"I'm doing what?" Jamie looks up from his bowl of ceral, eyeing his mother.
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"C'mon Jamie, it'd be fun to see a new school," Janna says to comfort her son's nerves. "It would also make Juniper happy."
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Jamie stops to think, slowly chewing the ceral in his mouth. It's Friday morning, and tonight would be Crystal Lake's 7th Grade Dance. The only problem was Jamie didn't go to Crystal Lake, he went to Ridgewood, and Crystal Lake and Ridgewood we're NOT fond of each other.
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"I know Crystal Lake and Ridgewood are sort of.." Janna turns around to find her words.
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"Rivals? I know," Jamie finishes his mother's sentence, placing his spoon in his bowl. He sighs tiredly, leaning his head on his hand on the countertop.
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"But James, do it for her. It's her first year at Crystal Lake and she knows no one there," his mother sets a dish down to face her son. "If you really don't feel alright with it, I can talk with Marco and Star about it."
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Jamie scrunches up his face, poking at the spoon laying in his mushy ceral. Janna turns around, setting the same dish into the sink and grabbing a towel to dry her hands.
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"Yeah," Jamie finally says after a long pause.
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"Hm?" Janna turns around, coming up to the counter.
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"Yeah, I'll do it," Jamie says plainly. He didn't want Juniper feeling alone, but he didn't exactly like the hated looks he got from Crystal Lake either.
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"I'll go for her."
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"Oh Juni, you look so beautiful!" A soft voice exclaims.
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"Really? I think the flower crown is too much mom.." Juniper takes the yellow and orange floral crown from her head, fixing her hair behind her. She wears a dress that makes her look like a fairy wrapped in marigold and daisies.
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"It's only a dance, I'm not going to prom or anything mom," Juniper sighs and puts the crown on a shelf by the door.
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"Maybe we'll save that dress for another time then?" Star says shrugging her shoulders. "I also have this one for you? Not AS floofy as the last but nonetheless still beautiful."
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As Juniper turns around she sees her mother hold up a plain dress with orange frilly flowers lining the bottom. The top half has an off-shoulder style and more frilly flowers.
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"It's orange too! It's so cute!" Juniper comes over to the dress, her eyes lightning up with joy. "I'll go and try it," her daughter says excitedly as she runs up the stairs, the thud of her feet tramping to her bedroom. Just then a soft knock is heard at the door, when she leaves the living room she finds her husband already opening it.
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"Hey Thomas, how are you," Marco says as they share a pat on the back.
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"Ah, tired. Arranging new plans for the royal family photo, but the photographer's out of town. And don't get me started on Diane's piano instructor," Tom says annoyed. Someone stands next to him, only reaching Tom's chest, dressed in black dress pants and a slightly loose maroon dress coat.
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"Hello Jamie, and how are you?" Star comes by as Jamie and Tom step into the house.
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"I'm alright," Jamie says nervously.
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"Juniper is somewhere upstairs, she'll be down soon," Star clasps her hands together and rests her hand on Jamie's shoulder. "Thank you for doing this Jamie, I know you wouldn't want to, but this makes her so happy."
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"Mom! I heard someone walk inside?" Juniper's voice trails from upstairs, drawing nearer as she bounds back down to the foyer. "Oh Jamie's here! Hi Jamie!"
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Jamie gives a slight smile, waving lightly as she tread into the room, trying to put on her sandals while standing up. Her hair is pulled back in a half up half down braid, and her eyes shine like diamonds.
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"I wish Diane could've come, I know she'd have wanted to.." Juniper gives a sad look, rubbing the back of her neck.
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"We're sorry June, she had piano lessons," Tom answers. "But hey, I know you'll have a great time."
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"Okay Juniper, ground rules," Marco immediately turns to her daughter, bending down to meet her face.
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"Daaaad," Juniper mumbles.
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"No leaving the school unless something terrible happens, don't talk to strangers, don't ever ta--"
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"Marco I think she understands," Star rests her hand on Marco's shoulder.
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"Alright just-- stay safe Junebug," Marco lightly kisses Juni's forehead, letting them walk out with Tom.
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"Ready?" Tom looks down at the kids, holding out his hands.
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"Oh yea! I love it when your dad does this," Juniper pumps her fists excited.
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Tom looks down and smiles and the next second they're engulfed in flames, suddenly appearing on the front lawn of the Middle School. Tom closes his hands as the flames receed back into the earth, the ground closing beneath them.
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"Thank you Mr. Lucitor! Jamie! I heard they have a chocolate fountain and I wanna see it!" Juniper starts off toward the school.
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"Alright James, take care of her," Thomas pats his back and disappears back into the flames.
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Jamie slowly turns around to meet the school, huge letters say "Crystal Lake Middle School" just above the main door. He takes a gulp, keeping his eyes low.
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"Jamie?" Juniper yells, halfway coming back out the door.
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"I'm coming!" Jamie looks up and runs in after her.
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Eyes.
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Eyes, eyes everywhere. They all stare at him with hatred. Whispered murmurs beneath breathes terrify him and make his hair stand on end.
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'Look it's a Lucitor.'
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'Isn't he from "Richwood"?'
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'What is HE doing here?'
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'Look at his horns.'
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"Jamie?" A soft voice startles him, when he looks down all he sees is Juniper, her eyes as blue as the sea."Hey, are you alright?"
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Jamie blinks a few times, his eyes darting back and forth every now and then at the other 7th graders around them.
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"Hey, if you're nervous we could leave," Juniper grabs his wrist. "I knew you wouldn't like the idea, but my mom set it up anyway.."
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Jamie felt a squelch in his chest. He was supposed to make her happy. He was supposed to make her feel great at her new school. He was supposed to be there for her, and he was totally ruining it. Juniper felt Jamie take his hands in hers, holding them tightly.
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'What? How is she dancing with a royal?'
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'A royal and a commoner? Weird.'
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'She shouldn't be here.'
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"Jamie, people are staring," Juniper whinces urgently, clutching his hand tighter.
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"Who cares," Jamie replies, shrugging his shoulders. "After all, this is YOUR dance, make it a good one."
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Juniper lightly laughs, brushing the brown hair from her face. Something feels different though, something different in both of them. Like Jamie's heart wanted to leap out of his chest.
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"Thanks Jamie," Juniper wraps her arms around him in a hug, laying her head on his shoulder.