Chapter One - June

Chapter One

June

It was freezing within her room. She clung to her pillow as her blankets were wrapped tightly around her. Ignoring the voices echoing through her home, she closed her eyes again and tried to stay warm.

“JUNE!”

She merely rolled her eyes as she threw the pillow off of her bed and laid there helplessly. Her mother was yelling for her to deal with her brother. What a nightmare. June rolled out of her bed, getting dressed and quickly fixing her hair before heading downstairs to see the nightmare that laid before her.

Her mother’s bright white eyes flashed, meeting her own. The color often frightened most people, even June, when she was younger at least. But now? It seemed normal for her mother, suited her even. June then glanced at her brother whose bright red eyes flickered between the two of them. Young and wild.. And yet, fierce 

June began to find the words she needed to speak again, “Really, Dev?” She crossed her arms as she looked down at him and his uneaten bowl of food. “Breakfast is really important, and you know it. Why give Mama such a hard time?” She hummed and watched as the slight guilt flashed across his face.

“But June.. It’s gross.” Devon leaned back in his chair, making a face. June merely laughed slightly. “It’s Mama’s cooking, it can’t be gross. And you know it.” Her younger brother leaned back in his chair before finally sighing and taking a bite of the food. June glanced up at her mother who hid her small smile on her face. 

She stepped away from the table, walking towards the front door and grabbing her coat from the closet.

“You know.. You don’t have to stay here.” Her mother’s voice was soft and low. She didn’t want Devon to overhear is what she assumed. June shrugged her coat on, over her shoulders. It was her father’s coat before hers. It was one of the things she had kept after he had passed. “I know.” Was all that June could muster up. Because she did know. 

“It’s just that..” She hesitated. June turned her head slightly, feeling her mother’s gaze on her from behind. “I have to go now, I’ll be back home later tonight,” June left before she could hear her mother’s response. She didn’t want her advice right now. Even though she probably needed it.

June made her usual routine, first stopping at the coffee shop downtown. Her hometown was so small that she could practically walk everywhere. Part of the reason why she loved it so much.

She entered the coffee shop and jumped when she felt someone tap her shoulder. June turned around to see Mrs. Barnaby smiling up at her.

“Darling! You’ve finally come back to hear our gossip! It’s been so long, rumor is that you’ve been all kooked-up at home. We’re glad to finally see you!” Her voice sounded like a smoker’s. But it was oddly high-pitched, like a child. June mustered as much of a polite smile as she could.

“Yes, Mrs. Barnaby, I simply wanted some tea before heading out..” June spoke calmly. 

“Heading out?!” Mrs. Barnaby practically shouted. June’s polite smile faltered as everyone in the coffee-shop had realized that she was there. And for a short moment. The whole shop had turned silent. Then the next, people were surrounding her, trying to get her attention and speaking to her.

“June!” Everyone around her froze as a barista called her name for her order. June took the opportunity to push through the crowd and grab her tea. Then she made her escape by going through the side-door rather than the front door. The only person who followed her out was Mrs. Barnaby.

“June! You really should stop by the town more often. You’re an esteemed musician! Our town’s pride and joy! We would love for you to even perform for us sometime!” Mrs. Barnaby shouted as June paused across the street from the coffee-shop. Glancing at the people who watched her through the window. Even the barista who made her tea.

“I’m a very busy person, Mrs. Barnaby-” She began to say but she was cut off. “Yeah, yeah- We know that. You tell us constantly. But don’t forget that we’re the ones that watched you grow up. You at least owe it to us for that.” June didn’t even know what to reply as Mrs. Barnaby scolded her. Perhaps her mother was trying to warn her of this. Of that esteemed role that June had to play for her small town. The only thing that doesn’t make them seem as small as they truly are.

She was their trophy. And they had to make sure that she would be on display, for all to see. Like the Santa Clauses in malls. But June wanted much more than that. Besides it’s not like any of them knew. She hadn’t been able to even write a new song. June could never find the inspiration for it. Embarrassing as it was, to be a famous musician and not be able to write a simple song? She couldn’t let them know. She had to remain their shiny perfect trophy. They would have to cope with some of her old songs.