watched, exchanging looks. Juliet kicked her feet angrily while Roman pushed through the crowd towards the exit. From the bar, Juliet saw Mason burst out into laughter when he saw them.
Roman pushed the back door open, which spat them out into a dimly lit alleyway. He set Juliet back down onto her feet, where she dizzily regained her balance.
"What the fuck was that?" She asked, stamping her foot.
Roman rolled his eyes and stepped backwards, leaning his back against the brick wall behind him. He dug through the back pocket of his jeans before pulling out a cigarette and a lighter.
Smoke poured from Roman's lips as he let out a long sigh, dipping his head. Juliet could still feel her phone vibrating aggressively, causing her body to tense.
"It's not going to work," Roman muttered.
Confused, Juliet blinked.
"What?"
"Your desperate attempt to numb yourself," he paused, taking another hit. "It doesn't work."
Juliet felt her heart tighten. She held her chin up, keeping a straight face.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied flatly.
Roman huffed and shook his head.
"Yeah, whatever."
Low music from a nearby dive bar carried from a cracked window beside them in the alleyway. Juliet pushed the hair out of her face, embarrassed. She knew how everyone saw her; She was a pathetic doormat with zero self-esteem or respect. She was sick of making the same mistakes over and over again with men. Sometimes, Juliet wondered if she was even meant to find love in her life. Was it possible that the reason she'd chosen such atrocious men was that she wasn't meant to have one in her life? It was a morbid thought, but still, it was worth noting.
Roman stopped for a moment, crossing to the wall in front of him where Juliet stood. Trembling, she rubbed her hands over her shoulders, shrinking back against the bricks. Roman held the cigarette between his lips, using his free hands to pull his jacket from his shoulders, and holding it out to Juliet. She hesitated at first, but finally gave up, slipping her arms through the arm holes. His jacket swallowed her, keeping her in a cocoon of warmth. Her body finally relaxed, and she breathed, looking up at him.
"Thanks." She said dryly.
She reafched into her purse and pulled a cigarette from the pack of reds she'd tucked into one of the pockets. Roman held his lighter to the end, lighting a small flame. Juliet pressed the cigarette to her lips, inhaling the smoke. She wiped her nose from the cold and folded her arms across her chest, propping up her hand with the burning stick; the pair's smoke carried into the air, blending with the cool breeze. Outside of the alleyway, cars honked loudly, and crowds of drunken students stumbled on the sidewalks, hollering and shouting.
"So," Juliet tried to break the silence. "You and Rhea…"
"-Are nothing," Roman replied sharply.
Juliet was taken off guard by his quick response.
"Does she know that?" Juliet cocked her brow at him.
Roman scoffed.
"When did you become the romance police?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Juliet bit back.
"Touche," Roman took another hit.
After a few more moments of silence, the back door opened again, and the rest of the group emerged in the alleyway.
"We're going to another bar," Luca said to the pair. "You coming?"
Juliet frowned and shook her head, tired.
"I think I'm just going to head home," She said, starting towards the other end of the alley.
"Alone?" Roman interrupted.
"I can just call Brandon to pick me up…" Juliet regretted the words before they even left her mouth.
"Absolutely not," Roman stepped forward, his face serious.
"Okay…" Juliet paused. "Then I'll walk."
Roman rolled his eyes, snatching her wrist.
"Let's go."
Juliet scrunched her nose, giving him a confused expression. He waved goodbye to the group and led Juliet out towards the sidewalk, where a pitch-black motorcycle was parked a few feet in front of them. Roman's figure towered over her while she shoved her phone into her back pocket.
Juliet's eyes flickered to the helmet that hung on the side of the bike handle. She folded her arms.
"On that? I don't think so."
Roman didn't reply. He waded over to the bike and unclipped the helmet, holding it out to her.
"Wear that."
Juliet was too drunk and tired to argue. The cold air bit at Juliet's while she pulled the sleeves of the oversized jacket over her knuckles.
The chrome-black motorcycle's tires were worn, with dirt specks spread out near the rear. Juliet swallowed while she pulled the helmet on, clipping it below her chin. Roman sat in front of her and pressed his foot against the pedal. The ignition roared, and the seat vibrated. Juliet's arms wrapped tightly around Roman's waist, and he turned back towards her, a wide grin on his face; she hated that he was enjoying it. She flipped the visor of the helmet over her eyes and picked both of her feet up, pressing her body against Roman's back.
Roman pulled away with such inertia that Juliet nearly fell backwards, and she clung even tighter to him. The club quickly faded out of view while Roman quickly jerked his bike between lanes, keeping one hand on Juliet's thigh, holding her down onto the seat.
Roman's hair tangled in the wind while they sped down the backroads towards Juliet's house. Adrenaline coursed through Juliet's veins while the trees around her whizzed by, fading into specks from their speed. Roman switched lanes sharply while they passed through neighborhoods and shops, speeding down the vacant roads. Juliet used her fingers to direct Roman back to her home; the wind was aggressively loud.
The bike came to a sharp halt when he pulled to the curb. Flipping the kickstand down, Roman dismounted the bike, providing his hand to support Juliet, who swung her leg over the bike, landing onto the concrete. She unclipped Roman's helmet and hung it on the steering handle. Roman walked behind Juliet as they climbed up the staircase until they reached her hallway. Juliet was too drunk to force her key into the hole, forcing Roman to push past her and complete the task himself. Pushing the door open, Roman and Juliet stepped into the dark apartment, dimly lit with a lamp that had been stationed in the far corner of the living room.
Juliet opened her bedroom door, staring down at the mess of scattered clothing on the floor. She tiptoed past the piles towards her closet while Roman leaned one arm on the doorframe, curiously watching her.
"Welcome," she said, expanding her arms in the air to show her bedroom.
Her walls had been decorated with a cluster of Polaroid photos. Roman examined the pictures, squinting at them. Roman scanned a row of photos from parties, showing Juliet and her roommates hugging or dancing. Another collection of photos showed Juliet and her family, all embracing happily. Roman's eyes stopped at a particular photo; It was a picture of her and Brandon. Brandon's arms were wrapped around Juliet's shoulders, kissing her cheek. He noticed how happy she looked, with her smile wide and her blue eyes bright. He switched his eyes back towards Juliet, who tossed an old t-shirt and sleep shorts onto her comforter. She unclipped the back of her dress, slowly pulling the zipper down. A strap of her dress fell over her shoulder, the unzipped dress slowly exposing her back.
Startled, Roman quickly spun around to face the wall, averting his eyes. Juliet peeled her dress off and discarded it onto the floor, pulling her oversized t-shirt over her head and slipping into her shorts. She leaned her head over to tie her hair up into a bun, pulling a few framing pieces down to her cheeks. Roman turned back around once she was dressed, starting towards the door.
"Thank you," Juliet abruptly said while Roman began to leave.
"Yeah."
Juliet heard the front door close after Roman left, leaving her alone in silence.