#deanimation

It only took a few minutes for Juniper to find Rylan in all the chaos.

It would have been a greater testament of their bond if it wasn’t so obvious. Slipping away from all the colorful flashing lights, apart from the festive popping and cheering masses and terrible, terrible catchy dance tunes, to have a private audience with the near midnight sky and the roaring sea?

Yes, that sounded like her Rylan.

Sure enough, she found them out on the terrace, silhouetted by the house’s glow behind them. They sat on the side railing silently, back to the party roaring behind the two. The floor rumbled in unison with the distant speaker’s boosted bass as Juniper called out.

“You know, if you fall off that thing, I’m not going to dive for you.”

Rylan didn’t reply for a few moments, as Juniper expected. They didn’t turn their attention from the ocean as they called back. Quieter, softer, but still cutting through the air.

“I have a little more balance than do something like that.”

(Contrary to popular belief, Juniper would dive for them if they fell. Always. After all, she’s always falling for Rylan. Only fair, right?)

The stars seem to wrap themselves in surrounding dark clouds as they hid from mortal view, the moon shining a brilliant white in their place. A bit disappointing for what was supposed to be one of the most important days of the year, decade even, but it didn’t look like Rylan minded much. Juniper edged over to the terrace railings and carefully hiked her legs over to join them. 

“Did you even join the party at all?” Juniper asked, a bit taunting in her voice.

“Mmmmm...I think I went down around ten for some punch and talked to a couple people for a few minutes. Then I found a dog and we hung out for a while before coming up here.”

“Ah, of course.”

Rylan silently passed her a small stick, almost offhandedly, which Juniper took with a bit of a confused chuckle. She held it up above her head to observe in the party lights.

“Huh, where’d you get sparklers from?” She pulled it back in front of her, squinting at it in the dark. “I mean, I guess it’s appropriate to ring in the new year with, eh?”

“Found them while looking for last minute gifts.” They shrugged, holding up an identical stick in her other hand. “Thought you might think it’s fun.”

Juniper closed her eyes and muttered a couple igniting words over the stick, then snapped her fingers. The sparkler came to life, first in fire, then quickly giving away to a mini explosion of color, excited sparks cackling and fluttering off somewhere into the dark below. 

“Hey! There we go!” Juniper cheered as she held the stick at arms length to admire the colored flames, then tipped it towards Rylan’s own stick to light it as well.

“If stuff like that was on the exam, I would have passed with...flying colors.”

She elbowed Rylan with a couple “eh? Eh?”s, to which she only received rolled eyes.

“How did your exam go, by the way?” Rylan asked, once Juniper had settled.

“How did your conversation with your dad go?” Juniper shot back.

They let out a little huff, the closest to a laugh Juniper was going to get. A little sardonic smile played on their lips as they replied, “Fair.” 

Juniper opened her arms out to the forests and beaches below them, gaze set to the skyline.

“Isn’t it just insane to imagine that a whole decade is ending today?” She lowered her arms a little as she looked toward Rylan, who watched her with an intense gaze. “We’re going into completely new territory in just a few minutes.”

“The new decade doesn’t really start until 2021. It’s 2011 to 2020.” They commented in return. Juniper sticked an accusing finger at them.

“Hey, don’t try to ruin my fun with your logic! A decade can be nine years if I say it is.” Rylan let out another amused huff as they rolled their eyes and turned back to the ever rolling sea waves.

The wind picked up suddenly, sending Juniper into involuntary shivers. She knew Rylan had to be frigid by now, simply clad in their usual button up and dress pants and no jacket in sight, but they show no signs of effect from the cold. She already knew from past experience that any attempts to give Rylan her jacket would be quickly and stubbornly rebuffed.

“Got any New Year’s resolutions?” She ventured instead. 

Rylan shook their head. “You?”

“You know I’m always trying to do better in school. Maybe this year’ll finally be the year I get an A in one of my classes. Or a B. Or anything above just barely passing.”

“I know you will. You do anything you put your mind to, really.”

The two sat quietly for a bit, simply watching the sparklers work their way down the stick. Juniper stole a couple looks at Rylan, though she was sure they weren’t as subtle as she was trying to make them. She nearly missed Rylan’s words as they spoke again.

“I don’t need much, this upcoming year.” They murmured. “The same as usual. A more successful year with my father, another good year at work.”

They turned eyes to Juniper, with a hint of a smile. A genuine smile. “Another year with you.”

Distantly, she could hear chanting in the background. Numbers, she’s sure, counting down into the new year. All she was aware of was just how close they were and how much brighter Rylan’s eyes seemed in the dying sparkler’s light. “I want another year with you too.”

Rylan cups her face, gently, looking straight into her eyes. She wasn’t sure who leaned in first, only how time seemed to stand still for just a second as she closed her eyes.

The fireworks went off a little early behind them--must have hit one a little faster than expected--but it was all mere background as they finally met in the middle for a gentle kiss.

When she pulls back, Rylan’s smiling, a real, full smile, and they do the same little huffs as they thumb over Juniper’s cheek. She can’t see herself, but she’s laughing and grinning so hard in giddy excitement that she could make a pretty good guess that she looks pretty happy in return.