JULY 1978

Michael laid on Juniper's bed, far enough away from her still-sleeping body so he wasn't invading her space. The night before, her parents had noticed him when he delivered her to her home, and they had insisted on housing him for the night.

Juniper drowsily mumbled something unintelligible under her breath as she shifted closer to him. He carefully inched away from her, nearly falling off the bed, until she wrapped her arms around his torso and moved her head onto his chest.

"Don't go," she uttered, still cast under the deep spell of sleep.

Michael sighed, stroking her hair. "I won't, Buggy," he replied softly. "I won't."

How could he? He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

That was what she was, he decided. A beautiful, fiery flame that could hurt him if he got too close.

≛

AUGUST 1967

Michael giggled as his parents and siblings finished their final campfire song.

"Okay, time for bed!" his mother laughed joyously. She stood and lifted her youngest child into her arms. "Casey, watch Michael while we put your other siblings to bed, okay?"

Casey grumbled in acknowledgment, picking at the dirt under his nails. Michael's ears were filled with crickets chirping, woodland creatures calling out, and the crackle of the campfire, yet the world seemed so quiet.

He watched the diminishing fire intently, watched the long fingers of heat lick at the wood fueling it. The fire must have felt so smooth, like the satin on his mother's orange headscarf. He stood up on his pudgy legs and waddled closer, pushing forward despite the stinging in his eyes.

Just as he neared the very edge of the little pit, he was harshly pulled back by the relatively strong arms of his older brother.

"Hey!" Casey hissed, holding Michael close to his chest. "C'mon, Mike," he scolded. Michael watched him curiously until he explained his agitation.

"Don't you know? If you play with fire, you're going to get burnt."

≛

JULY 1978

Well, there he was, playing with fire.

Michael knew it was risky to be so attached to her when she already had a boyfriend, but he couldn't help himself. He didn't know how to.

Juniper had changed her position so her head was nestled into the crook of his neck, and it was driving him crazy. If she had loved him as he loved her, she might have woken up and kissed him, with how close she was. She might have placed her head there willingly, while she was awake.

Michael wanted her to love him. Or maybe he wanted someone to love him. Not as much as Jackie, of course, because he wasn't ready for marriage, but if someone loved him... If someone loved me I could be ok.

If someone loved me I could get over her.

That was it.

He needed to find someone else to love.

≛

Juniper's eyelashes tickled Michael's skin as her eyes fluttered open. She started, nearly hitting her head against his jaw as she tried to comprehend why she was in bed cuddling with a boy.

"Woah! Relax!" Michael soothed, also slightly shocked from being jerked out of his thoughts.

Juniper's cheeks flushed. "Sorry."

Michael's lips quirked up. "It's okay."

"Are you two awake yet?" Lily Clark hollered from the kitchen. "It's already noon!"

Juniper reached behind her and slipped a very oversized sweatshirt on over her t-shirt and shorts. "We're coming!" she yelled back.

Michael climbed out from under the covers, already dressed since he hadn't changed his clothes.

"How long have you been up?" Juniper asked with an amused smile as she watched him attempt to make the bed.

"Not long," he answered vaguely.

"How long is 'not long'?"

"Maybe an hour or so."

June's eyebrows shot up to her forehead. "You should've gone down to eat breakfast or something!"

The way the sun hit her frazzled hair from behind made her look like she was glowing. "I would've woken you up."

"Trust me, I wouldn't have been annoyed," she rolled her eyes. "I haven't slept this late in a while."

Michael smirked. "What, am I keeping you up at night now?"

June laughed and tossed a pillow at him. "Shut it."

The pair descended down the staircase, welcomed by the sweet smell of Lily's perfect pancakes. They immediately thanked her and sat at the table to dig in.

And then the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Lily chimed, stepping toward the door. Her sunny face fell when she opened it.

"Hey, Mrs. Clark," the blue-eyed boy smiled as he peeked into the house. "Is Junie here?"

Lily's eyes dropped down to the single white rose he held between his thumb and forefinger. "She, uh..."

"Who's there, Mom?" June asked as she trotted to the door. "Hi, Arch!"

Lily left the two alone.

"This is for you," Archie beamed, handing Juniper the rose.

"Oh, it's beautiful," she cooed. "Thank you." She rose up on her toes and pecked his lips.

"I'll get it in a vase for you," he offered.

"Oh, you don't have to-"

He was already inside.

Archie's face hardened when he laid his eyes on Michael, who was still eating away at the pancakes. Lily cleared her throat and Michael glanced up. "Oh, hey, man."

"Hey," Archie said coldly.

"Come on," June smiled nervously. "Let's get the flower in a vase."

She dragged him into the bathroom (to be clear, not where the vases were kept), and locked the door behind them.

"What's he doing here?" Archie questioned. "And why-" he looked her up and down with a slight blush, "Why are you barely wearing anything?"

"I went out to lunch with him, remember? To catch up? It was really late when we got here, so my mom invited him to stay over."

"Where did he sleep?"

"In my room, but we didn't do anything, I promise!"

Archie examined her silently.

"Please don't be mad," June pleaded.

"I'm not," he finally said. "I believe you."

"Thank you."

After a split second of hesitation, Juniper wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

Archie accepted it easily, backing her up against the wall. He trailed his hands down and slipped them under her sweatshirt and her Jefferson Airplane tee, holding onto her bare waist. 

June's breath hitched and she instinctively pressed his body closer to her, wrapping her legs around his hips.

"I'm yours, Junie," he murmured against her lips. "I just want to know that you're mine."

Juniper moved her lips to his neck and exhaled shakily. "Fuck, Archie, I'm yours."

The flower fell to the ground.

≛

Juniper and Archie returned to the kitchen, trying to appear nonchalant despite the heavy makeout session that had ensued just moments before.

"You two were gone for quite a while," Lily raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, uh... we got sidetracked," Juniper lied obviously.

"You did a great job getting that rose into a vase, huh?" she smirked.

"Mom!"

Michael was visibly uncomfortable, bent over his empty plate. The walls weren't that thick in the Clark house.

"I should get going," he suddenly said, standing and clearing off his plate.

Juniper frowned. "Mike-"

"Donna's probably wondering where I am. Thanks for everything, Mrs. Clark."

He caught June's eye for a moment before stepping outside and shutting the door behind him.

≛

(not) brought to you by this chapter LOADED WITH DRAMA LMAO

(not) brought to you by me simping for the White Album

(not) brought to you by somebody to love - jefferson airplane

brought to you by lissy <3