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The day dawned softly, sunlight spilling through Juliette's bedroom window. She blinked awake, and as her senses adjusted, her first thought wasn't of the faint headache lingering from last night's panic or her diagnosis. Instead, it was of Tegan—of how she'd come over without hesitation, stayed by her side, and held her hand through the darkest part of the night.Juliette felt a warmth spread through her, and a new thought, one that she'd never dared to entertain before, flickered into her mind. Could she like Tegan in a way that went beyond friendship?But before she could untangle her feelings any further, there was a light knock on her door. "Juliette?" her mother called. "You have a visitor."Sophie.Juliette hadn't seen Sophie since the night of the party. Her heart rate picked up as she remembered the scene with Matthieu, her hurried departure, and her later breakdown. She wasn't ready to dive back into that, but she also couldn't hide away forever.When Sophie stepped into Juliette's room, her face lit up, though her eyes held a shadow of concern. 

"Hey, you," Sophie greeted, sitting down on the edge of Juliette's bed. "How are you feeling?" Juliette smiled. 

"Better," she replied, grateful for Sophie's kindness. "Just taking things slow."

Sophie's gaze softened. 

"I'm glad to hear that. We were all worried about you." After a pause, she added, "And, um, I just wanted to check... what happened with Matthieu? He mentioned that you left suddenly."

Juliette shifted, avoiding Sophie's gaze. She took a breath, carefully choosing her words. 

"I... it wasn't quite what I thought it would be. I realized that maybe I don't have the feelings for him I thought I did." Sophie raised an eyebrow, her eyes curious. 

"Oh?"

Juliette hesitated, but there was no sense in hiding. 

"I think... I think I like someone else."

"Oh my god." Sophie's face lit up, but she leaned closer, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Do I know them?"Juliette shook her head, a small smile forming on her lips as she tried to explain it to herself, let alone to anyone else. "It's not something I fully understand yet. But it feels... different. And, maybe, special.""Well, whoever they are, I hope they make you happy," Sophie said, giving Juliette's hand a gentle squeeze. Juliette felt a twinge of relief as she smiled back. With Sophie, she felt comfortable enough to leave the details unspoken. Her mind drifted back to Tegan again, unbidden but strong, filling her with an unexpected sense of calm.
That evening, Juliette arrived at her ballet class, her leotard and tights grounding her in the familiar routine of stretching, balancing, and moving through the studio. Ballet had always been her escape—a place where she could lose herself in the rhythm, the grace of movement, and the demands of technique.But today, her thoughts kept drifting back to Tegan.As she worked through a pirouette, she found herself remembering Tegan's words the night before, the way she'd stayed by her side, her presence reassuring and unwavering. Juliette's heart fluttered slightly, her foot nearly faltering as she came out of the turn. She steadied herself, cheeks warming as she brushed a stray hair back from her face, aware that her focus was elsewhere.By the time her class ended, the sky outside was dusky, painted with warm hues of orange and purple. As she exited the studio, she spotted Tegan waiting by the door, leaning against the wall with an easy, familiar smile."You didn't have to come all the way here to pick me up," Juliette said, her own smile widening as she approached."Are you kidding? I wanted to. Besides, I thought you might be ready for some dinner and a movie." Tegan's tone was playful, her eyes warm as she pushed off the wall.Juliette felt her pulse quicken, a warmth spreading through her chest. "Dinner and a movie? At Jen's?"Tegan nodded. "Yep. My aunt's ready to spoil us, as usual."Juliette chuckled, her heart light as they started walking together. The air was crisp, a reminder that autumn was slowly descending on the city, and she felt her hand brush against Tegan's as they walked side by side. The brief contact sent a jolt of warmth through her, and she found herself glancing sideways, wondering if Tegan had felt it too.They arrived at Jen's cozy apartment a short while later. Jen greeted them with her usual warmth, ushering them to the kitchen table where a homemade meal awaited: baked pasta with a gooey layer of cheese on top, a crisp side salad, and warm garlic bread."Thank you, Jen," Juliette said, her voice sincere as she took her seat.Jen waved it off, smiling. "Oh, it's nothing. I'm just glad you're here." She glanced between the two girls, a slight, knowing twinkle in her eye. "It's nice to have you both around for dinner."They dug in, the comforting flavors of the pasta filling the room with warmth. Juliette and Tegan shared glances as they ate, occasionally exchanging quiet comments, laughing softly, their own little bubble of closeness growing with each passing minute. Every time their eyes met, Juliette felt something shift within her, something thrilling and a bit terrifying.After dinner, Jen put on a classic film, one she'd claimed was "a favorite from her own youth." The three of them curled up on the sofa, the dim glow from the TV illuminating their faces. Juliette found herself sinking into the cushions, her shoulder pressed against Tegan's, feeling the gentle rise and fall of her friend's breathing beside her.Halfway through the movie, Jen excused herself, giving them a wink before retreating to her bedroom. Juliette's heart skipped a beat, the quiet intimacy of the moment settling over them. The film continued playing, but Juliette barely noticed it, her focus drawn instead to Tegan's steady presence at her side.When she finally looked over, Tegan's gaze was already on her. There was something in Tegan's eyes that made Juliette's breath catch—a mixture of warmth, intensity, and something unspoken, something Juliette could almost reach out and touch if she dared.Neither of them said a word. The silence between them felt heavy, electric. Juliette's heart pounded as she felt her cheeks warm, her eyes flickering down to Tegan's lips, then back up to her eyes. Every nerve in her body seemed to be on edge, aware of the closeness, the quiet possibility hanging between them.Finally, after a heartbeat that felt like an eternity, Tegan spoke, her voice soft. "Juliette... I've been meaning to tell you something."Juliette's breath caught. She managed a small nod, words caught in her throat."I—" Tegan hesitated, searching Juliette's face, as if gauging her reaction. Her hand found Juliette's, fingers intertwining, and the touch felt like a spark. "You mean a lot to me. More than I can really put into words."Juliette's pulse raced, her hand tightening slightly around Tegan's. She could feel herself leaning in, almost unconsciously, her heart pounding as their faces drew closer. She could see every freckle on Tegan's face, the way her eyes softened, her lips parted just slightly.Their lips met, gentle at first, like testing the waters of something that had been unspoken for so long. But then, in the warmth of that kiss, everything seemed to click, everything they'd held back coming forward all at once. Juliette felt a warmth spread through her, a feeling of completeness she'd never experienced before. The world around them faded, leaving only the two of them, lost in each other.When they finally pulled back, both of them were breathless, eyes searching, as if they were rediscovering each other. Juliette felt her cheeks burning, but she couldn't help the smile spreading across her face."That... was nice," Tegan murmured, a shy smile tugging at her lips.Juliette chuckled softly, her fingers still intertwined with Tegan's. "Yeah. It was."They sat in a comfortable silence, their hands still joined, as the rest of the film continued playing in the background, forgotten. It felt as though they had crossed into something new, something that had been waiting for them all along, and as they sat there, Juliette felt a sense of certainty, a quiet joy settling in her heart.Whatever else might come, whatever challenges or uncertainties lay ahead, Juliette knew that she and Tegan would face them together. And that, she realized, was all she needed.