Elusive (Stem x Stud)

9

O

I didn't look at Cecia for the rest of the bus ride. It was like her lips were burned against mine. I could feel them on my skin like they were another limb on me or some shit. I stared intensely out the window, the song in my ears floating past any recognition of the words. I couldn't focus on anything else besides the fact that I'd have to spend probably another hour or two with her since she was coming with me and Xo to hang out. If that moment hadn't been the epitome of "cringe", then I don't know what could be.

Cecia nudged me.

I held my breath, real still until I slowly let it out, carefully making eye contact with Cecia after a moment, "Mhm? Wassup?"

Not nonchalant at all, Ora, not nonchalant at all.

Cecia hesitated, the awkward, warm smile on her face giving way to embarasmnet. "Never mind," she told me quickly, "Just tell Xo I couldn't come," she added.

"Wait why?" I blurted out, confused, "I thought you were comin'?"

"I, um, realized I have some homework to do," she simply shrugged.

"On the first day?" I asked her, real blunt.

"Some...things to fill out," she added, looking away, "and then I have to-to help one of my moms with, uh, something."

"Righttt," I nodded, not believing her. "Hope you can come some other time then?" I asked.

"Yeah...maybe," she blushed, still looking away.

Awkwarddd.

The bus stopped and Cecia quickly made her way down the aisle. Because of her last minute decision after we already passed her stop, I guess she'd walk from mine to her place now that she wasn't going. I text Xochitl about the new development, but she text me that she was already parked in front of the clubhouse, waiting.

I walked across the lot, up to her pollen-dusted, white Toyota with a black, scraped bumper. She let down her window, giving me a salute, "Hey, shawty."

"Hey," she unlocked the doors and I got into the back, waving at Zeymira in the passenger seat as I got in. "Wassup?"

"Why Cecia not comin'?" she asked curiously as she pulled out of the space and waited behind the bus to leave the complex area.

"She- Not really sure, to be honest," I admitted.

Was it because I got all weird about the kiss? Was it the kiss itself? I mean, it was accidental right, so...

"Interesting," Zeymira gave me a cheesy grin. "Well, with or without her, we shall have fun. What's on the agenda today, girls?"

"I was thinkin' we just chill over at my place. My mom said she was cool widdit," Xo said the last part directed at me, "But now I'm more so in a mall mood, you know?"

"Ouuu, should we bring Ora in?" Zeymira asked, wiggling her brows at Xochitl.

"It depends. Will she snitch?" she turned around, giving me a wild grin.

"It depends...what is it?" I laughed, folding my arms across my chest with an amused look.

"Let's just say me and Zey like to indulge in a little bit of a five finger discount," Xochitl wiggled her eyebrows in the mirror. "But if you're not up for it, we'd never bring you along or anything 'cause, like, we'd respect your decision and shit."

"So, stealin'?" I said bluntly.

"Yeahhh, well, whatever you wanna call it. That makes it sound much harsher but...yeah," Xochitl shrugged.

"I mean...what are you guys stealin'? What are you guys takin'?" I asked. If they were doing some wild and outrageous shit, then hell no.

"Just like accessories and shit from the beauty supply, that's what we've done before," Zeymira supplied, "Um, we've done school supplies from Joe V's and Walmart, jewelry and shit from Rue 21 and Claire's. That type of shit."

"So small items in places with a low security to person ratio?" I confirmed.

"Yeah...if you wanna say it like that," Xochitl shrugged again. "I only got caught once back in middle school, and that was when I went to Disneyland with my family. My mom wasn't notified or nothing that time 'cause I told them I was in fifth grade and they thought I didn't know any better."

"She dead ass looked like a fifth grader in eighth, bro," Zeymira joked.

"She knows that, she went to middle school with me, dumb ass," Xo stated.

"Righttt," Zeymira slowly nodded.

"So, yea. What do you think?" Xochitl asked me after Zeymira and her finished with their friendly banter.

"Where are we goin'? What do you guys plan on taking?" I asked cautiously. I didn't want to add something else onto my list of disappointments with my dad, and I also didn't want to end up locked up again, especially because of my previous record.

But I also wanted to engage in some reckless, teenage fun. And I felt like I had the right to indulge in that, right?

"Claire's again. Some headbands and fake nails. Like, half the time we just get the stuff and sell it on a secondhand site, or we'll keep it for ourselves or use the items to give as gifts during the holidays."

Okay, step number one: Don't question if Xo gives me fake nails for Christmas, even though we don't celebrate it and I'm a whole ass stud.

"Okay. But like, I'll stick out like a sore thumb walkin' in there. Look at me," I gestured to my myself.

"Right. Hmm...you can drive?"

"I don't like where this is goin'," I groaned. "And I hate drivin'."

Zeymira started talking, "We don't go to the same spots often. We leave like a month in between each place we hit up. This shit is a hobby for real. If we get caught...we needa mini getaway driver-

"Nope. No way," I shut it down.

"That's cool," Xochitl shrugged, "Becauseee I have an even more fun idea, but we'll have to wait a few days to really enjoy it."

"What is it?" Zeymira asked curiously.

"The party everybody's talkin' about. Let's go to it," Xo suggested.

"Oh no. I reallyyy don't wanna go. I haven't been to a high school party before," I laughed. "You and Cee reallyyy want me to go so bad."

Xochitl rose a brow. "Hmm, well, that's definitely interestin'."

"What is?" I asked, as Xo turned up the radio.

"Nothing..."

"Just, you know, Cecia seems to have this protective vibe about you," Zeymira cut in, "And I wouldn't expect for her to want you to go to a party she'd also most likely be attendin'."

"That whole statement contradicts itself," I frowned.

"Like...for you to see that side of Cecia."

"I don't get it-

"Zey. Hush," Xo said sharply. "That's Cecia's business."

"Wait, now y'all got me confused. Is there something y'all not tellin' me?" I asked, looking between the both of them. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the back of each of their seats, "Tell me guys."

"She just be goin' all cra-

"Zey," Xochitl hissed.

"Okay, okay," Zeymira mumbled, "Let her see for herself, come Saturday." I leaned back in confusion, the rest of the car ride silent until we go to Xochitl's.

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