The next day I woke up feeling confident and happy. Because really, why shouldn't I be? Juniper liked me. Juniper had kissed me. Life was good.

My confidence dropped rapidly when I didn't see Juniper at lunchtime. My friends were all asking me about the dance, but Juniper wasn't there. I hadn't told them what had happened yet, and now I was glad I hadn't. Had I been wrong? Had the kiss meant nothing to her? Was it just a thank you kiss? It hadn't felt like a thank you kiss. It had felt special, like it really meant something. How could I have been so wrong?

I tried to reassure myself. Maybe she was sick? Maybe she was late? Maybe she had to do something this lunchtime? Or maybe she didn't want to see me, and explain that the kiss was nothing.

I looked towards the entrance to the cafeteria, looking out for her. I didn't see her. But I did see a flash of blonde hair, the figure of a retreating girl.

"I'l be back in a minute," I said, and ran after her. I didn't know if it was Juniper or not, but I had to check.

I followed her outside into the parking lot. I stopped under the shelter outside the cafeteria. She continued to walk through the rain.

"Juniper?" I called out after her.

She turned. It was her, her green eyes flashing like emeralds. I stepped out into the rain, walking towards her.

"Hi." she said, reluctantly, like she wished I hadn't followed her.

"Hi." I replied. "Where were you?" I hoped that didn't sound too needy. But I needed to know.

"I went home." she said, her face blank.

"Are you sick?" I asked, wondering if my first guess had been right.

She shook her head. "No. Just... confused."

What did that mean? Why was she confused? Confused about me? Confused about us?

"Did you tell the others? About last night?" she asked.

"No." I replied.

She nodded. "Good," she said softly.

"Why?" I asked. I wasn't sure why she thought it was good.

"I don't want them to... assume anything." she said.

I could feel it- she was going to tell me what I had feared. The kiss hadn't meant anything. I was so stupid.

"It's okay, Juniper." I said. Again, I didn't want to make it hard for her. Even though I didn't want her to say it, I knew she was going to. "I get it. Last night... it didn't mean anything. Not if you don't want it too. I understand. I don't... I don't want you to do anything you don't want to do."

She bit her lip. She seemed torn. But why? I didn't understand it.

"It's not that I don't want to." she said. Her voice sounded strained. "But, I can't."

"I don't understand." I said. Why couldn't she?

She shook her head.

"Me neither."

What did that mean? What did any of it mean? I just wanted to know what she was thinking, how she was feeling.

We stood there, the rain slowly soaking us.

"Don't worry about it. We'll just be the way we were before-" I began.

"How can you be this nice Andy?" she interrupted. "How are you not frustrated? How is it that you haven't given up on me completely? Why are you so, so..." she trailed off.

I was surprised. I hadn't been expecting that. And I didn't know how to answer her. So I shrugged.

"I like you," I said quietly. "I'm happy to just be your friend. I want to make you happy."

Her eyes sparkled even more than usual. Was she crying? Or was that just the rain?

"I don't want you to be my friend." she said. She spoke quietly and I could hardly hear her over the rain. "I want you to be more. If you want me to be happy, don't do nothing. Just be with me. Stay with me."

She wiped her face, and I realized that she was crying. I didn't want her to cry. I wanted her to smile- that beautiful smile that I loved.

I took a step forwards and hugged her, wrapping my arms around her. She pressed her face against my chest, and I felt that happy, bubbly sensation again. Now I thought we were together. But still, I wanted clarification.

"Just to be clear." I said, quietly, speaking into her ear. "We're, like, together now, right?"

"Yes." she whispered, putting her mouth near my ear. "I'm yours."

I smiled and held her tighter.

"Cool." I said.

I could hardly sit through fifth hour- all I wanted was to see her again. Every second that I wasn't with her, I wished I was. She got there only a second after me today- she must have rushed from fifth hour as well.

"Hey!" she said, smiling broadly.

"Hi! We're doing badminton still." I said, making a face. I hated badminton.

She slumped her shoulders, pretending to be disappointed. Then she straightened up.

"Let's try to play Bella Swan." she said.

"What, so we'll definitely win?" I said.

