The goofballs were very much in love.

And Juniper was alone.

Their parents had bought them a house to live in, and then moved into one down the street themselves, saying that they needed to be away from kids now.

They were happy, too.

Juniper was alone.

She read

Got a job as a sing-o-gram and spent her evenings trying to boost her popularity and make some tips.

And hung out with her brothers a lot.

She saw Sebastian as a second brother, now. He was part of the family.

Sometimes she wondered if she should be here and living with them, but every time she thought about leaving, they convinced her to stay. They weren’t ready to be on their own just yet. They were as afraid of the real world as she was.

Fortunately, work was going well. And it kept her busy.

She was still sad, though. She often thought of Giuseppe, and of Bridgeport, and she wondered if she;d made the right decision.

She hadn’t heard anything from him. Maybe he was seeing someone new?

Someone gorgeous and talented and famous, probably. Knowing Bridgeport. Knowing how handsome and lovely he was. Maybe it would be some famous actress and they;d be the power couple of the city? She sometimes bought those silly celebrity gossip magazines just in case she saw a glimpse of him. Pathetic, right?

“I should move back to Bridgeport.” She told her brothers one day.

“I really enjoy Starlight Shores!” she’d gush the next.

She liked Starlight Shores, but she pined for Giuseppe.

She tried dating. She dated a lot of people, but never promised anything or did anything. She was keeping her options open. She’d find a person who made her feel the same spark Giuseppe did.

She had to.

Right?

Evan and Sebastian got engaged, though! Finally!

And she got a little puppy called Ginger. Things were getting better. She was moving on with her life.

Sort of.

She was having fun at festivals!

Seeing her silly mum.

Working

Working some more

And working even more.

Until the days had passed, and suddenly, it was time for Evan and Sebastian to get married.

The ceremony was beautiful. She cried a lot.

They were so happy! And so…leaving!

She’d be all alone in this big house for some reason. Evan and Seb needed the space after all, because it wasn’t just them anymore.

They adopted a little girl! She could be cool aunt Juniper, the singer!

She would miss them. But they wouldn’t be too far. Just across the road. But still!

That night, she tried to settle down in her newly empty home. But everything was so…quiet. The walls seemed to echo. Every sound she made sounded deafening.

She was surprised to hear the doorbell very late. She hoped it wasn’t anybody who wanted something from her, she was just so tired.

She opened the door, and she was stunned.

“Giu!”

“What are you doing here?” Juniper asked.

“Well, I thought I’d come and visit you. See how you’ve been, and…oh, Junie.” He trailed off.

“How could I live in a world without you in it?”