Ari was supposed to enjoy her nice evening of watching cat memes after contributing to a great thing. "Ari, look!" But noooo, her brother had to bug her with whatever. "Megan told me that she asked Juniper out."
Nevermind this was important, she got up. "Oooh what'd she say?" Ari gleamed, looking over his phone.
Hiro batted her away before she could get a good look. "She said that she asked if Juniper wanted to meet with her at Torii Gate Park." He smirked. "And Juniper said yes."
"Yes!" She squealed, excited that their plan was working. "So when do we go after them?"
"We don't." He narrowed his eyes.
"Huh?"
Baymax jumped to her brother's defense. "Megan and Juniper would be very angry if they found out we were eavesdropping on their date." He pointed out.
She was not going to let a little fear of angry friends stop her! "Oh, c'mon! Not like they'll be that mad!"
"I would prefer not getting zapped by your friend." Hiro winced.
Ari rolled her eyes at him. "You're exaggerating." She wanted to see her friends get together- she meant make sure they had a good date.
"Well, we're not bugging them."
"Fine, I will." But as she went to leave, Baymax scooped her up. "What the heck, Baymax?!"
The robot simply blinked. "I have been ordered by Hiro to make sure you do not do something you regret."
"Again." Hiro snickered, the little traitor.
She growled in her soft vinyl prison. "When I get out of here, I am going to freeze you to the bed."
"Try me!"
Baymax was starting to wonder if Ari meant she'd literally freeze Hiro to the bed, or it was just the usual sibling banter. He was a robot, he was not built to deal with decoding sibling banter.
Outside of the Hamada household, it was the end of the evening at Torii Gate Park, the sun wasn't even visible in the sky, dipped under the skyscrapers. The only sign of it being there were fading oranges and reds, bleeding into the indigo sky with starry freckles marking it.
Juniper felt the damp grass under her feet, the blades tickling her exposed ankles. "Uch." She stepped closer to the path. Normally she'd dress in thicker clothing but it was unusually warm tonight, so she was wearing shorter pants, her top exposing her shoulders, and sneakers that were a little tight on the feet.
Why did I have to borrow a pair from David? Note to self, go shoe shopping in the future.
"Juni!" She perked up, hearing Megan's voice. "You came!"
"Of course I did." Juniper faced her, she noted the reporter nearly tripped seeing her face-to-face. "You good?"
Megan awkwardly coughed. "Yeah uh… didn't think you'd dress up." She cleared her throat. "You look beautiful."
"T-thanks Meg." She blushed. "I didn't dress up that much, did I?"
"Well, you put in more effort than I did." Megan gestured to her plain t-shirt, jacket tied to her waist.
"I think you look great." Was it just her imagination or was her friend blushing? It gave her a small bit of hope. "C'mon, show me around. I haven't been to this park at all."
And so they spent a good chunk of time walking around the park. "Y'know, I used to see a lot of Mayoi here." Megan hummed. "Back when they first appeared, the cute little guys would run around all day in the park, I saw them coming back last time I was here."
"I don't like them." Juniper felt her skin crawl at the mention of those buggers. They always stared at the glass of the tank with their creepy faces "Y'know, 'cuz of…"
Her friend gasped. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to bring that up!"
"I-It's fine. They just creep me out with their big ol' eyes."
"Fair. I don't even know if they blink."
"Oh god, they're like alien cats." Both of them stared at each other, and then laughed.
Well, this is going great. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to say some sort of cheesy confession, but they were just staring at each other. Their brown eyes locking gazes, she could see the joy in Megan's eyes, and maybe something more…?
Maybe she was just seeing things. "Er… you never got hurt, right?"
"No! None of the Mayoi stepped on me or anything. I just saw all my friends get hurt." Her fingers fiddled with her brown locks. "It sucked, seeing you, Hiro, and everyone else get hurt because of what happened with the monsters."
She tried blocking out the memory of claws around her throat. "You wouldn't say that if you saw what I did." Juniper sighed. "Besides, I wasn't a good person before that happened."
"But you wanted to get better!" Megan pointed out. "Would a truly terrible person feel bad about what they did in the past?"
She knew Megan had a point, but she just couldn't forgive herself. "No… but I-" She turned away. "I c-can't-" Feelings of anger, frustration, fear, and sadness flickered in her chest. "I just… I don't deserve forgiveness, okay?!"
Megan's golden-brown eyes stared at her in shock. "Juni, I'm sorry."
"What? Why are you sorry?!"
