Save your tears • Jasper Hale

•49•

"Deaths have went up in port Angela's. I believe a vampire is the reason." Sam states.

Willow keeps quiet.

She has been making visits to the port, having all sorts of nightly activities.

"Why do you think it's a vampire?"Alec asks.

"Because the people are torn apart and missing their intestines as well as half their blood." Sam's words are blunt. He's frustrated, especially with the council breathing down his neck. "Well Port Angela's isn't your area so it's not like we can do a patrol. All we can do it wait for them to get close." Willow crosses her arms in attempt to seem serious but nonchalant at the same time.

"I know. Just be careful when you go out. Keep your eyes and ears open." The group nods at the orders.

"Is that all?"

Sam nods and waves us off. "Willow, whatever perfume, body wash, lotion combo You're using, please stop. You smell sickly sweet." Willow begins to get frustrated. They keep telling her she smells sweet but she doesn't know why. She hasn't been spraying her perfume because the scents have been making her sick. She switch her body wash from coffee for winter to cucumber for spring.

She's completely lost as to what smell they are talking about.

"Yeah yeah whatever." She mumbles walking out the house.

The non-shifting group head back to Amethyst's home, only to see Juno and Journey in the yard, yelling at eachother.

"You're just mad because I've hung out with Seth more than you have! He likes me more!" Journey spits. Juno has tears in her eyes and she's clenching her fists.

"Did I happen to mention your sister is a bitch?" Karmen asks looking at Luke and Kaydence.

"Trust us, we know. She was always a snitch when it came to our father. She's the weakest but he loved her because she would tell him everything." Luke mumbles.

Flashes of him getting a beating for kissing a boy and Journey snickering around the corner circle through his mind.

"Shut up Journey! He's not your mate he's mine!"

Journey takes a step closer, "oh yes he is, and when he imprints on me, it's over for you."

The tears in Juno's eyes fall and Journey laughs. Journey walks into the house leaving Juno in the yard alone. "Ju-leave me alone!" She dashes off into the woods.

"Well that was eventful." Kaydence mumbles walking inside.

Meanwhile Juno is deep in the woods, crying to herself. She's sitting on a rock, knees to her chest, trying to figure out what to do.

Should she even be crying? She does have three mates, but it's hard to believe she would find the other two in Forks. Willow did find hers here, but she got lucky. Willow also had all of hers taken from her, how is she handeling it?

What if Seth does shift and imprints on Journey?

Something nudging her foot makes her look up. A baby doe is nudging her foot. She wipes her face before climbing off the rock and settling down on the floor of the woods.

The doe licks her tears making her let out a sad laugh, "I don't know what to do baby doe... what if he does like her? I haven't even tried to talk to him since I saw him."

The doe kneels and begins to respond to the girl.

At this moment Juno is thankful one of her many talents is talking to animals. "You're right, I should try but I'm scared... I'm not the most girliest girl like Journey."

The doe huffs and buds their head against her leg, "thank you, a deer complimenting me does raise my self esteem... and yeah she is a ugly person on the inside."

A branch snapping causes both of their heads to turn. "Who's there? I told you guys to leave me alone!" Juno stands up and sees Seth behind a tree.

"Oh..." she's a bit embarrassed now.

"Sorry, I heard you talking to someone then I heard you say a deer and was confused." He comes from behind the tree.

"It's fine... you probably think I'm crazy.

"I think you're cool! You're just like Snow White or Pocahontas speaking to animals! I wish I could talk to animals." He walks closer to her.

Juno knows red is flushing across her face. "Thanks..."

"No problem... I'm sorry for hearing your conversation... for what it's worth, I think whatever guy you were talking about wouldn't mind if you weren't as girly! I wouldn't." A warm feeling forms in her chest.

She smiles at him and he returns it.

His eyes shift to the ground and he gasps seeing the baby deer. "No way! How are you so close to animals? I've tried to pet some of the ones in the woods but they just run!"

Juno looks at the doe and picks her up, "you just have to be calm and show you mean no harm. It takes time but it's worth it." Seth holds his hand out for the deer to lick.

Baby doe sniffs his hand before gently licking him.

"This is so cool! We have to hang out and then you can teach me how to get to the other animals!" Juno stares at him with wide eyes.

"Say yes! This is what you want! Yes yes yes!" The doe urges.

"O-ok, yeah we can do that." The doe jumps out of Juno's arms and bounds away. Seth brings her into a hug.

In shock, the girl tensely hugs him back.

The smell of the earth mixed with palo santo fills her nostrils. She relaxes into his hold.

Too soon for her liking, Seth pulls away. "I have to go now, my mom doesn't like me in the woods too much. Can we meet here on Thursday? I'll bring snacks while you bring your cool animal powers!" Juno nods and watches as he runs away.

When she believes he's far enough she lets out a squeal of happiness. She does a little dance before running out of the woods, and into her home. She ignores everyone calling her names and goes straight to Journey who is in the kitchen.

"I have a date with Seth! Suck on that!" She snatches the sandwich in her hand and dashes to her room.

Journey stands in the kitchen, clenching the plate. She lets out a scream and throws the plate on the ground before marching to her room, slamming the door.

"This is going to be so fun to watch." Kaydence snickers.

"Rooting for Juno, always." Willow mumbles, turning a page in her book.