A Lily Among Thorns

𝙲𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚂𝙸𝚇𝚃𝙴𝙴𝙽

✞ C E L A I L a C R O I X ✞

"It's gonna be a good day!" Celai yells out as she reaches the bottom stairs. She hears laughing in the kitchen and embarrassment rushes to her face when she sees Kassima in the kitchen.

Moments like this makes Celai wish she had her own place.

"Someone woke up on the right side of the bed," Kassima says. "What's up with that? You're not a morning person."

"Julian and I finished the church last night so I'm sort of in a good mood," Celai responds, which is partially true— they really did finish the church, but that isn't the reason she's grinning ear to ear, not even in the slightest.

She goes into the kitchen and sits down at the bar, swinging her feet as she speaks to Kassima. "Can I ask why you're here and not at work?"

Kassima slides a plate of pancakes and scrambled eggs in front of her. "Did you forget we're getting you a car today? I didn't want you waiting for me to get off work so I took the day off."

Celai swallows hard and begins picking with her food. It wasn't her intention to not tell Kassima she'd be going with Julian instead of her, but the thought to do so slipped her mind. "You know, there can be something else we can do together," she says meekly.

"Why?" Kassima says, raising her eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're not buying a car today."

"I don't know, maybe," she shrugs. She lowers her voice, hoping Kassima won't hear her. "It's whatever happens when I'm with Julian."

"Celai Marie-!"

"He asked me out on a date and I really wanted to go, but I knew I'd be busy this weekend, and I told him that, but he said he could make today work out," Celai confesses in one breath.

"That's good for y'all, but you couldn't wait till next week? Y'all have been in each other's faces since Sunday, y'all not sick of each other?" Kassima asks.

"No... Kassima, I really like him, so I'll just let him have this day. And besides, you're coming with me to my follow-up appointment tomorrow, so we can have that day for us."

"In all, we'll be on the road for six hours, and we'll probably be in the hospital for at least two. That's not a girls' day, that's one long errand. And all of this will be in my car since I know you and Julian probably won't even head towards a dealership."

Celai wants to say something back, but she agrees with everything her mother said, unfortunately. "I see what you're saying, but maybe I will end up with the car by the end of the day. Julian's been saying he has something up his sleeve and last night he was telling me about buying a Chevy Malibu while we were on the phone."

"Did you do your own research?"

"Yes. I saw this used 2021 Chevy Malibu that was at the top end of my budget."

Kassima smacks her lips and turns to wash the dishes. "If I went with you, I would've been able to get them to drop the price."

"Well, I'll still be in my price range with Julian so that's all that matters." Celai pushes out of her seat. "You and I are gonna do something, I promise. I'm not letting our relationship fizz out," she tells Kassima.