Mixed Emotions

I smiled to myself; spring was actually starting to begin. The sun was shining, it was warmer outside, and there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky.

I breathed in the air and sighed.

“Sometimes life is just perfect.” I chuckled to myself.

”JULIA!” George ran up behind me and hugged me.

I laughed as he spun me around.

“Hey George.”  I beamed, and then I remembered when he kissed me on the cheek.

A small blush painted itself on my face.

He noticed. “Seashell Eyes, you alright?” He asked.

“Uh yeah.” My voice cracked.

“Julia.” He said sternly, looking me straight in the eyes.

“Well, we tell each other everything, right?” I asked.

He nodded.

“That’s pretty much what best friends do.” He added while nodding.

“This has been on my chest for a while now.” I sighed.

“Come on, Julia. It can’t be that bad.” He chuckled.

“I like you – a lot.” I looked him straight in the eye.

He stopped chuckling and just stopped walking altogether.

“What?” He asked, looking at me as if he had never met me before.

“Did I stutter?” I crossed my arms, still looking at him intently.
”You, Julia Albright, like me, George Standford, more than a friend?” He pointed from me to himself.

“I have for a whi-“ I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t finish my sentence because George just flat out kissed me.

It.Was.Amazing.

“JULIA!” Someone shouted, and the amazing-ness of it all was just a memory.
I pulled away and snapped my head to the direction of the voice.

“WHAT JULIE?” I yelled.

Sisters, can’t live with them, can’t kiss the guy you’ve liked for about a million years now with them either.

She ran to me with the biggest smile on her face.

“Okay, two things. One, HI GEORGE!” She waved to George.

George waved back at her and smiled. “Hello Julie.”

“And two..” She started. Then she screamed and hugged me.

“I KNEW IT! STANDBRIGHT EXISTS!” She screamed into my jacket.

I stood there awkwardly, wishing the ground would just swallow me up.

George, on the other hand, looked like he was enjoying this whole ordeal very much.

I mouthed the word ‘Help’ to him.

He mouthed the words ‘I need somebody’ back.

“THIS IS NO TIME FOR BEATLES SONGS.” I whisper-yelled.

“This is the PERFECT time for Beatles songs.” George chuckled.

I rolled my eyes with a smile on my face and turned to my screaming-and-jumping sister.

“Julie.” I said.

“WHAT? OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH YEAHH!” She squealed.

“Calm. Down.” I said, very calmly.

“HOW CAN I CALM DOWN? MY SISTER JUST KISSED THE GUY OF HER DREAMS! WOO HOO!” Julie spun around and started dancing.

She was acting like the inner-Julia.

“Okay, Julie. I think I hear Elizabeth calling you.” I lied.

“Well, I d-“ Julie started, I grabbed her arm and pulled her close so my mouth was by her ear and I whispered.

“Go now and I will tell you all of the details later.” I whispered.

She pulled back and nodded, then ran off to find Elizabeth and Rebecca.

I turned back to George.

“Sorry about that.” I apologized.

“Don’t worry, she’s quite amusing.” He smiled.

After a few awkward seconds of silence, I spoke up again.

“So, I take it from that kiss that you like me too?” I asked, rubbing my arm nervously.

“Yes, Julia. I do.” He smiled.

“So are we boyfriend and girlfriend now?” I asked.

“Only if you want to be.” He smiled back.

“Just call me George Standford’s girlfriend.” I winked and then he walked me home.

After squealing like a little girl and telling every single one of my sisters about George, I went up to my room to get started on my History homework.

Just as I understood the homework, my phone rang.

“Hello?” I picked it up.
”Julia? Julia Suzanne Albright?” A woman asked.

“Who is this?” I asked, checking the caller ID. It wasn’t a number I recognized.

“Your mother.” She said.

“Okay, what kind of sick joke is this. Who paid you to call me?” I asked, annoyed.

