The Chosen.

Juniper

We stopped at a roadside hotel about an hour ago. As soon as we arrived i broke off from the group to find some time alone for myself. The way i talked to Bill hurt his feelings as well as mine and i really just needed some time to clear my head. I sit on the brick side of a pool dangling my black polished toes in the cool water. It's been warmer the past few days but still way too cold for me to be sitting outside in the water the way i am. I feel someone sit down next to me and pray it's not Tom, but i refuse to look.

"It's too cold June, you should come inside." I hear from a familiar raspy voice. I shake my head no but the tension in my body relaxes realizing it's just Bill. I hear a deep breath of frustration suddenly leave his lungs. I don't want him angry with me but it's almost like i can't stop myself from purposefully doing things to aggravate him further. Damn June stop being stubborn and just go inside with him i yell in my head but stay put on the edge of the pool.

"I'm sorry.." i murmur so quietly the words almost don't escape from my cold lips.

"For what?"

"Yelling at you." he nods looking away from me but accepting my small apology.

"June, i understand what you're going through right now, I'm not mad at you for yelling at me. The world is empty for christ's sake i think we're past pleasantries." I bite my lip at his words, 'i understand what you're going through' but if he only knew my deepest and darkest secret he would hate me. I've taken too long to answer so i just shake my head in agreement.

"What do you think is going to happen in North Carolina?" i ask trying to break some of the discomfort that still lingers around us

"I've been thinking a lot about it... I'm not too sure we're going to find anything if i'm being honest..."

"What? Why?"

"I don't know... I just can't help but feel.. like something is just right under our noses... right around the corner... not there."

"I'm confused...What do you mean Bill?"

"I don't know, i'm just talking out of my ass honestly. I think i'm just exhausted, hungry, and not making sense."

He brings his knees up to his chest and rests his chin on them, defeated by his own thoughts. He looks so beautiful as his profile is illuminated by the lights that shine from the freezing pool water. My eyes travel up and down his figure as i appreciate his presence in front of me and in my life. I don't deserve someone like him.

"Bill?"

"Yeah Junie?" that name stinging my heart from the memories it holds with Sloane. I picture her long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders as she flicks her head around dancing on the table that last night at the bar. If i had known that would be the end to it all, i would have been more appreciative of my moments with her.

"What?" he asks reading my expression

"Nothing, that name just... hurts i guess." i shake my head trying to get her out of it. She's gone.

"Okay June it is."

"It's... Juniper... actually." I murmur, his alluring brown eyes pouring into me.

"Okay. Juniper." a little smile appears in the corner of his mouth. He catches my eyes intensely observing his lips so he leans forward planting them on mine. I'm shocked at how warm he is against my frigid skin.

He breaks away, breathing into me before diving back in and placing his hand around my throat. His knees turn towards me meeting the concrete as he pushes me back, laying me softly on the ground. His body looms over me, my neck still in his strong grasp. His kisses feel like a solution to all my problems, like i don't care that the world is ending, like i don't care what will happen in Durham. I feel my body shiver as it absorbs the coolness from the concrete on my back. His lips break away from mine and he looks into my big blue eyes from above

"I think I love you Juniper."

"I think I love you too Bill."