Jaxon RadioHead

The Future Kiss

The sound of  rhythmic giggles, or excited shouts shattered the peaceful silence of the forest. Jaxon, a grin plastered across his face, raced alongside June, their footsteps barely rustling the vibrant red grass beneath them.

Suddenly, the clearing burst into a kaleidoscope of color. Gigantic cybernetic flowers swayed on metallic stems, their petals pulsing with vibrant light. They serenaded the air with a chorus of electronic melodies, their voices intermingling with the giggling children who danced around their base. Jaxon gawked in astonishment, a laugh escaping his lips as he joined in the impromptu dance party.

A long, slimy snake body with pointy rat-like ears slithered past his legs. A "Snake Monster," June explained, its body shimmering with iridescent scales. It paused, its multicolored eyes fixated on Jaxon before offering a playful nudge with its slimy snout. Jaxon shrieked in surprised delight, retreating a few steps before hesitantly reaching out to pat the creature's head.

"This is incredible," June breathed, her eyes wide with wonder. "It's like all the Terribles here have a connection with you."

Jaxon shrugged, a smile still playing on his lips. "I don't know why," he admitted, "but I feel like I understand them. Like they're... sad."

They reached the edge of a clearing, a breathtaking waterfall cascading into a crystal-clear pool. Jaxon and June erupted in a playful water fight, splashing and shrieking as they chased each other around the pool. Their laughter echoed through the forest, a symphony of pure joy. Eventually, breathless and soaked, they collapsed onto the soft red grass, the waterfall's gentle roar a constant lullaby.

A playful silence descended, punctuated only by the chirp of brightly colored birds in the nearby trees. June, lying on her back next to Jaxon, tilted her head towards him.

"Have you ever kissed a girl before?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Jaxon blushed, his cheeks mirroring the same shade as the vibrant red grass beneath them shaking his head hesitantly. "No," he mumbled, "but I... I thought about kissing Taylor sometimes." Suddenly, June shot upright, a flicker of anger flashing in her eyes. "That's not okay, Jaxon!" she exclaimed.

Jaxon's eyes widened in surprise. "Why?" he stammered.

"Don't you remember what I told you?" June countered, her voice laced with frustration. "I told you we're married in the future!"

Jaxon's brow furrowed in confusion. "Married? he sputtered, the word foreign on his tongue. "But the future... what's it like?"

June quickly responds. "It's more like a different Dimension".

June sighed, a heavy weight settling on her shoulders. "It's not good, Jaxon," she confessed. "A lot of people die. The machines take over everything."

A shiver ran down Jaxon's spine. "Does my mom die?" he whispered, his voice filled with fear.

June shook her head reassuringly. "No, no," she said softly. "She comes to our wedding."

June continued, "We even have a daughter together." her voice softening.They lay in silence for a moment, the gravity of June's words hanging heavy in the air. Finally, Jaxon spoke, his voice barely above a whisper.

The crimson grass beneath them felt as soft as velvet. Jaxon lay sprawled out, gazing up at the vibrant sky painted with swirling hues of orange and purple. Beside him, June mirrored his position, her silver hair cascading down like a waterfall.

A pair of luminescent butterfly dragons, their wings the size of dinner plates, fluttered playfully above them, their laughter tinkling like wind chimes. In the distance, a colossal winged fox, its fur as white as fresh snow, soared across the sky, its massive form momentarily blocking out the twin suns.

Turning his head, Jaxon found himself lost in June's gaze. Her blue eyes shimmered with an otherworldly light, reflecting the vibrant colors of the setting suns. Their skin tones, a stark contrast – his rich brown against her pale ivory – created a mesmerizing tableau against the fantastical backdrop.

Suddenly, June's lips pursed into a playful pout. Leaning in, she brushed her nose against his cheek, her voice barely a whisper. "You've kissed me thousands of times, Jaxon," she teased.

A blush crept up Jaxon's neck. He felt himself stiffen, unsure of how to react. Before he could stammer out a reply, June giggled. The sound, like tinkling bells, washed away his nervousness.

Jaxon leaned in clumsily, closed his eyes. His thicker lips meeting June's much thinner ones in a hesitant kiss. He kept his face stoic, trying his best to appear unaffected.

June burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the clearing. Jaxon's blush grows firey red, It was his first kiss after all. "What?" he mumbled, pulling back slightly.

June, her eyes sparkling with amusement, nudged him playfully. "You always do that, Jaxon," she said, her voice laced with affection.

Jaxon's stomach full of butterlfies "I wish the future would come now," he said, a yearning lacing his words.

June squeezed his hand, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. "It will, Jaxon," she murmured. "Trust me."

Suddenly, a faint voice echoed through the clearing, barely audible over the roar of the waterfall.

"Jaxon?"

Jaxon's head snapped up, his eyes searching for the source of the voice. "What was that?" he asked, a flicker of unease crossing his features.

June's face paled. "You have to go," she said, her voice trembling.

Jaxon looked back at her, a mixture of sadness and longing clouding his features. "Wait," he pleaded. "I want to stay here with you, June, and the Terribles."

June offered a sad smile. "I'll always be here, Jaxon," she promised. "And the Terribles will remember you too."

Jaxon hesitated, his eyes lingering on the "dream he never wanted to wake from"

"June," he whispered, his voice barely a breath. "What are Terribles?"

A playful glint returned to June's eyes. "You, silly," she chuckled. "You're a Terrible, Jaxon. But the best kind."

Jaxon's face broke into a wide grin. He squeezed June's hand one last time before reluctantly rising to his feet. As he turned to leave, a beautiful majestic, Sapphire bird perched on a nearby branch began to sing a hauntingly romantic melody. Jaxon couldn't help but steal one last glance at June, a bittersweet pang tugging at his heart. With a final wave goodbye, he hurried along the path leading back out of the forest.

The janitor's closet door creaked open with a groan, spitting Jaxon back into the familiar dimness of the hallway. The sound of children's laughter filtered through the air, a stark contrast to the fantastical world he had just left behind. With a heart full of wonder and a head brimming with unanswered questions, Jaxon raced down the hallway, the echoes of his footsteps his only companion.

The familiar sting of loneliness had faded, replaced by a spark of hope and a newfound sense of purpose. June's words echoed in his mind: "Trust me." He didn't fully understand what that meant, but he knew one thing for sure – his life would never be the same. The question of whether June was real or a figment of his imagination lingered, but the connection he felt with her, with the Terribles, was undeniable.

As he reached the classroom door, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for the return to normalcy. He pushed open the door, ready to face whatever awaited him, forever changed by his extraordinary experience in the world beyond the janitor's closet.