♥June's Sky♥

♥June’s Sky♥1

2

♥
As the bright, never-dying sun swept below the hill that rested behind a little blue house, a girl with summer-blonde hair, mixed with her deep ocean blue eyes, named June Luve, was being stood up - yet again - by her idiotic, forgetful, bad-boy boyfriend. 3

June fiddled with her hair yet again, twirling in her hands, then she pinned it up in a messy bun. Pieces of it didn’t quite make the elastic, and fell down around her shoulders. June was sitting, her slim legs crossed over each other, on the porch of the little blue house. She could feel the chill of the deep night getting ready to settle in. She pulled her sweater close to her chest, and stood up. 4

Before she gave up completely on Tucker, she cast her beautiful, sad eyes over the horizon, and then down the road. As she sighed heavily, like a weight was pressing against her, she saw a pair of bright headlights, moving slowly down the dirt road. It slowly passed the Jones’ house, which meant it couldn’t be their neighbor, Evan.5

Maybe all wasn’t lost, June thought and she raced quickly down to the end of the long, wide driveway. Her feet softly echoing in the night. She couldn’t keep the grin off her face. Here comes my two-hour late boyfriend, June thought, her eyes shinning. Without her noticing, another piece of her hair fell out of her bun, which had loosened a lot.6

She wasn’t one to be so naive that she didn’t see Tucker’s faults. It was true, he usually forgot their dates, he was never polite to...anyone, and he usually swore at people for being nice. Maybe he did hang out with a rough crowd sometimes, and maybe he tended to be a jerk. 7

Yes, June would admit it, he smoke, drank occasionally and he once mentioned something about drugs - although she’d never seen him taking any.8

But there were good qualities about him. June just had to strain to think about them, and it was something that made her grin fade into a frown. As the headlights edged closer, growing bigger and wider, June - for the first time ever - wondered if her brother was right. Maybe Tucker was a complete ass and she should dump him on his butt.9

June let all her doubt wash away, as she continued to keep the smile on her lips. Forced herself to keep the smile on her lips. The pick-up truck, as she soon realized, slowed down and turned carefully into the driveway. 10

June stood up on her tippy toes, just as the driver rolled down the window. Her smile faded into a frown immediately, when she realized it was her brother. 11

For a moment, the world melted away in disappointment. Tucker hadn’t remembered their romantic walk on the beach, and he hadn’t thought to even call her. 12

June stared at her other half - her twin - as she wondered if he was right. About Tucker, and about the entire love thing. He hated Tucker, had taken the pleasure of punching a couple times, and he hated the fact that she was ‘in love’ with him. He didn’t believe her when she told him it was true love. Now, frowning as she stared at Joshua, her brother, she wondered if Tucker was worth it.13

Joshua didn’t look a thing like her, June mused for a moment. His hair was a deep brown, his eyes a deep green like their father. He was tall, whereas she was short, and he had a very big build. He was strong, just as her, but she was smaller than him - a lot smaller than him. She barely met his shoulders, and hated that. However, she was exactly seven and a half minutes older than him, and threw that in his face whenever he tried to step up and be the ‘big brother’. 14

“Joshua,” June breathed, annoyed.15

“Hop on the back, Junie,” Joshua said, as June caught a glimpse of someone in the passenger’s seat. She stood up on her tippy toes and frowned again. “Oh, Junie, this is Seth Mayor. You remember him right? From second grade.”16

June’s lips parted, and she tried to place Seth. Joshua flicked the light on inside the truck, and June was breathless the second she saw the guy sitting beside Joshua. June saw the most incredible looking guy ever. 17

He sat there, his eyes intense, and a deep chocolate brown. They almost screamed out ‘Danger!’ which made June lean slightly closer to get a better look at him. He didn’t grin, but the look on his face was half-cocky, half-curious. His hair was a perfect mix of sexy and steamy, being a deep, luscious brown. It wasn’t long, and it wasn’t short. Somehow, he’d managed to get it just in between. He looked strong, tough, untouchable.18

June fell back onto her heels, and realized her jaw was hanging. She snapped it shut and quickly skimmed through her memory. Seth Mayor? Grade two? What? 19

