『 chapter xxxvi: WILTED WOMAN. 』

—AND JUNE COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE UPSET by the fact that his cold lips captured hers. She yanked back immediately, shoving him with all her might. She would've slapped him, but she didn't know if she'd break her damn hand giving him a feathery hit. June stood there, disgusted and shocked, holding her lips like he had taken them. If there was one thing June hated more, it was men who touched girls without their consent and this vampire had none of hers. June was furious, a fire burned inside that almost debilitated her. She hated even more how long she waited to pull away and how she thought, even if his lips were cold, they were soft. June almost punched herself for her trailing thoughts. They sickened her. This was Edward. Her older sisters boyfriend.

The bearer of everything fucked up that happened to Bella these past months and he had the audacity to kiss her.

"You fucking idiot," June breathed out.

Edward just stood, eyes wide as hers. "Juniper—"

"You touchy feely, cold-lipped fucking idiot!" June spat in his face, angry. "How fucking dare you do this! You're in a relationship with my sister! She almost died because of you! She has to become one of you, because of you! Because you made her save your sorry ass from those pompous fuckers in Italy!"

"Juniper, let me explain," Edward got out, looking as bewildered as she was, he ran his hand through his hair. "Firstly, I'm sorry — for kissing you without your consent, it was not noble of me, it was the behavior of men I've killed in the past. I don't expect forgiveness, but I need to get that out before anything else." He looks into eyes before continuing stiffly. "Secondly, I just needed to see something. A test of some sorts."

"Test?" June echoes angrily. "What fucking test permits you to kiss your girlfriends sister?"

Edward looks away, ashamed. Good. "It racked my mind the entire time I was away," He confesses, sighing. "I spent my time usefully, trying my best to stay away ..."

"You were doing a stand up job." June says icily.

He sighed again, " ... I was doing my best to keep from returning," He stops again to face her. "I tried to find answers about Menders, to better understand these circumstances, this situation ..."

June stiffened with realization. "You knew what Melanie was then," She said and he nodded. She waited a beat, biting her lip, "Did you know I was the same?"

He shook his head, "Not until you killed James."

      June crossed her arms, looking at the trees in the distance. She sighed, too. "Answer me this, and for gods sake, be honest with me, because don't think I won't get you back for kissing me: why did you come back two years ago?"

              Edward looked like he was expecting the question. He smiled down at the ground, cynically. "For a smart girl, you're not that perceptive." He says with a heavy sigh. He looks at her, shrugging. "Because I saw you." June's breath leaves her again. "I saw you, a carbon copy of the only woman I had ever loved ... I just needed to know you were okay, what you were. It became clearer when we moved back permanently and your cousin became a wolf. And then you just blossomed more."

"Blossomed," June laughed sardonically. "More like wilted."

Edward steps closer, June doesn't move back. He touches her bruises and her skin is temporarily soothed by the coolness of his skin. "Melanie hated her bruises," He said so softly, she almost didn't hear. "She hated what they meant." He looks in June's eyes. "I know they mean the same for you."

June pulls away, "Really?" She asks with a scoff. "You're seriously mental; it's unhealthy at this point."

"Pardon?"

"I'm not Melanie, Edward," June snaps. "I'm not this girl that needs saving just so that your sore ego can feel better, okay? I'm not in danger. I don't love you."

"That's what I wanted to see," Edward says. She glares at him with all her might.

"What? If I loved you?"

"If you felt something for me, if Melanie's spirit lives inside you." Edward corrects. She stiffens. "I was mistaken, clearly. I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" June scoffs again, looking the side. "I only have to
scream and the pack would be here and rip you apart on my orders. Jacob would want the pleasure alone, I'm sure ..."

"You love him," Edward smiles, laughing a bit. She could really rip him apart if she wanted to, but she didn't feel like dealing with Bella at the moment. "Incredible."

"Why is that so hard to believe?" June sneers. "Fidelity is clearly foreign to you, but it's simple for some people."

