JUNE
"Hi" he says "I'm Daniel"
"Hi" I reply "I'm June"
Can he feel that? I wonder. the electric pulse humming between us as our fingers linger on each other a little too long. Slowly we break apart.
He hesitates for a moment, some inner conflict I'm sure, then he smiles that same crooked grin
" since we both seem to be going over to Tess's, mind if we join you?"
My heart jumps at that same thrill of energy I used to get whenever he would look at me like that and I have to steady my breathing.
"Sure" I respond.
At this moment I see Eden walking up to us, smiling, he is no longer the little boy burdened with saving the republic. His eyes have cleared of all signs of the plague he was infected with, and I notice for the first time that they are the same beautiful blue eyes his brother has, an ocean of blue. He is much taller. Handsome in a way that is much different from Day, but there are similarities.
Day turns at his approach and smiles
"June, this is my brother.."
"Eden" I cut him off.
" I remember. It's good to see you again, you look well... Older" I finish.
"Thanks... You too." he replies. blushing a little.
Day gives us both an incredulous look, as if he's trying to fit two pieces of a puzzle together that he just can't figure out.
"So you do know me" he winks at me with that same grin.
I can't help but laugh, that expression is typical Day.I blush and respond without answering him.
"Shall we?"
DAY
We walk along the streets of the ruby sector heading towards where Tess lives. The girl, June, she walks in between me and Eden, Keeping the conversation light. Every now and then our arms rub up against each other sending a sweet thrill through me, and I catch the subtle grin on the corners of her mouth. She is lovely in all ways. Her hair beautiful, glossy and dark, with a high pony tail. Her eyes are dark with flecks of gold in them, with long eyelashes that frame them. Her lips, full and perfect and the softest shade of pink.
I start to have flash backs of images that I don't entirely recognize, like some of the dreams I wake up from, about a girl. THIS girl. Sitting near her and talking to her. Holding her hand in my own. kissing her softly. My mind lingers on the last one and I smile, feeling the blush rise up to my face.
Too soon we are approaching the high-rise of Tess's apartment and I realize I haven't really been talking at all, I've been lost in my own thoughts while June and Eden are immersed in conversation next to me. Again the question comes to me, how does she know my brother?
A few months after we finally settled into our new apartment in Antarctica, I started to have reoccurring dreams. Some of them good, some of them bad, some of them damn right scary. The doctors had said this might happen and not to be too alarmed by it, cause most likely it was some part of my subconscious trying to break through all the haze and the fog of my amnesia. So naturally I just shrugged it all off to the side and didn't really think about it too much yeah? Except this one dream. This one dream never went away, it never changed or faded out like the others. It was always the same: I'm laying in bed with a girl. The most beautiful girl I think I've ever seen. THIS girl. She is soft and warm and her skin smells like sunshine and wild flowers. She is laying so close to me that I can feel every rise and fall of her chest as she breathes. She holds my hand and stares at me. Dark brown eyes with flakes of gold that catch the light just right, mesmerizing. Slowly she leans over me and whispers in my ear "come find me... I love you" then she kisses me soft and perfect, and that's when I always wake up. Weird huh?
Eden knocking on Tess's door breaks me out of the memory. June stands right next to me waiting patiently reserved, analyzing.
I lean slightly towards her "so how do you know Tess?"
She hesitates for a moment, thinking up what the right thing to say is, "uh... It's a long story" she replies. Is she blushing? I decide to use my flirtatious tone when I respond to her and look straight into her eyes
"Well sweetheart, I've got all kinds of time" her blush turns bright red and she stares down. Just then Tess opens the door
"Day!.. Er, I mean Daniel!" Tess says. Smiling wide-eyed little Tess, Although she's not so little anymore. She embraces me in a hug, and I laugh a little at how much taller she is now.
"Hey cousin, how are you?"
" I'm good" she responds, she glances over to my left and gives June a very mischievous grin
"So I see you've met June... For the second time." she laughs again and June's eyes go wide with embarrassment.
"Thanks for that Tess" June replies. She's trying to be angry but the smile on her lips shows she's failing at it.
She ushers all of us into her small apartment, inside there is another guy there. Does Tess have a boyfriend? So strange. By the way that Tess looks at him and her tone I think that yes, this must be her boyfriend.
"Daniel, Eden, this is Pascao.. You've met him before Day" she introduces us. I shake his hand and I must admit there is some similarity to it though I can't really place him. It is the strangest thing not being able to remember things, like sitting in the middle of a fog waiting for it to clear.
"Pascao lives here with me" Tess exclaims, Though it's obvious.
We all walk over to the table and begin to settle in, Tess and Pascao on one side of the table me and Eden on the other and June at the head.
"Oh wait! I almost forgot" Tess jumps up and runs into the other room, a few seconds later she comes back carrying a little tiny box and a card
"Happy Birthday June" she exclaims with a smug expression. So it's her birthday?Hmmm... June looks a little shocked but happy, she smiles at Tess.
