Cole's POV

Last night, after partying too hard, I found myself at the Harris house with my best friend, Antwon.

He looks over at me from the opposite couch. "How did you sleep last night?"

"Like a baby." I look down and see that I'm wearing one of his shirts. Looking at Antwon, I say. "What happened to my clothes?"

He laughs. "You barfed all over them before we got into the house. Mom washed them and hung them on the line. They should be dried soon."

It's good that it's still summer and clothes dry quickly when the weather is good.

"Mom made bacon and eggs. She wants to know if you want some."

"Sure,"

Antwon stands up and walks into the kitchen. "Cole will have it too, Mom."

A smile spreads across her face as she looks into the kitchen. "It won't take too long." She starts whistling and singing a song.

Today is going to be a great day.

Antwon turns the TV on, and we play Call of Duty until Mrs. Harris calls us for breakfast.

I walk over to the table and sit with Julia's family.

She should be here with them instead of being on Nova Island. It's unfair for her to stay away. After her near-death experience, I expected her to come home and see her family.

After breakfast, Antwon, Liam, and I clean the kitchen for Mrs. Harris.

She walks over to the window in the living and looks outside. "We've got a visitor, but I can't tell who it is as they're in a limousine and the doors are closed.

Mr. Harris is the next person to join her at the window. Followed by Liam, Antwon and I.

I stand away from the window, hoping whoever is in the car will not see me.

The car door opens, and I see Julia exit the car.

Her brown hair is straight on her head, and she has a sun-kissed tan on her arms and legs. She removes her sunglasses and places them on top of her head.

The front door opens, and Mrs. Harris runs out. "Julia Anne Harris! " she yells. "Why would you leave the States and not tell us?"

Julia hugs Mrs Harris. "I'm sorry, Mom." They talk until the rest of her family walks out the door.

I step outside with them and wait on the porch.

Her eyes land on me, and I show her my regret for everything I've done. She turns away from me and hugs the rest of her family.

Antwon steps forward to hug her, and she slaps him across the face. His face turns to the side.

She looks pissed at him. "How could you open the door to the worst person in this town?"

I see Liam's apple bop, and he gulps before saying. "He told Liam and I what he did to you and we beat the shit out of him. He was in the hospital because of us." Antwon looks at Mrs Harris. "Mom made us go to the hospital and apologise to him."

Liam steps forward and says. "It was the last thing we wanted to do as he was why you didn't come home. As time passed, we became friends, and he told us how sorry he was for making you feel unsafe when coming home."

Julia moves over to her Mom and says. "I'll come back later. I want to go to the hotel and get some sleep."

Why would she need a hotel when her room is available here? Nothing in her room has changed.

When I first went to their house, her brothers showed me a bunch of stuff in her room, making me angry at the type of person I was to her.

I doubt I can do anything to make her feel safe around me, but there has to be something I can do to make her hate me less.

Mrs. Harris places her hand on Julia's. "I want you to stay here. You shouldn't have to spend money at a hotel."

The girl that Julia came with grabbed bags from the trunk. "We're staying here then. I hope you'll be able to get your money back from the hotel you booked."

Julia shakes her head. "I won't be able to get money back because I haven't given them any notice about cancelling my stay."

Mr. Harris pulls his wallet out of his pocket and says. "I'll give you the money. I know you can't afford to lose any." He gives me some money. "I'll give you the rest when you tell me what hotel you chose."

"Thanks, Dad." She places the money in her bag and walks to the house with her luggage.

The girl follows Julia to the house. She holds the door open for her. "This place is amazing. I can't believe you let that asshole chase you away from your home and family." She glares at me as she enters the house.

I grab Julia's wrist, and she spins around to see who grabbed her arm. She turns towards me and shakes my hand from hers. "What do you want, Cole?"

"I want to apologise for being cruel to you when we were in High School." I shift from foot to foot, waiting for her reply.

She looked at me and said, "I don't forgive you, Cole. It will take much more than apologising to make me forgive you. I missed out on many things because I was afraid of you. I'm not anymore, and I hope you start regretting how you treated me before I left for University." She walked up the stairs, never looking back at me.

Liam walks over to me. "Give her some time. I'm sure she'll come around."

I step around him. "Julia won't come around, and it's all my fault. I should go home and give her a few days with your family. I'll see you at work." I pull my keys out of my pocket and head out the front door.

When I got to my car, I looked at the second floor and saw Julia standing in the window. She flips me off before pulling the curtain shut.

Opening the car door, I step into my car and pull out of the driveway.

On the way to my house, my phone goes off, and I pull to the side of the road. Looking at my phone, I see a message from Antwon.

Antwon: Why did you leave without saying goodbye?

Me: I didn't feel welcome at your house. I told Liam I would give you all the time to spend with Julia.

Antwon: You don't have to.

I throw my phone on the seat beside me and pull back onto the road. I turn the radio up and listen to music as I drive towards my place.

When I get home, I turn off my phone before climbing out of the car and heading to the front door.