63. Juliet’s Back

Michael

I went over to the window and stood outside, peering in. Hoping she would be there. It was crowded. The people were dancing, and the girls were in a group jumping up and down. Then I saw her. Hair bouncing… drunk as a fish. I stood there watching her for a few minutes. I couldn’t help but smile. She was and always would be a little crazy…

My feelings for her had gone from… Longing to see her again… To… a need to be a part of her life. It was hot in there… She had barely anything on… The way she was dancing. Asking me to take off the little that was left… The other women stood rallied around her. They sang and did shots. Her French was good, and she kept up.

I opened the door. The whole room paused. The music was loud in the background. Everyone stared at me. I gave a little wave. Juliet yelled loudly in French. “The stripper is here.” The crowd went nuts, even the guys.

I was tired. I just hiked for two hours… Ran around looking for her for a few more... But her energy was infectious. She bounced over, poured a shot into my mouth, and wanted to kiss me. I wasn’t there yet. Strangely she was never offended by my lack of commitment.

But there would be a punishment. Hanging her out to dry. She rallied the crowd to chant for me. They wanted me to strip. It would be the cost… The thought was playing around in my mind… To indulge her. I had done some stupid stuff in my youth… I wouldn’t see these people again. Soon everyone would be dead anyway… I liked dancing.

She started clapping for me, and the crowd joined her. What the hell is wrong with people? I’m covered in tattoos.

The crowd separated to the outskirts of the room and made a space for me in the middle. Juliet took my jacket and hung it up at the door. I took off my shoes and socks standing in slacks and a vest.

I walked over to Juliet pulled her into the center of the room. Pushed her down onto a chair I had pulled out from under some guy. She smiled so wickedly at me that it fueled me to give her what she wanted. Fun…

I went to the DJ and put on her favorite song through my phone.

I stood facing her as I wiped my nose with my index finger and thumb, waiting for the music to start.

She opened her legs and sat like a guy would, beer in hand. It made me laugh. When the music started…I stretched out my arm and hand to her asking for permission first… so I could enter her space. She accepted my invitation. I held her hand for a moment, slowly gliding my finger up her arm… Then further over her shoulder, neck, and down the other arm. Circling her coming back around. I kept watching her while I hovered over her lap. Grinded really slowly to the beat of the music. Juliet’s eyes were all over me. I lowered my head, smelling her neck. I moved away from her… letting my hands slide over her naked thighs until our faces were inches apart, teasing her for a kiss.

Slowly I stood up, rocking my body in that body-roll strippers used… Taking off my shirt. I danced fluently, falling on the floor humping away as she laughed like she’s never laughed before. All I could do was be happy with her. And not let her look away from me. Touching her as I moved around her.

For three minutes, she had me dancing, stripping, and performing to a crowd of strangers. Jiggling my body, grinding out to the other ladies. Her reactions were so spot on that every part of me focused just on her. I knew what she liked and what buttons to press. I ended up in only my boy shorts when I ended my dance in front of her. She would kill me if I took off my shorts…

The song ended. I pulled her up roughly onto my chest. Breathing heavily onto her lips. “Ready to go home.”

She nodded. “For that… Oh man, I owe you big time!” I got dressed, my mind full of ideas of how to make her pay… I got her coat and covered her. She put on pants and a jacket. Gloves she had pushed into the pockets earlier. I picked her up and flung her over my shoulder, carrying her out against everyone’s protests.

She waved and yelled a chant. The group all clapped as we left… the party just carried on.

Juliet wriggled off me. I let her go and dropped her slowly in front of me. She still staggered… being a little drunk and slurry when she spoke. It was freezing, but she didn’t move. Looking up at me.

She reached up on her toes and pressed her lips on mine. My eyes closed. We kissed… for the first time since being at the farm… You could barely call it a kiss… We’ve done everything but really kiss passionately… like lovers do. I didn’t want to cross that line of intimacy with her. We weren’t going to last… I was afraid for so many reasons. If I did kiss her… I was done for.