“No one. Julia, this is me, your actual mother.” The woman said, reassuringly.

“Psh.” I didn’t buy it. “Prove it then.”

“My name is Sarah Albright, Your father’s name is John Albright. You have a twin sister named Julianne Shay Albright. You both have a birthmark on your shoulder.” She stated.
I lowered the phone from my ear and covered up the part where you talk into it and screamed.

MY MOM? DUDE? WHAT THE HECK?!?!??!??!?!?!???!?!?!?!??!?!

“M-Mom?” My voice was shaking.

“Hello, Julia.” She said.

“Why did you call?” I asked, I grabbed onto my desk for support.

“Well, I wanted to know if you would like to come back home and live with us. Your father, Julie, and me.” She stated.

“Julie?” I asked.

“Yes, she already agreed to it.” Mom said.

“She didn’t tell me.” I whispered.

“Please come home, your father and I need both of our little girls together again.” Mom pleaded.

“If you needed us, you wouldn’t have put us up for adoption. I’m with a great family now, and so is Julie. Better than you and Dad ever were. You didn’t even know about Julie’s asthma. I’m not going and I’m sure Julie will change her mind.”

And with that, I hung up.

I sat down and rubbed my forehead.

Mom’s back into my life.

…….Great.

-Julia*-

Homecoming

“WELCOME HOME JULIE!” I yelled, running towards my sister, who had just made her homecoming.

She hugged me. “Thanks, Julia.” She smiled.

“How much homework did you get?” I asked.

“TONS!” She exclaimed.

“Well, I should leave you to your wo-“ I said, turning to leave her house. She grabbed my arm and spun me around.

“I want to help you find George.” She stated.

“We’ve been looking for weeks.” I said back.

“I know that, but I could help out!” Julie’s smile was bigger than her brown eyes.

“There’s not much to help out with.” I muttered, looking down.

“Julia, you and I both know that the only people looking for him are you and Ms. Standford.” Julie made her point.

I opened my mouth to object, but she put her hand over my mouth.

“Molly’s fans couldn’t even find him. Because they didn’t look for him hard enough. You know I will, Julia. Please give me a chance.” She pleaded.

I considered it for a while, then slowly shook my head.

“YAY!” She squealed, taking her hand off my mouth.

“Now, just come along before I change my mind.” I rolled my eyes, motioning for her to come outside with me.

-         TWO HOURS LATER –

“Looking for Georgie. That’s what we’re here to do. Looking for Georgie. Just me and you.” Julie sang for the millionth time while we walked in an abandoned field.

I tripped over a rock and fell down. Julie helped me up and right before she was going to bust into another verse of the ‘Looking For Georgie Song,’ I cut her off.

”He has to be here somewhere. This is where he told me he was waiting.” I said to no one in particular while looking around.

”Is he in that little abandoned house over there?” Julie asked, pointing to an old house over to the side of the field.

”Maybe?” I asked, beginning to make my way towards the house.

”Julia!” Julie squealed, staying in the same spot.

I spun around and began walking backwards.

“Come on!” I exclaimed.

“What if there’s strangers there?!” She asked.

“You’ll be the only strange person there.” I rolled my eyes, and turned back around to face the house.

“COME ON JULIE!” I yelled back at her.

“NO I WILL STAY OUTSIDE FOR YOU!” Julie said.

“NO, I CAN’T HAVE YOU GETTING TAKEN TOO!” I yelled.

“I HAVE MY PHONE ON ME! JUST GO! TIME’S A-WASTING!” Julie yelled in reply.

“George had his phone too.” I muttered, making my way inside the house.

I looked around, it was a wreck, there was still furniture, but it was either on it’s side, or broken.

“George?” I asked, putting a chair right side up.

“Help.” Someone whispered.
”GEORGE?” I asked again, this time more excited.

“Help.” The voice repeated itself.

I looked around for the owner of the voice. It sounded like George.

“GEORGE?!” I yelled.

