Nothing Feels Like You

Chapter 2: Little Sister

"Ju-li-ya-nah!" Tahani screamed once she saw Julianna sitting aRyene at the bleaches.

Julianna looked up and smiled a little when she saw Tahani.

"Hey, Tahani. And it's Ju-lee-ah-na. Not Ju-li-ya-nah." Julianna corrected once Tahani sat down by her side. 

"Alright, Ju-lee-ah-na. What you are doing out here all by yourself?" Tahani questioned, looking around the deserted football field.

"Just thinking about some stuff... What do you do when your best friend is sad because of you Tahani?" Julianna asked looking at Tahani with sad eyes.

"It depends on what situation." She replied, "Normally I would try and make amends."

"But I don't even know what I did wrong..." Julianna groaned under her breath, "She isn't mad at me anymore but she's acting weird."

"Is it Riley?"

"How'd you know?" Julianna raised her eyebrow curiously.

"You guys are inseparable according to what I observed last year." Tahani's stated like it's the most obvious thing in the world, "Only the blind can't see that you guys are best friends, some people think that you're a couple!"

"We're just friends!" Julianna replied loudly, scaring the taller girl.

"Chill Ju, why are you so anxious about it? Do you feel something for her?"

"I don't know." Was all Julianna could reply, what if she really  does have feelings for the older Latina, does Riley feel the same way? 

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"What do you guys think of our school so far?" Skylar asked the two seventeen-year olds who are currently sitting at a canteen table.

"It's okay I guess, not as bad as I thought it would be." Riley replied with a shrug, "It really would've been better if Julianna is here." She added, gaining a curious look from the girls.

"She's my best friend. Always had been since we were three and four. It feels like the first day of elementary school, she wouldn't let me go." Riley chuckled, reliving the memories in her head. 

"She seems like Skylar’s special person," Charlie commented, feeding herself a mouthful of mash potato.

"Yeah, she is."

Julianna and Riley indeed have a special friendship between the both of them, it's something you don't see much in other friendships. Julianna and Riley are each other's pillar of support at their lowest points and they're there for each other whenever one needed the other.

"I also have a best friend in my elementary school, she's a year younger than me, her name's Tahani," Charlie said.

"Wait. Did you just say Tahani?" Riley asked upon hearing the familiar name.

"Uh yeah? Why?"

"Oh my god, we were from the same school!" Riley exclaimed, gaining a few stares from the tables near by.

Riley shot them an apologetic smile and turned back to face Charlie, "Julianna told me she's hanging out with a girl named Tahani!"

"Are you serious?" Charlie squealed whilst Skylar just sat quietly by their side, happy to see them interacting more.

"Yeah! I can't believe we're actuSkylar friends of friends." Riley laughed making both of the Texas girls laugh.

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"Good morning Riley, here to pick up Julianna?" Jane asked after Riley closed the front door behind her.

"Morning Jane. Yeah, don't want her to be late for school on her first day." Riley chuckled sitting down at the counter, waiting for Julianna to come down to the kitchen.

"Hey, RyeRye. Thanks for fetching me." Julianna smiled and gave Riley a kiss on the cheek.

"Anytime princess, ready to go?" Riley replied and asked standing up.

"Yeah, let's go, Rye. Bye Mami, I Ryeve you!" Julianna shouted before leaving the house.

Jane saw the interaction between the two girls and smiled to herself, slightly shaking her head and letting out a small contented sigh.

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"Jules, seatbelt." Riley said sternly and adjusted the rear view mirror.

"Alright, mom." Julianna joked, "Don't need to be so strict."

"I don't want you getting hurt. And it's my first time driving someone around." Riley explained and checked everything else before starting the car.

"True that." Julianna replied, "Are we meeting the rest of the girls first or are we meeting only during lunch?" She asked.

Ever since finding out that they're friends of friends, they've been hanging out almost every week. They would have sleepovers, karaoke sessions or just simply a girls' day out.

"Lunch. All of us have different periods. Other than Spanish and home economics that is."

"Okay, so we have first period together," Julianna said.

Once they arrived in school, everyone Ryeoked their way. It isn't surprising though, considered Riley is one of the popular ones in school.