She could barely think. Forcing herself to snap out of it, she smiled easily, and then remembered who he was. Her smile faded again, as she said, “You’re the kid who pushed me into the mud puddle, pulled my hair and then tried to kiss me! I remember you!”20

Seth’s half-cocky, half-curious look evaporated. He simply frowned, as if he was trying to remember it. June’s eyes fixated them on his lips for a moment. Perfect lips for kissing, she thought. They looked like they could be soft, gentle, and passionate, but they also looked like they could be hard, fast, deep, and rough too. 21

Perfect for kissing, she thought again. Seth shrugged, as if he didn’t remember, but what he said surprised her, “What can you say? I had good taste, but I wasn’t all that smooth.”22

With that, June’s face lit up and she laughed. She looked brightly at Joshua, whom merely smiled. June grinned at Seth and said, “Well, well...it looks like you’re all grown up.”23

“Yeah, you too,” Seth said, with a nod. He looked as if he wanted to smile, but he wasn’t sure if he was supposed to. Seth’s deep eyes intensed for a moment, or maybe, June thought, it was just the darkness of the night. Seth shot her a grin and said, “Can’t say you’ve gotten any prettier.”24

June lifted her eye brows, and scoffed. She made a face, as if she was actually offended, and then she said, in a very proper voice, “Well. If you want to be rude...I can’t say you’ve gotten any better at flirting.”25

Joshua laughed, and both June and Seth sent him looks. He didn’t stop though, and he said, “Dude...”26

Seth rolled his eyes and said, “Ah, shut up.”27

“Yes, Joshua,” June said, mocking Seth’s annoyed tone, “shut up.”28

Joshua laughed harder and said, “Junie, get in the back. We have a guest.”29

“Oh, up yours, Joshua,” June snapped, which only made him and Seth laugh harder. 30

She shot them a glare and made her way to the back of the truck. Hopping on the back of it, she looked around for any signs of Tucker. Seeing none, it made June wonder if she was doing the right thing by staying with him. 31

Finding herself frowning, she laid on her back. The truck had stopped, but she didn’t move. She stared at the sky, which was slightly clouded. She couldn’t see the stars like she had hoped.32

She felt and heard the two doors slam shut. A few moments later, she heard footsteps and then the front door open and shut. She looked around, wondering how big space really was. 33

She had always wondered if there was another place like Earth, only the exact opposite. She tried to imagine the opposite of her life, and couldn’t. She didn’t want to change a thing, well, maybe she’d switch her boyfriend for the perfect one. Rolling her eyes at the thought, she pulled her sweater closer to her.34

“Hey,” a voice came, a few minutes later. Joshua stood in front of her, and June sat up slightly. She craned her neck to see if Seth had followed him or not. 35

Finding that they were alone, June nodded at her brother. He casually touched her knee, in his little way telling her to relax, telling her that it would be okay. June stared at him, and felt herself shiver again. Joshua held out a blanket and asked, “He didn’t show, did he?”36

“No,” June said, feeling the weight of disappointment shift so it was heavier. She closed her eyes for a moment and then whispered, “I just want someone who cares.”37

“I know, Junie,” Joshua said softly. June pulled the thin, fuzzy blanket around her shoulders and listened to her brother’s soft voice, “Maybe it’s time to break up with him. Maybe it’s time to find someone who cares about the little things.”38

“Maybe you’re right,” June said, nodding. “Where am I going to find that?”39

♥
One Year Later
♥40

Today was different. The sun couldn’t be seen as it rose above the hill, because the clouds were covering every inch of the sky. A thunder storm waited above them, and it was waiting for the perfect moment to crack. 41

The smell of rain lingered in the air, and the thickness of the deep storm brewing was mingling with it. June was sitting on the back of Joshua’s truck, waiting for it to come down. She had, yet again, another reason for the rain to fall. 42

Not only did it cover her tears, it washed away every negative feeling as well. All the doubt, misery and everything else she was feeling would just go. So, just like the deep gray storm that was still brewing, she waited.43

