Decisions Decisions - Part 3
Juniper took a long breath, dreading her day. It wouldn't be bad... it would be terrible. This is what she was afraid of. Not saying no to males, that wasn't that bad, but choosing one over the other. Today would be the first. Today was the two-on-one. And today was what Juniper had been dreading from day one.
"Take a seat." Neo gestured to the chair across the desk, while taking a seat at his own.
"Okay..." Grey lowered himself into the chair and leaned back, appearing at ease while not quite relaxing. "What's up, Neo?"
"Three questions." The host got right to the point. He knew there was no point in making the conversation fancy - that wasn't how Grey talked. At least not with anyone other than Juniper. "Why did you apply to the show, what will you do if Juniper picks you, and what will you do if she doesn't?"
"Right." Nodding, the wildclaw began to answer. "I applied because I had some time off and I thought it might be fun, maybe I'd meet some interesting dragons, and I have. So that's good. Plus, I mean, Juniper's fantastic. If she picks me, honestly, I'll be thrilled. It's not about winning anymore. It's about her. I'm falling for her. And I just don't know if she feels the same for me... but if she doesn't pick me... I guess I'll figure something out. Something else will come along, right? Another adventure? Something fun? I just know that - regardless of whether or not Juni chooses me - I'm not done having adventures. The best is yet to come."
Neo smiled. "Good answers."
"Yup. Are we done?"
"Totally. Have a good day, Grey."
"Same to you."
"Right." Neo glanced around the room. He had gathered all six remaining bachelors together. "So, you all know how this next little while is going to work. Two-on-one, one of you on the two-on-one will get eliminated right then and there, and then the rest of you, five plus Juniper, will all go on a group date. After that, it'll be a Rose Ceremony, which will cut us down to our final four. Kapeesh?"
"KAPEESH!" Yelled out Grey and Xav, who grinned and high-fived each other. Blitz rolled his eyes.
"Anyways, I'm about to send two of you out on the two-on-one with Juniper." The host opened an envelope and took a breath before reading off the names. "Alright. Scout and Jaxon, you're going to be going with Juniper."
Everyone stared as the two dragons left the mansion, not sure which one would come back and which one they wouldn't see again.
"Okay. We can do this. This can be fun, it doesn't have to be morbid. We can have a good time. Right?" Juniper gazed at Scout and Jaxon, eyes full of sorrow. "I'm so sorry, I didn't pick you two. I don't get a say on who is in the two on one. I just have to roll with it. This is one they don't let me pick."
Jaxon smiled, placing a claw on Juniper's arm. "It's okay, Juni. This isn't your fault. Plus, we get to hang out with you. That's pretty dang awesome. You're a lot of fun."
"Yeah!" Scout stepped closer as well, a soft grin on his face. "We're going to have a great time. And take some of your own advice."
"Which would be?"
"Have fun!"
"Exactly!"
As it turned out, the date was fun. The trio wound up going for ice cream and then finding a cliff to sit on, watching the waves crash into the water below. Juniper took another bite of her tiger tiger cone and smiled. "This. This right here. I somehow have to make this awful decision, but this right here, right now... I wish all of life could be like this."
Jaxon smiled and flopped back, setting his ice cream bowl aside. "Yeah. That would be great. The dream."
"Wouldn't it?" Scout sighed as he stared at the rocks. "That sounds amazing. I guess we'll all get happiness somehow, no matter what happens now."
"I suppose."
They sat in silence for a while, before Juniper turned to the two Bachelors. "I can't. I can't do this. Stretch it out and have a good time with both of you. I love you both, you're fantastic dragons, but I need a minute and then I need to make a decision."
"Of course."
"Whatever you need to do, Juni, that's what we'll support."
After pacing for a few minutes, Juniper pulled Jaxon aside. "Tell me why I should pick you."
"What?"
"Tell me why I should pick you. Give me a reason."
The guardian frowned. "Juninper, I don't think this is-"
"Just do it."
"Okay, take a breath, sweetheart. You need to stay calm. Alright. Why you should pick me... well, I'm funny, and good at cooking - obviously - and I swear I'll always take care of you and fight to protect you and do everything I can to make you happy. When it boils down to it, I have strong feelings for you, and I want to see where those will go, if given the opportunity."
Juniper nodded, offering a forced smile before turning to walk away.
"Why should I choose you, Scout?"
"Excuse me?" The skydancer's head popped up, his brow furrowed.
"Why should you stay over Jaxon? Give me a reason."
"Juni, I-"
"Don't fight me on this!" Her voice cracked as tears threatened the edges of her purple eyes. "Just tell me."
"I... I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because. I want to stay. I want to be with you. You're amazing. But he deserves this just as much as I do. Maybe more. I don't know. But, Juniper, we can't make this decision for you. As much as I hate to put this on you, it's your job. And it sucks, I get that, but I can't do anything about that. I'm so sorry, you have to beleive me on that, but I won't make this decision for you. That's not my place."
Without a word, Juniper walked away.
Fifteen minutes later, the spiral trudged back to the bachelors, who had been chatting softly. She had tears on her cheeks, and looked like she was fighting more off. "I hate this. I hate this I hate this I hate this. But I don't have a choice. I have to send one of you home."
"It's okay, Juniper." Jaxon and Scout each gave her a big hug.
"You've got this."
"Okay." The Bachelorette sniffled softly. "Okay. Um, the dragon I'm sending home is... Jaxon." A few tears ran down her cheeks. "Jaxon, I'm so sorry, I really don't want to see you go yet, but I..."
"You're making the choice that's right for you." Jaxon nodded. "I understand."
"Please don't be mad."
"How could I be mad? Juniper, I've had the chance to feel emotions that I haven't felt in years. This gives me hope that I may someday find a mate, even if that isn't with you." He planted a soft kiss on her cheek, eyes full of love. "This has been an amazing experience. I wish you well, and I hope you find the right dragon for you."
Back at the mansion, Juniper sat on her bed, face in her claws. This had been the hardest day of the show so far. And eliminations were only going to get harder from here on out. She just hoped she would make the right choice at the end of it all.
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Shadowember
Alright!! That makes 5. You guys have NO IDEA how hard it was to write this chapter. I've been working on this for like three hours....writing and re-writing and editing and pacing and drinking like 294629 cups of tea. It was rough. But, now the two-on-one is over, and we can get onto the fun of a group date next episode! :D (Because the rose ceremony is getting shorter, I may wind up tacking it on to the end of the next episode...depends on how long the group date runs!)
Hope you all had a good weekend, and I'll talk to you soon! Oh! And don't forget to sign up for the 25 Days of Lore Advent Raffle! :D Link in my signature! :D <3