Her tongue begged me to open my mouth. Her hand tugged slowly on my chin to let go. Lost in the way she smelled and the taste I was getting from just that… I tilted my head slightly and parted my lips. A gasp escaped her mouth. I was letting her into my world… Just a little bit more. My hands wrapped her in an embrace as I pulled her closer. The kiss got more and more intense as the moments passed. Moaning, our lips played with each other until her body shook from the cold. I pushed her away, but she didn’t want to let me go.

“Let’s take this party indoors… Okay?” She nodded drunkenly at me.

The house wasn’t far from the town. Inside we made a b-line for her room. Put the air on and pushed a button for the fire. We both jumped under the duvet. She found me quickly and warmed herself against me.

“How long?” She asked, a little soberer.

“Two days.” She just laid there staring up at the roof in my arms. She was waiting… I got on top of her. I kissed her waiting, asking for permission as she did earlier. Her hands ran into my hair and gripped a fistful pulling me closer, devouring me… and I let her. Giving her every part of me. Straddling me, she pushed me over and under her to take control on top… and I let her.

Two days. Two whole days.

***

We were on the couch watching TV. I didn’t want to ask for fear that she would cut those two days short… but…

“You don’t want to go back and have a part in the discussions.”

She shook her head. “They will decide without me… Anyway.”

“What if they decide to go back?”

“I won’t!”

***

Chris

Christmas morning, there was a knock on the door. Louis opened because I had a very unhappy baby in my arms. When Kubra and Jack walked in, all our faces fell.

Warden also came trailing in, taking Caleb. I didn’t know where he took him, but I was kinda thankful to have just a few minutes without trying to console the kid.

We knew the time had come to discuss Marcus and Louis going back to En-gannim… Marcus hadn’t seen Kubra since the fight. They pound-hugged and spoke a lot in their own language, patting each other on the back.

We invited them in, and they sat around the table.

“Who is the new ambassador since asher died?” Kubra didn’t look up. Jack was waiting for him to say. They had both been watchers for two hundred years. Even though Louis and Jack didn’t know each other. Jack knew everything about Louis.

“Kubra’s father is here for the interim and the foreseeable future.”

“Jabin? Isn’t he…” Marcus asked, and Kubra nodded.

“The surveillance will be even worse now… But I’m still doing all I can to manipulate the feed. I don’t think my father will sit and watch you all day long.”

“Have you been editing the feed?” Marcus sounded almost desperate.

Kubra bobbed his head. “The finger sucking thing… Yeah, and small things... where you gave yourself away… Marcus got up and pulled him into an embrace.”

“She hasn’t really changed, has she.”

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head.

“If we go back, we have to follow their rules. We will have some kind of control over Juliet. No one will be able to touch her, but she can be locked up when we’re not looking.” Marcus said, sitting down again.

“Marcus… You’re nowhere near ready.” Louis said. Fearful of Marcus’s blind trust in his capabilities. “Look… Going back there, isn’t even an option… If we do, she’ll run. Michael let me know in so many words. We will literally never find her again. She will make Caleb disappear and never come out of her invisible state until he’s like Five hundred.”

“What you don’t understand, Louis. You have to choose who would be the villain in our story. If we’re here… We will be looking over our shoulder anyway.”

“If we don’t split up. It will be complicated for them.”

***

Michael

“Okay… You ready?” I asked before we traveled out of France.

“Fake it till you make it.”

“That’s my little Juliet.” She was holding my hand, not even remarking on my words. That’s how I knew she was scared.

“I hate it when you call me that.”

I pulled her around and kissed her one last time. “I…”

“Don’t… Please.” She begged.

“That’s not what I wanted to say….” We were standing lips to lips.

“Then what?” She whispered.

“You owe me.”

She chuckled… “I know… what do you want me to do right now, though?”

“Marry me… human certificate and all.” Her lips pressed together in a surprised, thoughtful smile.

