Chapter 10
Juliana
Beep Beep Beep Beep!
What the hell is that noise? I groan and shift in my bed, my hand searching for my alarm clock, more specifically, the snooze button. I can’t reach it so I wiggle around in bed to get closer to my nightstand and I lose my balance and land on the floor with a loud thud.
“Ow,” I grumble but the fall has woken me up a little. I hit the clock to make the noise stop then I head into my bathroom. I step into the shower, the cut on my hand stinging under the hot water, reminding me of last night’s events. I try to take a quick shower knowing I have work in 2 hours. I always set my alarm for two hours before I’m supposed to be at work. I know it is early but I like having plenty of time to get ready and then relax before working. After a quick shower, I wrap a towel around my body and another around my hair then walk into the kitchen to get the coffee started, noticing Tatyana hasn’t been back to the apartment yet. While waiting for the coffee, I find the first aid kit and put a new bandaid on the cut, biting my lip at the tenderness.
When I get back into my bedroom I lift my phone from my nightstand and turn it on. As I wait for it to turn on, I towel dry my hair in front of my mirror and I notice the screen of my phone light up in the background of my mirror. I toss my towel into the bathroom promising myself I’ll pick it up later then I grab my phone and stare at the numerous missed calls and unanswered texts from last night.
“Crap,” I say quietly then toss my phone on my bed and decide to toss myself onto my bed, sighing. My hand grabs my phone again and I look at the screen, breathing heavily. When I see an unknown number has texted me, I immediately call the number without reading the message, assuming it’s Kurt.
“Hello? Juliana? Is everything okay?” I hear on the other end of the call and I take a deep breath.
“So, last night really did happen, huh?” I say in lieu of a response. I hear a chuckle over the phone then the call sounds muted but I can make out someone in the background saying congratulations to him.
“You still there?” He asks.
“Yeah… Why did someone congratulate you?”
“Oh, it seems our news has gotten around,” Kurt explains. I gasp then turn over on my stomach and bury my face in my pillows.
“Juliana?” I hear and I force myself to sit up. “Are we still on for 3 p.m.?” I nod my head then realize he can’t see me so I speak up.
“Yes, would you like to meet somewhere?”
“No, I’ll come to you.” He states firmly and my heart flutters a little bit but I notice the time on the clock and shake off the feeling blaming it on my need to have relaxation time before work.
“Okay,” I say, not knowing what else to say.
“Okay,” he repeats back to me and I sigh, ready to apologize again but he seems to sense my next words and he stops me. “You don’t have to apologize. I’ll see you at 3.” Then he hangs up.
I stare at the phone a little taken aback by his abrupt end to the call but then my phone dings, telling me I’ve got a new text and I open it. It’s from Kurt and it reads, Sorry for ending the call so suddenly, boss eyeing me… see you at 3.
I smile and toss my phone onto my bed then hop up and head into my closet to find an outfit for work. Once I’m dressed, I chug a cup of coffee, pack my bag, and head out the door.
When I arrive at work, the store is crowded so I quickly put my things away and then clock in, going over to a young couple and their daughter. I help them pick out outfits and accessories to go along with them. When nearly an hour passes, they have everything they need and I head over to the cash register to ring them out. They thank me for all my help and thank me for my patience. I smile and tell them it’s no problem at all. And it really isn’t. I’ve enjoyed working with them and it has kept me distracted from thinking about what happened last night.
Before I know it, my shift is nearing its end. I help one last customer then look around, noticing the store is pretty empty. Everyone that is in the store is already being helped so my manager tells me I can leave.
I clock out and say goodbye to everyone before heading to my car. I sit in my car with the windows rolled down, waiting for it to cool off and I decide to call my mother.
“Hello?” She answers, not looking at the caller ID.
“Hi, Mom,” I say, then toss my phone onto the passenger seat and fiddle with the AC in my car while my mother talks so loudly that I can still hear her very clearly.
“Why haven’t you called me sooner?!” She practically screeches through the phone, and I can’t tell if she is mad or excited. “I called you a hundred times last night and this morning! You have a lot of explaining to do, young lady. I’ve already called Gram and discussed this situation with her!” My mother prattles on but I stop listening. Oh no, since my mother and grandmother, Gram, know then our whole church congregation must know too. This congregation includes Kurt’s parents.
I grab my phone off of the seat and send Kurt a quick text, while my mother continues to talk. I sent the text after retyping numerous times trying to figure out what to say and eventually settling with:
Juliana: Heard from your parents today?
He responds with a simple:
Kurt: Yep.
I groan forgetting my mother is still on the phone and she hears me.
“Juliana, what are you doing right now??”
“Sorry, I’m listening.” I sigh and wait for more yelling but I hear a muffled sound and my mother greeting someone. “Mom, who are you with?”
“I’ll have to call you back, dear. I’m having lunch with Mrs. Michaels.” I inhale deeply. Kurt’s mom.
“Mom, no. Don’t tell her anything… yet.” I beg softly but that’s probably why they’re having lunch.
“Why shouldn’t I tell her anything?” She asks, annoyed.
“Well…” I search for an answer. “We are trying to keep it on the down-low for a little while first! So, we can enjoy it before sharing it with everyone else.” I marvel at my quick response then remind myself to get Kurt up to date on what is happening.
My mother sighs but she likes being the first to know a secret so I know she’s happy. “Well, all right then but I expect to see you at our house for dinner tonight at 6:30 p.m., to discuss what’s been going on since you’ve moved out.” I can hear Mrs. Michaels coming back to the table and I agree to the dinner just to make sure my mother keeps her mouth shut. “See you at 6:30 p.m.,” she says, then hangs up the phone and I lean back against my seat and close my eyes. I just sit in my silent car for a few seconds then peek at the clock. 2:30 p.m., already? Jeez, I need to get going.
I start my car and crank my music, opening my windows and sunroof, letting the music spill out into the streets. I lean back in my seat and drive to my apartment, I see Tatyana’s car in the parking lot and know I have a lot to explain to her but my clock reads 2:43 p.m. and I know I need to get ready before Kurt comes to pick me up.