CHAPTER THREE
the charity-cases.

           
            JUNIPER.

I had never been much for parties. At least, not the kind my sister was into. Those kind of parties were always at some big house or on the beach with a huge bonfire and drunken teenagers acting like dickheads. I wasn't a bore in the slightest—I enjoyed a party. Just not the kind Imani Di Maggio had planned for our victory.

The parties I liked were chill and mellow with a number of people I could count on my hands. I liked sitting around a fire, a beer in my hand and the taste of some kind of psychedelic on my tongue. I knew people thought that made me a burn-out like the people I chose to spend my time with but I didn't give a shit, it was the way I liked it. With a small circle, just having a good time.
However, Lennon wouldn't hear the end of it from Imani if I didn't attend a party in my honour—being the one to score the wining goal. And then I would never hear the end of it from Lennon.

Which meant by the time Saturday night rolled around, I found myself on the beach, listening to music turned up so high through the speakers it made my head bounce.
Imani had invited just about everyone—probably the entirety of Coral Bay. People stopped to congratulate us on our big win and wished us the best, earning the fakest smile I could muster up. Meanwhile my sister thanked them with earnest, giving everyone a smile that made them feel like she was smiling just for them.

That was the thing about Lennon, she might have shared my ability of being the biggest hot-head in the room, but everyone fucking loved her. She had never asked nor demanded popularity, it had just handed itself to her. She was accepted by everyone who ever knew her and in all honesty, I had never heard anyone utter a bad word about her—at least from our side of town. She was an enigma and she drew people towards her with her wide smile and big-brown eyes. Sometimes I envied that about her and other times, I was grateful she was the one everyone put their attention on. That allowed me to do whatever I wanted outside of the gaze of watchful stares.

I was standing around the campfire with the rest of my team-mates whilst Brooklyn gushed about how we would be flying off in her parents private jet the following morning, "I've made sure it's stocked with everything we'll need—booze especially. We're gonna fucking need it being on a plane with Coach and Ethan drilling us for hours." She was saying, gesturing with her hands, her acrylic nails painted in ombre pinks.

Brooke was one of our newer players, she had only joined us in the start of senior year when her parents had moved to Coral Bay. Looking at her, I'd have never thought that Barbie herself would play soccer, but I had immediately eaten my own words when I had witnessed her play. She was good—really fucking good and had been a great asset to our team. I didn't know her very well because of how different we were but what I had gathered so far was that she had a new set of nails each week, loved cats and her parents owned a private jet.

"Amen," Imani said, making a praying motion with her hands. "Coach is going to drive me literally insane if I have to hear 'Imani, don't be scared of the ball' one more time. Like, I will literally throw her out of the fucking plane if I have to hear it again." She complained, earning a few chuckles.

Wanting to not hear another one of Imani's rants, I quickly interjected the conversation, "Maggie, how's the nose?" I asked the girl who had been pretty quiet for most of the night. But she was always like that. She was a delicate little wallflower, except for on the pitch and when she had a few Vodka's in her—because then, an entirely different personality came out. I once had to talk her down from stripping out of her clothes and twerking her ass on a table after she had took one too many shots.

Magie shifted on her feet, "It's better. Doctor said it's not broken and that the swelling will go down soon—hopefully before we have to get our pictures taken." She said, reaching up to touch the swollen skin around her nose.

Rebecca put a hand on Maggie's shoulder, "Either way, Mags. You'll look great." She assured her, giving her a smile, her ginger hair in ringlets around her shoulders. Rebecca was the sweetest—she always had nice things to say about everyone and a smile on her face.

"Becks is right, Maggie. You'll look amazing." Lennon piped in, giving her a big smile.

I shrugged, "And if not, I'm sure Imani wont mind letting you borrow her plastic surgeon." I teasingly added, sending Imani a sideways grin, stirring the pot.

"Fuck you, June," Imani said, putting her hand over her heart. "I'll have you know, my face is very real." Except it wasn't. Not all of it at least. Imani had broken her nose a few years back during a game and it had been pretty bad, leaving her perfect little nose crooked. Once it was healed, her parents had immediately seen to plastic surgery to get it fixed. But only those on the team knew that.