“June, would you get in here?” Joshua called out from the front door. June’s breathing stayed even, though her heart rate panicked. She wanted to explain to Joshua she couldn’t go into the house. Not yet, not until Seth had left. She closed her eyes, and begged the clouds to crack.44

“No,” June breathed. She took a deeper breath and shouted, “No! I’m staying out here!”45

Then she squeezed her eyes shut even tighter, and felt the first few tears escape out under her eyelids. She thought about Seth for a moment, but it hurt too damn much. 46

He was a great guy. He was a perfect guy. Yet, he was her brother’s best friend - and her brother had proclaimed her off-limits to Seth. Seth had shrugged, like it didn’t matter, and June had given Joshua a lesson about her never finding ‘the one’ because he’d scare them away. Joshua merely shrugged like Seth, and June had given both of them a silent treatment. 47

That was nine months ago, June thought, exhaustedly. It’d taken Seth and June about three months to actually accept each other and not argue - which had been something that they’d done after the first night of them meeting. 48

Even though the past few months had been easy, it hadn’t meant they’d fought any less. They’d just made sure that Joshua wasn’t around them.49

Rain, come, please, June begged with her mind. It was a silent prayer that seemed to go unanswered. She heard the front door slam shut, knowing her brother had given up for the time being.50

June thought about Seth some more, realizing he was always on her mind these days. There was something about Seth that made June like him - a lot, and that scared her. She really liked him, and when they argued she wanted to shut him up by pressing her lips against his. 51

She could still remember how they met, what their first argument was about (whether or not chocolate was better than vanilla - June was for chocolate), how his hand felt when it brushed against hers four weeks ago (and three days), and she could even remember every expression he had. 52

She knew him pretty well. Well enough to know he’d moved to live with his mother when his parents divorced (back in grade two), and she knew him well enough to know that he was close to her mother and it killed him when she died.53

June opened her eyes, and saw no change in the skies. Cursing it, she closed her eyes again. Of course, she was thinking of Seth again, but she was also thinking about the grade two ‘incident’. She could remember it clearly, because when Seth had shoved her into the mud puddle, his hands had brushed hers. 54

Sparks had flew, which was the only reason June remembered the day so clearly. He’d been upset about something, she learned now that it was because of his parents’ divorce, and she’d been playing tag. She’d offered for him to play tag, and he’d freaked out. He’d pushed her, creating ‘the spark’ as she called it, and then he’d pulled her hair. 55

She always wondered if when he’d pulled her hair, he’d meant to grab her arm to help her up. She could never be too sure. Of course, after he had helped her up, he’d leaned in for a kiss. He almost got his lips on hers, before she realized what he was trying to do - infest her with ‘boy cooties’.56

June shifted on the truck, watching the clouds do nothing. She was starting to get pissed off about it. Why wouldn’t it rain? She heard something, like the thread of feet, and sat up straight. She turned to see Seth walking towards her. She glared at him and asked, “What do you want?”57

“Nothing,” Seth said, raising his hands. He held up two pillows. She frowned at him, unsure what he was planning on doing with the pillows. He came around to the very back of the truck and sat up with her. He handed her a pillow and said, “Thought you might want this if you’re going to lay out here.”58

“Uh, thanks,” June said, cursing herself for not saying something cute. Then she cursed herself for the thought. She tried to force her frown to deepen, but didn’t have any luck. She leaned back, and watched him do the same. June muttered, “You can go. You don’t have to stay.”59

“I won’t, and I do,” was all Seth replied with. After a moment of silence, Seth said, “You know, Joshua thinks you’re crazy.”60

“Really? I’m crazy for wanting some rain?” June asked, smiling to herself. It sounded just like Seth to call her crazy. Maybe she was, because she was driving herself crazy. 61

She had to remember, Seth had a girlfriend. Seth had a girlfriend...how could he have a girlfriend? How could he have a prom date? How?!? She’d walked in on a conversation that Joshua and Seth had been having. They’d been talking about Seth’s new girlfriend. What made matters worst, is June didn’t know who it was, and was too embarrassed to ask.62

