should she have been concerned when she saw the text from june? in all hindsight, yes, definitely, no doubt about it. but given the recent passing of her father and the fact that eliza knew first hand how that felt, she understood what her friend was going through. it was hard, something that’s almost impossible to go through alone. the naivety of eliza got the best of her, assuming that juniper had just needed someone to talk to, friend to friend. the tone of the message was so uncharacteristic for the red head, who usually never let her facade slip, it was enough to cause worry but not raise suspicion.
eliza walked into the small restaurant juniper had asked they meet at, looking around for the familiar red hue of her hair. without finding her, she took a seat of her own by a table ordering a water while she waited. the bell on the door alerted her someone else had walked in, and judging from the click of the shoes she was positive it was her friend. the girl was resilient, put together, never looked anything less than perfect, even when on the inside she felt the opposite.
she greeted her with a small, polite smile, “i don’t think i’ve been here before, the place is cute.”
it was time juniper owned up to her mistakes, even if this mistake was the second biggest one in her life ( the first being not calling home that dreadful night ). perhaps it was the death in her family, the fact that death seemed to haunt her every second she was conscious that made her realize she couldn’t live with the secret forever. eliza deserved to know the truth, even if it would only add to both of their pains.
she had chosen a restaurant off campus, the middle of the day--not out of fear, but with some hopes that maybe the mass of people at the lunch rush would keep eliza from completely falling apart. she had dressed like normal, but with a change in color--a black top and jeans, black kitten heels, black nails. she was really embracing the grieving daughter look, the only drop of her signature color being in her hair. there was no use in lipstick armor anymore, leaving the ruby shade in her dorm and instead embracing a nude color. ‘something eliza would pick out’ she thought as she walked into the restaurant and met her friend at the table.
“i figured you would like it.” she smiled back, though it was forced. a real smile was a figment of juniper’s imagination at this point. sitting across from eliza she took a menu, getting comfortable. ‘get through your meal, crying can come later.' she thought, chewing the inside of her lip.
