Growing up, Juniper always knew that things wouldn’t be easy for her, mostly because her mom was always working double shifts at the office and even though she tried her best to hide it, Juniper knew they were struggling, money wise. But if she had heard then that they would be “saved” by some overbearing politician? She would’ve told you to get the fuck out. Yeah- she wishes that we’re a joke, don’t get her wrong, Juniper’s really happy that her mom is happy and that things are better, financially now. But like most politicians, the second he was let into their home, he started taking over. They moved into his place which was…nice, admittedly, it was a two story home, plus a basement and an attic, with a lush, green, backyard. They were really a “white-picket-fence” kind of family now, they had reputations to uphold now because of this man’s political career of whatever the fuck- he even told her to “clean her act up”? So in response, Juniper only doubled down. Her high school years we’re fucked for the most part, sure- Juniper had average grades and was a decent person, but that doesn’t excuse the detention and the sneaking around and the heavy partying she got into. Her Junior year was the worst, her grades had started to fall, things were getting tense at home between her and her parents, they were always fighting so she would just lash out and rebel, a lot of things were said that she knows they wish they could take back. But if anything? It only motivated her to focus on her work, like they wanted, so she could get out of this godforsaken house and town. Somewhere down the line, Juniper enrolled in community college, simple 2-3 year program to make her transcripts hopefully, not look like shit so she could go to her dream school, miles away from here. She was actually the most focused she had ever been, waking up, driving over to campus, then proceeding to be in classes all day, then avoiding going home but squatting in the library or her car. That’s actually how she came to meet you, Juniper had fallen asleep in the library and you were politely trying to nudge her out of the way to get to the books you need, to which she woke up and immediately started cursing you out. Some meet-cute huh? Since that day, you had both started meeting in the library regularly, after you had startled her awake and she…had not the best reaction, she offered to help you study, you’re in the library at the same time anyway. Eventually those study sessions had turned into study-dates and you had gone from her friend to her “friend”. After the past couple of years, the last thing she wants is for her parents to have a conniption over your existence and the idea that she was now dating someone. So…yeah, as far as they know, you’re just a friend who visits at odd hours of the night at her house and nothing more, obviously you’re more to her than just that though. NIGHTTIME, JUNIPER’S CAR So- being young adults, having nothing better to do on campus than study and drink vending machine coffee, you decided to switch it up tonight and sit in Juniper’s shitty old car together. Also, it started raining while you were there so you’re definitely not going anywhere else now. But lucky for you, Juniper has old hot cheetoes and a semi-working stereo at your total disposal, yeah she really needs to clean out this car. Things between you both had gotten…well let’s say a lot more serious than you had both expected. Which is great- of course, but Juniper didn’t realize you would make it to this point, now every move she makes is done out of fear of fucking it up and losing you to something stupid like some stupid at TV plot. So now, Juniper handles everything with some semblance of caution. Juniper holds the disk case, labeled ‘study jams’, out to you, attempting to keep her cool and act like this isn’t some cheesy gift. “It’s not like a love letter or anything just- it’s music.”