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The night of Louis Lefevre's birthday party was one of those balmy summer evenings when the air felt electric with possibility. Juliette stood at the entrance of Louis's mansion, her heart pounding as she took in the scene before her. The sprawling estate was lit up with twinkling fairy lights, and music pulsed through the open doors, inviting everyone inside.

Juliette had spent several hours preparing for the party, choosing a simple yet elegant dress and carefully applying her makeup. She wanted to feel confident, but as she looked around at the crowd of her peers, she felt a familiar wave of insecurity wash over her. Matthieu was by her side, his hand gently guiding her forward.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice warm and reassuring.

Juliette nodded, trying to steady her nerves. "Yeah, let's go."

Inside, the mansion was even more impressive. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, casting a soft glow over the room. Tables laden with food and drink were scattered throughout the space, and groups of students mingled, their laughter and chatter filling the air.

Juliette and Matthieu found their friends near one of the tables. Jacques, Arnaud, and Sophie were already deep in conversation, their faces lighting up when they saw Juliette and Matthieu approaching.

"There you two are!" Sophie exclaimed, pulling Juliette into a hug. "We were starting to think you'd gotten lost."

"Just taking it all in," Juliette replied with a smile.

As the evening wore on, the group moved through the different rooms of the mansion, enjoying the music and the lively atmosphere. Juliette sipped on a glass of sparkling water, her friends teasing her lightly for not drinking alcohol.

"I just don't feel comfortable," she explained, shrugging. "Maybe another time."

At one point, the conversation turned to relationships, and Sophie, ever the romantic, couldn't resist pushing Juliette and Matthieu closer together.

"You two look so cute tonight," Camille said, her eyes twinkling. "When are you finally going to kiss?"

Juliette felt her cheeks flush. "Camille, please," she protested, but her friend's teasing only grew more insistent.

"Come on, Juliette," Clément chimed in. "It's obvious you two like each other. Just go for it."

Juliette glanced at Matthieu, who gave her an encouraging smile. The thought of kissing him had always been a distant dream, something she had fantasized about but never acted on. Now, with her friends' eyes on her and the moment feeling more real than ever, she felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety.

Needing a break from the crowd, Juliette suggested they step outside for some fresh air. Matthieu agreed, and they made their way to the garden, the sounds of the party fading behind them. The garden was beautifully manicured, with winding paths and secluded nooks where couples could find privacy.

They found a quiet spot beneath a large oak tree, the soft glow of the garden lights casting shadows around them. Juliette took a deep breath, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach.

"So," Matthieu said, breaking the silence.

"So," Juliette echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. She thought about how she was going to initiate the kiss. In all the books she had read, they just say Puis-je t'embrasser?, which is very romantic to read but sounded so embarrassing in her head when she imagined saying it out loud. In films, it just sort of seemed to happen without any discussion, but both parties always go into it knowing exactly what's happening.

He nodded at her, and she glanced at him, waiting for him to speak.

"You look really lovely," he said. Juliette could tell that that wasn't really what he wanted to say. He was just stalling. She knew what was supposed to happen next. She was supposed to lean in, nervous but excited, and he'd brush her hair out of her face and she'd look up at him beneath her eyelashes, and then they'd kiss, gently, and be one. Juliette and Matthieu, and then they'd both go home, giddy and happy, and that would be it. He'd message her, and they'd decide to go on a proper date, just to see what would happen, and on that date they would decide to try becoming official, and it would just keep going from there.

That was what was supposed to happen.

Juliette could see every single moment of it. A simple route.

"It's okay if you haven't kissed anyone before."

"Okay," Juliette said. It irritated her that he was slightly irritating her.

This is what she wanted, wasn't it?

"Julie..." Matthieu leaned in close, and then it hit her.

The awkwardness. The disgust.

A wave of absolute unbridled panic and disgust.

Their lips touched. He placed his hand on her lower back. She felt disgusted. She wanted this to end. He pulled away, looking at her, smiling, and she looked at him back, holding back tears. She was just looking at him, thinking six years.

Her six-year crush was entirely fabricated.

A random choice from sixième. A choice from when she was eleven and a girl held up a photo and told her to choose a boy.

Juliette didn't fancy Matthieu.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." she whispered, looking at this boy she'd picked at random from a photo and said, "I don't like you like that. I'm really sorry. I thought I did, and you're a really nice guy but I just - don't like you like that..." She turned away and started running back up to the house, not looking back when she heard him calling her, calling her name, once, twice, three times, until she couldn't hear from the sound of her blood pumping in her ears.

Tears blurred Juliette's vision as she burst through the doors of the mansion, the noise of the party enveloping her. She felt a mix of shame, confusion, and relief. She needed to find her friends, to tell them she wasn't feeling well, to get out of there as quickly as possible.

She spotted Sophie by the buffet table, laughing with Jacques. Juliette made her way over, her voice trembling as she spoke.

"Soph, I need to go. I'm not feeling well," she said, her words rushed.

Sophie's face immediately shifted to concern. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Juliette shook her head, unable to explain. "I just...I need to leave."

As she turned to leave, the world around her began to spin. Her vision narrowed, and she felt a strange, tingling sensation creeping up her arms and legs. Panic gripped her as she stumbled, reaching out for something to steady herself.

"Juliette?" Sophie's voice sounded distant, distorted.

Before she could respond, Juliette felt her body go rigid. The room seemed to tilt and spin faster, the sounds of the party fading into a dull roar. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears. She tried to call out, but her voice was trapped inside her head.

The world turned black, and Juliette was swallowed by a void of darkness, her last conscious thought a desperate plea for it all to end.