Page 12 of Various Intentions

“Juno?”

“Go. Away.”

Charles glanced at me and swallowed. “I did go away. And now I’m back.”

Silence. Then, after a moment, “You should have stayed away.”

I tapped Charles’ shoulder and indicated he should step back. I rapped the door hard with my knuckles. “Juno. It’s Nic. I’d like to come in there.”

Silence. Then the soft shuffling of feet sounded, and the doorknob turned slowly. Charles backed up but I stood my ground.

The door cracked open to reveal a disheveled figure who looked somewhat like my friend, Juno. But, since Juno normally didn’t show themself to me without a good deal of makeup and over-styled hair, it was difficult to ascertain.

“What do you want?”

Rude.I folded my arms across my chest and raised an imperious eyebrow. “I want to know why you’re treating Charles this way. The poor man’s about to cry.”

A flicker of emotion crossed Juno’s face, and their eyes began to shift but then moved back to mine. They licked their lips.

“I don’t deserve Charles.”

I rolled my eyes. “Let me come in.”

Juno glared at me for a long moment, the coldness in their eyes giving me a visceral chill. They’d always been able to project emotional energy with astonishing accuracy and potence.

Poor Charles.

Juno sighed and gave me space to enter, but said, “Charles stays out.”

I glanced at the poor man, who was worrying a nail with his teeth.

“Yes, I agree. But don’t go anywhere, Charles.” I returned my gaze to Juno while speaking to the younger man. “It may not seem like it, but Juno needs you.”

Juno narrowed their eyes at me but let me into the room, then closed the door and sank to the floor with their back against it.

It was difficult not to stare. Their haggard appearance was so out-of-character.

They stared at me with a bitterness that surprised me.

“Why did you come?”

“Juno, you’re my friend,” I said. I gestured to the door. “And poor Charles is so upset.”

“He should leave me. I’m no good for him.”

I narrowed my eyes. “What’s going on?”

Juno made a face. “I’m no good, Nic. Don’t you see? I’m no good for anybody.”

“Well, you don’t look yourself, I’ll say that.”

“Nobody understands. Nobody values me,” Juno muttered, avoiding my gaze.

“That’s a little extreme.” I sat down on the floor in front of Juno and leaned forward. “What’s triggering this? Did something happen?”

Juno sighed. “No, Nic. The problem is, somethingdidn’thappen.”

The plot thickened. “Okay. Whatdidn’thappen?”