Strawberries & Cigarettes

Chapter 8

TW: comments/acts of internalized homophobia.

This is a safe place for everyone, so I want to make sure that everyone feels comfortable and learns that this topic is completely valid to feel. Do not pressure yourself to come to terms with who you are.

Figuring out who you are is a journey, and each journey is different for others! Do not compare yourself or beat yourself up, you are absolutely valid and should be proud of yourself for even fighting the complex battle of it!!

For the sake of this chapter and this lovely month of June, happy pride month, my angels <3

And remember, if this topic is triggering for you, you're entitled to skip over the parts that contain it.

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April 04, 2015

Jasmine and Leilani have finally civilized with each other, no mumbles of insults or harsh glares exchanged between them.

Their dislike spectrum of each other probably stands on neutral in this current moment.

And their unclear friendship represents a sibling bond who don't get along even if their lives depended on it.

With more arguments flaring than acting normal as if they weren't at each other's throat about ten minutes ago.

Or maybe there's no clear friendship present at all.

The group of four ordered dessert and occasional short chats between all of them occur while they wait for their platters.

Aurora plays with the blue butterfly jewel on her gold bracelet, her eyes not making any contact with anyone else apart from Spencer.

Spencer's eyes are glued to his phone, unbothered with the past circumstance.

Leilani remains quiet, that's all she ever does when she's involved in something that doesn't interest her.

And Jasmine maintains her stare on Aurora, debating whether or not to cut the tense atmosphere and dissolve it into pieces.

"Which one out of Louis' friends do you guys think is the hottest? We have Zayn, Liam, Harry, Niall, and the bitchass, Louis."

Jasmine twirls the red straw inside of her fizzy drink with her index finger, placing her elbow on the table to rest her cheek against her palm.

"I can't seem to choose..." she muses, lifting her eyebrows at the others. "Nevermind, I made my mind up, It's Zayn."

Aurora glances over at Jasmine with wide eyes, who gives her a too sweet of a smile.

This won't end well.

"I think it's Louis," Leilani speaks up, her voice dripping in a visible bitter tone.

"Everyone knows that," Jasmine mutters under her breath, a dragged-out sigh tumbling from her lips after.

Jasmine locks her gaze on Aurora. "What about you, Auri? Which one do you think is the hottest?"

Spencer finally makes himself known by snorting at the question asked to Aurora.

"I don't... I think..."

Why did Louis pop inside my head?

"I don't think it's nice to rate them..." she points out, chewing on her bottom lip.