𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍
𝐏𝐎𝐎𝐋𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐓. 𝟐

DESPITE knowing that Drew was completely uninterested in Odessa, Juliette could not, for the life of her, peel her eyes away from them whenever they interacted.

Like now, Juliette was propped up on a pool chair, warm LA sun beating down on her, and she couldn't even relax. Not with the way her eyes tracked the two of them behind the tinted lenses of her sunglasses.

They were both in the pool, alongside Madison, Moriah, Nick and JD. Now it wasn't shady or suspicious, their interactions, in fact, Drew kept an acceptable distance between them at all times.

But Odessa wouldn't leave him the fuck alone.

She was at his hip, metaphorically. Drew floating on a pool noodle, cradling a beer and deep in conversation with Nick, while Odessa floated a few feet away including herself in the conversation. Drew seemed, used to it, unbothered, if Juliette was honest. And that's what bugged her.

In her close watching of the group, her eyes cast over to Drew, just Drew. The way he laughed as he brought the beer to his lips, the way his biceps and back flexed when he laughed, the way the water glistened on his chest-

"Down, girl."

Juliette looked up at Madelyn as she dragged over the empty pool chair beside Juliette and pressed it against the blondes to make one big pool chair. Madelyn sat down beside Juliette, pressing her arm against Juliette's with a smile.

"What happened there? With Odessa? Drew didn't go into detail and I want to know what I'm getting myself into."

Madelyn raised an eyebrow and glanced between the pool and Juliette. Madelyn sighed, fiddling with the wine cooler in her hand, "They met filming Hellraiser last year. She meshed well with the group and we all really liked her. I'm not really sure when they started—" Madelyn hesitated, but Juliette gestured for her to continue, "Fooling around, but I do know that back in May, Drew told Rudy that he ended it because of unreciprocated feelings, he told Elaine, and Elaine told me. Things were weird at first, because she had been so well integrated into our group. But things lightened up over time. Jules, if you're worried about him—"

"I'm not." Juliette interrupted with a faux chuckle, leaning her head back but keeping her eyes on Drew, "I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about lingering feelings. I'm not too attached right now and I'd like to know if there's a possibility of buried emotional attachment so I can spare myself."

Madelyn smiled at Juliette and reached over to grasp the girls hand, "Jules, I love you, so I'm gonna be honest with you. Drew was very physically attracted to Odessa, she's hot and she's a good person. But he wasn't emotionally attached. I've never seen him like this, though. I'm not too sure if you've noticed it, but every time you turn your head, or stand up to get another drink, his eyes are on you and you alone. I'm 100% sure you have nothing to worry about."

Juliette chuckled, biting down the urge to throw up at the mention of Drew being involved with her. "Yeah, yeah I'm sure you're right. It's the alcohol—" Juliette chuckled, glancing down at the beer in her hand, "It makes me possessive."

Madelyn laughed at that and released Juliette's hand, "Fifth step; Acceptance."

Juliette rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her drink before finally peeling her eyes away from Drew to close them and relax under the sun.

A gasp escaped Juliette at the feeling of cold water landing onto her stomach and chest, eyes snapping open to see Drew hovering over her with a smirk. "Hey, gorgeous."

Juliette chuckled for a second, a gasp cutting her off as Drew shook the water from his hair out onto her. "Drew!"

The man laughed, stepping around to the connected pool chair that Madelyn had abandoned and sitting down on it. "You gonna swim or are you just gonna sit here all day looking pretty?"

Juliette grinned, sliding her sunglasses up to rest on top of her head. "I planned on it, just wanted some sun." Drew nodded, lips turning downwards as he looked out to the now empty pool. Nick had gone home, JD had gone inside with Austin, Mariah and Fiona; Rudy, Laci and Noah were playing a strangely intense game of giant Jenga on the porch a couple dozen feet away, while Odessa, Madelyn, Chase, Maddie, and Elaine had moved into the hot tub due to the slowly setting sun.

"Will you go in with me now? Pool isn't crowded."

Juliette raised a teasing eyebrow at him, cheeks warming as she nodded and stood to her feet, keeping hold of her beer as she walked towards the pool steps with Drew trailing behind her.

The water was warmer than she'd expected it to be, which was half the reason she hadn't gotten in all day. "Jesus, you were right about the heated pool."

Drew laughed as he got in beside her, moving further into water to stay beside the blonde.

He smirked as the water settled just below Juliette's collarbones, while it settled above his stomach, "I'm glad you came to hang out today, it was fun showing you off." Juliette scoffed, slapping his chest.