“Nah, I don’t think so, anyway,” Seth said, with a laugh. “I just don’t know why you want rain.”63

‘To wash away the memories of you, the news of your girlfriend...your prom date...to wash away you!’ June wanted to yell at him, but she bit her tongue. Softly, she whispered, “Haven’t you ever just wanted to get away from everything? Haven’t you ever just wanted to...be free?”64

“Yeah, I have,” Seth said, softer than her. She craned her neck to look at him, and knew he was talking about his mother’s death. 65

Without thinking about it, she reached over and placed her hand on his. Immediately, a fire lit between their hands, but neither moved away. Both of them knew, it wasn’t a fire that could burn, but a love that wouldn’t burn out.66

Maybe it was because they’d connected, or maybe it was because they both wanted to be free, but the sky choose that exact moment to crack. The rain started to pour down, and even though it was freezing cold rain, and they were getting wet, neither Seth nor June even made an attempt to move. 67

They just laid there, in the back of the car, with their hands locked together.68

June let everything slip away, just like she knew it would. Then she thought of Seth and only Seth. She closed her eyes, and squeezed his hand tightly. She could feel him shifting, sense it, but she didn’t know how close he was to her, how far away. Suddenly, June knew. 69

She felt his chest brush her body, and his breath mingle with hers. His lips were wet from the rain, but soft, gentle, passionate and perfect.70

His lips had always seemed like they’d be the perfect lips to kiss. And just like she’d known it would, her body sizzled and her mind swaggered like a drunk fool at a bachelor party. His other hand found hers, and pressed it above her head. He was dangerous, she knew, but cheating on his girlfriend?71

She pushed him away, since she couldn’t pull back. She tried to catch her breath, as she looked up at him. He was soaking wet, just like she was. She shook her head and breathed, “No, no. I can’t do this. Not to Joshua, not to your girlfriend. I won’t. Seth, get off me, please.”72

“I’m  - ” Seth started to apologize.73

“Don’t. Don’t apologize for something that was just as much of my fault as it was yours,” June said, shaking her head. As soon as Seth sat up, leaning away from her, she grabbed her pillow and jumped off the end of the truck. 74

She didn’t turn to look at Seth, since she was crying and she wanted her tears to be lost in the rain. She ran for her house, for her room, for the safety of her heart. She didn’t answer any of Joshua’s questions, but simply ignored him and cried in the wet pillow. 75

For now, she thought, for now, she must stay strong. Then she looked at her brother, to her pillow and burst into more tears. 76

Not now, she thought, she didn’t need to be strong right now.77

♥78

The next morning, the sky didn’t change. The clouds were just as heavy looking, and just as stubborn to stay there. The sun couldn’t been seen through them, and it was begging to be seen, like it always does. 79

Maybe not everyone knows it, but the sun wants to be seen by all, wants to watch out for all. Since the sun can’t be every where at once, it has to split it’s time evenly between north and south, which it hates to do, but it leaves the moon in it’s place - trusting it.80

The air was chilly, damp and very heavy. June sat on her front porch, with a blanket around her shoulders and a cup of hot chocolate in her hands. Her fingers continued to tap against the steaming cup of hot chocolate. Had last night been a nightmare? she wondered. Knowing full well that it’d been a damn reality, she stared out into the field across from her house.81

The door swung open behind her, and June waited a moment, then told her brother without looking at him, “I’m sorry I never told you.”82

“I knew,” Joshua said, sitting down beside her. With one hand, she wrapped the blanket around his shoulders as well. “Thanks.”83

She nodded and asked, “How?”84

“Every time I’d mention your name, he’d get this funny look on his face. It wasn’t until a couple nights ago, when he let a comment about how pretty you were slip, that I realized he liked you, a lot,” Joshua told her, keeping his voice soft, as if he was afraid to set off more tears.85

“What are you talking about?” June asked, turning to look at him. Her eyes studied her brother as he looked confused.86

“I’m talking about Seth liking you,” Joshua said, rolling his eyes. “Jeez, June, what were you talking about?”87