“Help.” Once again.

I traveled to where the voice was coming from, behind a couch.

I looked behind the couch and all I saw was……

“GEORGE!” I squealed, jumping to hug him.

“Julia?” He asked, he had a black eye and was shivering.

I hugged him to give him warmth, well that and I missed him so much.

“Shh. I will call your mom an-“ I smiled, taking out my phone.

“Drop it.” An older voice said.

My eyes grew to the size of baseballs and I put my phone away and looked up to see a man who looked to be about 30-ish and he had blonde hair and grey eyes.

”Who are you?” I asked.

“I’d tell you, but I’d much rather just do this.” He said, coming over to me and slapping me across the face.

“YOU’VE CROSSED THE LINE NOW!” George yelled, jumping on top of his attacker.

George began punching and kicking his attacker like crazy.

All I could do is just sit there on the floor, and watch. With my eyes ten sizes larger than normal.

When I took in all of this new information I called Julie.

“Julia? Where are you?” Julie asked.

“Call the cops.” I whispered.

“IS HE THERE?” Julie asked.

“Yes, and so is his attacker, now CALL THE COPS!” I exclaimed, but it was still a whisper.

”I’ll take that.” The creep took my phone and threw it across the room. I looked at George, who was on the ground, holding his other eye.

”Now, I hit your little friend, and I’m not above hitting a girl.” The creep sneered at me, and swung at my face. I ducked down and kicked his leg. He fell to the ground and I took advantage of the chair. I threw it at him, shouting multiple obscenities at him while I did so.

I looked down, the creep was out cold. I ran to George, who was still on the floor.

“Harrison?” I asked.
”Seashell eyes?” He asked.

I hugged him tight.
”I’m so sorry he did this to you.” He apologized.

“No, I’m so sorry he did this to YOU!” I exclaimed.

I felt two strong arms wrapping around my waist and I was picked up.

“So George.” The creep started. “How shall your little girlfriend here die?” He asked George.

“Shall I BEAT HER TO DEATH?” The creep yelled.

My stomach dropped.

WHERE WERE THE COPS?!

“POLICE! OPEN UP!” A man yelled.

Found them.

“GEORGE OPEN I-“ I began, but the creep slapped a hand over my mouth.

“George, if you open that door, I will kill her.” The creep warned.

“POLICE! WE HAVE THE HOUSE SURROUNDED! COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!” The police man yelled once again.

“I HAVE A HOSTAGE. TWO ACTUALLY!” The creep yelled.

Why would you tell the cops that?

”LET THEM GO!” The police man yelled back.

I looked for George, I couldn’t find him.

“George? GEORGE STANDFORD, WHERE ARE YOU?” The creep yelled.

I searched for George. He was no where in sight.

Did he leave me with this guy? No, George wouldn’t do that.

At least, I don’t think he would.

“TAKE THIS YOU JERK” George yelled and hit the man in the back of the head with another chair.

He knocked the guy out and I fell down along with him.

I wiggled out of his grasp and ran to the door.

“HE’S OUT COLD!” I yelled. The police ran inside the house and took the creep and began asking George and I questions.

“What did he do to you two?” One asked.

“He just hit me.” I sighed.

“He threatened to….” George trailed off.

“What?” The police officer asked.

“Kill me.” George whispered.

My jaw dropped, did I just save George’s life.

“Excuse me! Out of the way! MOVE!” Julie yelled, making her way through the crowd of police. She made her way to George and I.

“GEORGE YOU’RE OKAY!” She smiled, and hugged George, who smiled.

“Thankfully.” George hugged back.

“AND JULIA! YOU SAVED HIM!” Julie squealed and hugged me.

“Ha, I guess I did.” I smiled, and hugged her back.

”Don’t worry, George. He won’t see the light of day for a long time. So he won’t even come close to you.” Another police officer re-assured George.

“Thank Heavens.” George breathed a sigh of relief.

