September 23rd, 1991

Juniper pulled a cigarette out and offered Jack one, which he took stiffly.

She smiled, they had a dynamic... sorta. A you scratch my back, I scratch yours kinda thing. At first it was really nice but now, most of the time the repetitiveness made her itch, like something inexpiable was coming-it always was. With routine came anticipation and with anticipation came disappointment... or dependence, while the timid Juniper liked Jack's presence-she couldn't begin to rely on him, that would be a horrible mistake that she should definitely steer clear of, unfortunately for Juniper, she didn't know how to drive.

The idea of dependence on someone, it made you weak, but as the weeks passed it was difficult not to rely on Jack, because he was a very loyal, reliable person. Even in his silent stares and malicious outbursts toward those who tested his patience. Most times the only barrier in their little friendship was communication. Juniper wasn't very cordial herself, and the only conversation Jack offered most of the time was playful teasing, which was very limited limited exchange in itself. Truth be told, the Napier boy made her quite nervous at times, his eyes reminded her of a shark's-they cut through you in a way that was indescribable, almost soulless. Juniper knew that even a confident, strong willed man would become anxious beneath those eyes.

She'd seen it happen multiple times with teachers and the older children alike. It was something that made her feel apprehensive and secure in the oddest way. Like she could confide in someone for the first time in her life without worry, but the caution that came with looking into the dark brown orbs gave her goosebumps from hell. Not that she'd ever admit that to anyone.

Even with the chilly air that surrounded them, Juniper's cheeks burned with a flush as she felt intensity of Jack's stare every so often. She found herself likening his eyes to that of a burnt out ember, dark and unforgiving and yet still warm with life. She didn't think she had a choice in her fondness for the reclusive Jack Napier, it was something that was out of her hands and she'd just have to come to accept with time.

Juniper stomped out the fallen filter bud with a small sigh.

September 27th , 1991

Jack was good at school.

He'd ace tests and worksheets he'd never even studied for, his time in class was spent rigidly staring out the window, alongside Juniper. When Jack had been called out for this, he'd let them accuse him of cheating, not because he was guilty, Juniper blew that idea off as soon as it'd crossed her mind. More than likely, it was because he simply didn't have the energy to deny the false accusations thrown at him day by day, but when they'd secluded him off to hook him up to various tools and test his mind, they found out then, that Jack Napier was simply a genius.

When haughty teachers would try to challenge his knowledge, he'd simply sit back, unresponsive and ignore their harassment. But Juniper knew for a fact that if he truly wanted to, Jack could dissect them bit by bit, and prove to them the true insignificance of their mind compared to his. He never admitted this, but quite a few times Juniper had jumped to his defense and gotten sent out immediately for her knife-like words at the pathetic excuses of authority. The only reward for her sacrifice was the small quirk of Jack's down turned mouth that could easily be labeled one of his many smirks, but Juniper knew it was the beginning stages of the stretch of a smile.

Juniper herself however, had never really been outstanding at anything other than art, truth be told it was her own fault. Time in class was spent daydreaming of impossible scenarios that would never be reality, it was useless to attempt to stop her wandering mind, while in the middle of a boring lecture from her monotonous math teacher. The classroom was almost bare and the dull colors didn't help to liven the atmosphere up any. It smelled of moth balls and fuzzy, dust that clearly covered each surrounding surface-it was even worse when the teacher would turn the lights off to use the board at the front of the classroom.

September 27th was no different.

A low snore brought her from la la land and she turned to Jack beside her, his head rested on the desk and his lips slightly parted. She nearly snorted aloud but decided against drawing attention to the scene when she noticed the dark circles beneath his closed eyes, they were a pretty color of purple and swirled in lines of faded pink-Juniper found herself wondering if they were actually bruises. There had been few moments like this one-when she could see him slightly relaxed and she figured there would be few in the future as well so she took from him what she could and let her eyes travel over Jack.

The sandy colored curls covered his head in wild locks and many times she'd watched as he brushed them from his face in annoyance, one dared to tickle the top of his eyelid even now and she willed it not to disturb his slumber. The rise and fall of his chest had a rough sound to it, like he was in the peak of a chest cold, Juniper lay her head on the desk to watch the way his fingers would twitch as he slept the better part of his day away. She looked away quickly when the bell rang, slightly embarrassed she'd been watching the narrow eyed blond for so long.

But she smiled lightly when she saw him wipe the drool from the corner of his mouth and blearily look around, like reality was the true dream world. The both of them packed up quietly as the other children rushed about, in too much of a hurry to get to their next classor meet with friends. When the two of them finally stood from their chairs Juniper decided to play it cool and shoved her half-completed math notes at his chest to copy, with a smirk on her face.

She looked over briefly in English to catch Jack's eye across the classroom, they were all-supposed to be-reading 'The Boy In the Striped Pajamas' but instead it seemed he'd been more... occupied. Juniper reached down to trace patterns into the fabric of her pants, her fingers were shaking nervously at the feeling of dark eyes on her. The jeans were ripped in various places and a bit baggy, too long for her legs, the bottoms torn from being stepped on-they'd been her older sister's when she was younger. Juniper's eyes furrowed as the feeling of being watched didn't leave and-sure enough-when she glanced up, he was still looking, his dark eyes locked on her. The small frown on his lips confused her and made her wonder if she'd done something wrong, she hadn't. It took a couple of moments for her to realize that Jack was spaced out, off in his own world and staring straight through her without falter. It made her body go rigid at the look in his eyes. While Juniper herself was guilty of zoning out at inopportune times Jack seemed to brood rather than daydream.

He'd stare into space as well but there was a malice laced in the gleam of his eyes that was as clear as a shard of glass. There was no telling what he thought of-but when she saw him that way... she pictured the embers she'd described his eyes as so many times before, flaring back to a burning point, the coal stones had tricked her into believing they'd gone out long ago and were just waiting for her back to be turned before it'd engulf her from behind and pull her into the flame. Juniper knew Jack was one of those people who imagined the world differently from others.

She'd like to think of herself as open minded, and while she tried to pull off the rough, cool exterior she normally possessed, she still felt unease prickle at the back of her neck. Jack Napier was another level of human, like he hadn't even come from Earth, only decided to occupy it for a while before he set off onto something greater, Juniper smiled. Jack was, indeed, something greater. More than a boy with a few bruises, more than a reclusive soul, he had the potential to be anything he wished to be, whatever he saw fit. It was his for the taking.

When she looked back up his hair covered his face, his nose was practically shoved in the novel. When he'd looked away she didn't know but Juniper could still feel the hot coals burning the skin of her face as though she'd sought out warmth and stepped too close to the flame. She traced her hands over her arms in attempt to control the goosebumps that had appeared and tried to focus on the words in front of her.

It was an innocent friendship at first.