"Tess you shouldn't have"
"It's nothing really.. Just a little something.. It's no big deal" she shrugs her shoulders.
"Open it" Tess says.
June takes the tiny box and unwrap's it, now I'm dying to see what this is. Inside is a smaller little wooden box with a tiny clasp. She carefully lifts the clasp and opens it. She studies it for a minute, then sucks in a small bit of air as if trying to steady herself. She pulls out something small and shiny and made of wires.
The band is a bunch of wires smoothed over and over to bend around the corners just right. A paper clip ring. It looks familiar, similar to the one I wear on my right hand. But more beautiful with an ornate looking flower on the top. June doesn't say a word, she just stares at it, as if it might actually fly away. but I can see the warmth on her face. The tears starting to build in her eyes.
"Tess.." She whispers
"I thought you would like it... I mean, I know it will never replace the one you lost... but I thought maybe it would make you happy again. "
June looks up at Tess in amazement
"Thank you.. It's perfect, I love it"
I suddenly feel like I'm missing half of this conversation, yet at the same time it feels so personal and intimate that I feel like in a weird way it does involve me.
We continue on with our dinner and conversation. Tess works full-time at the hospital now, this doesn't surprise me, she always was the best medic we had. She and Pascao have been dating for a few years and moved in together 6 months ago. I'm happy for her, she looks really happy, and he seems like a nice guy. Eden tells everyone about his job interview and offer from Batalla Hall engineering, half the stuff Eden talks about I don't really understand, but I just nod along with him as he goes. He seems really excited about the prospect, he's going to take it, which means we are officially moving back to LA, our home. Every now and then I catch my eyes wandering over to June, we make eye contact a few times and we both smile then quickly look away. She is very beautiful, and I find myself not really wanting to take my eyes off of her. After dinner and a few drinks it's starting to get late, June is the first to get up
" It's getting late, I should be getting back" she says to Tess.
All of a sudden I find myself feeling anxious , I don't want her to leave yet. I still want to know how she knows my brother. How she knows me. But I also feel like I don't want to push her too hard, for fear she might run away.
"Of course" Tess replies, " I guess it is getting kinda late"
"Thank you Tess, for everything, it's really... " she quickly glances over at me then finishes
"... Really perfect. It's the best birthday I've had in a really long time" pink is starting to fill her cheek.
Words tumble out of my mouth before I can think about them.
"I'll walk you home" everyone stares at me. I cover up.
"I mean if you want.. It's late and the streets are dark.. Uh, you shouldn't be by yourself.. Might not be safe" oh god I'm rambling. Shut up Daniel. I see Eden out of the corner of my eye smiling, but I can't help but feel like he is subtly laughing at me. June stares into my eyes with a faint smile,
"Ok" she says " thank you" I nod, not really trusting myself to speak again.
We head out into the night, it's a little colder out than I remember it ever being for July, the breeze coming from off of the lake sector feels nice though. We walk in silence for a bit, neither one of us really sure what to say, or how to say it. Eden heads off towards our temporary apartment, I'll meet him there later. As we turn the corner heading for the train I finally can't take the silence anymore.
"So did you make a wish?" I turn to her. She looks a little caught off guard
"Huh?" She responds.
"For your birthday, I mean. Isn't it customary to make a wish when you blow out the candles on your birthday cake or something?" I'm failing. Why am I so nervous around her? It's like she has the power to make me feel weak in my knees.
" well I didn't have a birthday cake.. So I guess I don't really get to make a wish this year, what with no candles and all.." She smiles coolly.
"Well that hardly seems fair" I respond. She's easy to talk to. Its effortless like talking to an old friend. Suddenly a thought crosses my mind
"Wait, hang on I have an idea.." I pull a lighter from my left pants pocket, she stares at me for a minute confused.
" here.." I hold the lighter out to her and click it with my hand over it so that the flame doesn't blow out. Where inside the train station now so there's less of a breeze, but still,
"I know it's not the same as a birthday cake, but everyone should at least get to make a wish on their birthday, yeah?"
She stares at me in utter disbelief. We stare at each other for a long moment and I swear there are tears starting to flood her eyes. For the first time all night she looks happy. Unburdened.
"Go ahead, close your eyes and make a wish" I finally choke out.
She does. She closes her eyes gently and I see her take a steady breath thinking about her wish no doubt. With her eyes closed I can really see the beauty in her face. The lines of her jaw, the softness of her lips, the tiny freckle on the very tip of the left side of her upper lip, so faint you could miss it. Usually I'm caught up in the intensity of her eyes, the yearning of them. She finally seems to settle on her wish and slowly blows out the flame of the lighter. Slowly she opens her eyes and she is staring deep into the hidden parts of me. I hadn't realized how much closer I moved towards her, like a force of nature, we are so close that I can smell the sweet scent coming off her skin. We stay like that for a long moment. I have the sudden urge to reach down and press my lips to hers, to fully let this desire take me over. But I hesitate, she notices. "did you make a wish?" I whisper in front of her lips, so close now all I have to do is move my head froward an inch and collapse into her.
