Jules
"Twenty-three, how does it feel bitch?"
"Kat, you know my birthday didn't pass yet, right? So I have no idea."
"Aren't you excited? This party is going to be phenomenal."
"I guess so- I mean I know you throw amazing parties and I appreciate you doing this for me. It just feels so... weird being home. It feels like something is missing."
"Yeah, what's missing is your ability to have fun. I say you get shit-faced this Saturday and just stop worrying so much. It's your birthday week. Lighten the fuck up!"
Jules can't put her finger on what it is. She has her dad, her friends, her dream job, dream apartment. She should literally be bouncing off the walls right now but instead, she can't bring herself to really be excited about another year around the sun. Grateful? Of course. But excited? That's another story.
"Yeah, I guess..."
"So, who's coming tomorrow? From high school, I mean. So I can mentally prepare myself."
"Besides Maddy, Lexi confirmed that she's coming. I think she said she's bringing someone. Um, I didn't invite Cassie but if she decided to show up, we have a private section, so."
"You know I don't care about the Maddy-Cassie beef, right? That's between them and Nate. But also, cool. So it shouldn't be too crazy then, right?"
Jules wonders who Lexi is bringing along with her. Hell, she doesn't even have a plus-one to her own birthday party. She hasn't dated since her junior year of college, and she hasn't actually felt like her heart has been in a relationship since high school.
Rue fucking Bennett.
God, Jules misses her. She still thinks about her often, and checking her social media helps ease her mind about how Rue is doing. She's practically glowing in all of her pictures, and it's obvious that she's doing well in life. Jules wonders if she'll run into her now that she's back home. Maybe Lexi can give her Rue's new number. She makes a mental note to remember to ask when she sees her tomorrow.
"Totally," Kat shrugs.
Jules is doing her hair when her phone dings. Just a few more hours until she has to arrive at the club. She's still trying to decide if she should arrive fashionably late or not.
"Ugh, I swear the worst part of birthdays is the million texts that I never have the energy to reply to." She leans over the check the notification. "Wait, what the fuck?"
The text is from Gia. "Happy birthday, loser. Wish I could give you your birthday punches in person, but I told Rue to deliver them for me tonight," Jules reads aloud, eyes wide. Rue is going to be there tonight? Of fucking course- she must be Lexi's plus one.
Great, now Jules has to change her entire outfit. If she knew Rue was coming, she would've prepared better. If she's being honest, her initial outfit for tonight wasn't that interesting. But now? She has to dress to impress. She doesn't wanna look too desperate, but she definitely has to show some skin. Fuck, what is she going to wear?
Fuck.
She's going to see Rue tonight.
Turns out Jules is fashionably late anyway. She had to really dig through her closet to find an outfit she was satisfied with, but she looks sexy so that's all that truly matters in the end anyway.
The club isn't too crowded, which is perfect. Jules knows Rue hates the club, and doesn't want her to rush home before she even gets to spot her. She knows Kat got them a section, so she's assuming Rue is hiding out over there somewhere. She already spots Maddy, Lexi, and Kat on the dancefloor. She decides to make her rounds thanking everyone for coming before she gravitates toward her best friends for the rest of the night.
She spends the next thirty minutes being showered with compliments and wishes of a happy birthday before she finally makes it through the crowd to where her friends are dancing.
Before she can even speak, she's pulled into a group hug and met with a chorus of "Happy birthday bitch!"
"I love you guys. Thank you. I have to say, this is better than I thought it would be."
"That's great news if you're saying that before any drinks. Let's change that."
"I have no rebuttals," Jules shrugs.
Two drinks later, Jules has a pretty nice buzz going. She's starting to get sweaty from dancing, so she starts making her way out of the crowd and toward their section when she spots someone on their phone sitting in the corner.
Jules squints, "That looks like-"
"Rue!" Lexi appears behind her, giggling. "Jules- did Rue tell you happy birthday? I will go yell at her right now if she didn't already."
"What?" Jules looks over at Lexi, and it's obvious that she's drunk. She laughs and guides Lexi over to the bar. "I didn't get to speak to her yet. I'll probably head over to the section soon." She reassures her drunk friend.
"Can I get a glass of water?" Jules glances at Rue again, "And a shot of vodka?" Maybe some liquid courage will motivate her to make her way to Rue.
"This one is for Jules Vaughn. If you see her make sure you tell her happy birthday!"
Wait, what the fuck?
"Shit, that's you," Lexi grins. "The DJ just gave you a shoutout. You have to go dance now."
Rue raises her head at hearing Jules's name, and for a split second, they make eye contact. It probably would've lasted longer but Lexi is tugging Jules away before her brain can even get the chance to process the idea of moving her legs in Rue's direction.
"Wait I-"
"No buts! Dancing first." Lexi declares.
By the time Jules glances back in Rue's direction the girl is gone.
Fuck. Maybe Jules will be ready to face Rue after another round of dancing.