"Just like how Carla Roberts ass is real." Brooke piped in with a smirk, raising her red solo-cup to her red lips.

Everyone, including myself laughed. It was no secret that Carla Roberts had a butt-lift, everyone knew about it. An ass doesn't get that big by simply putting in their squats—if that was the case, mines would have been as big as Kim Kardashian's. And Carla's mom was a plastic surgeon. It just made sense.

I held up my empty cup, "Amma get a refil." I said, dismissing myself as the girls began talking more about Carla and her fake ass, all giggly from the alcohol.

I approached the table where kegs and plastic cups had been lined up. I filled my cup of the stale beer and took a long sip.

"Hey, June!" I turned my head at the sound of my name being called.

My whole face lit up at the sight of Daz approaching me. He was a total brain-rot of a guy who spent his every waking moment with a joint between his lips. We were kind of friends and kind of not. Friends in the way that I often bought weed and other drugs from his stash and he invited me to small get-togethers to indulge in the drugs and sometimes we'd sneak off to the back of his van.

"Daz, hey," I greeted as I walked up to him. He was wearing an orange beanie with baggy clothes over his slender build. I found myself grinning. "Please, tell me you have what I want." I pleaded, putting my hands together, giving him my best puppy-eyed stare.

Daz reached into his pocket and pulled out a small baggie holding three blue pills, making my face light up, "You bet, baby." He said, grinning as he handed me the bag.

I reached into my pocket and fished out the money, exchanging the cash for the Molly in his hands. "Not to be a total party-pooper because that would never be me. But are you even sure you should be taking this shit right now? Don't you have, like, Nationals tomorrow? Most important time of your adolescent life and all that shit?" He asked me in an unsure tone—actually being a party-pooper. Or at least, raining on my parade.

I glanced up at him through my eyelashes, "What are you, my dad?" I grumbled, opening up the bag and reaching a finger inside to scoop out one of the pills.

             Daz held his hands up in surrender, "You do you, G."

I rolled my eyes, "Look, it's not like it matters anyway, okay? We only have like, pictures and some stupid rally tomorrow—letting the competition suss each other out and all that bullshit," I began defending myself without realising. It was something I had gotten used to being Lennon's sister—defending myself in her perfectness. "I'll be fine." I assured him, nodding my head.

"Alright, but if your sister finds out, you didn't get this shit from me, alright? I'm not dealing with Lennon fucking Sawyer screaming at me again." He said, glancing across to where my sister was dancing with Imani around the fire.

"Scouts honour." I said, giving him a grin before I popped the pill onto my tongue and allowed it to dissolve in my mouth before swallowing.

Daz was staring at me with a risen eyebrow and I glanced up at him, wondering why he was still lingering, "You wanna get out of here for a bit? Go back to my van and..." He trailed off, leaving it up to my imagination.

I looked over my shoulder to where my sister was and contemplated his suggestion. It wouldn't be the first time I snuck off with Daz—or probably the last. There was nothing holding me back.

I shrugged, "Fuck it. Sure."

LENNON.

Imani and I had been dancing for what felt like forever. My skin was on fire from the movement and the bonfire burning beside us but that didn't stop me. I was having far too much fun—and the alcohol was making my head woozy, making it easier for me to dance without a care in the world. I had also went way by my three cups rule and might have been on my sixth. Or seventh. I wasn't sure.

I was standing behind Imani, my hands on her hips as she grinded against me when I caught sight of Josh in the crowd, watching me with a red solo-cup grazing his lips. He was wearing his blue and red varsity jacket over his shoulders, one that us Pirates owned in blue and white, which most of us wore often.

The eye contact led him to approach us, smiling as he went, "You ladies look like you're having fun." He drawled out and I could tell that he too, had been drinking a lot from how he slurred his words.

Imani stopped her grinding to put her arm over my shoulder, "Yeah, Josh, we're having super fun. Which is why you're not stealing my girl away so she can give you a hand-job in the parking lot." She told him, smiling not-so-sweetly up at him.

I choked on my drink as I took a sip, "I'm not—I'm not giving anyone a hand-job in any parking lot." I refused, widening my eyes at Imani.

