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It was one of those perfect Saturday afternoons, the kind where the sun felt like it was basking in its full glory, spreading its warmth over the city of Paris. The streets outside were alive with the usual bustle, but for a few hours, Juliette had found herself in a small, quiet corner of the world—Jen's flat, where the air seemed to be filled with a quiet, comforting hum of routine and comfort.

Tegan had invited Juliette over for lunch, a casual get-together. Her parents were over from England, and with Juliette's own parents about to go away to Dijon, it had been the perfect time for her and Tegan to spend some time alone together.

As Juliette stepped into the kitchen, the smells of fresh bread, pasta, and something sweet hanging in the air made her smile. 

"Mum's making her famous lasagna," Tegan said with a grin. Her eyes were bright with that unmistakable excitement that seemed to bubble up every time they were together. "And I think she's baking something for dessert, though she's being secretive about it. But I'll try and sneak you a taste later."

Juliette chuckled, feeling the soft weight of anticipation settle in her chest. 

"I'm glad I'm not missing out on dessert," Juliette said, her eyes glimmering as she followed Tegan into the living room. "It smells amazing in here."

"You'll get your fill, don't worry," Tegan said with a wink, her tone warm. "Come on in, Jen's around somewhere. She'll be glad to see you. My mum's just setting up the table."

Tegan's parents were already sitting at the table when they entered, and they both greeted Juliette warmly. Tegan's dad, tall with a bit of salt-and-pepper hair and glasses, stood up to shake her hand, offering her a gruff smile. Her mom warmly smiled and made a small motion to the empty seat across from her.

"Juliette, it's so nice to finally meet you," Tegan's dad said, his voice echoing. "Tegan's told us a lot about you."

Juliette smiled back, a little nervous but feeling comfortable enough to respond. "It's great to meet you too, Mr. and Mrs. Butterworth."

"You can call us just Claire and Jonathan," Tegan's mum said with a wink. "No need to be formal around here. Please, sit, sit. We've got plenty of food."

Juliette sat down, and as she settled into her seat, she could already tell this lunch was going to be different from anything she'd experienced in a while. The conversation flowed easily, with Claire asking her about her ballet lessons and her time in Paris. Jonathan was interested in hearing more about Juliette's interests outside of school, and Tegan often chimed in with her own observations or added little tidbits about her life with Juliette.

The atmosphere in the room was relaxed, and Juliette couldn't help but feel at home in it, despite the strange newness of it all. The laughter, the shared stories, the way the food was passed around the table—it was the kind of thing Juliette had only seen in movies, not something she was used to experiencing in real life. It was nice. It felt right.

As the meal wound down, and the table cleared, Tegan's parents excused themselves to go back to their room. It was then that Tegan turned to Juliette with a small smile.

"They're leaving us to do the dishes," she said with a grin. "Good luck with that."

Juliette laughed, grateful that Tegan wasn't making a big deal of it. "I'll do my best."

When Tegan's parents retreated upstairs, Juliette stood up and began to help gather the plates. She was moving around the kitchen, just starting to stack dishes when Tegan stepped up behind her, placing a hand lightly on her back.

"You know," Tegan said, her voice a bit quieter now, "I'm really glad you're here. I mean, I know you've met my parents before, but this feels different. I guess it feels like... a step."

Juliette's heart warmed at her words, and she turned to face Tegan. She smiled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "I'm glad I'm here too," she said softly. "I know it's still new, but... it feels right."

Tegan's smile deepened at that. She looked at Juliette with something unreadable in her eyes, but before Juliette could ask about it, Tegan squeezed her hand.

"Hey, come on," Tegan said, breaking the silence. "How about we go back to your place? We can chill and just... I dunno. Spend time together."

Juliette nodded, feeling the same pull she always did when it was just the two of them. "Yeah, I'd like that."

As they walked back to Juliette's apartment, the evening breeze had begun to cool the air, and the sun was setting slowly in the sky. It was a comfortable walk, the two of them side by side, hands brushing occasionally. Juliette felt a strange sense of peace settle over her as she walked with Tegan, as though everything in her world was slowly falling into place.

They arrived just as Juliette's parents were leaving for Dijon.

"Well, now that they're gone, time to trash the place!!" Tegan whooped, pretending to kick over the decorations that her mum had so carefully placed on the coffee table. Juliette laughed, and then Tegan was holding her close, their faces inches apart from each other. They breathed each other's air for a few seconds before she leaned in, and Juliette let out a laugh, beyond her control. Tegan's finger met her lips. "Shh," she whispered, smiling at the other girl as she looked at her mouth. Juliette immediately stopped laughing. She stopped laughing because as soon as Tegan's finger was pressed against her lips, she forgot how to laugh.

She forgot everything.

The only thing Juliette could focus on was this girl, her finger as it slid softly down her mouth and chin. Her eyes followed the tip of her finger as it kept moving, trailing gently down her throat, all the way to her chest, down, down, down to her stomach. That one finger felt as if it was touching her with the sensation of one thousand hands. Juliette's lungs and their inability to keep up were signs of that. Her eyes were still focused on her finger as it came to a pause at the top of my jeans, right on the button. Her finger wasn't even making contact with any skin, but you wouldn't have known that based on the rapid response of Juliette's heart. Tegan's entire hand then came into play as she lightly traced Julie's stomach over the top of her jumper until both hands reached her waist. Both of her hands gripped her hips and pulled her forwards, securing the girl against her. Her eyes closed briefly and when she opened them again, she was no longer looking down. She was looking straight into Juliette's eyes.

"I've been wanting to kiss you ever since lunch today," Tegan said. Her confession made the other girl smile.

"You have incredible patience." Juliette replied as the girl led her to her bedroom, shutting the door behind them. Then they both moved at the same time, lips crashing against the others almost angrily, like they were punishing the other for making each other feel this way. Julie hooked an arm around her neck and reached up on her tip-toes, meeting every thrust of Tegan's tongue with a sensual dual of her own. Tegan's arm came around her lower back, holding Juliette close to her as she devoured her lips with her own, swaying their bodies in a rhythm, like they were listening to a song that only they could hear.

Mon Dieu, elle embrassait si bien....

Mon Dieu, j'étais tellement amoureuse...

Juliette always did this weird thing where she tried to memorise everything she was feeling in important moments in her life. From the smell, to the taste, to the feelings she was having, to the sounds she could hear around her, she tried to take it all in and then she wrote about it in her journal at night, desperate to keep those treasured moments safe and sacred.

Right now, with Tegan Butterworth's lips crushed to hers, the sound of Deja Vu playing from the other room, and her heart bursting to the seams from the pressure of the feelings this girl evoked inside of her, she knew that she needed to store this night in her mind. She needed to keep it safe. It was special.

"We don't have to do this if you're not ready..." Tegan murmured, and Juliette shook her head, arms only tightening around Tegan's neck. "I'm ready. And I trust you..."