He laughed, reaching out to grab her free hand and drag her towards the center of the pool. "No, no, Drew," Juliette giggled as the water started to rise, kicking her feet to keep her above water the deeper they went while also trying to keep her beer above water. "Just because you're a beanpole and can stand in the middle of a 6 foot pool doesn't mean I can." She managed, keeping her head afloat with a chuckle.

Drew smirked, grabbing her around the middle and lifting her up against his chest. She gasped at the contact, arms shooting out to wrap around his neck. They were face to face now, Drew smiling at the blonde triumphantly.

Juliette raised an eyebrow at his and ran her tongue over her teeth, "This was your plan all along, wasn't it, Starkey? Get me all helpless in the deep end and come to my aid?" He shrugged, moving his hand down to rest on the back of her thigh, pushing up against it so she wrapped her legs around his waist, "Maybe."

She tried her hardest not to think about the amount of skin contact and the intimacy of the position, or how nice it felt. But the sheer amount of alcohol running through her veins couldn't prevent the blush that spread over her cheeks and down her neck.

She chuckled, bringing her beer to her lips to avoid his eyes, "Cheeky."

Drew laughed as she offered him a sip of the cold beverage, the man nodding and using his free hand to grab the bottle. She expected a sip, maybe a large one, but she wasn't expecting him to finish off the bottle.

"Wha—" She laughed as he licked his lips, keeping her wrapped around him as he moved to the side of the pool to place the bottle down, "Rude."

He clicked his teeth, "I'll get you another." Before she could shoot a remark his way, he quickly leaned in and slotted his lips with hers. Once again, getting himself out of a situation by kissing her.

And once again, her falling for it.

"If he hurts her, I'll kick his fucking ass. I may look scrawny but I pack a punch." Noah muttered to Rudy, the two of them slowing the game of giant Jenga to watch the two in the pool. Rudy chuckled with a nod, "I'll fucking help you, dude."

Laci nodded in agreement, "I'll hold him down."

GIGGLES filled Rudy and Elaine's living room from the remaining partygoers, TV screen illuminated the room and each of their faces.

Rudy and Elaine were cuddled up on a love seat, Madelyn balled up on a giant bean bag on the floor, Odessa was on a recliner, while Drew and Juliette shared the couch with Chase.

Superbad played loudly, Juliette's vision going in and out as she leaned deep into Drews side. The abundance of alcohol she had throughout the day had made her incredibly tired, add being in a dark room huddled up under a blanket with Drew's warmth seeping into her side had her too relaxed too keep her eyes open.

A rumble in Drews chest made the girls eyes pop open in surprise. She reached a hand up, using the knuckle of her finger to attempt to wipe away the sleep from her eyes. She smiled at the feeling, leaning further back into the warmth of Drews arms with a small shiver.

Drew noticed this, of course, and looked down at her to whisper near her ear, "You cold?" Juliette shrugged, "Yeah, but you're warm enough."

Drew chuckled, moving away from her to sit up, making Juliette raise an eyebrow. He grabbed the bottom of his hoodie, slipping it off. Juliette's eyes watched his back, where the hoodie slid up to reveal a sliver of skin .

"Here." Juliette glanced between the hoodie in his hand and his smile, making the blonde chuckle, "Thank you." She mumbled as she grabbed it, sliding it over her head quickly. It was so warm she almost passed out in the spot, sleeves long enough to fall over her hands drastically.

Drew smirked triumphantly, reaching out and grabbing her by the waist to bring her back into him, "That looks so good on you." Her cheeks bloomed as his breath tickled the side of her neck, glancing over at him before turning back to the TV, "Behave."

Drew's chest rumbled with a laugh, both of them returning their attention to the movie.

An hour later and the group was getting ready to go home, light chatter amongst them as they woke up enough for the drive home.

Drew nudged Juliette, the blondes eyes slowly peeling open as she took in her surroundings, "Shit, Did I fall asleep? Sorry." She mumbled, an embarrassed blush rising up her cheeks. Drew shook his head with a smile, "Don't be sorry. Ready to go home?" She nodded, stretching her arms up over her head and standing from the couch.

A few minutes later, with everyone standing around the front door saying their goodbyes, Juliette turned to the group with an idea.

"Hey, what are you guys doing for Halloween?" Juliette turned to the group with a smile, and they all shrugged, "We kinda planned on finding some kind of party. Theres always at least one in the valley." Madelyn spoke as she slipped her hoodie over her head.

