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“Yeah we knew you were coming,” She stood grabbing her electronic cigarette cartridge and walked to the door. “I’m Whitney,” She didn’t look up. In one quick motion she opened the door after scanning her hand on the black pad above the handle. She stepped inside and turned to let June pass, then closed the door. She stepped into the open living room, there was a television in front of the window over the porch and parallel to a dark purple sectional in the center of the room. The back wall had a U shaped kitchen with a dining room next to it separated by a sliding glass door. “Hey, Shianne!” Whitney startled June with her voice, “She’s here.”
A door opened and closed from an unknown location to June, and a blonde, curvy girl walked out from the hallway next to the front door.
“Hi, I’m Shianne.” She smiled and stretched out her hand towards Juniper.
“I’m Juniper.” She responded to her reach.
“Juniper?” Whitney scoffed, “Margaret is losing her damn mind, no offense. I am not calling youJuniper.” She added flare to the sound of the name.
“Oh, well she originally chose Joan, and I denied that one, we decided I could always shorten Juniper to June.”
“June is fine.” Whitney entered the kitchen.
“Oh, let me give you the tour,” Shianne grabbed June’s bag. “This is the living room, that’s the kitchen.” She gestured in that direction without moving a foot. “The laundry room is tucked back there as well. The backyard is through that door and down here,” She faced down the hall, “That’s Brittanya’s room” She pointed to the first left door “My room,” pointing to the door across the hall, “Whitney’s room” the second left door “And your room,” Across from Whitney’s room. She pushed the door open and set the bag on the bed. “We also share a bathroom,” Shianne pointed a fifth time at the door inside my room. “Well, I’ll let you settle in.” She turned on her heel and almost closed the door behind her.
June sat on the full mattress dressed with sheets and a comforter. She stared at herself in the mirror on the long dresser across from the bed. Her dark hair was frizzy from the humidity and her blue eyes brightened by the redness under them, she looked tired even to herself. ‘I don’t know if I should have done this.’ She started to feel alone. June didn’t know if she wanted to continue sewing. The only reason she was good at it was because shehadto be good at it to survive. Ben would have let her suffer if he wanted to. She never understood how someone could claim to love someone so much while watching them struggle.
June emptied her bag barely filling one drawer, but spaced it out to be more organized, then placed her oversized bag in her closet next to her shoes. Her phone dinged and she picked it up, surprised to get a notification. It was her calendar ‘Work: Tomorrow at 9am’ followed by an address. It dinged a different note and a bubble popped up.
Amy ‘Don’t forget to look in your packet! It’s going to help you get situated and around town! Xo Amy. PS. Call me if you need me.’
She responded with a thank you and replaced the phone in her hand with the packet.
‘Welcome to this island! We, The Council, hope to satisfy all your daily needs, this is not a vacation but a new life we built with a traditional lifestyle. First to Second Street are the senior living residents, Third to Seventh Street are the family residents, Eighth to Tenth Street are the young adult and single residents. Anything south is farmland. The shops in every neighborhood are free to visit to everyone. All the businesses are on F street, The Center and Main Road. We have the important necessities, i.e. hospital, police station, fire department and town hall in the very center on Fifth and F street. All other business locations you will have a map application on your phone to find. All things you need can be purchased at the Supply Store. The closest one to you is on Ninth and F street.
You will start work at Sixth Street Clothing Company on January twenty fourth, at nine AM until three PM. Your supervisor is Golden Huffman,” She flipped through the few pages landing on the last one, “Any reason to break the major rules will cause action to be judged in front of The Council. Punishment can be as severe as being injected with ML825 and removed from the island immediately. Keep in touch. Margaret Mars.’ June questioned what ML825 was, she wasn’t worried so much about the rules, her ‘old’ life was strict and she was good at keeping to herself and in line.
A knock came through her door followed by a cheery new voice, “Hello?”
“Um, come in?” Juniper placed the packet on the nightstand as a petite woman opened the door. Her hair was rich like honey and her skin tone was a close second.
“Hi. I hope I am not bothering you. I just wanted to introduce myself to you, I’m Brittanya.”
“You’re okay, it’s nice to meet you.” June stood and placed her hand out.
She swatted it away, “Get that hand out of here, welcome to our home,” Brittanya wrapped her arms around June and then pulled away, “I want to take you out with us tomorrow, it’s girls night! Kind of, more like a community night, but we like to make it a girls thing.”
“Oh, no. I don’t want to intrude.” She pointed her palms at her in protest.
“Stop it. You’re part of this house now, don’t even argue with me. Come eat dinner, I know you’re starving.”
Chapter Three
January Twenty Four
Juniper
“How did you sleep last night?” Brittanya started the car but no noise was made as it rolled out of the driveway.
“Alright.” June didn’t feel like explaining what it’s like to justify your actions to yourself when you didn’t need to. When someone can’t hurt you anymore, they still haunt you, they still keep you up at night.
“Oh good. How exciting is this?” Brittanya asked as she pulled out of the driveway.
“Um,” June sat with her hands balled in her lap, “I guess.” Being in a new environment, alone, wasn’t a problem, she was used to being uncomfortable and alone. June was experiencing a glimmer of optimism. This was new and it fought with her dark thoughts. “What happened to your old roommate?”
“What do you mean?” Brittanya’s long hair vibrated against the seat due to her window being down.
“Like, didn’t someone live in that room before me?”