“Me liking Seth, whom happens to have a girlfriend,” June snapped. She went to stand up, but Joshua was quicker and pulled her back down. She snapped her head at him, and glared.88

“You like Seth?” Joshua asked, his eyes widening. June wanted to roll her eyes at that exact moment, but she didn’t because Joshua looked sincerely stunned. 89

Joshua held her down with his hand on her arm, so she didn’t make another move to stand up again. She waited a moment, biting down on her bottom lip. Joshua nodded, and said, “Alright. So, my baby sister -”90

“I’m older than you by seven and a half minutes,” June interrupted.91

Joshua continued like she’d never spoke, “- is in love with my best friend, and my best friend is in love with my baby sister. Interesting. Very, very interesting.”92

“Oh, shut up. You knew, damn you,” June said, raising her voice a little. She glared at him and said, “Let me go, Joshua.”93

“Junie,” he said, softly. “I honestly didn’t know, but was I right? Did Seth tell you something...or what happened? Talk to me. It’s been so long.”94

It was true. She hadn’t really talked to Joshua about anything lately. Just little stupid things. She used to spill her soul to him, and she knew why she’d avoided doing just that. Once she started she knew she wouldn’t have been able to stop, and she’d told him everything. 95

She edged closer to Joshua and leaned her head against his shoulder. He’d sat with her all last night, and didn’t even question her. He was just there...and that, June realized, was the best thing she could’ve asked for. So, she placed her hand on his knee, to tell him that she trusted him.96

Starting from the beginning, she told him about the spark of the grade two incident, all the way up until the night before. By the time she was finished, it was almost noon, and she had no more tears. 97

She stared at the field across the road and realized the grass was already dry from the night before. She looked at the sky and saw a cloud barely move. The sun peaked out. 98

Hope, she thought. The sun begs to be seen because it gives people hope.99

“June,” Joshua whispered after a long moment. 100

June craned her neck to look at him, and barely heard him tell her, “Seth isn’t dating anyone. He had a girl in mind to ask to prom, but he hasn’t asked her yet. I assumed it was you. Last night, I assumed you asked him, and he said no. I...I was teasing Seth last week about getting a girlfriend, because he told me that he had someone in mind. You already know I asked Grace, whom turned me down, by the way. Do you know why?”101

“Seth,” June whispered his name, “isn’t dating anyone?”102

“No,” Joshua said, rolling his eyes, “I just said that. I was also wondering if you knew how to get Grace to say ‘yes’ to me. I don’t want to -”103

“Seth,” June breathed into the chill of the air, “isn’t dating anyone. So, when he kissed me...he wasn’t cheating on someone. I wasn’t a cheatee. Ohmigod, why didn’t you say something last night?! Joshua! I can’t believe you. I made a fool out of myself.”104

“Uh, June, my problem?” Joshua asked, as she stood up. She dropped her mug and turned to look at Joshua. She blinked, and then grinned at him. Joshua started to say, “Look, I know you’re happy and all - ”105

“Just kiss her,” June told him, her eyes sparkling. “Kiss her good, deeply. Make her know you’re hers, and don’t let her run away. Alright, do you understand?”106

“Don’t make Seth’s mistakes. Yeah,” Joshua said, nodding, “I got it. Go, get Seth. Explain yourself, alright?”107

“I’m an idiot,” June muttered. She ran up the stairs, and then turned around. She wasn’t going to bother changing from her pajamas to actual clothes. She dashed to her brother’s truck and then turned around. He held keys, and she laughed. “You knew! Bastard.”108

“Just go, he’s been calling all morning like a madman,” Joshua told her, grinning. “I’m going to get ready. I have a girl to catch.”109

June laughed, and Joshua tossed her the keys. The sun peaked out a bit more from behind the cloud. It was pushing it’s way in. June grinned like a goon, and realized that the sun was fighting for her. Fighting for them, her and Seth. 110

♥111

The clouds were still heavy, and the sun was still fighting it’s way through to prove to everyone that it was still trying to watch over them. The morning dew had gone, long ago, but there was still so leaves of the weeds that attempted to take over the ditches along the side of the road, that held some forgotten tears of the sky. The air wasn’t as heavy as it had once been, and the dampness had lessen quite a bit. 112

