A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Leiken)

[Juniper Birdsong]

Juniper giggled in excitement as she gathered her things into a big duffel bag and changed into her pajamas, practically bouncing around her room as she prepared for the night. Though she wasn't exactly sure it was allowed, she and Lei had planned on meeting up in the Astronomy Club room to do a bit of stargazing, since it was too cold to do so outside this time of the year. The forecast was calling for clear skies, and as she peeked out her window she saw it to be true. After grabbing the last of her things and brushing through her hair one last time so make sure it looked decent, she went out into the hallway and quietly went downstairs, running through the dark as she left the dorms to enter the main building of Hammel.

By the time she got inside she was shivering from the cold, and took a moment to pull out a blanket and wrap it around herself before making her way towards the room. Her bare feet were silent against the floor as she walked, and she wondered if Lei was in the room already. When she got there, though, it was empty, so she went about settling down her things and pulling out a sleeping bag for comfort's sake; hopefully Lei had brought his own, too, although hers was pretty big...

But anyway. She knew she needed to talk to Lei about Amos, too, which she wasn't sure how that would go, but it needed to be done nevertheless. But first, she just wanted to catch up and talk with him, since it had been a while since she had seen him last. She missed him. Since she was alone, she went over to a window and gazed outside, sudden inspiration striking her as she quietly sang,

"When you wish upon a star,
Makes no difference who you are,
Anything your heart desires,
Will come to you."

[Leiken Chu]

Lei sat in the room, beneath a fort of blankets that he had draped over several chairs and boxes so that it formed a little hidey-hole for himself to sit within, and juney of course. There was enough room beneath those blankets that an older man could fit beneath as well, but he only expected for June to be joining him there. Hopefully, she would be the only one. Unlike the last time they'd met up.

Lei was still conflicted, he didn't know whether to avoid her, or to accept her being there with him. Either way it would be fine for now, right? Until he decided what to do with himself. Lei sat in a pair of pajama bottoms and a loosely fitting white t-shirt. It was plain and made of organic material so it was nice and light, breathable even, which he enjoyed. he had not brought a sleeping bag, though he had plenty of blankets and his pillow.

When he heard the singing he made a small sound, peeking out from the blanket fort, looking over to juney. "I didn't know the princess had such a pretty voice." he called over to her.

[Juniper Birdsong]

Juniper hadn't even noticed the fort when she had entered the room - she had just assumed it was something left over from some earlier club meeting. If she had known Lei was already there, she wouldn't have broken into song like she had. So when she heard his voice coming from that corner of the room, she jumped in surprise and whirled around to see him peering out at her from underneath the blankets. "Oh, gosh, Lei, you scared me," she laughed, pressing a hand against her chest. "I didn't realize you were in here yet. She then took notice of what he had said and tilted her head to the side, smiling shyly. "Thank you," she murmured. "Sometimes I just get his with inspiration and have to sing my feelings." Most often, by the use of Disney songs.

Since he had already set up a fort, she grabbed her belongings and dragged them over to it, pulling her duffel and sleeping bag inside. "You built this?" she questioned with awe. "It's so cool! I used to make forts all the time when I was little." She set up her sleeping bag on one side of the fort, shoving her bag into a corner before settling down to turn and look at Lei. A nervous smile crossed her face. "Hey," she breathed. "I haven't seen you in a while. How are you doing?" Her eyes dropped to look at his arms, where the bruising seemed to be healing pretty nicely. "You look good," she added, meaning both health-wise and just in general.

[Leiken Chu]

Lei laughed softly, he couldn't help it, despite how troubled his mind was. The sight of her jumping out of a startled feeling made him grin rather widely. "Sorry about that ~ I just enjoyed your singing too much to interrupt until now." he teased her a little bit. "Oh? So what are you wishing for, princess?" he asked due to the words she had sang.

"yeah. Silly huh? I used to do it alot when i was a kid. it made me feel like i had some super secret club where only awesome people could hang out." he noted as he grinned. "Lame huh?" he noted with a tilt of his head. Though his smile faded to her statement. "ah..a little better. I was ill. " he lied, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth. that he'd been avoiding her completely. "thank you, you do too, as always." he commented with a smile.

[Juniper Birdsong]

Juniper ran a hand through her hair nervously, a similar grin of her own on her face. "Well, I guess since I stumbled upon you singing the other day, it's only fair that you get to hear me, too," she said, remembering that day not too long ago where she had found him out in the snow. At his question, she felt that familiar heat come to her face. "Oh, just wishing for happiness, and peace, and comfort," she replied vaguely. She wasn't going to mention she had mostly been thinking about him. "It's such a beautiful time of the year, I can't think of much else."

