Juniper Creek

Chapter 2

Sundays always had an isolated and atmospheric feel at Juniper creek.

Smoke curled out from cabin chimneys deeper in the woods. The dirt bike roared beneath June as she sped through the narrow forest trail, the sound of the engine swallowing the silence of the woods.

Tufts of her hair which escaped from her helmet whipped carelessly in the wind.

June was to grab lunch with Kayla, her best friend, and do some shopping for the new week.

Out in town, the church's parking lot was empty now that it was noon. Families had retired home to set together Sunday lunches and dinner.

Although, a chill still hung in the air, despite rays of afternoon sunlight dancing through low hanging clouds. Every now and then June would spot kids riding bikes down gravel roads.

She turned sharply at an intersection, slowing down in front of Lukeman.

She had worked here at the diner for the last three years. The owners, Tim Shirley and his wife Judith, both in their late forties, took her like a daughter and could without worry entrust the place to her to handle alone.

However she wasn't there for work today. She was meeting Kayla there.

As she pushed the door open a bell jingled. Her eye swept the room until they fell on a brown haired girl.

Kayla hadn't spotted her, but June was already smiling as she made her way to where her best friend sat.

"Lady Kayla." June called excitedly, wrapping her arms around her friend from behind.

Kayla, surprised at first, settled when she realized who had held her.

"Hi June."

Kayla got up to properly hug June. They both giggled, so happy to see each other.

The summer break hadn't been their first apart, but was definitely the longest.

Kayla's family lived out of state, California precisely, where she usually returned for the holidays.

"I missed you." They both chorused at the same time. Their voice colliding in the quiet of the diner.

"Jinx!" They said simultaneously again.

Both girls' eyes widened in gleeful amusement. And they fell to their seats laughing.

"You look amazing! California did you well. I mean look how tanned you are." June complimented.

"Thank you! August was scorching, I was out surfing a lot." Kayla replied gleefully.

"I keep asking why you leave somewhere as cool as Cali, and come school at Juniper University, situated in this small and forlorn town." June mused.

She often regretted the conditions in which she and her brother were forced to grow. If she had any option, she'd pick a big city situated far away from the town she had spent her whole life in.

"Well," started Kayla, "when you spend your whole life in a place, it's not as appealing as it would be to an outsider. I wanted the quiet of Juniper Creek."

Those words mirrored a part of June's life. Except, Kayla made it out of California. She...she never made it out of Juniper creek.

"How's Georgie?" Kayla asked softly.

June pushed her gloomy thoughts aside with smile.

"Oh, he's doing alright. He looks forward to resuming middle school next week." She paused, as a thought filtered into her mind.

"I hope he makes one good friend at least...He got bullied a lot last year. You know he's a quiet and kind boy. I hate that they take advantage of that."

June's fist curled at the memory of her brother returning home on the last day of school, bruised and battered.

He had dismissed it as nothing when she asked and he had explained what had occurred between him and a number of his classmates.

"He'll be fine. He's a strong and bright kid." Kayla spoke, drawing her attention back to present.

"Yeah, he is."

Her voice was cut shut by the door pushing open and the chiming of its bell.

Her gaze travelled towards that direction.

The boys walked into the diner in a single file. The light from outside filtering in behind them.

The door shut with a soft thud behind the last one.

"Holy frigging hotness!" Exclaimed Kayla in a

hushed voice.

She had turned shamelessly to stare at the immaculate entrance.

In all of June's years of working here at the diner. The trio–as they were referred to–had only walked in here about twice.

Their eyes scanned the room, her breath hitched as their's caught hers.

The light filtering in from the c***k atop the door danced around their heads like a halo.

She quickly pulled her eyes away, assuming they would look away as soon as she did.

They didn't, she could still feel their gaze settled heavily on her, almost scorching.

Her violet eyes, against her will–as if pulled by some magnetic force of sorts–slowly lifted to flick between amber, blue and green ones.

The air around her stilled as time seemed to pause for a beat.

Zach, Leo and Dustin. Everyone knew their name. June had known them all of high school, where they all shared a grade.

They were as handsome and infamous as they came. Thick as thieves and packed with aura.

June was aware of how oblivious of her existence they were.

Even if they were slightly aware, she was sure it would be nothing good.

Kayla jostled her with her feet, but she couldn't pull her eyes away.

June soon began to shiver. When they took a step forward, she forced herself to snap out of whatever had tied her vision to theirs.

She quickly took her gaze to her muddy boots. Her palms were wet with sweat.

She didn't dare look up again. She only felt their air and heavy presence flit past her as they passed her table and headed to a cubicle at the end of the room.

"I know you felt that too."

Kayla sounded awed when she spoke.

Yes, June had indeed felt something but she wasn't sure if it was in the way her best friend meant.

She forced a sloppy smile. Kayla didn't notice, her attention was fixed on the boys.

June distracted herself with the red and white checkered table cover, the hum of vents, and clanging of glasses and dishes in the background.

When they stepped out of the restaurant minutes later after they had eaten. Relief flooded June, happy to be away from that overpowering atmosphere.

She and Kayla both made their way to a clothe store. She had saved enough over the break to get herself and Georgie some new back-to-school outfits.

They spent the next couple of hours going through aisles of clothes and trying them on.

"I'd do anything to land in anyone of those boys' beds." Kayla sighed dreamily as she sampled a shimmery green top which looked flattering on her.

June laughed, already rid of her earlier unease.

"I bet you would. You could actually. You're beautiful, outgoing, confident–everything that would appeal to the kind of guys they are."

Kayla turned to face her, a slightly offended look on her pretty face, "You're not saying I'm a wannabe Felicia, are you?"

June's eyes widened, "No, not at all!" she hurriedly said. "I really meant it in an appealing way."

Kayla's frown had been replaced with a smile.

"I know, I'm joking."

June let out a relieved laugh. Her friend joined her.

"Moreover, Felicia isn't all that bad, if you consider that she must have been with at least one of the boys." Kayla muttered.

Felicia was just that kind of girl. She was one of the most popular girls at Juniper College.

Heart faced, auburn-haired, physically well endowed and appealing. She had the male population pining, so she easily weaved her way in and out of whatever hot guy she had her eyes set on.

She had made it an ambition to immerse herself in The-trio.

Although that was proving difficult, she had at least settled on absorbing whatever attention and company they offered her. Which was quite something compared to every other person.

"Swear you're coming for the welcome back party tomorrow night."

Kayla requested as they stepped out of the clothing store.

"I'll try." June replied wishing she could dodge the topic.

"I said swear, June. Don't let me go for this thing alone. What's not to enjoy? There'll be booze, music, dance, boys." Kayla listed, after which she lifted a brow waiting for a response.

"Alright, alright." June said exasperated.

Her friend's face beamed with delight.

She walked Kayla to her silver SUV which she had gotten at a knock off price from a graduating student.

June watched her head for the dorm, where she stayed on Campus.

It was dark by the time June picked up groceries and headed home.