Juliette beamed, "Sadie is having a Halloween party, anyone invited as long as they're in costume. Why don't you guys come? And obviously I'll text the others as well."

They all nodded with a smile, "Hell, yeah. We'll be there, Jules." Rudy grinned happily, giving Juliette a hug before doing a handshake with Drew.

"Can you tell Fiona and Nick? I don't have their numbers." Juliette mumbled to Madelyn, who nodded, "Yeah, for sure. I'll see you later. Text me!" Madelyn hugged Juliette before saying her final goodbyes before slipping out the front door.

"Alright, we're next. I'm exhausted." Drew mumbled, doing a handshake with Chase and Rudy and a smile at Elaine and Odessa. "I'll see you guys later."

Juliette gave Elaine one more hug and sent Odessa a wave and a tired smile, patting Rudy on the shoulder. "Thank you for having me over! I had a lot of fun." Rudy cheekily smiled, "I'm sure you did-" The boy was cut off by his girlfriend nudging him, and Juliette rolled her eyes, turning to Chase to give him a hug.

"Goodnight, guys."

She followed after Drew, allowing him to open the door for her before following close behind her down Rudy's front yard.

The two walked in silence to Drew's car, the man rushing forward to open the passenger door for her.

Once he was in and the heat was on, he began the drive back to Juliette's apartment. "Did you have a good day?"

Juliette smiled and turned her head towards him, leaning back against the seat, "I had a great day. Your friends are all really nice. And Fiona is great. We're gonna get coffee together next week."

Drew's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a small smile forming on his lips, "That's great. I'm glad you're getting along with everyone. Now it's my turn."

"Hm?"

"To meet all your friends! I've met Noah and Sadie, but I've yet to meet Reena, Paloma, Joey." Juliette chuckled, "Well, I know Paloma and Joey will be at the halloween party. But Reena doesn't finish filming until February. I'm sure we can set something like today up after that, though.

He smiled excitedly, making Juliette grin.

"So what is your costume this year?" He mumbled, reaching over to grasp her hand in her lap. She looked down at their intertwined fingers, swallowing the butterflies. "I ordered this bunny costume online, cliche, I know. But I didn't even plan on doing anything this year until last week when Sadie told me she was throwing a party." Juliette rolled her eyes at the memory of Sadie's last minute idea, before turning her head back towards Drew, "Have you got a costume?"

Drew shrugged, "Not really. I'm not a super big Halloween guy, I prefer Christmas." Juliette grinned at that, as she, too, preferred Christmas over Halloween. "Really? Me too! I loved it when I was a kid, but as I've gotten older I find it's such a nuisance trying to find an interesting or original costume, and then you spend all this money on a costume that you'll only wear once. And half the time I'm wanting out of whatever costume I'm in anyway. I—" Juliette paused, cheeks growing warm at the realization she was rambling, "Sorry. I'm a yapper."

Drew laughed boisterously, and Juliette admired the way his whole face scrunched when he laughed, pretty eyes turning into just a sliver if he found what you said really funny. "I like hearing you...yap." The word sounded foreign coming from him, Drew noticing the same while he chuckled at himself and shook his head, pulling the car into her apartments lot.

Juliette smiled, "I'll see you later?"

"Absolutely." Drew nodded softly, putting the car in park. Juliette readied herself in the seat, reaching down to pull his hoodie over her head, "No, keep it on. It's okay." Drew mumbled, stopping her hands.

She chuckled, nodding and readjusting it back on her waist, just as Drew reached a hand out and cupped her cheek. Before she could speak, he leaned over his center console and locked his lips onto hers.

She sighed against his lips, reaching a cold hand up to hold his wrist as he deepened their kiss. Her head went dizzy when he parted his lips, her own matching his as he licked her upper lip.

She allowed him the access, gripping his wrist tighter as he moved her closer to him by gently nudging her cheek. When her lungs began to scream, she just barely pulled away from him with a smile.

Drew breathily chuckled, pushing some of her hair behind her ear and pulling back more to admire her. The blondes cheeks were blooming and warm, eyes still closed and her upturned lips swollen and pink. Resisting the urge to lean back in, he pressed his lips to her forehead.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight." She softly sighed, pulling back and grabbing her bags from the floor by her feet, before turning back to him and pressing her lips against his softly.

"Drive safe, and text me."

He nodded, watching as she opened her door, "Always."

She smiled sleepily back at him, exiting his car with a final wave and rushing over to her building.

He once again watched as the doorman greeted her and opened the door for her, Drew waiting for her to disappear behind the elevator doors before driving off.