"It's incredible how strong that imprint business is," Edward corrects her again. "You truly believe you love him."

"I'm seconds away from ripping your head off myself," June spat out angrily. 

He raises his hands in defense. "Does he know what he even has?" He asks again. "Does he know when you're sad? You don't like to be touched ... because of your bruises ... but does he know that? You just endure it."

June has tears in her eyes, "STOP IT!" She yells.

"I need you to come to terms with your feelings Juniper," Edward says. "You have a choice. I made the mistake of not giving one to Melanie ... I've lived decades dealing with the consequences of it."

Her breathing has quickened and she feels her heart race, she crumbles to her knees and cries. "Just STOP. Okay? Stop." She says. "I'm not her ... I won't make the mistake she did. I won't be fooled by you, I'm smarter."

"I never fooled her," Edward said heatedly. "I loved her—"

"What about Bella?!"

"I love her more than anything," He said firmly. "I only needed to see if Melanie was still there ... so I could say my goodbyes and apologize for her life being taken ... she had dreams and hopes and my choices forced her to die ... I don't want that for you."

"It's not your choice whether I live or die! God, what's the point of you doing this? To remind me of what I'm living through? To hurt me?"

"Juniper, I don't mean to hurt you or Bella," Edward frantically kneels. "It wasn't my intention—"

"All you ever do is hurt me!" June sobs, admitting to him, her eyes bore into his. "You hurt me by coming back and making Sam phase which made me change ... I was good, I didn't want this magic, I didn't want Sam to change ... you ruined everything, you always ruin everything, Edward, all do you is ruin what's mine."

Edward has a somber look on his features, "Juniper—"

"Just leave me alone." June sobs. "Go to Bella ... I won't tell her about this, I'll forget about it. I'll do you that favor. Do me the favor of leaving me alone." She looks him in the eye and sneers. "If you hurt her again, I'll tell her. I'll tell her and I'll tell Jacob and you're as good as dead. Deader."

Edward looks like he's been slapped. "Juniper—"

"Get out of my sight," June hissed.

He listened, smart for him. He stood up abruptly, looking down at her once more before he used his speed to get out of her sight like she had said. June clenches the dirt beneath her hands and sobs more, wondering why the universe hates her so much that they'd put another burden like this on her? Bella's boyfriend kissed her. He all but serenaded her. He was close, he said he could love her. But June didn't love him. June would never feel anything for Edward Cullen; he didn't love her, contrary to what he probably believed he did. He loved the idea of her, the idea of having another chance with Melanie. June was far from Melanie. She had spent so long trying to separate herself from the girl who cost so many people a lot of things. June wasn't going to lose, she didn't do good with cold things. She wanted warmth, she wanted Jacob. She just wanted Jacob, now, forever, till the end of her time. She wanted him. She'd never want anyone the way she wanted Jacob.

His smile and his touch and the way her heart raced every time his lips kissed her collarbone; June stood up, wiping her knees of any dirt. She was glad her sundress was fine.

•—•—•—•—•

JUNE CONTINUED HER LIFE. BECAUSE THAT'S what you had to do when faced with fucked up circumstances. Two days went by after the whole fiasco with Edward kissing her and she seemed to just completely wipe it from her mind. She smiled at Bella's face upon arriving home and then proceeded to cry in her room while Patrick Verona tried to comfort her in his doggie way and Nirvana played in her stereo. June continued being June the waitress and the June the dying her and June the cynical queen; right now, she was playing June the waitress, her favorite role, it gave her that piece of normalcy. Sully's Diner was as busy as ever on a Thursday night. She looked up as she cleaned a table and saw Mr. and Mrs. Biers taping another ad on their restaurant door.

( MISSING PERSON RILEY BIERS. )
LAST SEEN ON FRIDAY, MAY 21 2010, WALKING HOME FROM PIKE PALACE MARKET IN SEATTLE...

