Cliff’s Edge: Juliette & Savannah
In a way, Juliette had been running since New Year’s. She certainly felt it in her stomach, and in her heart. Every day was a bad day. Just a glimpse of Savannah— or even just imagining catching said glimpse, made Juliette’s breath catch, her stomach churn, and her heart speed up.
The days they shared a class were the worst. She would show up to class at the last possible second, and be sweating by the time class ended, anxious to be out the door as soon as the bell rang.
It’d been three months of running away from....what happened. Three months of running from her mistake.
The hallway was dimly lit. Savannah took Juliette’s hand as they went off to drink the booze they’d swiped. The sounds of the party sounded muted as they made their way away, to a more private corner. First one burning mouthful, then another, until Juliette felt warm, happy and light. They couldn’t stop laughing.
It was impossible not to relive the memories. Her gut twisted, this time with yearning instead of regret. She silenced that thought as it came. No, this was stupid. She was stupid.
Savannah felt so impossibly close. Juliette could smell Savannah’s perfume; feel the heat radiating off her body. In the distance, they could hear the rest of the party counting down— “5...4....3....2.....1....HAPPY NEW YEAR!” Without stopping to think or breathe, Juliette leaned in and met Savannah’s lips with her own.
One second, maybe two passed, before she pulled away, regret closing in on all prior feelings of warmth and happiness. “Oh my God, I’m sorry.” The panic set in, and she ran, not once looking back.
Juliette stopped on the stairway landing and leaned against the wall. She’d been masking her feelings so long and then just.....blew it. She wished she could go back in time and take it back, so she could stop being afraid of the day Savannah would tell everyone, or the day she’d finally run into her former best friend and face what she did.
A bird flying by the window caught her eye. Summer couldn’t come soon enough.