"Hey Riley, what's up." Keaton greeted with a smirk, "Who's this gorgeous girl?"

"Leave us alone Keaton. She's not interested." Riley huffed, pushing him away.

"Don't you want some of this?" Keaton asked thrusting his hips.

"No. Leave us alone," Riley growled grabbing Julianna’s arm and dragging the younger one away.

"Call me!" Keaton shouted after them and Riley groaned annoyed.

"What's up with him and his s*x deprived life?" Julianna giggled.

"Remember to reject him if he ever ask you out or ya know, to his or your house. Who knows how many girls he has fucked." Riley countered.

"Chill RyeRye. I'm fine, see?" Julianna said and Riley relaxed her grip on her.

"Sorry. I just didn't want to see my little sister getting hurt."

Little sister.

That word stabbed Julianna in the heart a billion times. She can't process what she just heard. Little sister? Is that what Riley see her as?

Julianna gave Riley a small smile and turned away, tears brimming at her eyes which she refused to let fall.

"We should go and register, don't want to be late for the first period," Julianna mumbled walking in the direction of the school's office.

"Julianna Martinez?” The counter lady asked, looking towards Riley.

"Yeah, freshman. Here to register her name." Riley answered.

"Alright, you can go." The lady said after checking for Julianna’s name on the stack of lists.

"What’s up with Julianna today? She seems off." Tahani asked sitting down at the table with the girls.

"I don't know. She's been like that since I saw her after the first period in the hallway." Skylar replied playing with her food.

"Juliana’s coming," Charlie whispered and all of the girls Ryeoked up to see the Latina walking towards them.

"Hi, guys." Julianna greeted solemnly and Riley instantly knew something serious is up with her.

"Can I talk to you for a sec?" Riley requested and Julianna nodded her head, eyes fixed on the floor.

"We'll head to the school yard alright? Girls, we'll be right back." Riley informed the three girls and interlaced her hands together with Julianna’s before walking out of the canteen.

"Sit." Riley said patting the empty space beside her under the tree which has been her secret spot since the start of freshman year.

"What's wrong?" Riley questioned Julianna with worried eyes, not being able to read the younger girl's mind.

She had always been able to tell Julianna’s emotions and thoughts just by Ryeoking at her actions and facial expressions but whatever Julianna is doing currently makes Riley confused. She hadn't really seen this side of Julianna before and Julianna seems reSkylar broken, heart broken to be exact.

"Did Keaton hit on you again?"

"No." Julianna replied softly barely audible.

"Then what is it? You know you can tell me anything Jules, whatever you say is safe with me." Riley said pretending to zip her mouth making Julianna smile a bit.

"I .. I think I like someone," Julianna admitted Ryeoking away.

Riley’s heart jumped at Julianna’s words, who does Julianna like? Riley couldn't stop her crazy thoughts. Her guesses ranges from the least wild which is Julianna likes Tristan the nerdy one to the wildest, which is Julianna likes the biggest playboy of the school, Keaton.

"W..who is it?" Riley asked cautiously, waiting for her heart to b broken and crushed with the answers that is going to slip out of Julianna’s mouth.

"Can we talk about this in the treehouse instead?"

"Sure Jules. Whatever you're comfortable with." Riley sighed, relieved with the fact that she wouldn't break down in front of Julianna because of the answers at that Julianna might have given.

What really did bugged Riley though is - who's the lucky person?

She couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the day and even when she was caught not paying attention in class, she didn't care. She was worried about what Julianna was going to tell her.

Riley ditched the last two periods and drove to the nearest pizza restaurant. She knows that Julianna always need comfort food when she's down and pizza's her favourite. She bought the pizzas and drove back to school. Julianna was already waiting at the car park so Riley stopped the car in front of her to let the younger girl in. 

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"So, will you tell me who is it now?" Riley asked entering the treehouse after Julianna with a box of pizza in her hands.

"I..I..." Julianna stuttered causing Riley to knit her eyebrows together in frustration.

Suddenly, soft lips met with Riley’s and her eyes widened in shock. "I've got to go." She muttered pulling away, Riley quickly got up and ran out of the treehouse, leaving a sobbing Julianna behind, "Please don't go..." She whimpered.