"Who''d want to be that close to him?"


    "Who''d want to be that close to her?"


    At Dolce''s teasing, Qadir and Queenie spoke at the exact same time, their voices dripping with disdain.


    "Haha, you two are in sync," Dolce remarked, her eyes darting between them with amusement.


    "No, we''re not!"


    "No, we''re not!"


    They both turned their heads away, once again speaking in perfect, mortifying unison.


    “Hahaha...” Dolce couldn''t hold it in any longer and burst outughing.


    "What''s so funny?!"


    "What''s so funny?!"


    After they said it again, they stared at each other in disbelief, a hint of guilt in their eyes. What was going on? How had they suddenly be so synchronized?


    "Alright, alright,” Dolce said, stepping in to break the tension, trying to stifle herughter. “Queenie was just joking earlier. Qadir, you''ll definitely find a wife. And Queenie, you''ll find your soulmate. When the timees, we can be each other''s bridesmaids and groomsmen."


    Her words were met with silence. A few secondster, Qadir and Queenie awkwardly boarded separate buses.


    Dolce stood there, confused. She thought her well-wishes were nice. Why did they get angry?


    Back in the restaurant, Juniper''s head felt heavier and heavier. She was so sleepy. As she drifted in a daze, she saw the man she''d been waiting for walking toward


    her.


    "Have you been waiting long?" Shanley handed his coat to Felton and gently took Juniper''s hand soft smile on his face Ready to go. home?"


    "Mhm," Juniper mumbled, swaying as she stood up. She leaned in close to Shanley''s face and blinked her clear, beautiful eyes.


    "What are you looking at?" Shanley touched his own face, confused. "Is there something on me?"


    "Yeah," Juniper nodded seriously. "There was a butterfly, but it just flew away."


    A butterfly? Shanley''s frown deepened. He turned to his men. “Was there a butterfly?"


    "Huh?" Felton and Flint exchanged nces and shook their heads. They hadn''t even seen a mosquito.


    “Did you drink?” Shanley asked, noticing how unsteady she was. His gaze swept over the table, but he only saw soft drinks, no alcohol.


    "Nope," Juniper yawned and snuggled into his arms, nuzzling her nose against his chest. "Don''t move so much. I''m dizzy."


    "Okay."


    Assuming she was just tired, Shanley carefully helped her into the car.


    On the way back, Juniper rested


    woozily in Shanley''s arms, her eyes fixed on the shing neon lights outside Suddenly, she saw the city skyline begin to warp. The skyscrapers transformed into


    colorful mushrooms, which giggled and chattered at her.


    1.n


    Juniper shook her head, and the mushrooms vanished, reced by a sky full of bubbles and tiny, adorable sprites. Then she saw her own reflection in the window had turned into a yellow milkshake-herfavorite, mango-vored.


    “Juniper, today you—” Shanley began, worried by her strange behavior.


    “Shh!” she interrupted, putting a finger to her lips.


    Juniper lifted her head, her gaze hazy as she leaned closer to Shanley. Her rosy lips parted slowly. "Do you want to drink a milkshake?"


    "What?" Shanley froze, his body tense with her so close. He had no idea what she was talking about. Why was she suddenly offering him a milkshake?


    "It''s mango-vored," Juniper whispered, moving even closer, her tone urgent. "Have a taste, go on."