"Maybe silly, but also wonderful!" she replied, looking up at the low blanket ceiling. "This is a special treat." She looked over at him as he spoke, her grin unwavering. "Not lame, no!" she laughed. "That's adorable. I used to hang out with my sister in them, back in Oregon, before I came here. This brings back a lot of memories." She saw his smile fade slightly, and hoped she hadn't made him upset by asking. "Oh, no, I'm so sorry to hear that," she said as he replied he had been ill. "Gosh, that's the last thing you needed after what happened," she sighed, placing a comforting hand on his knee. She brightened visibly at his comment, though, and laughed a little as she looked at the floor. "Thank you. Oh!" She remembered something then, and rummaged around her bag until she pulled out the panda hoodie he had let her borrow. "I'm sorry I haven't gotten this back to you yet. Thank you for letting me borrow it. I wore it almost every day," she admitted, giving him a shy glance.

[Leiken Chu]

He had almost forgotten about her hearing him sing. His face growing a bit red as he thought about that particular day. he smiled, however, to as well. "Oh? OH dear. I hope that it did not just jinx your wish because you told me what it was." he teased her a little bit. He nodded a bit to her. "I suppose it is for most people."

Not for him.

"Wonderful? shucks. " he stated with a playful grin. "Special treat? Well i wouldn't go that far, but i'm glad you like it. " he stated with a laugh. More so as she tried to tell him it wasn't lame. "Really? What's it like to have a sister?" he questioned shifting a bit to hug his own pillow to his chest. He smiled softly , though a little sad, as she handed the hoodie back to him. " Thank you, i'm glad you enjoyed it, i did miss it though." He admitted. Pulling it on himself. breathing in the scent the fabric had gained.

[Juniper Birdsong]

"Oh, gosh, I didn't think about that," Juniper laughed, wondering if wishes on stars had the same rules as wishes on birthday candles. When he said 'most people', Juniper couldn't help but think he was putting himself in some other category, and a conversation she had had with her mom came to mind. "You know, I asked my mom about Christmas," she said slowly, her fingers fidgeting with the blanket. "I should get back from her house early enough to be able to do something with you, if you want." She shot him an uncertain look; she needed to mention it to Amos too, so she wasn't sure if that would work or not. She really just wanted all of them to be able to get along. But she also didn't want Lei to be alone on the holiday.

"I love it," she said, nodding decisively. She really did. At his question, she tilted her head, smiling faintly as she thought of Willow. "Oh, it's great," she replied. "Willow is a blessing to me. I don't know what I would do without her in my life." The girl definitely had some hardships that she needed to get through, but Juniper obviously loved her no less. She also wasn't sure what her sister would think of Lei, if she had heard what Amos had about the boy. Juniper shivered lightly, grabbing the blanket from her bag and hugging it around herself again; the floor was a bit chilly. "I'm sorry I didn't get it back to you before now," she apologized, watching as he put it on. "I'd offer to let you borrow something of mine, but I don't think anything would fit," she added with a laugh.

[Leiken Chu]

he laughed softly to her, "I'm sure it works differently with stars. But who knows. " he mentioned with a shrug as he watched her closely as if she were going to float away if he looked away even for a second. "hu..huh?" he stated in surprise. She'd talked to her mom about her holiday plans? Why? "I.. i would like that alot, but you really really don't have to do that." he stated trying to make sure she wasn't doing it just on account of him being alone.

"I'm glad." he noted with a happy expression. "yeah? Willow? Does she live here in town too?" he questioned as he reached toward jun, brushing the strands of her hair back so he could see her face better. Giving her a sweet smile. "That's alright. I wasn't feeling well anyhow i wouldn't have wanted you to get sick too. " he assured her though it was a lie. He grinned slightly, "I don't think it would either." he mused at the thought.

[Juniper Birdsong]

"Yeah, who knows," Juniper repeated, smiling gently. The intensity of his gaze made her feel a little self-conscious and she blushed, looking down into her lap. She looked up again, though, as he spoke, her eyes lighting up at his answer. "No, I want to," she replied. "She's going to do something later in the evening anyway, so she said it was fine if I came back later to do something with my friends.