"I'm sorry that you feel like that, that you feel like you don't deserve to be forgiven." Megan's hand gripped her own, squeezing it a little to try and give her comfort.
Juniper didn't even bother to try nudging her hand away, she just stared at her with watery eyes. "I just don't know why that bothers you so much, after what happened at Bridgeton, you should've been scared of me, why aren't you?"
"Because I-"
They tripped.
Who knows how, maybe it was due to the wet grass, or an untied shoelace, or fate… Who knows, the point is it ended up with both girls yelping as they fell downhill. Juniper instinctively clung to Megan to try and soften her fall.
Crash!
Juniper opened her eyes, which she had closed on the way downhill. Megan was lying on top of her chest, their faces inches away from each other and their noses touching.
Neither of them moved for a few moments, until Megan snapped out of it and jumped back a little. "Aaaah, oh my gosh I'm so sorry-"
"Hey." Juniper shushed her. "Don't be." There was a nagging feeling in her head telling her to confess, but she couldn't think of what words to say.
So she just leaned in closer and kissed the reporter on the cheek. There was a sparking feeling in her chest as she pulled away.
Megan had this starstruck look in her eyes. "So you… I…?"
"I uh… I didn't know how else to say it, but I think I got the words now." Juniper blushed. "I really like you Megan. Like a lot."
"I feel the same way." She smiled. "So… do you wanna be my girlfriend?"
She couldn't help but laugh. "Really? I confess my feelings and you ask me that?" Juniper rolled her eyes. "Of course I wanna be your girlfriend!" And pulled her in for a hug.
They stayed like that for a while, feeling each other's warm embrace. "So, how long have you felt this way about me?" Megan asked her.
"Since that one time you visited, and when Hiro was talking about the Kentucky Kaiju movies, it just clicked into my head." Juniper explained. "How about you?"
"Um… when I met you at the dance?"
Juniper blinked. "Really?!"
"Well, it was more of a 'oh gosh this girl is cute' kind of thing, and after the dance it was like 'man I wish I could've talked to the cute girl more' and now it's a 'I really really like this girl because she's sweet and amazing' kind of thing." The reporter rambled.
"Even after what I did to Ari?"
"You literally were talking about how much you value your friendship with her at the dance, I knew from my gut that what happened wasn't your fault." She grumbled. "You wouldn't do anything like that again, I trust you."
Those words had made Juniper tear up a little inside. "Er… so maybe sometime tomorrow or the day after do you think you could come over to my house for dinner?"
"As a date?" Megan hummed with amusement.
"I guess… the Ferns have a really nice backyard." Juniper noted. Full of flowers, bamboo, a pond, and a porch that was perfect for a romantic night. "But we can talk about that later, I just wanna look at the stars with you."
Megan giggled. "Oh my gosh, you're such a romantic dork."
So they lied down on the bottom of the hill and snuggled, watching the stars together.
"So, have you been doing better at the Ferns house?" Megan asked her.
"Yeah, I'm still a little nervous around them. But they've been very patient and kind, so I think I'll be okay." Juniper answered. She was glad to have something distract her from her thoughts of worries and fears that she was gonna mess up and-
"I find it really cute that they adopted you into their family." Her girlfriend stated. "What are they like?"
She only had one word in mind. "Crazy!" Juniper exclaimed. "The other day they had a silly string war in the living room, and when Steven came in to ask them to stop, they sprayed him! I was just chilling on the couch when that happened, and I still remember the smell of that stupid string."
Megan snickered. "Oh my gosh, I've heard a couple stories about them from Hiro. So I'm not surprised about that."
"Ha-ha yeah, and to think that I used to hang with them when I was little…" Juniper rubbed the back of her head. "I wonder if they were saner, probably not."
"Oh, you don't remember that?"
She winced. "Not really." Juniper felt her earlier emotions from her conversation with Hiro rise up. "I just… I just remember the bad ones."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
A part of Juniper wanted to, but she just felt an ache in her chest and a pain in her head and just couldn't go through all of those emotions again. Back in the box you go. "N-Not today, it's a whole lot… and I don't want to bother you with that when we just got together. Maybe in the future I'll be able to tell you about that time, but it wasn't really great."
Megan understood, and pulled her into a hug. "Okay, I'm sorry you went through whatever happened. I hope that you'll be able to talk about it when you're ready someday."
"I hope so too…" Juniper sighed. "Thanks for understanding why I can't."
"You're welcome."
Suddenly, rock and roll music played from her girlfriend's phone. "That's my dad." Megan answered the call. "Hello?"
