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Tegan couldn't stop smiling as she watched Juliette move across the room, her bright eyes alight with a sense of achievement that Tegan could feel radiating from her. Juliette had just received the news: she'd been selected for a summer ballet role at the Opéra National de Paris. It was the kind of thing that many young dancers would dream of for years, and here Juliette was, standing on the precipice of something huge. "I still can't believe it," Juliette said, her voice soft but bubbling with excitement. She looked down at the letter in her hands, then back at Tegan, the sheer joy and disbelief in her expression more than enough to tell Tegan how much this meant to her."You should believe it," Tegan said, grinning widely. "You've worked so hard for this, Juliette. You're going to be amazing."Juliette's face flushed a little as she met Tegan's gaze, her smile wide but her eyes searching. "I couldn't have done it without you, you know," she said quietly. "You've been with me through all the highs and lows, and this—this just feels like everything is finally coming together."Tegan felt her heart swell, but at the same time, there was a slight ache, something tugging at the back of her mind. Juliette was achieving so much, and Tegan couldn't help but feel incredibly proud of her. But she also knew that this was just the beginning of something bigger. A future Juliette had always dreamed of. "I know you'll kill it. They're lucky to have you," Tegan said, her voice thick with pride. "I'll be there every night, cheering you on. Every single performance."Juliette's eyes softened at the mention of Tegan's commitment, and her lips curled into a small but meaningful smile. "You'll come every night?""Of course," Tegan answered without hesitation, though something in her chest tightened at the thought of the future. "You think I'd miss it?"The promise was easy to make, but in the pit of her stomach, Tegan knew it wasn't going to be that simple. Juliette had her life to live, and Tegan, well, Tegan had always known that she was on borrowed time in Paris. But that didn't matter right now. Not while Juliette was glowing like she was, not when everything in this moment felt perfect.
Later that evening, after Juliette had received all the congratulations and had taken some time to reflect on her new role, Tegan decided to take her out to celebrate. They stopped by their favorite ice cream shop near Montmartre, where Tegan bought them both extravagant sundaes topped with whipped cream and cherries. The evening was warm, the kind of summer evening where the sky hung heavy with the pinks and oranges of sunset. Tegan felt a quiet peace as she sat across from Juliette at the table outside the little shop. The day had been perfect—Juliette had gotten the role, Tegan had gotten to witness it firsthand, and they were together, just the two of them, enjoying the calm."So, what's next for you?" Tegan asked as she scooped up a bite of her ice cream. She leaned in, her eyes gentle, but there was an undercurrent of something she couldn't quite identify, something that made her chest ache whenever she thought about it.Juliette paused mid-bite, her eyes thoughtful. 

"I don't know. There's so much I want to do, but this is the big one. I'm going to have to give everything I have to this summer, to this role." She sighed. "It's kind of crazy to think that this is happening. It doesn't feel real."

"It's real," Tegan replied softly. "And you're going to do great things."Juliette's smile was small but sincere, a quiet moment of connection between them, one that didn't need to be said aloud. But as Juliette looked at her, there was something unspoken in her gaze, something that made Tegan's heart twist a little with both joy and fear. "I can't wait to see you in action. You're going to be amazing," Tegan continued, trying to keep the emotions at bay. She wasn't sure if Juliette noticed the tremor in her voice, the way it wavered, just a little.
A few days later, Tegan found herself sitting in the cozy living room of Jen's apartment, absently flipping through a magazine as Jen worked on her laptop nearby. She had a lot on her mind, and while Juliette had certainly taken up most of her thoughts lately, there were things she couldn't push aside.Jen glanced up from her screen, sensing Tegan's unease. "Everything alright?" she asked, her tone light but filled with concern.Tegan hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I've been thinking a lot about Juliette," she said softly. "About how much she's achieving right now. It's exciting, but... I don't know. It makes me feel... like I'm just waiting."Jen looked at her for a long moment before setting her laptop down, giving Tegan her full attention. "What do you mean?" she asked gently. "I just..." Tegan ran a hand through her hair, unsure of how to articulate it. "Juliette is going to be busy with rehearsals, performances, the whole thing. She's going to be so immersed in that world, and I'll be back home, stuck in England. Going back to college. I don't want to feel like I'm holding myself back, but I also want to be there for her. I just don't know what that means for me. And us."Jen studied her for a moment, then smiled knowingly. "I think I know exactly what you need."Before Tegan could respond, Jen stood up and walked toward a drawer in the kitchen, pulling out a letter. Tegan's brow furrowed as Jen handed it to her. The envelope was thick, official-looking."Open it," Jen urged, sitting back down.With shaking hands, Tegan tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. As she read, her breath caught in her throat. Jen had applied to art school on Tegan's behalf. And the letter was an acceptance.Tegan couldn't believe it. "Jen... You didn't.""I did. I thought it was time. Paris has always felt like home to you, and with everything you've been building here, it felt like the right time to take the next step. But the real question is... what are you going to do about it?"Tegan's mind was racing. This was everything she'd wanted. The chance to create, to stay in Paris, to be close to Juliette. And yet, there was still that tug—the uncertainty of it all. But as she looked at the letter, a sense of clarity began to settle over her."I... I don't know," Tegan murmured, still in shock. "But I think I'm going to accept."Jen smiled. "I thought you might."Tegan swallowed hard, her mind spinning. The idea of staying in Paris had always seemed like an impossible dream, but now it was within reach. She could continue her life here, with Juliette. She could be part of this world Juliette was building for herself—her career, her future. But what would that mean for their relationship? Was she ready to commit? The answer came to her in the form of a single thought, and it was as simple as it was overwhelming.

The next day, the two girls were sat by the Eiffel tower for a picnic. They were talking about summer plans.

"I'm going to come to see you dance every night... and every matinee," Tegan said suddenly, as if the words had been building in her chest for hours. "I'll be there. Every single time you perform."

Juliette's eyes widened. "That will be so expensive."Tegan smiled, shaking her head. "No, it won't. It's worth it. You're worth it.""But you don't have to," Juliette protested, though her voice was soft, hesitant. "Don't you see?" Tegan said, her voice quiet but firm. "If I'm in Paris anyway, if I'm here for you... then I'm already committed. You don't need to worry about me. I'm not going anywhere."Juliette looked at her, eyes full of both doubt and hope. "You're not going?"Tegan squeezed her hand tightly, her eyes tearing up. "No. I got into art school here."

Juliette gasped. "You didn't..." Tegan smiled.

"It's you and me, always."