Josh pretend to pout, "Not even me?"

             I gave him a smile, "Not even you, handsome." I said before he leaned in for a kiss, making Imani fake gag from beside me.

"Y'all are sickening, really. Why can't you just be like normal teenagers instead of all this love-sicky bullshit?" She complained and I gave her a sideways smile. Imani was a no-strings-attached kinda girl, in fact, I don't think she had ever really dated anyone or had a boyfriend. And I had known her my entire life. She liked to say that men were like place-holders—a quote she had got from her favourite movie, Jennifer's Body.

Josh pulled me out from under Imani's arm and put me under his instead, "What can I say, Imani. I respect her too much to ask for a hand-job in the parking lot." He said, kissing the top of my head.

Imani held up her hands, "Sickening." She repeated before leaving to join the huddle of some of our teammates at the kegs.

Josh turned to face me, taking his arm off my shoulder to tuck my flyaway hair behind my ear, "Would you be mad if I asked you a question?" He asked and I let out a scoff.

"Depends on the question." I said, turning to face him fully.

"It's about what Imani was saying and—look, I would never wanna pressure you, Len, cause I really do respect you but it's just... I mean, how long are you gonna make me wait? Cause, like, a guy has needs and—"

I immediately stepped out of his grip, my mouth falling open, "This is about the hand-job thing?" I asked him in disbeleif.

                "No—yes. Okay, kind of." He said, making me shake my head as I laughed in disbelief

"You are unbelievable." I snapped, turning my back on him, attempting to get back to Imani and my teammates.

"Len—Lennon," Josh said, getting in front of me and grabbing my shoulders, holding me in place as I glared up at him. "It's just, you said you were waiting until you felt ready and, well, it's been months now Lennon. Months. And we haven't even gone as far as second base—"

I threw my head back, rolling my eyes, "Oh, that must be so hard for you."

"It is!" Josh exclaimed, throwing his hands up.

I exhaled sharply, "Look, Josh, if the sex thing is such a big deal then why don't you go and get it from someone else, huh?" I suggested harshly, glaring up at him.

Josh stepped towards me, "Because I don't want anyone. I want you," He said, lowering his face to mine. He planted a kiss against my cheek and then moved down the length of my neck, placing kisses as he went and I squirmed beneath him. "I want you, Lennon." He whispered, his hands reaching up and tracing along the outline of my hips.
I swallowed hard, my face feeling like it was on fire.

"Come on. What're you so afraid of?" He asked, bringing his face back to mine as I stared into his eyes. What was I so afraid of? I had no idea. I wanted to be intimate with Josh, I just couldnt figure out how to loosen up and allow myself to be. My dad had been on my case about sex since the moment I hit puberty, telling me all of the reasons why I should be scared of it and never do it. And somehow, it had actually seemed to get in my head.

"Okay..." I found myself saying against his mouth.

Josh pulled back, looking at me, "Okay?" He repeated.

I nodded to where his jeep was parked on the sidewalk of the kirb by the beach, "Let's go back to your car." I clarified and watched as a grin crossed Josh's lips—like he was having some kind of victory. Like he had just won a soccer game.

Josh took my hand and I followed him as he led me towards his red Jeep. He unlocked the car and opened the door to the backseat and I climbed inside, allowing him to follow after me.

I sat my back against the window as Josh climbed between my legs, kissing me immediately. This was as far as josh and I had ever gone. We would makeout and then I would choke. He would be deflated and we wouldn't talk for the rest of the night and I was so fucking sick of that. I was so sick of being a disappointment to him. Because why couldn't I just give him this one thing? Everyone else had long lossed their virginity except for Maggie and Eden, so why was I clinging to mine like my grandmothers fucking pearls?

Josh trailed kisses down my neck like he had on the beach but this time, brought his hands up to begin undoing the buttons on my lilac blouse. I could feel my breath hitching in my through as I sat up slightly, allowing him to push the shirt down my arms, discarding it to the floor. I allowed myself to trace my fingers along his back, underneath his t-shirt as he kissed over my chest. I could feel my heart racing to the point where I thought it would burst.

