juno | ???? ???????

The morning heat clung to the air like sweat on skin. June stood with her arms crossed, parked right in the middle of Topper's driveway like she belonged there. 

Hood pulled low, black tank top clinging to her from the sun, eyes hidden behind scratched-up sunglasses. Her jaw was locked, hands twitching at her sides. 

There was no patience in her posture. No room for excuses.

Sarah stepped out of the house slow,  tired and pale, looking like she already knew she'd be swallowed whole.

"I didn't sleep with him," she said.

June didn't speak.

"I was drunk. I barely remember anything. I passed out on the couch."

June just stared at her. Her mouth was a thin, bloodless line.

Sarah stepped closer, eyes pleading now. "It wasn't like that, June. I swear to God."

"I saw you kiss him." The words landed like a brick.

Sarah flinched.

"It didn't mean anything—"

June's hand flew before she even realized it. June slapped her.

A single, sharp crack across the face. Sarah didn't even flinch, she just took it. Stood there, jaw clenched, staring at the ground. Because yeah, she deserved it. 

Sarah blinked hard, her cheek turning red fast.

June turned without another word and walked toward the silver BMW sitting two houses down, the one she'd stolen last night at the party from some dumb Kook who left his keys on the dash at the party.

He'd been too busy puking in the bushes to notice her melting the ignition lock with a cheap lighter she stole from Barry. Amateur stuff, but it worked.

Right now, June had enough rage to hotwire a plane if she needed to.

The car started with a metallic cough, and then the engine roared to life.

She had barely noticed Sarah climbing into the passenger seat until the door slammed shut.

"Seriously?" June muttered, gripping the wheel tighter.

Sarah didn't say anything at first. Just sat there. Face red, eyes still glassy. They drove in silence, the kind that buzzed like static. The wind tangled through the rolled down windows. June kept her foot heavy on the gas, the car screaming down the road towards the Cut.

Sarah's phone buzzed. One new voicemail.

It played on speaker. Wheezie's voice, breathless and panicked:

"Sarah, I—I left. I'm not at home. Please don't tell Dad. I just—can we talk? Can you meet me?"

June's jaw tightened. She stared straight ahead. 

Sarah immediately began texting wheezie back for a location, before she looked over at June. "Please June, Can I go see her? Please."

June didn't answer right away. She exhaled and spun the car around, accelerating the car as fast as she could. "Only because it's Wheezie."

The GPS had led them to an overgrown trail near the edge of the woods northern of Kildare. June had parked a bit back, hidden behind some old pines. But before Sarah could get out, June reached into the glove compartment and pulled out something heavy.

A gun.

She handed it to Sarah without even looking at her. Junes face was still stone cold.

Sarah flinched. Then took it and slid it into the back of her waistband. She stepped out of the car, walking forward until she froze completely.

Ward.

He had appeared like a damn ghost, walking out from the trees, hands raised like he wanted peace.

June dropped down below her seat instantly, her heart slamming against her ribs. She had hoped that sliding under the seat, would make her dissapear and vanish. Her whole body locked. She could feel her own pulse in her teeth.