"Yes" she swallows.
"Was it a good one?" I continue, stalling.
She bites her lower lip slightly and smiles "I think so" she lowers her eyes slowly as if expecting what's coming next. I start to lean forward and at that exact moment the train pulls into the station with the loudest horn and we both jump. The moment is lost. We instantly take a step back and both kind of laugh it off a little.
We board the train and settle back into casual conversation.
She finally tells me a little about herself, she is 27 today. She is the lead commander of all the squadrons in California, this instantly makes me a little nervous. Her family is all dead, like me, but unlike me, even her brother who she misses everyday, is gone. At least i still have Eden. I can't imagine what I'd do with out him. Their is a sadness in her when she talks about him and this makes me want to scoop her into my arms and hold her. I don't. she is very smart, you can tell by the way she holds herself and talks. She tells me that her and Tess met back in the streets of the old lake sector, before it was rebuilt into what it is now. She lives in lake now, although she grew up in Ruby, this surprises the hell out of me considering that no one in their right mind would leave Ruby sector for lake, but I guess things are a bit different now. When I ask her why, she simply shrugs and says that it felt like home to her. I smile at this, I know exactly what she means. We eventually reach her high-rise in lake and make our way up to the 25th floor. I know I'm going to have to say good-bye to her soon, but there is something I want, something that keeps popping up in the back of my mind
"Well this is me" she says as we reach her door.
"Thanks for walking me home " we both stand there a little unsure of what to say.
" you're welcome." I respond.
She starts to put the key in the door and suddenly I blurt out
"I was wondering if I could try something.." She stops a little hesitant, unsure of where this is all going. She turns back to face me
"umm... Sure, I guess"
"It's obvious we have known each other... I have memories of you, though I'm not sure where from..." I swallow and continue
"So I just wanted to see if maybe I could try to place them"
She seems nervous and a little scared, and manages to cautiously eek out
"Ok"
I smile. I square my shoulders with her. Staring into those dark golden eyes. My breathing stalls and my stomach flips but I force myself to continue. I lose myself in her gaze and take a step forward I'm so close to her, I'm breathing in the same air, she starts to blush and her eyelids flutter a little, all it will take is her to lift her head slightly and our lips will meet. She still stares down unsure of herself. I give in, in one long second I slowly put my hand under her chin and push her face up just an inch I stare into her eyes for a moment and then I crush her lips to mine in a kiss.
She kisses me back instantly. I've kissed many girls before, but this kiss is different, This kiss is a slow building fire threatening to consume me. I push her lightly against the door and she does not stop me. My hand finds the small of her back and I bring her closer to me,if that's even possible. Her hands run through my hair and down my back and we are both completely lost in this moment. Suddenly everything's a rush, I kiss down the side of her jaw and bury my face in her neck, soaking up every bit of her, and I hear the faintest sigh escape her lips. I smile.
I have known her before, of this I'm sure. But what shocks me more than anything are the memories that start to flood my mind now. Of THIS girl. June The girl in my arms now, unlike any girl I've ever known and all I want to do is get lost with her, and be with her, and can it be? Is it possible?-That I think I loved her? She brings her face back up to mine and we're kissing again. The fire rages on inside of me and we both are so out of breath that when I pull away just slightly we both stare at each other in disbelief. She smiles and laughs a little, both of us trying to catch our breath. I'm still straddling her with my hands up against the wall, I laugh a little too. This is so strange.
" I've done that before haven't I?" I ask weakly.
She closes her eyes for a moment, deciding, then says
"Yes" with a grin.
The silence between us stretches out for what feels like an eternity, but it is not uncomfortable or even weird. It's safe. I suddenly remember her talking about living in Lake and how it felt like home to her. This girl in my arms, she feels like home to me. She is the missing puzzle piece, she is what I lost so many years ago, and I want to know everything. I want to remember every moment, or kiss, or silence we shared. The good and the bad. I want to be with her and I want her to be with me. I suddenly remember something. She notices me thinking. She must think I'm upset because her face falls just the slightest. She straightens up.
"Well Daniel.." She starts.
I shoot her a look, a little too hard. She stops talking
" you used to.." I stall. "...you used to call me Day" I finish. She stares at me with tears in her eyes threatening to drown her, she gasps a little. But doesn't say a word, to afraid to speak.
"When can I see you again?" I finally ask, I won't let you go again, I think to myself. Not this time. She smiles but doesn't respond, I don't wait for her answer, I already know mine.
"Tomorrow?" I ask.
Her face lights up and she really is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I grab her hand and she smiles. Slowly she responds
"Yes!"