Josh reached behind him and took my hand in his, "Feel what you're doing to me, Len." He whispered, putting my hand against the bulge in his pants and I exhaled shakily. He wanted me—and bad. So why didn't I feel the same? Why didn't it feel right? Josh was a good guy. Why couldn't I just fucking relax? Why couldn't I be more like June? She didn't give a fuck about this kind of stuff. And I cared too much.

                His hand left mine to begin unbuttoning my denim shorts and that's when alarm bells began ringing in my ears. I didn't want to do this. I really didn't want to. I wasn't ready.

"Josh, stop." I whispered against his neck but he either didn't hear me or pretended like he hadn't. "Josh." I said again with a bit more urgency, making my voice louder so that he couldn't ignore me. But still, his hands continued to work on the buttons of my shorts.

"Stop. Josh—I've changed my mind. Josh!" I exclaimed as I began to panic, trying to push him off but he was stronger and he used his free hand to pin my hands above my head. "Josh, stop it! Let me go! Josh!" I could feel my eyes begin to burn as panic washed over me. I had thought Josh was a good guy but was he really about to continue even when I was on the verge of tears? The not knowing made me feel sick.

"Josh, stop it!" I yelled, kicking out beneath him. When my buttons finally came undone, I had the horrifying realisation that he had no intent on stopping. Thinking as quickly as I could, I tipped my head backwards and bit into his forearm above my head. He let out a roar of pain and immediately flew off of me.

I grabbed my shirt from the floor and fumbled with the door handle, stumbling out of the door and slamming it in Josh's face as he tried to come after me, "Len! Lennon!" He barked, throwing the door open and leaving it that way as he marched after me.

I was pulling my arms through my sleeves when he grabbed my arm but before he could touch me again, I spun around, pushing him hard in the chest, "Don't fucking touch me!" I yelled at him, eyes wide and tearful, chest heaving up and down.

"You're acting fucking crazy right now!" Josh exclaimed back, throwing his hand up, showing the red bite mark on his arm.

"What was I supposed to do? You weren't letting me go!" I yelled, my cheeks burning hot with rage.

"You said you were ready!"

"Well, I wasn't!" I snapped, shaking my head. When he reached for me again, I stepped out of his grip, glaring with all of my might. "Don't ever fucking touch me again." I growled before turning my back and marching towards the stand where the kegs were set up.

I grabbed a spare cup and filled it half-way before downing it in one go, allowing the liquor to slip down my throat that felt like it was on fire from trying not to cry.

I had just finished downing the cups when my gaze fixated upon a group walking towards me, being led by a girl in the front. It only took me a split second to realise who it was through my fuzzy vision. The Red Devils.
Leading the soccer team was Ivy Kingston, their team Captai and my acclaimed rival.

Ivy's lips stretched into a smirk upon noticing me and I prepared myself for what was to come. If one thing was certain, it was that both our teams clashed in any situation where we were thrown together. Especially Ivy and I. Only God knew how we were going to survive a plane journey together.

Ivy was smaller than me, at least five ft three, but she held herself as though she was a lot taller—and that had always been extremely intimidating. Her brown naturally wavy hair was down for once—usually in a ponytail— resting against her shoulder. Her skin was sunkissed, covered in freckles that could be seen along her face and collarbone. She was wearing black Addidas gym shorts and a white tank top without a bra and tattered white converse. Ivy looked like a fucking champion, her build was perfect for a football player; lean and strong. And a part of me really envied that.

From out of nowhere, Imani appeared beside me and immediately got in front of me, as if she had some kind of Red Devils radar, "Sorry, girls. It's a private party. Pirates and friends only." She said, her lips turning into a coy smile, her red solo-cup in her hands.

Ivy held her hands up, "We just wanted to wish y'all luck." She said in her raspy voice and I found myself immediately glaring, knowing that was complete bullshit. They had come to stir us up and it was obviously working.

Her gaze turned to me, "Since we'll be seeing y'all there. And sharing the private jet—probably thanks to one of y'alls daddies I'm guessing." She added and I swallowed hard, my gaze fixating on hers, staring her down but I couldn't imagine I looked very intimidating after I had been crying.