The air still held the promise of rain, but also the promise of sunlight.113

June drove down Seth Mayor’s driveway, and prayed that he was still home. She got out of her truck, barely taking the time to shut the door. Luckily for her, it did shut with a tiny ‘click’. She ran up the steps of his porch, wondering if he’d ever get the porch re-done. It was old, and getting to be weak. She pounded on the door, her heart pounding. 114

Taking a deep, long breath, she waited.115

The door opened, and a hard face met June’s. It wasn’t Seth’s. It was his father, whom looked just like Seth - exactly like him with three inches and a lot more experience - who looked hard and mean. June’s nerves faded away. She smiled and said, “I need to talk to Seth, like, now.”116

“Come on in, sweetheart,” Seth’s father, Steven, said with a grin.117

“Thanks,” she said, stepping in when he pushed the screen door opened. She looked at Steven, and then said, softly, “He told you I freaked out, didn’t he?”118

“He did,” Steven said, with another grin, “He also said you’d come eventually, since it wasn’t like you to put anything off. He’s been expecting you, but he didn’t think you’d be here until at least six. He’ll be happy, you’re good for him. Really good for him, June.”119

“Thanks, that means...the world,” June said, swallowing. Seth did know her well. She’d eventually came to face him, but he was expecting her to tell him that the kiss was a mistake. Softly, June added, “I love him, you know?”120

“I know,” Steven said, nodding, “I’ve always known. Now, let me get my son.”121

“Thanks,” June said, nodding. She looked around the familiar house. She’d spent a couple Friday and Saturday nights here, hanging out with Seth and Joshua when she didn’t have anything else to do. She usually kept to herself, since she’d never been able to keep or make any real friends who were girls.122

Steven bellowed for Seth, who took two seconds flat to show up at the top of the steps. Steven disappeared when the rest of the world did. June’s throat went dry immediately and she swallowed thin air.123

“June, you’re here,” was all Seth said.124

“I’m so - ” June started to say, but then Seth was racing down the stairs, and she stopped. He looked worried, panicked, and she was about to apologize? Seth stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked at her, wide-eyed. June swallowed again, and found her voice. She said, smiling slightly, “Seth, we need to talk.”125

“Oh, God,” Seth muttered, “Look, I probably should tell you that I regret - ”126

“Don’t,” June said, raising her hand. “Let’s go outside. Hear me out first, okay?”127

“Okay,” Seth said, nodding. With that, they slipped outside, and went to the back of the pick-up truck. Sitting on it, neither said a word for a long moment. Finally, Seth said, “I’m listening, okay, Junie?”128

June smiled and then said, “I love you.”129

The air stilled and became hot. That was not what June had wanted to say. 130

She closed her eyes and whispered, “A couple weeks ago, I walked in on you and Joshua. You two were talking, about your new girlfriend. I thought you literally had a new girlfriend. Joshua only explained to me this morning that he’d been joking around.”131

She smiled. “Isn’t amazing how one little thing can change a bunch of things? Anyway, that’s why I pushed you off. It’s not because I don’t like you, or anything, but because I didn’t want to be second choice, really.”132

After a short pause, filled with silence, June continued to talk, “I doubt you remember this, but on the first night you were back, I was sort of a mess.”133

“Joshua said it had something to do with your boyfriend,” Seth remembered, speaking for the first time since they’d come out.134

“Yes, well, Tucker did that to me. I thought I loved him, and he loved me too. He and I, well, we were really good friends before we started dating. Once we started dated, Tucker got into some stuff. He drank constantly, smoked as often as not, and I’m sure he did drugs. He hung out with the wrong crowd, when I wasn’t there. He sort slipped through my fingers. But he left seven months ago, and I hope he was seeking help.”135

“Anyway,” June said, waving her hand, “the point is, he sort of broke me. He never showed up on time, usually stood me up, rather, but he was worth it when I was just with him. We would talk, and he’d tell me how much he hated smoking, how badly he wanted to make new friends, how drinking was going to kill him one day, and how he’d do it for me.”136

