Death isn't an option

Chapter One “New beginning” Juniper POV “Juniper! Wake up and give me attention!” My best friends voice pulls me out of the crazy dream I’ve been having the last seven nights in a row. It’s of a boy like a Greek god with eyes so blue you can get lost in them. I’m taking a hike in the forest when I see him in front of me, kneeling, holding a bloodred and black diamond wedding ring. “JUNIPER!” I open one eye and smack the general direction of Ian, my best friend and most likely future husband. We have been best friends for about six years. We’re both 17, seniors, and new in town. Five years ago my parents, little sister, and I were on our way to see some cousins when a semi truck took their lives from me. I was the only one who made it out. I was lucky enough for Ian’s family to take me in. They haven’t adopted me, however, because they know that Ian and I will likely get married in the future and don’t want to get in the way of that. Ian is not my boyfriend, he is my best friend. We’re just so close that I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone other than him. “Fine. You don’t want chocolate chip pancakes on your first day at a new school? Works for me.” He tells me. I shoot out of bed instantly, rolling my ankle on my way to the bathroom. Ian’s father owns an incredibly successful stock company, and he just got relocated to Wyoming, of all places. Naturally he bought a mansion, because he’s f*****g rich, and moved his family here. Alex, Ian’s father, and Melissa, Ian’s mother, insist on truly treating me like a daughter. They actually really pushed for adopting me until Ian talked to them and explained. We’re actually so close that I call them mom and dad. We all moved here about a week ago in preparation for Ian and I to start at a new school, Park high. After pulling on a white off the sleeves simple dress with a black leather jacket and white flats to match, I head downstairs for breakfast. Checking my phone I see about ten texts from friends back home- Utah. “Hey girlie! How are you?” “Wishing you the best of luck today at school babe!” “I miss you, honey. This year wont be the same without you.” “We’re all thinking of you!” The list of comforting and encouraging texts go on and on from all of my best friends. I shoot back replies to everyone before putting my phone in my backpack and taking a seat in the dining room. Ian is already there, scrolling through memes. I take out Of Mice and Men by Steinbeck and start reading. A couple minutes later our butler comes by and sets food in front of us. “Thanks Andrew” Ian and I say in unison, before looking at each other and laughing about how in sync we are. “Where are Mom and dad?” I ask Ian. “They already left for work.” He says through a mouth full of pancakes. We both finish up breakfast quickly and jump in our cars. We both have our dream cars, the same car- BMW M6- just in different colors. Mine is in a dark blue, and Ian got his wrapped in an electric green. He’s an eccentric bastard. It’s about a fifteen minute drive to school, so we arrive at the same time, and head to the counseling office for our schedule. All of our classes are coincidentally the same, and we walk to first period hand in hand. Again, let me reiterate, we are not dating. Ian is actually gay, but again we’re so close that we hold hands and occasionally peck each other on the lips as a show of affection. Our first period is English, and we both introduce ourselves to the beaming teacher before taking seats. Ian and I have made a pact to stick together and avoid people under all conditions, with the unlikely exception that we actually find a good friend group. We also have excellent social skills and know how to make a teacher love us right off of the bat. We take seats in the second to last row, side by side, before pulling out our textbooks. Our teacher starts the lesson and doesn’t pay much mind to the occasional student shuffling in. All the boys seem to be staring at me, which isn’t uncommon but is uncomfortable. Ian tells me that I’m super hot, and I tell him that he’s full of s**t. In middle school I got bullied by two girls, and they made me feel horrible about my body. I eventually got over it, but then my parents death caused me to spiral into a state of depression, anxiety, and anorexia. I’ve always been a size two, but I only saw a fat girl in the mirror so I stopped eating until I was a size zero. I would also cut my wrists and actually attempted suicide twice. I still have scars on my left arm, and do my best to not draw attention to them. Thankfully Ian’s parents got me help, and I’m much better now. I still struggle with the occasional panic attack, but always have prescribed pills on me that will help me calm down. About ten minutes into class a student walks in. Shit. He’s the one in my dreams.