Sequel: Fate Misunderstood

Seize Control

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Things had finally calmed down with the Club just in time for Juliette's finals. She didn't have to be followed around anymore and she was able to have plenty of time to herself to study with Silas.

Exactly one week after that was graduation day. Juliette had been looking forward to graduation for practically forever. Though now, with the college decision still hanging over her head, it was a little more stressful for her.

Once she'd put on her new dress and applied her makeup, she made sure her wavy hair was perfect before slipping her feet into her shoes and pulling on the dark green robe of her graduating class. She picked up the hat and gold tassle from her bed and made her way downstairs where her mother was waiting. "Ready to graduate?"

"Hell yes!"

"The boys are going to meet us there."

"I can't believe they're all coming. Like, even Tacoma?"

"Even Tacoma. Just shows how much they love you, baby."

Juliette chuckled. "Yeah. Okay, let's go."

The stadium was already packed with parents and families of the graduating class when they arrived on campus. Juliette made her way down to the front to sit down with her classmates in alphabetical order. Because her last name began with T, she was pretty far down the line of 202 students. From where she was sitting, she could see when the men arrived to take seats with her mother-- all twenty-something of them. Of course they were all wearing their cuts, which she knew her principal wouldn't care for but wouldn't say anything to them.

As soon as the ceremony started, Juliette was ready for it to be over. The speaker was terribly boring as he droned on and on about the future and the temperatures outside were beginning to warm up. Finally, it was time to start handing out diplomas. Name after name was called and Juliette watched as each student walked across the stage to receive their diploma from the principal. She wasn't close to a single of of these people, except for Silas. When the principal announced his name, she sat up straight and smiled proudly as she watched her boyfriend and best friend walk to retrieve his diploma. He gave her a wink as he came off the stage but she just stuck out her tongue in return.

After a Richardson, three Smiths, a Spencer, and two Tates, her name was finally called. As she walked across the stage careful not to trip in her high heels, she could heard the loud cheers erupting from her section of the crowd. She shook her head and laughed as she shook the principal's hand and was given her diploma.

Once the entire class had their diplomas in hand, the vice principal announced that they were officially graduated and they all tossed their hats into the air as the crowd cheered and clapped.

Juliette picked up a random hat from the ground before she began to make her way over to where her family was coming down onto the field from the bleachers. Tig was the first to reach her and he picked her up in a hug, swinging her around. When he put her down, she was quickly engulfed in hugs by the rest of the guys while her mother snapped pictures with her expensive camera. Gemma wasn't usually one for taking a lot of pictures but she knew that Juliette would want them.

Her brother threw his arms around her and hugged her tightly to him, kissing the top of her head. "I'm proud of you, kid."

She smiled into the leather covering his chest. "Thanks, Jax."

As he released her from his hold, Clay made a motion at him and he nodded his head before looking down at his little sister. "We'll see you at the clubhouse later, alright?"

She nodded her head, understanding that meant they had to tend to Club business before her party tonight. "Yeah. Be careful."

"Always," he grinned. She watched as he patted Kozik on the back and followed Clay toward the parking lot with the rest of the guys in tow. Once they were gone, she turned back to her mother, who slid an arm around her shoulders. "I'm proud of you, baby."

"Thanks, Mom." Juliette turned her head just as Silas was approaching them. He smiled politely at Gemma as she released her daughter, but she just rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I hope I'm not interrupting."

"Actually, you are," she spat. Juliette's eyes widened as she looked at her mother, silently begging her to be nice. "But I guess I need to be going anyway. Need to set up for the party tonight."

Juliette nodded. "Okay. I'll be over there later."

"By six," Gemma commanded.

"Alright. By six."

She waited until her mother was in the parking lot before she finally turned back to Silas and let him wrap her in a hug. "That was hard not kissing you in front of your mom," he chuckled.

"Yeah, she would've killed you if you tried. After all, we're just friends as far as my family is concerned."

"Probably."

Juliette's phone buzzed in the front of her dress where she had stashed it for the ceremony. She unlocked it and read the text message while Silas was talking to one of his lacrosse buddies who had just come up.