She laughed and I joined in. I liked that I could make her laugh.

"That's so mean!" she said. "But it's true."

"Depends if she partners with Mike Newton though." I said. "He's good."

She made a face now, turning up one side of her mouth.

"What?" I asked her.

"I reckon we could beat him." she said. Her eyes gleamed.

I smiled.

"You think so?" I asked.

She nodded sincerely and I grinned.

"We'll have to make sure we play him then won't we?" I said.

It wasn't easy, but we did beat him. Mike was pretty good at sport, and even though Bella was no help to him, he still played well. But Juniper and I were better. We made a good team.

Pre-season baseball training was starting. Our first session was after school, so I went to the field and met Matt and Tom there. We had played baseball together since we were old enough to swing a bat.

"So, how's things going with Juniper?" Matt asked me as we did our warmup jog around the field.

I smiled despite myself.

"Good," I said. "We beat Mike Newton in badminton today,"

Tom laughed.

"Bet he didn't like that."

"But how are things really going?" Matt pressed. "Like, are you going to ask her out or something?"

I paused. I hadn't really considered going on a date with Juniper. But now that I thought about it, I should ask her out.

"Yeah," I said. "I think I will. Do we have training tomorrow after school?"

"Nup," Tom said.

"Cool," I said, smiling again. "I'll ask her then."

I didn't ask her at lunchtime- it seemed unfair, with all our friends around. Matt and Tom watched me, and Matt mouthed 'You asking her or what?'. But I shook my head, mouthing back, 'Later.'

I considered asking her in Gym class, but decided after school was best. We had a fun Gym lesson- we designed a new game we called Extreme Badminton. However Coach Clapp didn't think the game was quite as genius as we did, and made us pack up all the equipment.

When I'd finished that and gotten changed I went out to the parking lot and walked over to where Juniper had parked her scooter. I leant against the wall next to it and waited for her.

"Hello again," she said, smiling at me. She wrapped her arms around me in a hug, her warm body pressing against mine.

"So, are you doing anything now?" I asked her.

"Going home and working," she replied. "Why?"

"Well, I just thought that we could do something. That is, if you want to. If you're busy, that's okay-" I realized I sounded stupid and stopped talking. But she smiled at me.

"Definitely." I said. "What did you have in mind?"

I smiled, pleased with my success, then I shrugged. I didn't care what we did- just being with her was good.

"Whatever. We could go to the movies over in Port Angeles. They've got a little cinema."

She nodded enthusiastically.

"Yeah. That's sounds good. You want to go now, or will I meet you later?" she asked.

"Take your scooter home and I'll come get you in, say, half an hour?" I said.

"Sounds good," she replied. She gave me one last smile and got on her scooter, started it, and drove away. I watched her blonde head disappear in the mass of cars.

I went home, had a shower, and got dressed.

"Where are you going?" my dad asked me.

"Out with a friend," I replied.

"Ah. Juniper?"

I smiled.

"Maybe,"

He laughed at me.

"You really like her, hey?" he asked.

"When are we going to meet her?" my mom asked from the kitchen.

"Not for a while mom. It's weird to take people home to meet your parents too early. This is our first proper date,"

"Okay then," mom sighed. "I'd like to meet her though, What's she like?"

I had a few minutes, so I sat down.

"Well," I began, picturing Juniper in my mind as I described her. "She's got blonde hair, and really, really green eyes. She's pretty small and skinny. She always wears nice clothes- her family owns a clothes shop. She's a really good singer and dancer, and she's good at sport too, and..." I trailed off.

"You really fancy her, don't you?" dad said, chucking. I felt myself blush.

"I've gotta go pick her up," I said, standing up.

"Okay. Have fun." dad said.

"Don't be back too late!" mom said.

"Yes mom," I said, and closed the door.

I drove over to Juniper's shop, arriving at exactly the time I said I would.

She was waiting for me at the front and so I didn't go inside, just got out to open her door for her. She was wearing a grey dress and a big black coat, with black boots. She looked pretty, as always.

I hoped I looked okay in my jeans and t-shirt. It was too cold for a t-shirt really, but Juniper never seemed to get cold so I didn't want to look like I always did.