She was quiet for a second, our foreheads touching. My hands cupped her cheeks. She turned her face and kissed my palm... That was as good as a yes, and I kissed her again. Picking her up.

“You will have to wait….” We both laughed.

“I’ll wait as long as I have to… So it’s a date? You want me in your life?”

She nodded.

I pressed the button, and we emerged outside in the snow. It was early, and we could hear Caleb crying. Her soft little hand gripped so tightly into my calloused hand. I gave her a minute… When she lets go just a little bit, I left.

***

Juliet

“Sheese Michael... You coward.” I gave another little laugh thinking about his striptease. He was anything but a coward. Best two months of my life. Taking in a deep breath, I had to steel myself. I took the stairs slowly, not wanting to fall. Pulling the handle down, I pushed open the door.

My mom had Caleb, trying to soothe him. Nothing worked. He was wailing. I walked over and took him from her. She was dumbfounded. I sat down, already irritated to be back. I pulled up my shirt and put him on my breast. He was quiet and sucked like a champ. “Hi, buddy. You good? You didn’t like the bottle?”

Mom sat down across from me, staring. Not saying a word. She knew when my face was that contorted to just step away. I didn’t feel like dealing. The quiet made all the men come out of their rooms. I saw the many figures behind me from the corner of my eye.

“Leave!” The quiet behind me was deafening as they hesitantly shuffled around. I eventually turned when my mom shoed them. They started retreating.

“And I want my room back… Now that Charlene is out… Make it happen. Get Caleb’s crib in there. I’m not going up and down those stairs every time he wakes up.”

There was a scurry behind me. I heard the furniture move and them talking and going in and out of rooms.

After about twenty minutes, I put him on the other breast. My mom had sat back in her chair and closed her eyes. Was she sleeping…? What the hell? I thought Chris was going to be needed for this. Why were they not bonding?

Caleb’s mouth dislodges off my nipple. “You fell asleep... So sweet. Now you’re the only guy in this place that loves me… Right.” I took the burp cloth from the chair and put him on my shoulder, rubbing his little back. My dad came over and stroked my hair.

“Hello, Julie. How are you?” I smiled sweetly up at him. He went over to mom and rubbed his fingers over her cheek.

“How do you feel, grandpa?” He looked at Caleb, and his chin quivered. He was getting all choked up. “I’m so proud of you, Juliet. He’s just the best.”

The words warm my heart. “Well, maybe not the only guy,” I whisper to Caleb. He picked up mom and carried her down the hall.

Smiling, I thought about last night’s drinking games we played and how drunk we got. I hugged Caleb as I kept patting him. Walking to the kitchen, I took out a beer, threw a rug over Caleb, and made our way outside. Down the road to Charlene’s.

Knocking on her door, I waited. Quickly glancing back up at the house. I saw three pairs of eyes on me. I stuck out my tongue at them. Then Charlene pulled me inside.

We hug for so long. She stared at Caleb while clinging to me. I kissed her cheek. “It’s going to be alright, Chars… Don’t worry.” She nodded tearily.

We went and sat down on the carpet in front of the fire. Caleb was all burped out. I put him down on the rug. If he had been crying for so long. He would be out for hours. I finished my beer quickly. Breathed out the breath I had been holding for the last hour. With closed eyes, I groaned up at the roof. I couldn’t get off that Michael high. I heard voices behind me. The whole crowd is there. Happy to see them, I jumped over the couch, hugging them all.

Where is my little girl? Ben handed her over. I walked around the couch and sat down with Miné grabbing my hand. “You are so pretty… Just like your mommy.” The guys came and sat around us, looking at Caleb and checking him out as he slept for the dead.

“So what does a girl gotta do to get a drink around here?” Mateo jumped up and went to the kitchen. “Beer, please.” He brought me my favorite, and I smiled up at him. Charlene dissected me with her piercing stare.

“Juliet! Come on… You were gone for so long… We didn’t think you would come back.”

