floriography [ stories five ]

juniper || two

[ lew actually play a family in the sims instead of recreating them constantly and putting them in new worlds with slight variations challenge

⚠️- language and mentions of past trauma

this is apparently my emotional support au now / my feel good one. this makes me very happy and hopefully it makes someone else feel the same

this has been finished for over two weeks and since im burnt out on the chb au right now,,,, have my reserve story lmao

stay safe!
lew. ]

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Having Juniper as a girlfriend is a million times better than having Declan as a boyfriend.

Juniper doesn't pressure him into things, and she never complains when she finds him crying over something. She's also the first person he's dated that Chase approves of.

They're laying in Bailey's bed, hands intertwined between them. His eyes are sparkling, not with tears, but with happiness. He's never really experienced a good kind of love, that he knows will stay good, that won't fall through or turn sour on him.

He trusts too easily, but for once, that trust isn't misplaced.

She reaches up with her free hand to push the curls back off his forehead, giving him a sleepy smile when he kisses her hand before she pulls it away. "I've said this a bunch, but you're adorable."

He smiles back, then gently untangles their hands and stands up. "I need to go check on Stupid. She's drinking again like a complete idiot." He tucks the blanket back around his girlfriend, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "I'll be right back, and in case you're asleep, I love you, sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams, B. I love you too," she replies, and the words light up the metaphorical lantern in his chest, making him feel warm and glowing inside.

——

Bailey finds himself talking with Ronnie a lot more often than he used to. He doesn't mind it, because Ronnie's such a nice person to be around.

They're out shopping, because Juniper's birthday is tomorrow and Bailey's having a crisis because he doesn't know what to get her. It's equal parts cute and distressing: cute, because he cares so much about her, and distressing, because he never worried this much over Declan.

Ronnie brings it up, asks why he's freaking out about this. Bailey's face turns strawberry red, but still murmurs, "Dec was easy to get stuff for. Give him booze and he'll be happy. But with June, I wanna get her something that's perfect. She's awesome, Ronnie."

"What does she like?" Ronnie asks, making a vague gesture towards the map of the mall. There's literally over a hundred stores and kiosks, so they're bound to find something.

Bailey has to think it over, just to be sure he's right. "She likes rock music, and she really liked the With Love concert— thank you so much, by the way— and... uh... she's thinking about changing her hair color but like it's been purple for so long she doesn't know what else to do with it but she looks pretty no matter what—"

Ronnie can't help smiling at the way Bailey just rambles on about her. But he gently sets his hands on the younger man's shoulders, then says, "How about we start at the record store, and we'll see how it goes from there?"

"Okie dokie!"

They spend an hour or two wandering around before Bailey finally settles on a pretty heart-shaped necklace and a couple Metallica and The Velvet Underground albums that he's pretty sure June doesn't have. He's proud of his choices, and he's grateful that Ronnie agreed to go with him.

"You're an angel," he tells the older man, right before he gives him a warm hug. It's Bailey, and he's clingy and very physically affectionate. "Thank you so much."

Obviously, he hugs back, because Ronnie actually has a heart and only someone heartless wouldn't hug Bailey back. "Thank you for inviting me. It was a lot of fun."

"I forgot to tell you earlier, but... Me an' Chase are having a birthday party for June tomorrow, if you wanna come over. You could meet her and stuff."

——

Juniper's birthday 'party' is a pretty simple affair.

Bailey bakes a cake, and leaves Chase to decorate it and the apartment while he goes and picks June up. She greets him with a kiss, one that makes his head spin just a little bit with pure adoration.

By the time they get back, Chase is already drinking, and some of Bailey's various friends are scattered throughout the kitchen and living room.

Ronnie and Ezra are there, Ezra sharing some of Chase's alcohol, arm almost possessively around Ronnie's shoulders. Ben's at the table, a deck of cards in his hands as he talks to Grace, Bailey's oldest sister, and Cody, one of Chase and Juniper's coworkers. Maureen, his roommate's sorta-kinda-girlfriend, takes up half the couch while Marcus, another coworker, takes up the other.

It's all very casual, and at least Juniper isn't the youngest one there (it's either Ben or Cody, Bailey isn't quite sure). There's a brief moment of confusion where Chase apologizes, but it's quickly realized that she means for the cake.

It's a mess, but it's endearing. Chase's messy handwriting is only made messier by the icing, and the loopy, lopsided lettering spells out 'juniper's birthday cake'. The empty bottles in the sink can explain part of it, but Juniper still grins and has to take a photo of it, along with a selfie with Chase, who looks embarrassed for the first time in a long time.

They sing Happy Birthday, all except Ezra, who really just looks like he wants to leave. She thanks them all, looking awkward due to all the attention, and the sudden self-consciousness of being surrounded by her boyfriend's friends and family for the first time.

Really, none of them have any room to judge her, for her scar or otherwise. They've all got huge flaws, mostly personality-wise, but it'd be so hypocritical if they turned on her.

Once everyone who wanted cake has some, Bailey's sister swoops in to give her brother a hug. Then, she opens her arms to June, who seems bewildered but hugs her anyway. Grace takes the opportunity to whisper, "You're so much better than his ex. Thank you," before she leaves. And it definitely doesn't make Juniper emotional, absolutely not.

Her hug is followed by Ronnie, who managed to get away from Ezra. His husband is preoccupied with talking to Chase, who really shouldn't interact with Ezra while under the influence. He's gentle about it, not really touching either Bailey or Juniper. He does compliment her, and give her an envelope before he walks away again.

Before long, it's just the birthday girl and her boyfriend left. Marcus has a closing shift today. Cody and Ben both make somewhat suspicious comments about seeing their boyfriends in an hour or so. Maureen leaves with Chase and a soft 'see ya later'. Ezra and Ronnie had left not too long after Grace.

They're in his room when he smiles and hands her the gift bag from his shopping trip with Ronnie. "Happy birthday, June. I wanted to wait to give you this."

She opens the envelope from Ronnie first, mouthing the words on the little note as she reads it. There's a gift card, as well as the instructions to get ahold of him next time she gets her hair done, and he'll come along. It's odd, but she doesn't question it.

Expectedly, she marvels over the vinyls in Bailey's present before finding the jewelry box hidden in the tissue paper. The necklace within is just a small heart pendant on a silver chain, but it still brings tears to her eyes as she secures it around her neck.

Then, she's setting the bag on the floor and pulling him in, giving him a kiss that just feels different than normal. And even when she's softly pushing him back into the mattress, he can't help but think of how much he loves this girl.