AN: I know this may not be read but I would like to thank you for such supportive reviews, it honestly means the world to me and is one of the few things that manage to bring a smile to my face. To see that my work is appreciated is such an honor and it really helps me to stay motivated, thank you so much. xxx

*Also, if you could drop a review about the feeling the story gives you as you read it that'd be absolutely amazing-I can never decide as it's a story of my own. Thank you again, much love. xxx

April 10th, 1995

It was a very rare occurrence to see Jack laugh.

So rare in fact that Juniper had never seen him do it until her freshman year of high school, the sporadic moment that his dark eyes would squint with amusement and small wrinkles would form on the freckled skin of his nose had only been something she'd pictured in her head while daydreaming in class, it had been an absence in her life, until it hadn't. She and Jack been walking through the halls together side by side, the students that crowded the middle had parted instantly as they made their way through, like the two were a disease, but not one of them made eye contact as Juniper had looked around, nervous and slightly annoyed. He'd been gone for a couple of weeks which wasn't unusual, Jack was always into some kind of trouble-the only reason he hadn't been kicked out of the school was because of his extreme level of intelligence. On most accounts it was because he'd said something that threatened another students safety, and if anyone new anything about Jack at all, it was that he never gave empty promises.

This time however, it had been rumored that he'd had a violent encounter with the beloved Bruce Wayne, and Juniper couldn't be sure if it had been truth or not, as Bruce hadn't been to school either. But she was slightly miffed at Jack because, as always, he wouldn't tell her anything, and if Bruce had been hurt at her expense she didn't know what she'd do. He probably wouldn't want anything to do with her, and while she would've liked to pretend that she didn't like Wayne, she did.

So, she was a bit irritated at Jack, something that didn't happen very often.

Jack, however, picked up on this immediately, and it just pissed her off more that he seemed to find it funny. He'd been avoiding her questions with ones of his own and poking at her relentlessly, all the while snickering to himself about it when she'd snap. But, after a bit he'd had enough of the silence-something very surprising-and had actually began a friendly conversation-or tried to.

"So, Joony, how was life without me?" He'd slouched slightly in order to lower his height to her's and whisper in her ear, the nickname almost made her smile, almost. But the blush that colored her cheeks was uncontrollable and made Juniper curse herself for being weak. She'd shrugged, mumbling under her breath and continued to walk forward, only stopping when she noticed Jack wasn't behind her, she let out a loud sigh at him when she turned around and saw him standing behind her a few feet where she'd left him.

"What was that, Ju-ni-per? I don't think I heard ya' right." Jack cocked his head to the side and his low, teasing tone was laced with an aggressive, chipper lilt. Juniper growled in frustration and stomped her foot, realizing immediately she looked like a small child having a temper tantrum.

"Oh, so what you're deaf now?" His dark eyes narrowed with amusement and warning at her words, so she continued, "I said, it was miserable," Juniper paused watching his smirk and returned it with a slier one, "Almost like having you here."

She watched Jack struggle with himself, she was only a few steps away and could clearly see his mouth twitching-at first she'd thought he was having a stroke or at any moment going to close the distance and finally end her. But within seconds his eyes had lightened in the sun's glare on them and he'd thrown his head back, tossing back blonde curls that had been neglected from cuts, and the sound he let out was something that made Juniper's former blush return. She was transfixed by the lovely sound of the deep roar of laughter that filled the air, and she found herself openly admiring him for the first time.

It was no secret that Jack was attractive-but she'd never really been attracted to him before, she'd seen multiple girls staring at her best friend with flirtatious stares as he walked by, but never had she been one of them. Sure, she'd noticed his physical changes, like his sharpened features, and pouty lips, the way his shirts fit against him instead of hanging around him in rags. More than once she'd stared at the tanned, toned arms and long, agile fingers as he wrote in class, never had it been in interest but mere wonder of when it'd happened.

Now, however, she couldn't help but feel refreshed at the sight of his wide grin, and never had his eyes been so soft. When Juniper felt what only could be described as butterflies in her stomach she'd closed her eyes in dread, finally looking away before he noticed her longing stare. When Jack finally caught up with her in a single stride with his long legs they made their way in peaceful silence, Jack with a tilt to his normally frowning lips and Juniper with a heavy heart of realization.

That day in April, Juniper's twisted crush on Jack Napier began.

May 5th, 1995

Bruce returned to school.

In her own reluctance to seek him out she'd avoided his existence entirely, but had thankfully heard that the rumors had been untrue, he'd simply been on vacation with his parents, rich privileges and all. Juniper knew that it was wrong to evade someone she considered a friend, but she'd truthfully never been the one to seek him out, he'd always come to her with friendly conversation and kind, hopeful brown eyes. It was such a contrast to Jack that she didn't mind, and she often found that she needed a break from her constant thoughts of the Napier boy-ever since middle school she'd revolved her life around him.

Sometimes it was best to distract herself from Jack, a majority of the time his presence suffocated her in a way that was her own fault and she felt pathetic when every thought was about him, in a good way or bad. Her reliance on him had taken a turn for the worst and it twisted her gut with apprehension to see the morbid pleasure in Jack's eyes because he knew. He knew that without him she'd be alone and she depended on his company with desperation. But he didn't know how far it had gotten, just how bad it really was, Juniper had an advantage, because she knew that while she may need Jack, he needed her as well, even though he'd deny it... he needed her much more than she needed him.

But what did she know, after all, she was just a foolish girl with a crush, right?

June 9th, 1995

She hated the Summer break.

It was a time that loneliness returned to Juniper's life in full force, Jack seemed to disappear and she was left on her own, to read books and contemplate what she was doing with her life. It seemed to be a type of seasonal depression, but it was-as everything else-meditated around Jack Napier. In every sense of the word, she was truly lost without him. Not that his reluctance to do anything outside of school was helpful or motivating in any way, in fact it just left Juniper in a bout of self doubt and reclusive hatred toward others that was something most likely adapted from said cause of. It began a round of questions that she couldn't answer and didn't think she really wanted the answer to anyway, Did he even care about her? Did he miss her? Did he think of her? Did he want to spend time with her? Was he okay? She'd roll her eyes at herself in annoyance and go back to watching some stupid MTV show that wasn't even all that entertaining.

Juniper hated Summer break.