This Life ? (J.C)

She should've told him—she had said it, but didn't clarify that she had aborted his baby. Too much time had passed to bring it up again. He seemed understanding, but she questioned if he'd have the same reaction had he known that it was his.

Joy walked Julian to his room. She placed her hand on the small of his back occasionally, trying to steady his swaying motions. He was drunk—shitfaced. Once they got out of the pool, his drinking didn't stop. Joy found herself pretty inebriated as well, trying to down the drinks before Jules had a chance to put them away himself.

"You got it?" Joy giggled. She made glances over her shoulder as she walked toward her room, seeing if Julian was able to keep himself standing. He hadn't bothered to button up his shirt—the white collared fabric exposing the bare plains of his chest. He hadn't even zipped up his pants; the elastic of his boxer briefs peeking above the waistband of his trousers.

She peeled her eyes away from the train wreck when seeing him lean into the door frame—his hand extended to the panel. He seemed to be gathering himself for a moment, taking deep breaths while peering down at the forest green carpeted floor.

"Wait- Joy?"

She had barely made it ten feet down the hall when hearing Jules call her name. "Yeah?" She spoke, walking backwards toward her room. She wasn't about to give in—Julian was adamant about things getting physical.

Her eyes widened when seeing him push himself off the frame, approaching her with a stagger. His hair was still damp from the pool, his white shirt splotched from not bothering to towel off before getting clothed. His lids were heavy, his mouth appearing to frown as he sucked on his bottom lip.

Joy stopped at her room, the pit of her stomach bubbling with anxiety as Julian made his way to her.

He plopped into the doorframe of her room, slamming the side of his body into the panel. His head tilted slightly, looking to Joy with laden eyes. Silence fell over them—only the soft sounds of Julian's breathing was heard and the ruffling of Joy's clothes as she shifted uneasily away.

"I forgive you. There's really nothing to forgive, you know that... right?" Julian spoke with furrowed brows; his eyes narrowing at Joy.

She mirrored his expression, oblivious as to what he was speaking of. "I... I don't understand-"

"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you track my ass down and kick me in the nuts or... slap me in the face for being so fucking stupid?" He cleared his throat, moving his back against the wall. He scratched his head fiercely, the sound of his scalp scraping against his fingernail drowning out the sound of his soft breaths.

Still confounded by his words, Joy stuttered. "I-I-I still... I still don't know what you're talking about."

"I know it was mine. I know it was mine and you didn't tell me... I just don't know why."

Joy closed her eyes in defeat, scrunching her face with a cringe. Ryan was right, Julian was well aware of everything around him, even in his alcohol/drug induced state. A little on the nose, you dumb bitch, Joy chastised herself.

"The lady at the clinic told me I didn't have to inform the other party-"

"But why didn't you? I mean, I get you didn't have to, but why not?"

"Because, what was the point? I didn't think I'd ever see you again, so why tell you something that's just... I didn't see the point."

Julian's furrowed brows relaxed, causing that innocent fallen angel look to appear. She hated that look—that emotionless stare that seemed vacant, but was anything but.