"Oh, yeah, she goes to Hammel!" she replied, nodding. "She's a couple years younger than me, so you probably haven't met her." Willow was a pretty reclusive anyway. She giggled lightly as he brushed her hair, her heart fluttering at the gentle touch. "I'm sorry you didn't feel good, though. I would've brought you some more soup if I had known." She didn't have any reason to think he was lying; it was a harmless white lie anyway, really.

"Did you want to see if we could find some constellations?" she asked, motioning outside of the fort. "Mr. Urswick has taught us how to find some in the Astronomy Club. I think I might be able to do it without his help." She pulled the blanket wrapped around her with her as she crouched and scooted out of the fort, looking back to see if Lei was following her. "Um, unless you had something else in mind?" she asked with an apologetic look.

[Leiken Chu]

Lei made an embarrassed sound, what could it hurt, right? After all, it wasn't like they were going to suddenly just stop in the middle of a public area to be affectionate, right? Surely she wouldn't keep conffessing to him right now, right? He was so afraid to let her in, he almost wanted to tell her he was still sick, but that would not have worked at all. "Alright then. " he would finally agree. "if that is how it is, i won't feel as guilty, pl-plus i am happy to spend more time with you." he admitted.

"Does she? " he stated in surprise. "I don't think i've met her before, but if I do I will be sure to be nice to her." he stated with a laugh. "that's alright, i didn't want to risk you getting sick too, i was gross looking anyway. Not just beat up or anything, just gross looking, y'know?" he stated with a smile.

"Sure!" he stated with a smile. "Stargazer showed me where a few of them are. It made me really happy." he stated as he took her hand in his own, moving out a little to the telescope, he looked through the lens, searching the skies for those three bright stars. "hmm? i don't. That's why i'm here with you." he told her with a gentle smile.

[Juniper Birdsong]

"Really, Lei, I'm happy she's okay with it. I mean, I see her pretty much every weekend anyway, so it's not like this is my only chance to see her before school stars again." Juniper smiled again, pulling her knees towards her chest so she could rest her head on them. "I'd like to spend more time with you too," she replied quietly; she wouldn't have said so if he hadn't first, but the words sent a nervous but excited tingle through her spine. He just made her so happy.

She laughed lightly, letting one of her hands drift up to play with a curl of her hair. "I'm sure she'll appreciate that," she told him,"Although she's not a very open person, so don't be offended if she's not as... Well, bubbly as I am," she finished, trying to find the right word to describe herself. Sometimes people were amazed at how different she and her sister were. "Ah, I see," she chuckled quietly. "Well, I'm really glad you're better again. And I hope that the rest of you gets all nice and completely healed soon, too," she added, meaning not just his bruises, but hopefully his broken heart, although she knew that would take much more time.

"Stargazer?" she questioned. Apparently, Lei was a guy that gave everyone nicknames, which she found adorable. Being called Princess made her feel like she was in her own Disney movie. "Do you mean Mr. Urswick? Erm, Orion Urswick?" she asked. It was the only person at Hammel she knew of that would probably be given that name. She squeezed his hand lightly as he took hers, following him out to the telescope with a giddy grin on her face. "Oh," she breathed, looking out at the sky as her smile widened. "I'm glad." She looked back at him as he gazed into the telescope, taking advantage of his distraction in trying to find a constellation to just admire the way he looked in the moonlight.

[Leiken Chu]

He smiled a bit toward her, "I suppose that's okay then, but i just don't want you to feel obligated to entertaining me because you know that I have no other plans for this winter break" he stated with a small laugh. Though he shook his head a little, "I'm glad, but i don't know why. I'm sooo boring." he joked with her. Giving her a gentle smile.

"Oh that's okay Princess, noone could be you, you're special." he stated though he blushed faintly while doing so. oh god how lame did that sound? he would think to himself but he shook the thought form his head. "I am, i hope i did not worry you too much, princess." though he couldn't really say his broken heart had healed much more than before. A little, but not much honestly.

"Yeah. Orion, he's wonderful, you know him right? He runs this club." he stated with a fond smile. "If he were younger and not like a big brother to me i might have been attracted to him, but that's weird to think about how it is right now. " he stated as he turned the scope a bit. Finding those stars and giving a happy sound, "yep, that's the one, he's really a great guy. I trust him alot, princess, you should to. He's kind and i don't think he'd ever hurt a fly." he mentioned though he gave a gentle grip to her hand.

"Look! his belt is in the sky." he joked.

