The Chanced Encounter

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SHE WORE A smile on her face, not as bright as usual but still radiant enough to fool the blind. Despite the rain of laughter that echoed around us, Jules couldn't bring herself to act as cheery after what happened that night of the birthday party. I couldn't blame her for it. Although Jules and Xavier weren't exactly an item, it must've still hurt to see a crush fraternizing with someone else, as hard as Jules would try to deny. As time went on, it melted away into a frown, thunderous and gloomy.

"That pout does not look good on you," I joked, shoving a mouthful of cotton candy into Jules's face. "Here, have some."

Eyebrows scrunched and nose wrinkled, Jules hesitantly took a bite out of the cotton candy. The sweet quickly dissolved past her lips, melting away into nothing as I withdrew my fingers. She nodded, humming softly under her breath.

"It's good."

Summer appeared to be the season of endless fun. While the arts festival had just been around not long ago, a carnival soon took its place after the festival's stage and tents were cleared. Now, different booths had been set up, each brighter than the last with more offering fun games than selling souvenirs. There were classics like ring tosses and darts, paired with carnival rides that could rival famous theme parks around the world.

Despite all that thrilling laughter and exuberant energy that pulsed through the atmosphere, Jules reflected none of it. Her face was stoic and monotonous, clearly affected by everything going on in her life all at once.

I sighed, rubbing at my nose in exasperation. Someone had to do something if not their status would remain stagnant for the rest of eternity. Apparently, that someone had to be me.

Tucking my hands behind my back, I swayed a little from side to side,feigning an air of ignorance. "Forgive me for being curious but where does it stand now? Your relationship with Xavier, I mean."

In her arms, she held a few toys that I had won her at the various game booths. When she heard the question, she squeezed the toys closer to her chest, nearly a little too forcefully despite it being an instinctive action.

"We haven't talked since. There wasn't much to talk about, honestly. After all, I wasn't his significant other. We weren't exclusive to each other. There wasn't a reason for me to get as upset as I did." She shrugged nonchalantly. However, despite that, her face didn't show even an ounce of carefree indifference.

"But you're still upset," I said pointedly.

Like a water jug that had finally been overfilled, Jules burst. All of that pent up frustration and anger had reached its tipping point, overflowing from the edges like a gushing waterfall that finally broke free from its dam.

"Because!" She exclaimed, flinging an arm out. "He's such a fickle person! Right before school ended, he made it seem like he could promise me the world. Appearing at my workplace, getting a job where I worked, suddenly joining in on our little adventures, being part of our friend group. He suddenly just thrusted himself in-between us and acted as though we had been the best of friends from the start! And can you believe me, Aiko? That for a second there I had actually trusted that act! And just as quickly, he just... stopped. He drifted to other people, took an interest in other girls, flirted as frivolously as a rake." Jules swerved around, pausing in her steps to face me. "Even back at the camp, he was acting so chummy with—"

Then, she stopped short. Her words refused to leave her throat, clogged there even though her lips were parted and ready to spit them out at any given time. Yet, her voice failed her, unable to form coherent sentences to enunciate her thoughts. She stayed that way for a few seconds, fingers clenching and unclenching a few times before all tension left her shoulders, causing it to droop back down, relaxed. She sighed, taking in a deep breath before exhaling, almost as though she was flushing out all of her frustrations from her body.

"Never mind." Shaking her head, Jules pivoted back to the direction we were originally headed towards. "Just forget what I said."

As easy as it was to dismiss the topic, there were questions that still lingered in the air, too much of a taboo to ask out loud. Even so, there was one thing that nipped away at my mind, something that Jules mentioned that brought back memories that I thought was tucked away. I could remember it all so clearly all of a sudden, the image of Jules by the riverbank with tears streaming down her face. She sat alone in the night, hurt and isolated from the rest of the world before we came to get her.

"Speaking of the camp..." I trailed off, pausing for a second to observe Jules reaction. She barely even flinched, and so I continued. "Why did you cry? You hate showing weakness."

Jules straightened her back as she walked, chin tilted high up with confidence, almost as if she was trying to brush away that meek demeanor she had portrayed that night.

"It was the injury. When added to all the built-up frustration I've bottled up over many weeks, I guess it just... burst. Don't worry. That will be the last time I let others see that side of me. From now onwards, I'll return to the strong and independent Jules Everett that everybody forced me to be."

That last sentence made my heart clench painfully, flooding with unknown guilt and remorse. Those simple words were enough to make me feel bad, pitying her for the fact that she had to grow up quicker than others. Even through her childhood, Jules never really played like a little kid should've. Circumstances forced her to adapt to the continuously changing world, urging her to survive in a reality where not everyone showed compassion.

The image of Jules, back straightened, chin held high, and eyes glittering with determination. She wasn't born with it, that image was hard-won.

"Let's find the bumper cars! It's been a while since our last match." Jules's excited cheer brought me out of my reverie, allowing me to return to the present instead of lingering in past memories.

