Chapter 3: A Miracle.

Juliet's POV

I don't know how to react.

Juliana didn't make it.

I was so excited when I saw my name—Juliet Adams—right there at the top of the list. And then there was Julius, number five. I kept hoping to see Juliana's name somewhere—maybe further down, maybe tenth. But no. Just strangers' names we didn't recognize.

We turned to look at her. She stared back at us and forced a bright smile.

"Come on, guys. What are you doing just standing there? You should be excited—you made it!" she cheered, like it was the easiest thing in the world.

"But... you didn't," I said softly.

"It doesn't matter. It's already amazing that you both got in. I knew it'd take a miracle for all three of us to make it," she shrugged.

"But you worked hard too," Julius said, frowning.

"So what are we going to do? Stare at each other and cry? Or celebrate? We have two out of three—we call that a win where I'm from."

"Juliana—" I started.

"Don't Juliana me." She cut me off before I could even speak.

"We celebrate now. We think later. Got it?"

"…Got it," we both murmured.

"Hey!" she suddenly shouted, making us jump. "Can I get a J?"

We just stared.

She nudged Julius. "Come on, J!"

She started making a beat with her palms and fists, grinning.

Julius caught on.

"Hey!"

"You know that feeling?" she chanted.

"You know that feeling, so—can I get a J?"

"J!" we shouted back, now smiling.

"U!"

"U!"

"Come on, give me an L!"

"L!" She was hopping toward the school gate, and we followed her rhythm.

"I-E-S!"

"J-U-L-I-E-S!"

JULIES.

🎶🎶

Let's get loud, let's get excited,

Get a bit more crazy,

Leave the worry for tomorrow, yeah,

We can make life a bit more easy.

Let's celebrate, leave the thinking for later,

Let's get silly, leave getting serious for later.🎶🎶

"Now the chorus!" she grinned.

🎵

This is an opportunity of a lifetime.

Let's live like it's our last time,

Yeah, just like other times—

And we're here together,

We're gonna make all moments count,

And make the onlookers gather.

🎵

"Oh-oh, dah dah dah," she kept the beat going, now using her mouth for the sounds as we danced toward the road outside our school.

"You made that up on the spot, didn't you?" I asked, laughing.

"Not totally, but yeah. I've had something in my head for a while," she admitted.

"That's dope, Jul. When you go into showbiz, say my name in every interview," Julius said.

"As what? My husband?" she teased.

"I can marry you right now, like what?"

"Juliana," I said, shaking my head, "freestyling a full song is insane."

"Wait till I polish it—guitar and all. You'll get the full song before resumption," she promised.

"You better! Now… What's the plan for celebration?" she asked, looking between us.

"We didn't have one," I said.

"You didn't. I do," Julius said with a grin.

Juliana's POV

I didn't make it into Diamond College.

Yes, it hurt. I mean, of course it did.

But I wasn't going to let it ruin this moment. My friends made it. That was something to celebrate.

It's not the end of the world.

And it definitely isn't the end of our friendship.

I can't get all sad and mopey—it would ruin their joy. This is their moment too. Maybe being part of their happiness today will help me forget the ache in my chest, even if just for a while.

After the chant and that song I threw together, I knew we needed more. I looked at Julius, the spark in his eyes already giving away that he was up to something.

"So," I asked, brushing my hair from my face, "what's the plan for celebration?"

"We didn't have a plan," Juliet said.

"You didn't," Julius grinned, "but I did."

Of course he did.

"Here's the deal," he said, holding up three fingers dramatically. "One, we hit the new ice cream parlor—yes, the one with thirty-six flavors. Two, we head to the park and absolutely destroy each other in a friendly basketball game—Juliana, you're not exempt."

I gasped. "You know I only do hoops when it involves throwing popcorn into my mouth."

"Perfect. You can cheer us on and pretend you're the coach. And three," he paused with flair, "Karaoke at the nearest lounge."

Juliet raised a brow. "You're setting Juliana loose on a mic?"

"She already made up a whole song on the street. She basically begged for a spotlight."