June let out a involuntary sigh. She had just seen Riley weeks before he went missing, he had came down for his brother's birthday and that was the last she had seen him herself. Apparently, he had been missing when he got back to his dorm in Seattle. It unnerved June, how close and how terrible something could happen. His poor parents were stapling posters all over town. June hoped he wouldn't be one of the ones added to the rising chart of dead persons and whatnot that they've been hearing about on the news.

"June!" Her boss, Farah, called out.

   June turned to see Farah smiling at her, handing an apron to a tall girl with dark hair next to her. The girl looked up and June was refreshed by the beauty she held. It was exotic, mixed with traditional beauty, high cheekbones and blushing cheeks and whatnot. Her angular eyes squinted as she smiled, June returned one, thinking about if she wasn't dating Jacob she'd definitely shoot her shot with this cutie.

"Yes ma'am?" June chirped, bouncing her way over.

Farah grinned, "Juniper, this is our newest team member," She gestured to the girl. "Had to get one since you e cut down hours, which I am all for, you work too damn much. Anyway, make her feel welcome and whatnot, show her ropes and all — my niece is having a recital that I can't wait to fall asleep to. Ladies, get working!"

"Yes boss!" They said simultaneously.

  June grinned, looking to the girl. "Boss can be intense and blunt," She says with shrug. "You'll get to used to it."

"I think she's a mega sweetheart," The girl replied with a smirk.

June grinned wider, "Ahhh, I think were gonna get along good you and I," She pointed at her. "I'm Juniper Swan, by the way, like the bird yes, but everyone calls me June. You are—?"

"Oh, right, I'm April," She said cheerily.

"First of all, I have to say," June confesses. "You're the literal cutest and if I didn't have a boyfriend, I'd be all over you, if we're being completely honest."

April flushed but winked, "Honestly, I'd be honored."

"For now, I'll just be your biggest fan," June says, then elaborates. "Every day you come in, I'll be: Yes, April, looking like a meal today or wig, or something like that."

       April's chuckling, "You're charming as fuck, you know that?"

"It's my one true passion," June said dramatically.

"Might fuck around and fall in love with you." April winked.

June laughed loudly, genuinely, "Okay, that's it, I'm dumping my boyfriend." She giggles, grabbing April's hand and interlocking with hers. "Where sound our first date be?"

April pretended to think, "It has to be in this diner, obviously, I mean, we're in the clock."

"True, true," June nodded, suddenly getting an idea. "I could make us some burgers and milkshakes and we can sit over there and you can tell me everything about yourself?"

April beamed, "Of course. Wait, you know how to make burgers and milkshakes?"

"Correction—I'll tell Saul to make us some burgers and milkshakes," June said.

"Love it."

June found she genuinely liked April — not in a gay way, well, yeah lowkey in a gay way but alas, she was taken and she wasn't gonna risk another fiasco where she gets kissed by someone other than Jacob. Only this time, June might be the one to initiate it but that's neither here nor there. April was funny, she quoted vines and funny videos and watched the Simple Life and was in the same grade as her but was attending the elite science academy that Olympia had but lived in Forks nevertheless. June learned April was from New York and her mother was Korean and her father was American, they had met when April's dad was stationed in Korea; they had immigrated to New York and stayed there until her dad was stationed in Washington and here they were. April loved David Bowie and early alt music. She was basically June's soulmate ... or rather ...

"So, no seriously relationships or anything you left behind?" June casually asks.

April sighs, "Is it totally cliche to say I've been waiting for the one?"

"Ahhhh, the infamous one," June smiled to herself. "No, it isn't cliche at all. My boyfriends the one for sure; I'm gonna love until the day I die. I'm gonna ride that until I get four little hims and give them names like Bellamy or Hector or Charles ..."

"How cute," April gushes, stirring her straw. "I want love like that."

"You're a damn catch," June tells her genuinely. "Screw that, you're a whole damn home run. I don't know how sports works but yeah you're at the top."

