Seize Control

Juliette slowly and gently slipped her legs over the edge of the bed and stood to her feet, picking her various clothing items off the floor and pulling them back on. As she was buttoning her shirt, she heard movement from behind her. She turned her head just as Kip slid up into the sitting position, his back resting against the headboard.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"Running off so soon? It's only 4am," he said, turning his head to look at the alarm clock on the nightstand next to him.

"I really need to get home before my parents wake up."

"At least wait until daylight."

"I really shouldn't, Kip."

"Alright," he sighed. "But be careful."

"Of course," she smiled, leaning down to kiss his cheek. "I'll see you later."

As soon as she made it outside, she jumped into her car and drove home, hoping that her car wasn't too loud when she pulled into her driveway. She silently unlocked the front door and went inside, tip-toeing up the stairs to her bedroom, and stripping out of her clothes before falling into her still unmade bed.

After a few hours, her eyes fluttered open and she rolled over onto her back as she looked at her alarm clock. 7:49. She slowly climbed out of bed and went into her bathroom to take a quick shower. After throwing her wet hair into a knot on top of her head, she pulled on some jeans and a black v neck and slipped her feet into her black boots. When she went downstairs, she found no one. She grabbed her purse from the floor next to the door and left the house, jumping back into her car.

The ride took less than ten minutes. She pulled into the driveway next to the large tan truck and got out, going up to the front door and knocking gently. The door opened after a few minutes and the woman behind it greeted her with a smile. "Hey, Jules. What's up?"

"Hey Donna. You got a minute?"

"Sure, I'm just feeding the kids lunch. Come on in." Donna was Opie's wife. She and Op had two small kids, Kenny and Ellie. They were practically still babies when Opie went to prison.

Juliette followed Donna inside the house and sat down at the kitchen table next to the youngest child, Kenny. "They're getting so big," she commented to Donna as she sat down on the other side of the table.

"Crazy, isn't it? Ellie starts kindergarten in January."

"Mommy, I'm done!" Kenny exclaimed, holding his small hands in the air.

"Me too!" Ellie shouted.

"Alright, you can go play then."

The two small children cheered as they got up from the table and ran back into the living room with their toys.

"Okay, what's the deal?" Donna asked her.

"I sorta have a problem."

"What kind of problem?"

"A guy problem."

"Oh really?" she asked, leaning back in her chair with a smile.

Juliette rolled her eyes. "Yeah. And you know I can't talk to my mother."

"And so you came to me. I feel so honored!" she joked. Donna was like the cool older sister Juliette never had. Donna and Opie were high school sweethearts so Juliette had known her most of her life. "So what's the deal?"

"You remember Silas, right? My best friend?"

"Yeah, yeah. He's a cute kid, Jules," she grinned.

"Yesterday, he sort of-......"

"Sort of what?"

"Said he was in love with me," she mumbled.

"What?!"

"Yeah."

"So what's the problem? You don't like him that way?"

Juliette shook her head. "I don't even know. All I know is he's my only friend and I don't want to lose him."

"Well you know no matter what, things are different now. They won't ever be the same."

"There's also something else."

Donna's eyebrows shot up. "Oh?"

"I met this guy Kip at the park a few days ago while I was out jogging."

"Do you like him?"

"Well I kind of-......I slept with him," she said, mumbling the last part.

"You did what?! Jesus Christ, kid!"

"I know, I know. I was just so annoyed and upset with Silas and I wasn't thinking."

"So you just used this other guy?"

Juliette frowned. "I guess so."

"So you don't really like him?"

"I don't know yet. What should I do?"

"First thing you need to do is figure out who it is you want. Second, you need to apologize to this guy for using him."

"What do I do about Silas?"

"I guess you find out if you can like him as more than your friend."

"This sucks," she grumbled.

Donna chuckled. "Hey, at least neither of them is in the Club."

"My silver lining." Juliette sighed, running her hands down her face. "Alright, well I guess I'll go talk to Kip."

"Good luck, sweetie."

"Thanks. I need it," she replied, getting up from the table. She said a quick goodbye to the kids before leaving the house, once again jumping into her black camaro. The drive to Kip's house didn't take quite as long today and she hadn't even made it up the front steps when the door opened.

"Back for more?" he asked with a grin.

"Can we talk?"

He took note of her serious tone. "Uh, sure," he answered, shutting the door behind him and sitting down on the top step. She followed suit, taking a seat right next to him. "What's up?"

"I came to apologize."

"For what?"

Juliette frowned. "Yesterday, my best friend kind of told me he's in love with me. My head was still spinning when I got here." She shook her head. "I was trying to get my mind off it. I used you."

She glanced over at him and saw the look on his face, eyebrows raised in curiosity but also a glint of guilt in his eyes. "I kinda used you too," he finally said.

She stayed silent, waiting for his explanation. "My girlfriend just dumped me a few days before I met you. I guess I needed a distraction."

"Did it work?"

His blue eyes met hers. "For a few hours. Did it work for you?"

She sighed, looking back out at the road. "For a few hours."

They were both silent for awhile until he chuckled to himself. "We're quite a pair."

"Yeah, I guess we are," she agreed.

"Friends?"

A huge smile spread across her face as she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his body. "I'd really love that."

He chuckled as his arms wrapped themselves around her to return the hug.