“Hey, I had no say in the matter. And no, never. I love you all too much. Just because…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. My breathing was already ragged. I thought that I would be over it, but I wasn’t. No kidding, Juliet. Stupid Juliet was back.

Michaels's words echo in my head. “Why don’t you sort that out.” I’ve been racking my brain. How do I keep us all together with the crap storm coming?

“What happened? Did they sign the papers?” I asked, trying to get off the subject.

“Of course.” I sighed in relief, closing my eyes leaning back my head on the back of the couch.

“Did you really think they would take you back there?”

“To be honest, I doubted Marcus until a second ago.”

Back on topic.

“Is that why you didn’t come home… Marcus?” She snorted. “You’ve got it bad.” I snickered as our eyes locked.

“I… I’m screwed.” We burst out laughing. The guys joined in… listening and probably knowing what was going on.

“Well, I figured out what we will do tomorrow, Pinky.”

“What brain?”

“Fighting… We have to fight.”

Charlene groaned, laying her head back. We both just stared up at the roof. “Really? I was hoping it would be good news… Like all the aliens will go home and never come back. We could just be happy.” I looked at Ben and pointed to the kitchen. He brought Charlene the same as me. She downed a big gulp.

“So, are you going back with Ben? What’s going on between you guys? You know maybe on their planet they will have something for you?”

Ben came over and sat behind her rubbing her shoulders. “I think it’s good getting into fighting. On my planet, all our women are warriors… And we haven’t lost a fight against the vampires… yet.” Ben said, then he went on. “We’re together… together. Ship and all. I moved in a month ago. I help with Miné. Help wash clothes towels. Cleaning… cooking anything she needs.” He kept massaging her shoulders.

Charlene smiled so happily that I leaned forward. “Chomping at the bit….” I flashed eyebrows at her. We clunked our bottles. “Congratulations.” Then I did the same with his. Ben had done a 180. Usually, he would say nothing and be distant. Glad that my mom and I were right about him.

***

After a few hours, I picked up Caleb when he started to stir. “I’ll see you bright and early.” I pulled Charlene into an embrace. “I missed you so much. I want to spend as much time with you and Miné as possible.”

The guys were finishing the last round of cards we were playing. I greeted them all, and they all got up to hug me. I pulled my hood over my head and covered Caleb with his rug.

Outside when I was alone, I stood there for a moment. It started snowing. I lifted my face up to the white flakes. Sticking out my tongue as I tried to catch some falling.

Love is just a decision. The choice is mine, but I love him so much it hurts. It’s been so long. Could we really meet again? I want to behave… But he’s in the house… In my space…

Carefully I walked the rest of the way. Inside it was dark and quiet. I walked past Marcus’s door, I stopped. I slapped it loudly. “Ignorant ass,” I whispered. But he won’t respond. I waited... Nothing. It killed me that there was never a response.

I stood away from the door. Hearing something. I looked left and right. Up and scanned the roof. I shook my head… Remembering what Michael said… Marcus’s behavior was all for me… but it hurt like hell. And I didn’t understand it.

What did I have to hold onto when I thought of Marcus. I rested my head on the door and ran my hand softly over the wood. “I want you so bad,” I whispered and left. Going into my own room, I closed and locked the door. I put Caleb on the bed, got undressed, and fed him.

For the first time in months, I put my phone on. Chris’s name popped up. I couldn’t remember giving him my number… I couldn’t face any of them just yet.

I go to Marcus’s number and send a voice note.

Me [“Charlene and I are training tomorrow morning early. If you want to help.”] I pressed send.

Ten minutes later, he sent me a message back. Ten freaking minutes…

Marcus {A couch, a book, a head massage emoji, and a few question marks.}

Me [“Sorry, Marcus… Not anymore.”] I pressed sent.

Marcus {Sad emoji face.}

I throw the phone on the bed. “What the F-!”

Me {You’re too hot and cold. Choose one}

Marcus: {Sad emoji face.}

It was cute that he was sending anything.