April laughs, "Thanks, June. I'm glad we're friends, you're the best seriously. Meeting you has dulled the pain of leaving home," She tells her.

June pouts, "Again, you're a literal sweetheart and angel and I'm gonna love you forever and protect your precious soul forever." She declares. "If there was a gun with me, I'd shoot it in the air but heart emoji's would come out instead of bullets."

"I swear the things you come up with." April cackled.

"I'm a genius." June shrugs nonchalantly.

•—•—•—•

JUNE OPENS THE DOOR TO HER HOUSE, A HOOT coming from her mouth that signaled she was home. It was a bad habit she had picked up from hanging out with the pack too damn much by whatever. June unwrapped the scarf around her neck and hung it on the hanger, her jacket and purse too. She went into the living room and saw Bella sitting down, her textbook opened and her jotting down some notes. Every time she saw her sister lately, all she felt was crushing guilt overriding her and she didn't know how long she'd last until she's erupt. She was surprised that Edward hadn't blurted it out, and Bella wasn't screaming at her from the top of her lungs.

"Hey nerd," June greeted. "Guess who's bitch ass made a friend today? Me that's who. Her names April, she's single as hell, if you're down to clown or swing the other way—"

"What are you on about?" Bella shakes her head.

"I don't know, I'm wooed. And a bit gay." June frowned then shrugged. She grabbed the bag of chips Bella had been eating. "Anyways, what you up to—"

"Edward told me he kissed you."

June almost dropped the chips. "What?"

Bella sighed, rubbing her eyes. "He told me that he kissed you and that it was because of this," She pulled out a old looking photo and handed it to her.

June stiffened at the photo of Melanie Capote that June had a copy of in Melanie's journal tucked away in her room. She stiffened. "Bella, look—"

"I know you didn't do anything," Bella says. "He told me how you cursed him out and said you'd have Jacob kill him if he hurt me or didn't tell me."

June nodded, "Yeah, I did."

Bella sighs again.

"So ... you're mad right?" June urged.

"I don't know what I am," Bella laughed ironically. "Really. I don't know how I'm supposed to deal with the fact that Edward was in love with a girl half a century ago that you look exactly alike and then he kissed you because he wanted to see if her spirit lived inside you somehow."

June sighed, "It's fucked up."

"Beyond." Bella agreed. She looked at June. "I told him that I needed some time to think ... I can't just forgive him, can I?"

"No way!" June shook her head. "Make him pay for kissing me, that asshole. Did you ask him what he was gonna do if Melanie's spirit did live in me?"

She nodded, "He said he was just gonna say a proper goodbye to her, apologize for not giving her a chance." She says solemnly. "I guess that's a good reason ..."

"He didn't have to kiss me to do that, a fucking seance or buying an ouija board could've done it," June grumbled, shaking her head. "I've been trying so hard not to tell Jacob, Bella, I should've told you the second it happened but I couldn't think about hurting you again—"

"Again, not your fault." Bella assured. "I believe Edward when he said he started it, I mean, you're in love with Jacob I doubt you'd look anyone else's way."

June brightened, "You think I love him?"

"It's obvious." Bella nodded. "And I know Edward loves me ... he's just so troubled and filled with self hatred. I wish he'd see himself the way I do. It'd be easier if he could read my mind."

"I'm still shook about why he can't."

"He says yours is becoming fuzzier. He reckons it has something to do with you being a Mender ... said Melanie was the same the last few months he knew her." Bella said sadly. She looks at June, "So there's really no reason why you two are like twins?"

June shook her head, "Just that she's my great-aunt from my moms side of course." She said.

Bella nodded, taking in the information. She looked at June and stared, smiling sadly. "We're never gonna catch a break, huh, Watson?"

"Not in the near future, Sherlock." June sat down and pulling her legs to her and rested her chin on her knees.

a/n: didn't want that kiss to take up too much drama anyway,,,Jake still needs to find out about it lmao that'll be something and yeah in tired so srry if this chapter was trash but🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️🤷🏾‍♀️