Julie

"I love you, Chace."

These words full of love come from the beautiful girl who is standing next to the couch in the living room. Chace McKade has almost lost hope until his girlfriend has confirmed that she still loves him. He wants to make the next step. The two of them have been dating for three years, and, now, it's time for them to move further.

Julie Hudspeth, anyway, after finish college successfully (she graduated summa cum laude and is considering taking a PhD too), wants to have success in love, as well. This is why it's important for her to keep being in good terms with Chace.

She knows she loves him more than anybody else, especially her sisters. Jocelyn envies her because she knows she will never find a guy as charming as her sister's boyfriend, and, even though she tries to hide it, she seriously hopes the two of them break up. Jennifer believes that couple is nothing special and that she will get her childhood crush, Adrian, to become her boyfriend really easily, so that they will defeat Julie and Chace for the title of "Best Couple of the Hudspeth Family" (in fact, they are deemed to be the best couple as of now due to the parents being in quite bad terms lately). Jessica doesn't even believe they will last long as a couple, and fears that Chace is a bad person; Janae doesn't mind them at all, as long as they stay away from her; and, lastly, Jaeleigh doesn't even know what true love is meant to be, as she is only eight.

However, nobody else can understand what Chace really means to Julie. He is all her life, and she is the light of his eyes. Their feelings are even stronger than the heaviest of the materials there being on Earth.

***

Sitting on the comfortable red couch at the center of the huge living room, Julie is having an amiable conversation with Laney, her best friend from college. The latter asks, "So, when is he going to put a ring on it?"

Julie can barely retain her laughter. "Oh, come on, Laney. Let's not rush things. You know I hate taking such risks."

"Are you kidding me, Jules? He's handsome, isn't he? Any other girl would dream of being his wife - even me. Why am I still dating that idiot?"

Laney's complaint is definitely something Julie wouldn't mind that much, as long as it doesn't involve talking bullshit about Chace. He is her "perfect guy", and her friend mustn't be overly envious, otherwise what kind of best friend would she be?

Anyway, Laney thinks Julie isn't caring that much about her and Bobby Lee, the air-headed and quite conceited guy who cares more about his own interest than spending time with his girlfriend. However, Julie does. She fears that Bobby Lee is just "using" her friend to show himself off. 'I can't let this happen. I must help Laney.'

So, an idea is about to come, but she doesn't know whether it's a good one or not, hence she decides not to talk about it now and brings the focus of the conversation back to Chace, or maybe something else, in order not to be regarded as selfish.

"So, Laney, what are you doing now? Are your Psychology exams going well?" she asks therefore.

"Haven't I already mentioned you?" Julie shakes her head, still shocked at her friend's words. "Julie, I left Psychology. I decided to take up Art instead."

"Laney! Are you mad?" is Julie's harsh response. "Why the fuck did you choose to leave a course you were doing so well at?"

However, Laney looks disappointed at the Hudspeth eldest girl's reaction. 'I knew it. She isn't giving me any support.' This is why she is speaking up. "You know what, Julie? Not everyone is like you. You may have had super clear ideas, but I haven't. Everyone changes their mind."

"Do you really think I am unsupportive? If so, tell me the truth, Laney, because I am fed up with you always pointing out my flaws!" Julie immediately regrets saying that last sentence. She fears she will lose her friend, which wouldn't be surprising, though. Laney is the only friend, besides Chace, who has stayed by her side through twenty-one years of life. Her other friends either lost their contacts or ditched her. As of her sisters, they never liked her, especially Jocelyn and Jennifer. 'Those two little envious brats! I won't let them have the satisfaction of seeing me lose the only friend I have left!'

"Julie... how can you say that? You know we are friends!" Laney has raised her voice to the point that Julie almost feels like she's going to have a heart stroke. The Hudspeth girl clutches her head between her legs and stars crying. Laney can't help feeling sorry for her, yet she still remembers that she has more than a reason to be upset with her.

"I can feel their presence, Laney," states Julie. "Don't you try to deny! Joss and Jenn must be here!" She is correct. Jocelyn and Jennifer are hiding behind a curtain, and both are overhearing their older sister's conversation. It seems as they have nothing much to do as an alternative, which may piss Julie off should she find out what they're doing. However, there's someone who may not notice their presence: Laney.

The latter is looking around, still she can't notice the two snarky teenagers laughing behind that curtain. Julie however does, much to her distress. In fact, she stands up and walks towards it. She opens it, and, in fact, finds the girls before shouting, "Go away, both of you!"

"We overheard everything, Jules," replies Jennifer triumphantly, her arms crossed, making Julie want to slap her face.

"Believe me, Julie," adds Jocelyn, glaring at her older sister, "your story with Chace won't last long."

Julie is mad at them. 'Why can't those two brats behave like Jessica, Janae or Jaeleigh, which means just mind their own business?' Without any hesitation, she slaps Jocelyn's face and hisses, "Leave."

The two girls obey, but Jocelyn promises Julie will pay for what she did to her, and so does Jennifer. They can't wait to tell Jessica what happened, so that they try and get an ally, but this is very unlikely to happen, given she dislikes them.