Her hands reached to grab mine, pulling me along as we wove through the crowd towards where the bright lights of the bumper cars shone. We were almost there, right outside the line when Jules suddenly stopped short in her tracks, causing me to collide with her back. With a grunt, I rubbed at my nose, startled by how she had stopped so suddenly.

"What's wrong—"

I needn't even finish my question before I understood why. Three familiar figures stood with their backs facing us, one of them gesturing wildly at the bright bulbs that shone on the bumper cars' sign. I could recognize that tuft of hair anywhere, sending me into a guffaw as he flailed his arms about like a bird attempting flight.

"I'm saying that this is a must when at carnivals!" Harr all but whined.

"It costs five bucks to give ourselves mild concussions," Xavier deadpanned. "That's not the idea of fun I had in my mind when you dragged us out here." Tucking his hands into his pockets, Xavier turned on his heel to leave. "Whatever, I'm going to the benches. Call me when you find something truly entertaining."

However, as he turned to leave, Xavier skidded to a halt just as suddenly as Jules did prior. He stared, wide-eyed in shock, jaw hanging unhinged at Jules. The hands that he had hidden in his pockets had been pulled out, falling limply at his sides. Like a fish out of water, Xavier gaped a few times, wordlessly parting his lips before closing them again as if unable to breathe.

It was a truly pitiful sight. Unable to watch on any further, I stepped in, practically prancing.

"And what a mighty coincidence this is," I chirped, skipping over to where Harr was, who stood slightly behind Xavier. Hopping past Xavier, I gave him a quick encouraging pat on his shoulder before continuing. His shoulders jerked a little from the impact, otherwise keeping his surprised expression. "What a surprise to see you here, boys."

"Perhaps it is predestined fate," Harr joked back, wrapping his arms around me in a friendly hug when I spread mine out. "I didn't know that you were headed here when you said you weren't free to hang out."

"Sorry." I grinned apologetically. "I've long promised Jules to accompany her here."

Raising a hand, Harr waved at the air nonchalantly. He wore a bright smile on his face, his eyes suddenly twinkling bright with mischief. He cast Xavier a surreptitious look before his pupils darted over to eye Jules, his Cheshire Cat grin widening by the second.

"Well," he drawled, "Since we're all here, why don't we walk around together? I've got quite a few stories to share with you and I'm sure dear o'l Eugene here will surely want to spend time with his lady love."

Harr gestured to the person that stood behind him, his thumb jerked towards the fidgeting figure that couldn't quite stay still after he was specifically pointed out and put into the spotlight. Under the golden sunlight, Eugene's face took on a scarlet tint, swiftly turning red as a ruby rose. His hands were tucked behind him awkwardly, no doubt twiddling thumbs, his line of sight landing anywhere but on Jules.

Softly under his breath, he whispered, "She's not my lady love."

Much like Eugene's flustered appearance, Jules, too, was unable to remain composed once she heard Harr's words. She shuffled a little where she stood, her head suddenly hanging low. Even though there was a dark shadow cast against her face, blocking her expression from our view, I could already guess the frazzled look she no doubt wore.

"Are you okay with hanging out with them, Jules?" I probed, desperately trying to stop myself from grinning at her innocent young-in-love appearance. I already knew her answer before she even offered an official reply. There was no way Jules could say no; she simply didn't know how to, even if she was uncomfortable with the idea.

"Sure." She shrugged. "Anything."

"Great." Clapping his hands together, Harr slung his shoulders across my shoulders, pulling me closer towards his own body and away from our three companions. "Let's go."

In the end, we walked a little segregated from the others. While Harr and I walked side by side, Jules kept in pace with Eugene, followed by Xavier alone at the back of the pack, hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans once more and his face glowering with rage. While both Eugene and Jules wore matching vermillion cheeks, Xavier's face was black as soot, practically fuming with unspoken — but clearly displayed — annoyance.

I leaned closer towards Harr, unable to contain my curiosity any longer. Thus, I asked, "Why is Eugene with you guys anyway? Last I checked, he isn't exactly best friends with either of you."

Harr looked down at me with a bright sparkle in his irises, the light gleaming off the surface as if reflected in a clear mirror. Green irises rimmed with rings of dazzling gold, Harr's eyes held as much muted mystery as a never-ending stretch of boscage. Other than Harr, no one knew the secrets that lay within. I was only lucky that he cared enough to divulge.

"I thought that inviting Eugene would provide Xavier more motivation to work up his courage. A little underhanded of a tactic but," he paused, nodding his head at the three people walking behind us. I turned to see what he was referring to, only to see Xavier walking a little closer to the other two than before. He seemed desperate to put a word in, but he still wasn't able to find the right time. "It seems to be working."

"How sinister," I laughed. "Absolutely brilliant. This might even be your best idea yet."

Harr winked cheekily. "You know it, baby."

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