Green is definitely your color.

Her head snapped up and she looked around, trying to spot him in the sea of people around her. She finally saw him at the corner of the bleachers, mostly hidden from view. She grinned and turned back to her boyfriend who was saying goodbye to his friend.

"Want to go grab some food?"

"Sure. I just have to do something first. Meet you by the exit?"

Silas agreed and took off to go chat with some of his other buddies while Juliette slipped behind the bleachers, out of view. Kip was waiting for her, leaning against the bleachers, with a cigarette hanging from his lips.

"You smoke now?" she asked, snatching it from his lips and taking a drag from it herself before handing it back to him.

He chuckled and tossed it on the ground. "Nope. It just makes me look cool."

"That's what you think."

"Hey now, no need to be mean."

"Just kidding," she grinned. "I'm so glad you made it!"

"Congrats by the way."

"Thank you, thank you. Silas and I are gonna grab some food. Wanna come?"

"And be a third wheel on a teenage date with your boyfriend who doesn't even like me? No thanks, I'll have to pass."

She shrugged. "Suit yourself. But I'm really glad you came."

"I wouldn't have missed it, Julie. You know that."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug before kissing his cheek. "I'll see you this weekend?"

"Probably."

"Good," she grinned. "Alright. I gotta go. Thank you for coming!"

He couldn't help but smile as he watched her walk away from him, back into the crowd of people to find her boyfriend.

"Ready to go, boyfriend?" she asked quietly in his ear as she walked up behind him. He turned his head, catching her grinning widely at him.

"Let's go," he said, grabbing her hand in his and lacing their fingers. As they walked toward the stadium exit, a bright flash in front of them caused both their heads to snap up. A geeky underclassmen with a large camera around his neck smiled sheepishly at her before giving Silas a 'please don't kill me' look. "I-I'm sorry," he stuttered. "I was just trying to get some good pictures for the yearbook."

"It's fine, Eddie. Here, take another one," she insisted. Silas snaked an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side and she put her hand on her hip as they both smiled for the photo.

"Th-thank you, Juliette."

"No problem. Hey, Eddie?"

"Yeah?"

"Email me those."

"Oh, of course!"

Once the younger boy was gone, Silas and Juliette laughed to themselves and set out for the parking lot.

Of course they found themselves eating at the diner. It was always the go-to place to eat because it was cheap and delicious. Luckily, no one from the Club happened to be there at the particular time since they were off on Club business. They spent a few hours there eating and then just talking before Silas finally dropped her off at the clubhouse. He of course wasn't invited to her graduation party. It wasn't five yet which meant she was a little early so she helped her mother set up.

The boys finally all rolled in a few minutes before seven. Clay made a toast, Tig cracked an embarrassing joke, and then the party was officially started. Jax motioned for her from across the room so she set her drink down on the bar and weaved her way through everyone to get to him. He grinned as he pulled her down the hallway to his old room.

"Alright, close your eyes."

"You're acting weird."

"Just do it, Julie."

"Fine, fine," she sighed, squeezing her eyes shut. "They're closed."

"Good."

He opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out a small black bag, dropping it into her palm before allowing her to open her eyes. "What's this?"

"Just a little something I wanted you to have."

She gave him a questioning look before she finally looked down into her hands and opened the small pouch, sliding its contents out into her hand. She held the necklace up so that she could see it better.

"I know it's not really your style," he told her, taking the chain from her hands and fastening it around her neck. "But it's just a little something to remind you of your family. Of me."

She grabbed the golden bullet that hung from the chain and ran her fingers over it as she stared at her brother absolutely confused. He'd given her gifts before but never had they been so sentimental. She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. "Thank you, Jax."

She had another thought immediately following that one but she didn't allow herself to say it aloud.

I'm going to miss you.
♠ ♠ ♠
Juliette's outfit is here.

Oh, and just so you guys know, there's like five to seven chapters left for this story before I start the sequel. So any predictions on what is going to happen??

P.S. I started a new Juice story. You can find that right here. Go check it out!