Silence. The room was suddenly still, the air thick with unspoken emotions.


    "Heh." Shanley''s eyes fluttered open, dark and mesmerizingly deep as they fixed on the girl before him. "How did you know?"


    They say a man who''s only slightly drunk can act his way into your heart. He


    thought his performance had been pretty convincing.


    "I was suspicious when I tried to check your pulse, and I was sure when you started talking,” Juniper replied with a slight nod and a raised eyebrow.


    “I suppose I underestimated you.” Shanley managed a wry, slightly embarrassed smile. He had forgotten she was a miracle healer.


    "Since you saw through my act, I wonder... can you see through other things as well?" Shanley''s gaze was intense, his warm breath fanning across her face in a subtle, teasing caress.


    "See through what?" Juniper''s longshes lifted slowly, her eyes narrowing as she answered with perfect calm. “The fact that you like me?"


    Shanley had been mentally drafting a speech, trying to find the right words that wouldn''t scare her away. He never expected her to be so bold, to call him out so directly. It left him at a loss for words.


    "Yeah,” he finally managed, a resigned sigh escaping his lips. “I thought I was being obvious enough."


    Juniper pursed her lips. He was. Even she, someone who didn''t understand the first thing about "liking" someone, had felt it.


    "I was originally going to wait until after you graduated to talk to you about this properly." Shanley gently brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead, a helpless smile on his face. “But I''m afraid someone else will snatch you away."


    "And who do you think is going to snatch me away?" Juniper''s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her cool facade. "Melvin?"


    At the mention of his name, Shanley didn''t answer, but his brow furrowed in clear distaste.


    "Others might be a possibility, but Melvin..." Juniper blinked, her lips curling slightly. "That''s impossible in this lifetime."


    Shanley''s eyes widened. Was he hearing things? Juniper didn''t like Melvin?


    Wait. What was that first part? Others might be a possibility? Who were these "others"? Besides Melvin, who else was after her?


    “Juniper...” Shanley frowned, about to press her for more, but she cut him off.


    "I hate the smell of smoke and alcohol." She poked his cheek with her finger, her expression a mix of fierce and adorable. "This is thest time. If I ever smell it on you again..."


    "I''ll revoke your permission to like me," she finished, her eyes glinting with a mischievous, upward flick.


    “So, that means I currently have permission?" Shanley''s face felt hot as he stared at her, his eyes unwavering.


    "You should also spend some time working on your physical fitness Juniper said, changing the subject Her voice was husky. "Oh, and especially your marksmanship."


    "What?" Shanley blinked, thrown by the sudden shift. Liking her was starting to


    sound like preparing for battle.


    "You''ll find outter," she said with a


    né


    yawn. "My elder peers from the monare formidable. You can talk to me about liking'' me,after you can beat them in a fight


    Elder peers from the monastery? Shanley remembered she had lived in a monastery for many years. He assumed she was talking about the people there.


    “Alright. I''ll do my best,” he said softly. “And I''ll try to make sure they go easy on me."


    Anyone the girl respected must care for her deeply. If it meant winning her over, taking a beating was a small price to pay.