[Juniper Birdsong]

Juniper smiled shyly at him, averting her gaze. "No, that's not it. Though you don't seem to think so, I enjoy being around you, and I just think it would be fun." She could even maybe try to set up a small tree in her room, or something. Even if it was just a paper one. And she had already made both he and Amos gifts already, after all. "Pff, you're far from boring," she replied back, giving him a gentle nudge.

She giggled again as he called her special, hiding her face against her knees as she let her hair fall forward around her. "You're so sweet," she told him. "I appreciate your kind words." She was blushing too, which she seemed to do constantly around him. At least it was mostly hidden beneath her freckles. "Oh, I worry too much about everyone," she told him. And she was still worried about both the bruises and his heart, the latter for more than one reason.

"Orion is wonderful," she agreed, going by his first name since the older man wasn't around. "Oh?" she asked with surprise, laughing lightly. "That's adorable. I'll be honest, I used to have a huge crush on Mr. Collins, my chem teacher," she admitted in embarrassment. She tilted her head as he moved the telescope, nodding in agreement. "I do, but then again, I trust a lot of people," she replied quietly. "But if you were to trust anyone, he would definitely be a good choice.

"Oh! Orion's Belt," she beamed, scooting a little closer to take a look. "It's so pretty," she breathed. Stars were incredible to her.

[Leiken Chu]

Lei made an embarrassed sound, looking away somewhat as well, he fidgeted a bit nervously. Why was it she could make him feel so strangely? He couldn't place the feeling he had in his stomach. he wasn't sure if he was going to vomit, scream, or die from the fluttering feeling inside of him. He'd felt lust and desire many times before, but never anyhting quite like this. He wondered if he really was getting sick, "You're so sweet." Lei would finally state aloud. Though he grinned to the nudge, looking back to her.

"Not really. I'm just lame. " he joked with a grin. "I'm always glad to tell you the truth. you're completely adorable and you know it, princess." he teased her. "I know you do. it's part of what makes you who youa re." he assured her.

He would have called the man by his first name if he had been around, it was just how lei knew him, though if the man asked him not to in public he would out of respect that he'd earned at that point. How could lei deny him that much if he asked it. After he'd spent an entire night worrying over his recovery. Tch. that man."Really? I don't think i've met him. hmm.. I kind of had a crush on zander, but he's rather silly so it's hard to take the telepath seriously. Especially when he calls you out on every thought you have." he stated with a smirk and a shake of his ehad. "though ... " he trailed off.

He supposed he could trust Jun enough to tell her. "I want to tell you a secret, it's something to do with why i dislike amos so much for prying into things, but I feel i can trust you to keep it a secret if i ask you to." he stated as he slid his fingers over her hand gently.

"I'm glad you trust Orion. He is worhty of that trust. " he assured her.

"It is. I think it suits him to have that name. He's always looking toward the stars. We have alot in common." he told her.

[Juniper Birdsong]

Juniper wasn't quite sure what to think of his reaction to her words, but she stopped talking after that, since she was afraid she was making him uncomfortable. It was just in her nature to speak her mind, and, well, most of the things on her mind right then involved sort of silly, fluttery things. Maybe he was experiencing what she was feeling, although she couldn't be sure. "I'm honest," she replied with a smile.

"If you're lame, then I'm lame, too," she replied decisively with a laugh. When he spoke again, though, she quieted and bit her lip, settling her head on her knees once more. "I just try to be myself," she replied. If he thought it was adorable, well, she was just a very lucky girl. "And I'm glad you like me the way I am." She normally didn't care about what other people though, but she realized with a jolt that his opinion mattered. A lot.

Juniper wasn't quite as close to Orion as Lei was, but she still respected the man very much. "Oh, well, he's quite a character," she grinned. "Oh, Zander? Umm... Mr. Gray?" She knew most of her teachers by their last names rather than their first. She shivered lightly. "He's cute, but telepaths always make me a little nervous," she admitted. She laughed as he continued. "Especially if he calls you out on your thoughts." That just seemed too invasive for her.

Her expression turned serious for the first time that night as he spoke again, and she went quiet. "I'll never tell anyone if you don't want me to," she promised in a whisper. Her heart lifted - he trusted her. He really did. She squeezed his hand lightly as he brushed it over her own, leaning in a little closer as though they were two kids telling secrets on the playground that they didn't want anyone else to hear.

"It definitely does," she added, nodding. "He's a very wise, kind man."