She didn't talk much in the car. I turned on the radio softly to fill the silence.

"Do you mind?" she asked, pointing to the radio.

I shook my head.

Juniper fiddled with the dials and found some music amoung all the talk.

"I love this song!" she said, turning it up. I'd never heard the song before, but she started singing along. Her words didn't seem to quite match the real lyrics, and I laughed.

"What, can you sing it better?" she said defensively.

"No, I don't even know this song." I replied.

"Do you like it?" she asked.

"It's okay." I said, shrugging. I didn't know it enough to have an opinion.

"What kind of music are you in to?" she asked, suddenly curious.

"Oh, whatever." I said nonchalantly.

"Come on. What's your favourite song? Favourite band?" she pressed.

I blushed. I normally avoided telling people my music preferences. None of my friends were into old music like I was. But maybe Juniper liked old stuff too. She seemed to know a lot of music. At least she'd know who I was talking about.

"I don't know. I guess I like old bands. Pink Floyd and Crowded House and Cold Chisel. Snow Patrol's okay too. And I like that song, Mr Brightside. That's good too." I felt myself getting redder with every word that came out of my mouth. I avoided her gaze, expecting her to laugh in my face.

"No way!" she said in surprise. "I love that old stuff. And I used to love Snow Patrol too. I wouldn't have picked up for an old music kind of guy though." she looked at me curiously. I blushed more.

"I don't know, my dad listens to it a lot and I kind of got used to it and learnt to like it, I heard it so often." I mumbled, by way of explanation.

"My dad used to listen to that stuff too." she said softly.

Was it my imagination, or did her voice go funny when she said that? Was there something I didn't know about her dad? Had he run out on them or something? I decided to change the subject.

"So, when did you start singing?" I asked.

"About the same time I started talking." she replied with a laugh. Her voice was back to normal, as animated as before.

"Weren't you ever in choirs or anything though?" I asked her.

"No." she said, "I just sang for fun. With my mum and... her friends."

"You're so good though. I thought you must have been taught." I said, smiling at her.

"Thanks." she said, seemingly really pleased at my compliment. I liked the idea that I could make her happy like that.

"So do you sing much now?" I asked.

She hesitated before replying, although I had no clue why.

"Sort of. I sing with... some friends. From outside town. I don't see them that much, but they're in to, you know, performing, as well, so when we get together we do that."

I was surprised. She didn't have a lot of friends at school.

"I didn't know you had friends out of town."

"Mmm," she said, almost like she regretted telling me. "Actually, you know one of them. Alice Cullen."

I raised his eyebrows.

"Alice Cullen? She's your friend?"

This seemed unlikely. The Cullens weren't friends with anyone.

"Yeah," she said, again seeming regretful at telling me.

"I didn't think she had any friends at school. None of the Cullens talk to anyone." I said.

She shrugged. "She's more of a friend-of-a-friend. She's friendly enough when we see each other, but I guess because she's a senior and I'm a junior, she doesn't want to be too good friends at school."

I could understand that. Seniors normally didn't like being associated with juniors.

"Do you know the other Cullens?" I asked.

She shrugged again.

"Sort of. I've met them, but they never talk to me much. They're a little unfriendly." she said.

"Yeah, they kind of keep to themselves." I said in agreement. "Although the younger one, Edward, he's been hanging out with that new girl a bit."

"Yeah, apparently they're together." she said, then bit her lip. Did she think I didn't know that? It was pretty obvious after all.

"So what movies are on?" she asked, changing the subject.

"I don't know. We'll see when we get there." I replied.

"Cool." she said.

Eager for her to return to her normal, happy-to-tell-me-stuff self, I decided to talk about something not involving the Cullens. It was a subject she didn't seem to enjoy discussing.

"Are you a chick-flick kind of girl?" I asked.

She laughed and I smiled. She was back to normal.

"No," she said. "I know I look like one, but I'm not at all. I'm not into the whole sob-story thing. I like a bit of action."

Stupidly, I blushed, hearing a second meaning in her words she probably hadn't intended.