-30 MINUTES LATER-

We were sitting in the police station, waiting for Ms. Standford to get there.

“She started yelling and screaming on the phone.” Julie said.

George and I nodded.

The door flew open and Ms. Standford came rushing in and picked up her son and hugged him and kissed everywhere on his face.

“GEORGE! MY GEORGIE! YOU’RE OKAY!” She repeated, squeezing him as tight as she could.

“I love you mom.” George smiled, looking up at his mother.

“I love you too, Georgie.” She smiled and kissed his forehead and hugged him once more. He hugged her back.

After the hugging, she turned to Julie and I and hugged us both at the same time.

“Thank you girls. You’ve given me my sanity and more importantly my son back. I could never thank you enough.” Her voice was genuine. I smiled and hugged her back, and Julie did the same.

“Mom, can I have a moment alone with Julia?” George asked.

“Oh of course honey, I was just going to ask Julie what happened when she found out you were okay.” Ms. Standford smiled and went off to the side to start her conversation with Julie.

“Julia. Seashell eyes. I could never thank you enough.” He smiled and pulled me in for a hug.
I hugged back.
”I knew you wouldn’t leave me without saying goodbye first.” I smiled into his shoulder.

“You’re the best friend I could ever ask for.” He smiled at me, and gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

“Same for you.” I turned as red as a tomato.

HE JUST KISSED ME! AND HE’S OKAY! LIFE IS COMPLETE!

I hugged him again and he walked me home.

And this time, he made it home.

-Julia*-

Barber Shop Blues

I sat down by Julie.

“Julie.” I started.

“What?” She asked.

“George…. Is…..” I trailed off.

“Missing.” She finished.

“How did you know?” I asked.

“Television.” She made a gesture towards her TV.

“Oh.” I sighed, looking down.

“Julia.” She started. I looked up.

“Find him.” She whispered her first sentence with two words.

“I’m honestly try-“ I was cut off by my phone buzzing.

“One second.” I held up my finger, then took my phone out and answered it.

”Hello?” I asked.

“JULIA COME QUICK!” A frantic Ms. Standford nearly screamed.

“Where are you?” I asked, my pulse quickening.

“AT THE POLICE STATION!” She exclaimed, then hung up the phone.

“I have to go.” I stated to Julie.

“Find him.” She repeated.

I nodded and then made my way to the police station.

As I busted my way through the doors, Ms. Standford grabbed my hand and pulled me to her car.

“What happened?” I asked.

“THEY DROPPED THE CASE! NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE!” She yelled, then began sobbing on my shoulder.

“Ms. Standford, there, there. We’ll find him. I feel it in my veins.” I whispered, trying to calm her.

“But…Where….Could….He…..Be?” She asked in between sobs.

“I don’t know, we could try calling him again.” Ms. Standford looked at me.

“CALL HIM!” She exclaimed and then sniffled.

I pulled my phone out and dialed his number. It rang again, and again, and again.

“He has it on.” I whispered.

“LISTEN!” She whispered back.

It rang, and rang, and rang until…..

“Julia?” George asked.

I screamed.

“GEORGE!” I yelled.

Ms. Standford screamed as well.

“Where are you? Are you alright? Why do you sound out of breath?” I asked all at the same time.

“I’M RUNNING FROM MY KIDNAPPER!” He yelled.

“Where are you?” I asked again.

“By Mr. Merlow’s Barber Shop.” He panted.

“GO TO MERLOW’S BARBER SHOP!” I yelled,

Ms. Standford jumped in the car and I got in the passenger seat.

“GEORGE!” I yelled.

“GEORGE?” I asked again.

He hung up the phone.

”DRIVE FASTER!” I squealed.
”I’M DRIVING AS FAST AS I CAN!” Ms. Standford yelled back.

“THERE THERE THERE!” I yelled, pointing to the corner of the barber shop.

We pulled over.

He wasn’t there.

-Julia*-