We all laughed, and I gave in. "Fine. But I'm only singing one song."

Juliet smirked. "You'll sing three."

Julius chuckled. "She'll sing five."

I rolled my eyes, but inside I was thankful—thankful for them, for this moment, for the distraction.

And that afternoon? We did it all.

We tried almost every weird ice cream combo we could think of. Julius mixed mint with mango and nearly cried from regret. We played a messy basketball game that turned into dodge-the-ball-while-laughing. And at the community center, I held the mic like it was mine by birthright.

I sang my silly chant again, added new lines, and even convinced Juliet to join me in a harmony. Julius got up and rapped something offbeat that had us in tears from laughing.

I was happy.

They were happy.

And even though part of me was still aching, I told myself I'd hold onto this feeling a little longer.

By the time I got home, it was already evening.

"Mom?" I peeked inside. The living room was quiet. No answer.

"Mom! Mrs. Johnson?" I called again, heading toward the kitchen.

I paused.

"…And Mr. Johnson," I added with a smile.

Dad was back, hugging Mom from behind while she stirred something on the stove.

"Dad! You're back!" I said, beaming.

"And you're interrupting my moment with my wife," he teased.

"This is the kitchen, Dad. And she is my mom. Get a room."

"And this is my house," he countered, following me out with a grin.

Mom just smiled, used to our banter.

"You never stop bickering with her," she said.

"She never backs down."

"You taught her not to," she reminded him.

"Ah. Now it's my fault."

"Come here, baby." He pulled me into a warm hug. He'd been gone on a business trip for five days. I missed him more than I realized.

Now, here's something about us: my dad is James, my mom is Jane, ironically she has the same name as the girl that always get on my nerves, she gets on my nerves too but in the sweetest way. You already know my name is Juliana and Johnson is my grandpa's name. Funny, right? If my friends are the Julies, then we're the J-Family.

I'm an only child. Technically.

"How was your outing?" Mom asked as she stirred the pot.

"It was fine," I said carefully. "We checked the Diamond College list. Juliet and Julius made it."

"Oh…" she said gently.

"I didn't. So, guess you're not getting rid of me that easily," I teased Dad.

"You think so?" he replied with a knowing smirk.

"What are you saying?" I looked between them. Something was off.

"You have a letter on the dining table, dear," Mom said.

My heart skipped.

I rushed to the table, tore it open.

Diamond College.

I scanned the letter. Then scanned it again.

And then—

I let out a loud scream.

"I GOT IN!!!" I screamed again.

"Girl, you'll have to tune it down on those high pitches," Dad said, pretending to shield his ears.

"I got in! I got in! I got into Diamond!" I said, absolutely shocked, my voice hitting heights I didn't know it could.

"This is crazy! How is this even possible? Exceptional talent? When? How?"

I was pacing, asking question after question, too overwhelmed to stand still. My hands were shaking from excitement. My voice wouldn't stop. My heart couldn't calm.

I was going to be with my friends.

"Calm down, baby," Mom said, coming closer. "Their representative was at your school party, remember? He might've seen you there."

"I don't know… I'm not sure… But this is amazing!" I gasped. "We all got into Diamond College. All three of us. It's a miracle!"

"It is a miracle," Mom said.

"I'm gonna scream again," I warned, and then did. Loud.

Then I took off, dashing up the stairs.

"She's going to tear this house down with that high pitch, isn't she?" I heard Dad mutter to Mom below.

"Just let her process the news, darling," Mom replied, laughing.

"Join us for dinner!" she shouted after me.

"I love you too, Mom!" I yelled back.

I collapsed on my bed, bouncing a little before I rolled over and buried my face into the pillow, screaming one more time just for the thrill of it. I turned to stare at the ceiling, my heart racing, my lungs trying to catch up.

We're going to Diamond.

All of us.

I turned my head and smiled at the framed picture on my table—the three of us, grinning like fools. I hummed our chant, our song, the one I'd made up earlier.

🎵

This is the opportunity of a lifetime

Let's live like it's our last time

🎵

Diamond College has no idea what's coming.

The Julies are on the way.