Chapter Fifty

Icrumble up the piece of paper and throw it into the quickly growing pile next to me. I throw my pen down next to it and set my guitar on my bed.

"This is impossible!" I shout as I slam my fists onto the bed and hang my head down.

"Well, someone seems to be a little dramatic this morning," I hear a voice say from behind me.

I turn towards it. Juliet is leaning on the doorframe, arms crossed over her chest. She's wearing her winter coat, hat, and red scarf. Her eyes are wide in judgment.

"I mean, you would know, right," I point out.

She puts her finger to her chin, then points it at me. "You know, you're right."

She bounces into the room then launches herself onto my bed. She crosses her legs and rests her hands on her hips. She does a scan of my face and then looks down at the paper pile on the floor.

"I was going to ask what's wrong, but I think I've figured it out," she says pointing to the pile. "Cat's got your tongue then?"

I look at her, eyes wide. "You know, I don't know why I'm still surprised by the things that you say. I really should just expect it at this point." I smile at her.

"Seriously, we all know I'm a genius. You and Dad really just need to embrace it at this point." She crosses her arms over her chest.

I laugh and then narrow my eyes at her. "So what brings you here this morning?"

She rolls her eyes at me. "What, I can't just visit my brother for fun? Just to say hi because I love you?"

"Oh, of course you can. But you don't. So what do you want?" I reach down and pick up a crumpled piece of paper lying on the floor.

"Ugh, fine," Juliet says as she throws her arms down in defeat. "I was going to see if you'd take me sledding. It snowed last night and it's the perfect kind of snow for it."

"I'm not sure, Jules, I have a lot to do today." I grab another piece of paper.

"Oh, clearly," she laughs looking down at the floor. "Those papers won't crumple themselves into balls."

I stand up straight and turn on her. "You know," I point at her, "I think I liked you better when you were a baby and couldn't talk."

"Hey, it's not my fault that you can't keep up with the intellect of an eight year old." She shrugs.

"That's it," I say as I launch myself at her. I slam her back on the bed and start tickling her.

"Stop!" she shouts.

"Never!" I keep tickling her as she kicks out her legs trying to make contact with any part of me.

"You may be good with the comebacks, but I'm stronger than you."

"You know," she says between laughs. "That's not really something to be proud of." She starts trying to swing her arms but I'm holding them down. "That's just human nature. Of course a grown man would be bigger than an eight year old girl."

I let go of her arms and start laughing. I completely release her and sit back in my chair. She sits up and straightens her hat.

"You got me there." I smile at her.

"So does that mean you'll take me to the park?"

"Yeah, just give me a few minutes to get ready."

Juliet and I are walking up the hill for what feels like the millionth time today. I'm dragging our sled behind us enjoying the feel of the snow hitting my skin. This was honestly exactly what I needed.

"So, what's going on with you?" Juliet asks, turning her head towards me.

"What do you mean?"

"The pile of papers on the floor. You stay in your room more. You just seem upset. I know you and Alison broke up."

I stop walking and turn towards her. "Uhhhh . . ." I start.

"I'm not stupid, Arch. Dad tried to make it seem like it wasn't a big deal, but I figured it out. She clearly broke your heart." Her eyes narrow as she scrunches her brow.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, Jules. I know how much you look up to her and how much you love her music. I understand if you're upset with me. I'd be upset with me, too."

She freezes in her tracks, walks in front of me so that she's looking down, and punches me in the arm.

"What the heck!" I yell, rubbing where she hit a little harder than I thought her capable of.

"I'm not upset with you, Loser. I'm mad at her!" Her eyes narrow again. "How dare she hurt my brother!"

My eyes widen as I take in what she just said. "You're mad at her?"

"Duh! I'm the only one that gets to hurt your feelings. Do you want me to fight her?" Her little fists go up in the air like she's ready to go right now.

I wrap my hands around her fists and lower them to her sides. "No. Thanks for the offer. I think I got this one though." We continue walking up the hill in silence for a few minutes.

"You know, as much as I love that for once you're sticking up for me," I bump her with my side forcing her to try to keep her balance, "I don't want you to be mad at her. She didn't do anything wrong either. Sometimes this just happens."

"That doesn't make it okay. I still think I should give her a piece of my mind." She spits on the ground next to her.

"Calm down there, Killer." I laugh as I grab the red scarf from around her neck. "I can handle myself." I start running up the hill.

"Hey, give me back my scarf!" she shouts as she starts chasing me.

"Of course! If you can catch me!"

"I change my mind! I think you deserve to be beaten up!" She picks up her speed. I turn around to laugh at her and end up losing my balance, face planting into the snow.

I feel a weight on my back that feels oddly like a boot. "That's what I thought," Juliet says as I feel the scarf being pulled from my neck.

I roll myself over so that I'm staring up at her. "I'm pathetic, aren't I?" I say, smiling at her.

She pinches her fingers together. "Just a little bit. You're lucky I still love you though."

I laugh as I grab her arm and pull her down into the snow. "Okay, maybe not so much anymore," she says as she scowls at me.

She struggles to get up but eventually makes it to her feet. I lay there a little bit longer, enjoying the feeling of peace, trying to forget everything that's happened.