Juniper Montage stared at Vignette Valencia, quiet and blinking.
Vignette stared back from Juniper's front steps—after almost having dropped the umbrella she was using to shield herself from the rain. It was that much of a shock to see just how much her little cousin had grown in not even a decade's time.
But it still had been too long.
"Hey, Junie," Vignette said, just before instantly regretting using the nickname. As if she had the right, anymore. Even after their Applewood tour, they'd used to talk on the phone all the time, for years, before drifting apart—or, one should say, before Vignette's career and online presence had started to take off.
Slowly but surely, Vignette started declining Juniper's offers to hang out or spend time together, because she logistically couldn't. She'd always been traveling, chasing the next "opportunity" and chance for "exposure."
Eventually, Juniper had stopped calling. Vignette heard from Canter Zoom that she'd started interning in a studio he often used in Canterlot City. At the time, she put it out of sight and mind—good that Juniper finally found something else to take up her time, she'd remembered thinking.
And that was the last either had heard from the other. Until today.
Things were still silent except for the rain. Juniper hadn't replied. Of course she wouldn't. She shouldn't, Vignette thought, berating herself. This was a mistake. This was such a mistake—
"Val?" a wide-eyed Juniper said, slowly. "Is... that really you?"
Vignette stifled a gasp. "Yeah, it's me," she said, looking away. "Sorry I haven't... you know."
She just barely heard Juniper take a step forward, then another. She chanced turning her head forward again, and saw Juniper standing under Vignette's umbrella, right in front of her, with a happy, genuine smile.
The next thing she knew, Juniper's arms were around her, and she heard a shaky whisper in her ear:
"I'm so happy to see you again."
Vignette's mind spun. It'd been years. She'd deserted her! Juniper should be furious! Vignette surely would have been, if a client... no, if a contact...
Wait, no. None of those described Juniper, did they?
As she felt Juniper's warmth against her, she realized that this really did feel like home. Half of her felt even worse about leaving Juniper in the lurch. The other half, however, was simply overjoyed to be here now. "But... why?" Vignette barely managed to utter.
Still smiling, Juniper replied, "Duh. 'Cause I'm more than a fan." Her grin got bigger, showing teeth. "Besides, I knew you couldn't stay away from me forever. I'm irresistible."
That caught Vignette off guard. She laughed, loud and long. "Wow, I really did rub off on you, didn't I?"
Juniper's voice and expression sobered. "A bit, yeah. At least I thought you did." She looked closer, studying Vignette's face. "Okay, but not gonna lie? I've... never seen you without a completely confident smile before. Kinda weirding me out. Isn't that bad for PR?"
Vignette gave a small smile back. "It would be, if I cared." She hesitated, then went for it. "I know this is super #ShortNotice, but do you..." Another hesitation, another deep breath, before nodding towards her yellow sportscar. "...want to catch up?"
Juniper looked lost in thought for several moments, before nodding. "Two conditions. First, let me change my blouse."
"Sure. What's the other?" Vignette asked.
Juniper's toothy grin was back. "Anywhere but Starcolts."