Remembering you

Julie entered her house, and to her astonishment, her parents were awaiting her in the living room.

"Don't you people feel bored or something? Why are you still awake at 1:00 am? You guys are too old for morning patrol." She told her parents and let out a sigh.

Julie noticed that her dad looked sleepy and angry. He kept drowning his head and waking up from his sleep every time his wife spoke.

"I guess this is not dad's idea. So mother, what do you want to know?" Julie asked her mom in a sarcastic tone.

Mrs. Harper frowned at her daughter's statement. "How was the party? And to be honest, I was the one who forced you to go. So, I deserve to know what happened?" She told her daughter.

"This club is impressive and dope!" Julie screamed toward Jackson, who stood closer to her.

He grabbed her hand. "Stay near me and do not let go of my hand. I don't want you to get lost in this crowd. Tonight, I am a babysitter. Which means I am the sitter, and you are the baby!" He told her in a high and teasing tone. She giggled and playfully pushed him.

The music in the room was deafening. Julie and Jackson had to speak at loud volumes to understand each other. Julie stared at the LED light, furniture, and the dance floor with Disco lighting reflecting on it. LED lights up Bobo Balloon and Leon's background with satisfaction in her eyes. It was the first time she has entered a club, and it impressed her. Julie has always been all work and no play. However, tonight she felt alive.

Jackson watched Julie's captivating grimace with a spark in his eyes. He giggles and pulls her hands. Drawing Julie from the noise and directed her into a room with a sign on the door printed "VIP exclusive!" She snorted at how straightforward the text sounds.

Julie's mouth opened in bewilderment when she saw how distinctive and outstanding the VIP section was. It had a sidebar; the music was perfect, and the interior designs were splendid. They advanced to a table where she observed a rather attractive gentleman staring at her intensely.

"Brother! Where is your partner?" Jackson said to Steven and embraced him.

Steven's sight did not sway off Julie the entire time he hugged his buddy.

"Jackson, you know that Chloe is always neglecting me. She left the club a few seconds ago with some guy. Never mind, who is the lovely lady?" Steven said to his pal, but Jackson did not reply.

"You both appear to be close. All hands in hands with each other. She is the first lady you have held hands with that is not Jennie or your mother." He continued in a joking manner.

Julie looked down and saw that Jackson was still holding her hands.

"No, no... We are not a thing. And it will not happen in a million years." Julie speaks to him as she stares at Jackson awkwardly and signals him to release her hands. However, Jackson seems immersed in his thoughts. Steven had lost him at Chloe.

Jackson prayed that it was not the Chloe he and Steven knew. But deep in his soul, Jackson perceived that his prayer was not possible. He understood that no matter how much Chloe has polluted his friend's heart. She is the part of Steven's past that he is still hooked on and wouldn't let go no matter how broken she is.

However, Jackson felt like punching Steven in the face and telling him the fact that she didn't want him, and she will not choose him no matter how hard he tries to hold unto her. But Jackson remembers that when it comes to Chloe, the most beneficial approach he can exert is for him to dismiss the subject.

Julie forcefully removes her hands from Jackson's hands. Her reaction took him out of his thoughts. "Earth to Jackson! Who is she, and what's with their hands holding?" Steven asked his friend again.

Julie had previously answered Steven's questions, and he believes her. But Steven needed to know if Jackson did not have feelings for Julie because he was interested in her from the moment he laid his eyes on her. But their friendship number one code is, "A bro is not allowed to hit on another bro's wife, lover, or crush."

Jackson noticed the weird look in Steven's eyes and how he could not take his sight off Julie.

"Steven, meet Julie. She is my next-door neighbor. Julie is Mr. and Mrs. Harper's daughter, who recently graduated from Preston university with a master's in Philosophy. She's at home to help her parents with the bakery. She is also a brilliant mind who's in search of a job." Jackson told his friend before he realized that he had let out more information than he should. And now he feels stupid.

The music continued playing while people kept roaring, dancing, fighting, and discussing. Yet the awkwardness at these three grown-up tables was intense. Jackson could feel his hands trembling, and a drop of sweat rolling down his forehead. It upset Julie that Jackson gave her information to a guy she did not know.

"Dude, calm down. I will not condemn you for bringing another woman who's not your wife. Plus, that's way more information than I need to hear." he told Jackson, stroking him on the shoulder.

"Besides, you deserve tonight, after everything you have been through this month. Nice to meet you, Julie. I am Steven. Jackson is my pal from Harvey university and also his boss. I am thirty years old, but most of the time I feel twenty, because of the variety of parties I attend. Jackson and I have known each other for about ten years. I think you are exquisite, and it is inappropriate if you know less about me. Because thanks to Jackson's unfastened mouth, I know a lot about you now." Steven said to Julie with a bright smile.

He then presents her with his right hand to shake. They shook hands, and Julie felt her heart warm-up at that instant.

"I need a drink. You people can get to know each other further." Jackson told his friends, then he moved towards Julie and whispered. "Whatever you both discuss, do not mention Chloe."

"Julie, we asked you a question! Did you meet anyone special?" Mrs. Harper screamed at her daughter. Julie's parents watch her wander through her memories.

"Sorry, mother. I just recalled the party. Sure, I met a guy, and he is impressive." She told her parents. Beaming to herself, Julie escaped to her room.

"Julie is insane. She did not provide us with additional details!" Mrs. Harper told her husband.

Mr. Harper understood it bothered his wife that her daughter did not desire to share her activities with her mother.

"Give her some time, Julie will come to you when she's eager to chat. You are her mother." He told his wife and retired to their bedroom to sleep.