Loving You

CHAPTER ONE

Coming Out

ADALINE

When I was younger, I always assumed I was better than others. Maybe it was the fact that I had to claw my way into everything, or that I refused to let the frivolities of feelings get in my way. Emotions were weaknesses, distractions I could not afford. That was until I met her.

My Juliette.

A whirlwind romance that single handedly turned my life upside down and turned me into one of the same lovesick fools I used to make fun of. The kind I swore I would never become.

After Adam’s wedding, we spent a blissful weekend at my very empty house, thanks to Olivia and Adam leaving for their honeymoon.

My bedroom echoed with laughter and tedious bickering that somehow felt sacred in its mundanity.

My sheets were soaked with pleasure and drool from Juliette and her million-hour naps.

It was bliss. My own version of heaven. But now it was Monday, and I was a fallen angel walking hand in hand into purgatory with my forbidden fruit.

“Nervous?” I ask Juliette, trying to put myself in her shoes.

We are only steps away from our high school doors. School ends in a week, so it doesn’t scare me. I know I will never see most of these people again. This place always felt temporary, like something I was meant to survive rather than belong to.

It is different for Juliette. She loves validation and attention, feeds off it like oxygen because of the way she was raised.

I used to hate that about her. Now, I understand it better than anyone.

She sacrificed so much for me. Stood up to her mother.

Bought us that apartment in Oxford, ready to uproot her entire life just for me.

The least I can do is be patient with her.

“Not with you next to me.”

Her words make my heart race. So does the smile on her face, easy and certain, like she has never doubted us for a second. I grin back, nodding, my fingers tightening around hers.

When we walk in, I do not expect this many eyes.

Conversations stall. Lockers slam shut. People stare, curiosity and judgment mixing freely.

She never lets go of my hand, and that steadies me.

Before we reach my locker, I see our friends already swarming around it.

I roll my eyes instinctively, though fondness creeps in anyway.

“Look what we have here,” Aryan coos, dragging out every word.

“Hi!” Kai beams. I notice Victoria resting her head on his shoulder. Everything feels oddly in place, and that feeling is foreign to me.

“So how was your weekend?” Victoria wiggles her eyebrows.

“It was great,” I say, although they already know every sordid detail.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving,” Aryan sighs. “All the way to Oxford.”

“At least that means free surgery in like ten years,” Kai adds, earning giggles all around.

“We still have summer, guys,” I reassure them, feeling Juliette squeeze my hand tighter. I feel my chest swell with gratitude that she’s leaving with me. If I only had summer with her, I know I would be devastated.

Soon the conversation drifts. Aryan tells us he is skipping university to work for his family.

Victoria wants to take a gap year to travel.

Kai talks about taking his music seriously.

Everyone is moving forward and life is changing, and all I can think about is how relieved I am that I don’t have to imagine Juliette’s future, or listen to any of her stories, but rather I’ll be living them with her.

“I’m gonna go see Mr. Khalid,” I tell them.

I already told Mrs. Kim about me leaving for Oxford, which resulted in a plethora of tears and her making me promise I call every week.

Of course, it won’t be like that with Mr. Khalid, but he has become somewhat of a friend to me over the years, so I do owe him a goodbye.

“I’ll come with,” Juliette says immediately.

We split off. When we reach his door, I walk in without knocking, like I always do. He is perched on his desk, pen in hand, tapping it against a stack of papers. He looks up, ready with a smile before his eyes drop to our interlocked hands.

“Well,” he says, smirking. “That’s new.”

I grin. “Morning, sir.”

“If it isn’t my favourite student… and my least.” He gestures toward Juliette, who laughs.

“That’s fair.”

“Although I have been meaning to congratulate you, Miss Kingston, you made great strides in biology.”

“All thanks to my tutor.” She nudges my shoulder.

“I just wanted to say thank you, sir,” I tell him. “Before I’m out of here.”

He studies me for a moment, then nods with a smile. “I know you’re gonna do great things, Adaline.”

“Thank you.” I try to bite back any tears. Besides my brother, I wasn’t used to much praise, especially with the teachers around here. Mr. Khalid had always been different, something that I never overlooked.

“I wish you guys the best,” he tells me, shaking my hand, and I smile at him one last time. We both turn to leave, and before we are fully out of the door, he stops us.

“Oh, and girls,” he calls.

We both look back.

“I always knew you liked each other.”

My mouth drops open. Juliette laughs, grabbing my wrist and dragging me out just as the bell rings.

“I guess everyone besides us knew,” she says.

“We might be really dumb.”

She just laughs and pecks me in response.

“I’m walking you to class,” she says, like it’s not a question.

“My gentlewoman,” I bow slightly.

She rolls her eyes, stealing another quick kiss anyway. As we walk, a swinging ponytail cuts into view. A girl I have never seen before, but she clearly knows Juliette.

“So now you’re a dyke?” she asks, glaring at us like she is owed an explanation.

It all happens so fast that I’m genuinely gobsmacked at the audacity of this girl.

No one else seems to notice as everyone’s bustling their way into their classes.

I step forward instantly, anger flaring hot and familiar.

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?” I snap.

“Baby,” Juliette says sweetly, not even looking at me. “It’s okay.”

She turns to the girl, eyes narrowing just enough to be lethal. I recognize that look. I have been on the receiving end enough times to know this will get ugly. Shame on me for thinking Juliette would be offended and hurt. I should’ve known better.

“Tell me, Stephanie,” Juliette says calmly, “is your mum still fucking Pastor Dean? And does your dad still not know?”

Stephanie’s face drains of color, then floods red. My mouth falls open in the most dramatic of ways.

“I-I-don’t—”

“I don’t have time for you to finish that sentence,” Juliette continues. “But if I ever hear you say something like that again, I will happily let your dad know.”

Stephanie is crestfallen, turning and speed walking down the empty hallway. Her sobs can be heard, and Juliette is as smug as ever.

“How did you know that?” I ask as we keep walking, like nothing happened.

“My mother likes to gossip,” Juliette shrugs.

I laugh, adrenaline buzzing. “You’re a little shit.”

“Oh, well.”

“You’re okay, baby?” I ask. Juliette seems relaxed, but I expected more resistance for our first time being together at school.

“I am, that was pretty fun actually.”

How was I ever worried about this girl? This was Juliette, walking hand in hand with me, and everything was okay. Different, but okay. We had done the hardest thing of all, and we got through it.