Chapter 3:: Forbidden Sons & Bookshelf Encounters

Author's Note:: Junia seems to be easing her way into things.

What Happened Last

"And how are you so dry?" Amanda demanded.

"A boy helped me out." Junia said reluctantly. "I don't know his name."

"What did he look like?"

"Short blonde hair. Pale, a few inches taller than me. Smirked when he wasn't looking really intensely at me. He had blue eyes."

"Reid Garwin."

October 14th, 2006

Amanda said his name with distaste. After looked hard at Junia once, and then moved back to her side of the room, as if being in the presence of someone who came in contact with Reid Garwin was enough to contaminate her as well. Amanda was just a tall, well dressed thirteen year old. "I wouldn't talk to him if I were you." Amanda said, lying back down on her bed, turning to her magazine."He's one of those Sons of Ipswich."

"Those who?" Junia asked, moving to the bathroom to get changed.

"The Sons of Ipswich. These four boys decided that they were all special because supposedly they are the descendents of some old families in Salem. If you ask me they're just weird." Amanda called. "Don't come out. I'm getting changed!"

"Ok." Junia called back. "So who was the boy he was with?"

"Tyler Simms he's always following Reid everywhere. Probably gay." Junia pressed her lips together. Amanda was always so quick to hand out judgments."You know, I should have known, you'd be interested in them. Birds of a feather flock together, or whatever." Amanda said.

Junia, now done changing out of her uniform looked at the mirror, waiting for Amanda to let her come out. She took out her headband and began putting her hair up. "Anyway, since I know you'd ask the other two are Pogue Parry and Caleb Danvers. I guess Caleb's like the leader. He's dating that Boston public chick, Sarah Whatever. She's intolerable if you ask me. Always all questions and bubbly. So fake." Amanda paused. "You can come out."

Junia opened the door and saw Amanda standing in front of her mirror, French braiding her hair. "I'm going out with Kira, Bordy and Aaron. Don't wait up."

"Don't forget your key."

"You do know that I had a single suite before you were here. I know how to take care of myself." Junia decided not to point out that Amanda had just yelled at Junia for not making sure that she woke her roommate up. She sighed and turned to her bag, pulling out her homework. The door clicked, signaling Amanda's exit.

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Junia had finished about half of her homework before she realized that in order to finish she'd need to go to the library. Junia grabbed the half of her paper that she had already finished and tucked it in a book. She grabbed her key and an umbrella and took off to get to the library.

It had stopped raining, and now the skies looked a lot like they had this morning. Grey clouds looming ahead, making the already darkening sky a deep shade of grey. She kept her umbrella tucked in her arms, up against her books as she hurried across the campus. The library was pretty empty, as was usually the case on Thursday night. There were the hardcore studiers, the kids who used the library as a place to hang out, and then the few students who needed to be there for homework like Junia. Junia set her books down on a desk and wandered off into the shelves looking for the write book to complete her Government paper

Junia's eyes scanned the shelves looking for anything that would help her. She spotted one book, took it out, flipped through a few pages and put it back. Too dense. Junia wandered to the next row of shelves, eyes on the books, as she walked along the aisle. She spotted another book and then ran into someone. The girl turned and gave her a dirty look, which then softened as she saw Junia's surprise.

"I'm so sorry." Junia apologized, willing the girl to turn away and avoid any of the pleasantries that would have to follow. It didn't work.

"It's no problem, I wasn't paying attention otherwise I would have moved." The girl said. "Sorry I glared at you though; I thought you were someone else."

"That's alright. I sort of deserved it." Junia considered the encounter over. The other girl, however, did not.

"So what are you looking for? I've been looking over these shelves for the past twenty minutes."

"I'm not really looking for anything in particular. Just looking for something to help me with an essay for my government class."

"Oh yeah, I have to do that. I was just looking for something for Pennyworth's class. But that essay's due tomorrow isn't it?"

"Monday." Junia corrected.

"So there's tomorrow, and then the weekend. I guess I better get started then, huh?" Junia nodded. The girl tossed her long black hair over her shoulder, and then stuck out her hand.

"I'm Kate, by the way."

"I'm Junia."

"Junia." Kate smiled. "That's such a cool name."

"I like it. When I was younger it was awful though. Everybody thought I was supposed to be Julia, and when they found out it was Junia I was teased for years."

"Well they're probably just jealous because they were stuck with ordinary names. Like Kate." The girl smiled.

"I would have killed to be named Kate."' Junia said honestly, happy that she could return the compliment.

"Don't be silly." Kate waved a hand. Suddenly a thought hit her and her eyes widened. "I'm sorry, was I keeping you?"

"No, actually I'm here by myself so the distraction from the work is nice."

Kate laughed. "I was supposed to meet my friend here like fifteen minutes ago. She's late. Probably with her boyfriend." Kate shrugged. "You can study with us if you want. We'd be happy for your company and any help with homework."

Junia smiled. She opened her mouth to give Kate an answer when a buzzing sound erupted from her pocket. "One second." Junia said. ""Hello?" she whispered into the phone.

"Junia? Why are you whispering?" Amanda shouted over the phone. A combination of music and voices blasted in the background.

"I'm at the library. Why?"

"I left my key in the dorm room. Can you bring it to me?"

"What?"

"I. Left. My key. In. The dorm room." Amanda said breaking the words down individually as if the sentence had previously been too long for Junia to understand. Junia took a deep breath but still a small knot of annoyance formed in her stomach. She had reminded Amanda to take it, hadn't she?

"Where is it?"

"I don't know. Could be in my bag or in my side table. I'm at Nicky's! Bring it to me, ok?"

"Ok." Junia sighed. She hung up. "I'm sorry, Kate, but I have to go. My roommate forgot her key and I have to bring it to her."

"Oh, that sucks." Kate wrinkled her nose. "Maybe I'll see you around sometime. Rain check, right?"

"Sure." Junia nodded and smiled, heading back to her bag. She left the library, making her way back to the dorms under an ever-darkening sky.