“I get the moral of the story,” Seth said, softly. “You don’t want me to change. You’re scared it’ll happen again.”137

“No, I know it won’t,” June told him softly, “because you’re Seth. You’re amazing, incredible, awesome, fun, perfect, smart, funny, and everything else I could’ve dreamed up. You’re honest and playful, flirter and serious, you are...perfect. You have so many flaws, which makes you more perfect than ever. But you’re strong, you’ve got courage too.”138

She looked at him, and held his hand. “I know losing your mother must have been hard on you, harder since you didn’t have anyone to lean on. But I’m here now, Seth. Lean on me, hold my hand, please.” As she begged him with her eyes, she added a soft, “Please.”139

“June,” Seth breathed, leaning slightly closer to her, “you’re the one who’s amazing, courageous, brave, smart, funny, serious, playful, and honest. You’re the one who’s perfect for me. You’ve got flaws that run blood deep, and ones that make you cute. You’re beautiful and...and you’re the best girl I know. I don’t know when it happened, but I fell for you too.”140

June smiled at him. She sighed softly and asked, as he placed his arm around her shoulders, “What are the chances we’ll shut up and you’ll kiss me?”141

“Very, very, very high,” Seth whispered into her ear. He had his face buried into her hair, and it smelled like an arousing mix of coconut and strawberries. June placed her hand on his, and felt a rush of heat wash over her. 142

“Mmm, too long,” June murmured, “I’ve wanted this way too long.”143

“Me too,” Seth said, his eyes closed. June watched with her big, ocean blue eyes, flickering at him. She watched him edge forward, until she could breathe his manly kind of smell. It was almost too much, but they went slow, merely mixing their breaths for a minute. June could feel the nerves pounded up in her, as she carefully pressed her lips to Seth.144

A drug, she thought, that’s what he’s to me. A drug...and a very, very healthily one at that.145

As her lips curved into a smile on his, she felt rain hit her cheeks. Breaking apart to look up at the sky, she saw the sun looking proud, away from all the clouds. The rain was light, warm and almost like the perfect summer rain. 146

June laughed and looked at Seth again. The intense look was in his eyes again, as he stared at her face. She continued to laugh, as she placed her lips on his again.147

June may not have noticed, and neither did Seth, but Steven noticed the clouds move farther and farther apart as June held onto Seth. Steven smiled in the living room window, and made his way back to his lunch - for all of them.148

As June slipped her hand around his neck, and Seth slipped his around her waist, the only clouds that could be seen were the ones that were raining above them.149

“I love you,” Seth breathed.150

“I know,” June told him, almost in the same breath.151

♥152

“Hey guys!” Joshua said, walking over to them. He waved brightly at June and Seth, whom were dancing on the dance floor. June glanced around and smiled at her twin brother. 153

Joshua stepped onto the dance floor with his date, and girlfriend, Grace, and when his feet matched June’s, so he was dancing closest to her, he told her, “Happy endings, you always had the knack for finding them, June.”154

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Believe me, I know,” June said, then felt Seth pull her closer. She reached up, lightly brushed her lips against his and murmured, “If this is a dream, Seth, I don’t want to wake me up. So, instead of pinching me, can you just hold me close and kiss me?”155

“That I’ll do without any argument,” Seth whispered to her. She smiled and closed her eyes. Then she heard him breathe, “Want to go outside?”156

“Yes, let’s dance in the moonlight,” June said, with a smile.157

As they went out into the chilly night, which neither of them felt, the stars shone brighter than usual, and the moon watched them, proud. When the moon and sun passed, the moon would tell the sun that all is well for her little children, and she ought not to worry.158

Seth held June closer and whispered a million times, “I love you, June. I love you, I love you, I love you.”159

“I know,” June whispered, “I love you too.”160

He kissed her, right there, beneath the stars. Maybe, the moon thought, just maybe the sun had been right to watch out over them. It had be a happy ending, and sort of gave the moon hope. Hope that everything would be okay, and maybe that’s what everyone needed sometimes. Hope. With that, the moon settled in and watched them dance under her light.161

♥