"Can't say I like them either." I said, "Steph's made me sit through a few. I struggle to stay awake most of the time."

She laughed again.

"What movies do you like?"

I shrugged.

"Oh, you know. Action. Mystery. That sort of thing," I said.

"And I suppose you like the same kind of books," she said. "Or don't you read?"

"Nah, I like books. Same sort of genres." I didn't say I liked sci-fi. Girls hated sci-fi. I didn't want Juniper thinking I was a total freak.

"I used to read heaps," she said, "Not so much anymore. Study and work and stuff kind of limits my time,"

I nodded, understanding.

We were almost at Port Angeles.

"Have you been to Port Angeles before?" I asked her as we drove down the main street into town.

She shook her head.

"I've been meaning to go, but I haven't gotten round to it,"

"It's pretty nice," I said. "The cinema's just up here."

I found a parking space and we walked into the cinema. The movies showing flashed up on a screen. I read the titles. The only good movie wasn't on for two hours. There wasn't much to do until then.

"Do you care if we don't go to the movies?" I asked. I was disappointed- I'd kind of been looking forward to sitting in the movies with Juniper.

"No." she said, "We can do something else, I don't mind."

I liked how easy going she was. I tried to think of something else to do.

"We could... go out for dinner?" I said.

"It's only five o'clock." she replied.

I nodded. I wasn't really hungry, it had just been the only thing I could think of. I frowned. This was turning out to be a terrible date. I took Juniper out and I couldn't even think of anything to do with her.

"Does Port Angeles have a fish and chips shop?" she asked.

"I thought you weren't hungry?" I said, confused.

"I'm not now. But we could buy it and then drive back to Forks, go down to the beach and eat it there, watch the sunset. Or the clouds turning pink, either one." She laughed.

This was a pretty good suggestion. And watching the sunset was romantic- or at least, Juniper would think so.

"Okay." I agreed.

We went to the fish and chips shop and ordered. Juniper tried to pay for herself but I insisted. We got pretty much the same thing- obviously she was a girl with a healthy appetite. I was glad- I hated it when girls went on diets and wouldn't eat anything. And Juniper had such a nice body anyway, she didn't need to lose weight.

When we'd bought the food, we drove down to La Push First Beach. Even though it was cloudy, we could just see the sun setting on the horizon. We ate the food and watched in silence. She sat close to me, and where our bodies touched my skin seemed to burn, even through my clothes.

"This is nice." Juniper said. She leant her head on my shoulder.

"Yeah," I replied. "Better than the movies." Slowly, I dropped my head on top of hers, resting it gently.

And we sat there for a long time, before she spoke,

"I better get home."

Only then did I notice how dark it was getting. But I didn't want her to leave.

"So soon?" I asked.

"We have school tomorrow. Can't go to bed too late." Her voice wasn't serious, but I knew that we should leave anyway. I sat up, lifting my head off hers.

"I suppose." I said.

We walked back up to my car and I drove her back to her shop. We didn't speak much, just listened to the radio. When we got there, I walked her to her door.

"I'll see you tomorrow." she said, smiling at me.

"Okay," I said, already wishing tomorrow was today. "Do you need a ride to school or anything?"

"No, I'm fine," she said. She pointed to her scooter, parked on the pavement outside.

"Cool. See you tomorrow then." I said.

I waved and walked back to my car. Juniper waved back and closed the door.

I drove home in a sort of daze.

"Did you have fun?" My mom asked as soon as I walked in the door. She'd waited up for me.

"Yeah, I did," I said, unable to wipe the grin off my face.

"What did you do? Go to the movies?"

"We were going to," I said, getting a glass and pouring myself an orange juice. "But there was nothing on."

"So what did you do instead?" mom pressed.

I shrugged.

"Got fish and chips and ate it on the beach."

Mom smiled knowingly.

"Watched the sunset did you?"

I nodded in between gulps of juice.

"Well, I'm still expecting to meet her," mom said, standing up.

I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, you will." I said.

Mom smiled. "Goodnight," she said.

"Night mom," I replied.

I went to bed. And my dreams were full of soft lips and warm bodies and sparkling green eyes.