December 13th, 1991

The other children didn't understand Juniper.

In the beginning of grade school it had hurt, and been a massive vulnerability for Juniper to deal with day by day. Instead of trying to fit in with her peers Juniper spent her time building up walls and creating a shell around herself that made her seem aloof and cold-as expected it drove others away-If they couldn't accept her then they didn't deserve her. As time passed, it stopped having any impact on her at all, mostly, she was just left alone, which she preferred over judgmental company in the long run. Although it was difficult to face reality without anyone by her side and the isolation from other people made her social skills dwindle in the distance, she found the quiet to be peaceful... sometimes.

Juniper Heden had accepted her exile from the normal, civil, society long ago-until the Napier boy had come along.

Now-now, she had an ally-maybe even a companion.

She no longer felt the need to lash out rudely toward others for her lack of communal skills, she could even say she'd gotten used to having someone by her side during the majority of the day. There was still barely any form of communication, but she'd take his abrasive exterior that came with an odd structure of companionship over anyone else.

Jack had made her go soft-kinda.

So, that was what led Juniper to her predicament on December 17th , her sixth year-face down on the pavement, her nose bloodied and cheek scraped. A month or two ago and whoever the offender would've never gotten the chance, but at that moment in time, she'd felt her eyes flooding with moisture;the pathetic proof of her surprise and embarrassment.

Loud, goading laughter had rung in her ears like an echo and she willed herself to go deaf to avoid the harassing noise.

It seemed someone had stuck their leg out in the crowd and effectively knocked her feet from beneath her, each pupil rushed to get to their class on time and trampled above her in a rush, no one slowed for the girl who lay, bleeding on the ground. Her dark hair had mangled into the shallow wound on her face and she pushed it behind her ears to remove it from her vision.

To Juniper's horror she wasn't even angry-just a bit shaken up and bitter at her own shock toward the event.

The sound of skin on skin contact made her look up.

There, not three feet away, Jack stood above the snotty seventh grader, Tyler Keffle, beating him to a pulp. It wouldn't have been an exaggeration to say that Tyler was crying like a baby, he was sobbing, loudly. His friends stood back, in a circle, and looked on in there own bewilderment. Various cracking sounds were heard and Juniper could have easily guessed that Keffle's nose had been broken long ago, he sat on his hands and knees, gagging and spitting up thick blood that looked like tangled veins.

It seemed only Juniper noticed the way Jack's eyes lit up, the embers had caught aflame once more and instead of the controlled burn they held on a normal circumstance, it was a rage filled wildfire, the usual malice that surrounded had multiplied. Much to her chagrin and dread, there was a smile on his face, genuine and full, not small-most definitely not boyish. The smile of a madman. She noticed it fade away and Juniper decided then to look up, back into his eyes, that were now staring back at her, blankly.

The world seemed to stop then, as she watched him check over her wounds-with a downward turn of his lips. Juniper hated to admit the feeling of reliance that weigh heavily on her chest and in that moment, she begrudgingly admitted to herself that Jack Napier was truly her best friend. The first person she could depend on, truly trust and confide in. While he may be detached and seemingly very violent, he was what she'd had;she'd never had anyone better.

It seemed the teachers and administrators around were moving in slow motion as the hauled Jack back from Tyler Keffle's broken and weeping form, that lay, slumped on the ground. Jack didn't resist but it was obvious that they were rougher than necessary as his arms were pulled behind him and his blonde curls swung in front of his face. Her peers had sat in huddled groups, whispering as they'd stared at the bloodied crumpled body of Tyler and Jack's retreating back. She could already hear the wail of an ambulance, that had probably been rushing through the city, to save the little snot from his current state.

But Juniper was still stuck on the glint swirling within Jack's tragically inflamed eyes.

December 16th, 1991

Regret wasn't an emotion Juniper felt often.

But as she sat alone-old habits die hard-underneath the bleachers, she'd felt it for a number of things.

One reason was because she'd started to count on the presence of Jack Napier, like she just knew he'd be there. But he wasn't and it was her fault. That was the other explanation for her regret, she hadn't taken up for herself, and Jack had gotten in trouble for doing it instead. If she hadn't relied on him in the first place she wouldn't have gotten comfortable, and in turn that boy wouldn't have had the opportunity to put her in the situation she had needed to protect herself from.

But she did, she did count on Jack's companionship and she did feel safe around him and that did in fact lead her to getting her ass kicked and Jack being suspended for a whole week. Juniper rolled her eyes at herself, for being so pathetic, for wanting the Napier boy around, for being weak around her 'classmates';she should have known they'd jump at her the second her guard was down. It puzzled her that she hadn't reacted quickly enough, but it was what had happened. That was the situation she'd been in and that was the way it'd panned out, there was no use in mulling over some dripped milk, especially when the bottle had already been thrown away.

Juniper sighed and took a drag from her cigarette. It was gonna' be a long week.

December 19th, 1991

She'd almost ran and hugged him.

When she saw his small figure approaching through the wood line, the baggy clothes he wore hung around him in their usual wrinkles and his blonde locks were unwashed, she'd almost, almost, ran toward him and wrapped him in an embrace. Because she'd missed him, because she wanted to thank him. But, the fresh looking bruise on his cheek reminded her of the dynamic of their relationship;who they were, and she kept quiet, only offered him the cigarette from between her fingers when he was a step away.

Juniper didn't say anything about the small purpling blemish on his face, just beneath his eye, on the small, round of his cheekbone. She never did.

Jack didn't like talking about normal topics, and bringing up the newest, most apparent sign of his abuse wouldn't snap him into conversation. She did care however, a lot, more than she ever had, or most likely would. Jack was her friend, and she'd be there if he wanted to talk, or just sit in silence and avoid the problem altogether-she'd be there.

But the look in his eyes was all she needed to offer him a withering smile and drop the thought altogether.