A voice that sounded semi-concerned answered, but Juniper couldn't make out the words. "Yes Dad, I'm fine at Hiro and Ari's house." Ohhh, that's where she said she was? I hope Hiro and Ari know that. "Oh, it's late? Yeah, I'll be heading back soon. Love you too Dad."
As the call ended, Juniper realized something. "I don't think he'd be happy finding out we're dating now."
"Yeah, he would not." She winced. "Maybe we should keep this secret for a while."
"Good idea." Juniper nodded. "Can I tell my mama?"
"Of course! Maybe we could tell the others in the chat, I mean Hiro and Ari were kind of being matchmakers today, amiright?" She teased, but then her eyes widened in realization. "Oh my god they set this up, the madmans."
That explains why Ari was being so nosy. "I don't think they'd tell anyone. But I'm not sure about the others."
"Karmi definitely wouldn't! And Rachel's used to keeping her own secrets, so she'd totally keep ours."
She nodded. "You have a point. Bye then Megan." Juniper gave her one last hug before they started going their separate ways. "Have a safe trip home!"
"Thanks, you too!" Megan shouted back, and she could only smile as she started her way back home.
Teen Dorks Squad group chat:
Meg: everyone you up
Karms: I'm recovering from freezing sled snow but sure
June: Ouch
Ari: sled snow?
Karms: Dad took us sledding. Tomorrow we're going snowboarding and honestly I just want to drown in blankets
Hiro: Man it must be nice going sledding
Rach: Why am I being summoned this better be good
June: We have an announcement n.n!
Karms: We?
Ari: OMGOGMGOGKFGKIVFKIFIFDFDASFS,LLOXKZ
Baymax: Ari is very excited to hear your news
June: *pretends to be shocked*
Meg: We're dating
Rach: wait what
Rach: what when did this happen how what when what why
Karms: Aww congrats! I ship it
Ari: MY SHIP IS CANON YES
Ari: I MUST COME UP WITH A SHIP NAME
Hiro: ARI NO
Hiro: ARI GET AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER ARIiwsaiksasi
Baymax: Congratulations on your newfound relationship : D
June: aaa thx. Please keep it secret though
Meg: Yeah my dad would kill me if I dated in high school
Rach: That's an understatement but ye
Karms: If anyone makes fun of you guys I will come back to break their kneecaps : )
Hiro: You're coming back soon?!
Karms: No : (
Karms: I miss your faces but also I'm not really ready?
Ari: Awww. We love and miss you!
Karms: I miss you too Ari
Ari: This lack of Karmiro content is giving me agony
June: Oh no I'm dreading the ship naming XD
Hiro: DANGIT ARI
Karms: AND NOW I DON'T MISS YOU
As she skipped towards the Ferns household, Juniper was humming a tune that always played during her and her mama's performances back when they were crime-dancing. When she got to the door, it was Momakase who opened the door when she knocked.
"Ah, back from your walk I see." The mercenary/chef greeted her. "Run into any hooligans?"
She rolled her eyes. "No. Did you think I frolicked in Good Luck Alley? Do I look like Mikan?"
For some reason that got Momakase to snicker. "No, you do not. Come in before someone berates me for letting the cold in." Juniper entered and soaked in the warmth of the living room.
And then the exhaustion kicked in, she felt her body grow heavy and a yawn coming from her throat. That summoned her mama. "Juniper?" Barb walked over and she instantly leaned on her shoulder. "Oh, did you have a good walk?"
"Mhm…" Juniper mumbled. She then yawned, her cheeks turning pink from embarrassment. "Sorry."
Barb flashed a calm smile. "It's okay, you're tired." She didn't fuss as she was brought to her room and tucked in, Pete plopped into her still arms. "So, did you and Megan have a good date?"
"Yeah." Juniper nodded. "She likes me…"
Her mama's eyes gleamed with joy. "Oh. So are you two dating? When are you inviting her over for dinner?"
"Mama… don't say it that loud. I don't want to get teased by David and Mikan..."
"If they poke fun at you too much, Steven and Sally will set them straight." Barb reassured her, giving her a goodnight kiss. "Sweet dreams, Juni."
She smiled, hugging her plushie. "I love you Mama."
"I love you too." As the lights turned off and she placed her nightlight Steven gifted her on and snuggled Pete under her covers…
She felt like things were getting better for herself, and that she'd be okay.
AN: WOOOO THEY'RE TOGETHER NOW
This was so much fun to write, hope you enjoy this chapter!