"Right, sure. The charity-cases." The insult rolled from Imani's lips with ease and I felt myself tense up.

"The only charity work was letting you Princessess in." Kitty Abrams piped in, Evie, her younger sister standing behind her. Kitty was the co-captain, and as far as I knew, what Imani was to me to Ivy. She was also bat-shit crazy as far as I was aware—she and Imani had beef from one of the last times we had played them when Imani elbowed her in the eye resulting in a black eye she wore for weeks.

I sighed, my patience wearing thin. I just wanted to find my sister and go home, "Look, why don't y'all just fuck off before this goes any further, alright? Keep this kinda shit for the pitch?" I suggested as my team started to rally around me, appearing from nowhere.

Kitty glared at me, "Bite me, Princess."

I held my hands up, "Wouldn't wanna catch anything—" Kitty was flying for me in an instant.

                The both of us got ahold of each other whilst our teammates jumped in, either trying to grab us off one another or get involved themselves. Everyone was yelling and shoving as a crowd gathered around us to witness the cat-fight, beginning to chant 'fight!' over and over again.

"What the fuck is going on?!" June exclaimed as she joined the madness, grabbing Kitty by the back of her shirt and hauling her off of me, sending her back a few paces.

Ivy got in her way, grabbing her shoulders, "Back the fuck up, Juniper." She warned.

I stepped forward, giving Ivy a shove, "Hey, get the fuck off of her!" I exclaimed as Ivy laughed, walking back up to me, shoulders rolled back and eyes locking onto mine.

She held herself with such confidence and I was drunk enough to make my head spin—but I wasn't going to let that make me stand down, "We'll take the private jet and we'll enjoy every minute of it. But after that," She paused, lowering her face to mine and I held my breath, waiting for fists to fly. "We're coming for you." She said, her lips stretching into a grin.

I barely blinked under Ivy's heated stare, "Take your team and go home, Ivy. We'll see you on the plane." I said, keeping my voice steady.

Ivy's grin widened. If there was one thing I knew about Ivy Kingston, it was that she enjoyed a challenge—and conflict.

She held her hand up, telling her team to back down. She glanced between each of us, "We'll be seeing you ladies later." She said, turning on her heels and walking away, their group laughing as they went.

I finally allowed my shoulders to relax and heaved out a sigh. June grabbed my arm immediately, "Hey, are you okay?" She asked and I could tell she knew more was bugging me than Ivy Kingston and her possy. I was obviously drunk and my eyes were wet.

I nodded, "I, uh—yeah. Yeah. I'm fine." I said, turning to face her, that's when I noticed the glossed over look in her eyes and how her pupils were dilated, practically covering the blue in her eyes.

My lips parted as I roughly grabbed her arm, "Are you fucking high right now?" I demanded, not realising how hard I was holding onto her.

June ripped her arm out of mine, "No, I—"

"She's totally blazed." Imani piped in, laughing to herself.

"Back the fuck off, Imani!" June yelled at her, immediatly getting agitated.

I laughed in disbelief, "I can't believe you right now," I began saying as she looked up at me. "We're going to Nationals tomorrow, June! Nationals! You couldn't take one night off from being a total fucking burn-out?" The words flew from my mouth before I had the chance to stop them. Others had called June that plenty of times but I never had—and had never intended to.

June blinked and took a step back from me, "Wow." She whispered, laughing under her breath.

"June—"

"Don't, Lennon," She snapped, wretching herself from my hand as I tried to grab her. She shook her head, "Enjoy the rest of your night with your perfect little friends. I'll take my burn-out ass elsewhere." She said before storming off, stumbling as she went and I threw my hands up in exasperation. That was so typical of June, she always walked off before I had the chance to even apologise—and it always prolonged our fights longer than I would have liked.

Imani stepped in line with me, folding her arms at her chest, "Burn-out? I would have went with borderline-junkie." She said without thinking—or without giving a damn about what she was saying.

I looked at her, "Shut up, Imani."

AUTHORS NOTE.

Josh is trash. Lennon superiority <3.

(ps... the plane crash is incoming...)