The Sound of a Siren's Call

43.) The Fire Burns for Us

Castor was predictably next to Juniper when I saw him the next morning. He didn't look like he'd slept at all.

I sat next to him and he looked at me.

"The E-X-E-C-U-T-I-O-N is today." He picked at a blade of grass.

"Where?"

He pointed vaguely uphill. "Not here."

I nodded. "So you're not going then?"

He shook his head. "I don't think I could take it."

Juniper leaned against him, hugging his arm.

I took a deep breath. "Why aren't they having at the lake?"

"Didn't want to, I guess." He shrugged.

His hand brushed over hers. They looked perfect together, her dusty brown hair falling over his shoulder, their pale hands rubbing against each other.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. You?" The answer was resigned, his shoulders sagging slightly.

"I'm fine."

He nodded.

Juniper looked between us. She sat up, pulling her hands away from Castor. "And Ryan?"

"I don't know."

"So you really broke up."

I nodded. "She's not as good of a person as I wanted her to be."

Juniper smiled. "Well, I could've told you that."

"How?"

She looked suddenly bashful. "No reason."

"Juniper?"

"I saw her kissing a guard."

"When?"

"The first day we were here."

I relaxed. So, it hadn't meant she'd cheated on me, not that I'd of cared she had. All it meant was that she manipulated everyone.

"Why?"

"I don't know. We didn't linger."

"Oh." I signed, trying not to look disappointed.

She saw the look, and she tried to start into some reassuring babble.

"But you'll find someone else. Who wouldn't want you?"

I stared at her. "You want a list?"

She rolled her eyes. Castor seemed to be glad the conversation had shifted away from impending doom, and towards my misfortunes.

"I'm glad you two aren't together anymore. I don't know what you saw in her."

I looked at him. What had I seen in her?

"She was hot, okay?"

He chuckled. "If you say so."

"I mean, objectively hot."

When he asked what the sign for objectively meant, Juniper whispered in his ear.

"I wouldn't know. I only have eyes for one girl anymore."

Juniper giggled at the flirt.

"One of these days you two should get a room."

Both of them blushed, their faces suddenly red.

I smiled, and Juniper smiled back, laughing again.

"You have a point." She acknowledged.

"Thank you."