our universe

- B A C K H O M E -

A week ago, Juniper had never been kissed, and now here she was, sitting in the back of beat up pick up truck, snogging a beautiful boy in the moonlight. Everything seemed so surreal. Her time in Los Angeles felt like a chapter out of someone else's life. She was on a cliff overlooking the goddamn ocean for one, though the water wasn't really the thing she was interested in. The minutes had gone by far too fast. A lightheaded, sun soaked daze full of stolen kisses, surfing, sand, tan lines, and polaroid pictures.

Juniper looked up at Alex, leaning back into his broad chest as he wrapped his flannel around her shoulders. He tilted her chin up for another kiss, and she smiled against his lips. The moment was bittersweet. They both knew from the beginning that this thing they'd embarked upon had an end date. A ticking time bomb of a fling, and a fling it would remain. Maybe in another life, those words that had been running through Juniper's head lately. Neither of them wanted a long distance relationship, but Juniper suspected that if they lived nearer to each other or just had more time she could have loved Alex.

She sighed, taking his hand, "We should probably head back soon, my flight's at six."

"Mmm, Alex murmured into her hair, probably." Neither moved.

"I wish-" Juniper started, not knowing quite what to say.

"Shhh." Alex softly put a finger to her mouth, "None of that c'mon Juniper." He held her closer.

"I know, I know." Juniper shook her head, and then mulled, "Maybe we'll meet again, some day, when we're all grown up. You'll have a beard."

"A beard?"

"Yes a big mountain man beard, and we'll meet at a coffeeshop somewhere. And at first you won't know it's me, but-"

"I'll know it's you."

"What if I'm wrinkled and horribly disfigured?"

"And why would you be wrinkled and horribly disfigured?"

"I was in a fire."

Alex chuckled, rolling his eyes, "I'll still know it's you."

"What if I had an eyepatch?"

"Even then."

"What if-"

"Juniper..." Alex gave her a look, shutting her up with a swift kiss.

"Okay, she smiled, blush rising to her cheeks, you'll know it's me. And I'll know it's you. And we'll sit down for coffee and-"

"You make it sound like we won't see each other for years." Alex laughed, "We can still be friends you know."

"Really?" Juniper's face lit up. She was hoping he would say that. She genuinely liked Alex as a person, and although the kissing was a great bonus, she could live without it. She wasn't sure, however, that she could live without having Alex as a friend. She'd grown surprisingly close with him this summer, James as well, and found she was glad her mother had dragged them all down here. This experience had really opened her eyes to how she was holding herself back. Why was it that every time she went on a trip she came back with a new sense of self?

"Of course." Alex shrugged calmly, and then gave her a daring grin, "Friends that can make out though. If that's ok with you."

Juniper giggled, punching him lightly on the shoulder, "Alex!"

"Hey what's a little kissing between friends?" He quipped, eyes twinkling, "Nothing says besties like swapping saliva."

Juniper laughed even harder, smiling so wide her jaw hurt. Another thing she liked about Alex. He was just so funny, and nice, easy to be around. She didn't have to worry about what he was thinking 24/7, or agonize over what he meant. He was just Alex. It was that simple. "I think you may be the most laidback bloke I've ever met."