quiet

(grow like a flower)

Part One

i.

"C'mon, Junie, you have to!"

Juniper shuffles slightly. She wants to agree with Athena, because Athena is Thena and she is much like a silly sister, with a loud voice and booming energy, but this time it's much more personal. If she were to agree, she thinks, she'd be too nervous to do anything, and then... Well, it'd go downhill from there.

"...B-but, Thena, I can't!"

"Aw, c'mon, why not?"

"I.. I, um, have a test to study for."

Athena pouts. She looks like a puppy who had just been scolded and Juniper stares and stares and stares and oh, dear, she's falling for this silly game again, isn't she?

"Come on, Athena, leave her alone. If she doesn't want to, she doesn't want to."

Oh. That's Apollo, warm and bright and all things bright and beautiful and Juniper feels herself blushing - from the boy or her thoughts, she can't be sure. Then she hears Athena let out a defeated sigh, but not without chuckling first.

"Oh, alright then, I guess you don't have to come..."

It's something in Athena's voice that makes Juniper want to agree. Fine, she'll come, so stop pouting, stop being a dejected little puppy, but when she goes to open her mouth, Apollo appears with his hand on her shoulder.

"Don't take it back. You'll just be giving her the satisfaction."

Athena's smirk fades, and then she glares at Apollo, and even though Apollo's touch is making her blush and way too warm, Juniper lets out a little giggle. They stare at her, and she giggles some more and tries to worm her way out of Athena's sight.

"I... I should be going now."

Athena stares at her intently, but follows her out. The energy around them grows much, much more serious and Athena's eyes are burning like coals when she looks at Juniper next.

"Junie... Just think it over, okay? It'd mean a lot to me if you came. After all, Simon's... still kind of shut out."

"Oh. Thena... I... I didn't realize this was about him..."

Athena's smile is sad, "Yeah, well, that's why I had planned it in the first place. Even though he's gotten out and we helped defend Aura and all, he's just.. he's still..."

Juniper nods, "It's okay, I get it. And... um... I'll see if I can let up on the studying. If you really want me to come, I'll... try to make it."

Athena gets very excited then, and Juniper is glad the seriousness is gone because Athena being so serious is almost a little scary.

ii.

The party's not so bad. Trucy performs magic tricks and Juniper notes that Simon seems to be opening up, and she doesn't object when Athena pulls her over to talk to him. After all, they had known him since they were eleven.

Simon is still cold, and there's no reason for him not to be. But he's still very gentle towards Athena, and Juniper smiles because they've always had something that's gentle and precious. It makes for a much better romance novel than actual books that are sold, even if Athena and Simon aren't in love.

"So you came."

Apollo.

"I... couldn't say no. Not after Thena told me what this was for."

Apollo stares at her, and there's something incredibly warm and kind about that gaze. He doesn't say anything, then, and just stares. Juniper begins to blush, and Apollo lets up on his gaze.

"Athena really cares about him, huh?"

"Yes, she does. They were always like that, though, even when we were kids. Simon couldn't say no to her, which sometimes ended up in him playing dolls with us."

Apollo laughs. Juniper giggles, too. He has a warm, contagious laugh.

"Even now I think he can't say no to her. After all, he showed up here... And I know, especially for him, it takes a lot of courage to show up around all these people."

Apollo can't reply because Trucy is bounding up to him, "Come on, Apollo! It's time for us to put on our big act!" But when she sees the scene before her, she quirks a brow and smirks, "Or... am I interrupting something?"

Juniper shakes her head, "Oh! No! Not at all! Um... don't mind me..."

Trucy stares, confused, hoping she said nothing to start Juniper. "Okay, Apollo, go get ready!"

"Wait. I never agreed to this!"

Too late.

Juniper feels bad.

iii.

The trick is silly, and it consists of Apollo being sawed in half. It's really very silly and Juniper is giggling too much. Even Simon cracks a smile at it, and Athena is happy to see everyone having fun.

"Trucy. I didn't agree to that!"

"Yeah, well me and Athena did!"

Athena laughs and high fives Trucy and Juniper frowns, just a little bit. She feels bad for Apollo - they took advantage of the poor boy. Simon stares at her, and opens his mouth, but closes it.

Apollo sighs deeply and walks away, standing in a corner. Poor thing, Juniper thinks.

"Poor Apollo," Juniper says out loud.

Athena laughs and Trucy joins in, but Simon says nothing. He looks at Juniper curiously, but shows no intention of speaking. Simon eventually leaves, and the other four are left alone. It's nothing new.

Trucy leaves next, leaving her props in the office, saying she'd clean up later, but they all know how that goes.

"Hey, Juniper! You should come tomorrow, too!"

Oh, but she really can't this time. "Thena, I can't this time. I really do have to study, you know."

Athena pouts and Juniper lets out a sigh. Apollo watches silently. "I'll... see what I can do, but no promises, Thena!"

Athena grins widely and Juniper feels much, much better, smiling back at her. Athena leaves after that, and then it's just her and Apollo... alone. Oh, that Athena!

"You shouldn't let her control you like that."

What?

"I... I don't know what you mean."

If he was going to explain, he would've. He drops the issue then, and instead tries to dissuade the topic. "I'll walk you out."

Juniper nods, but she knows that whatever Apollo was talking about, he feels guilty now. She would love to tell him that it's alright, it's not a problem, he's only looking out for her, but the thought alone makes her blush. Why is he looking out for her? He... doesn't have to. And she wasn't sure what he was talking about, anyway, so telling him not to feel guilty is out of the question when she can't understand him in the first place.

Then, Juniper realizes it's a little too hot outside for the middle of winter.

will be continued. i love Athena and Juniper's friendship, but here we have a different side of it. not sure how long this will be, probably three parts if i had to guess, though.