Oreo Ice Cream

Chapter 29| Something else

A rebellion was about to break out.

At least, that's what I had been dreading for the past few hours since morning as I made my way to Tris and Elle's lockers with the completed and edited story in my hands. My heart drummed like a funeral march as the wind stabbed my eyes. I constantly licked my chapped lips; my legs were shaking terribly. The bubble gum had already lost its cherry flavor after I blew it a few times before tangling it with my tongue. Panic and exhaustion hit me when I found Elle blushing at Tristan, who was busy chatting with some guys. Poor Elle — keep dreaming, girl.

"Hey, Elle," I chirped, trying to be calm. I could immediately smell the sweet rose from her dress. She craned her neck to face me. "Hi, Flora. 'Sup?" For a while, the idea of Elle being a true dark-skinned beauty hit me. Her olive skin perfectly contrasted with her French pink lipstick and tight auburn-dyed curls; her slender body looked more elegant in her signature yellow sundress with a leather jacket and how flushed she looked in her pearly smile and scarlet cheeks — a perfect Victoria's Secret model. There was something addicting about Elle's beauty — not about how natural it was, but how angelic she looked in that dress.

I cringed. Wait. I was overthinking now. But didn't Granny say truths will be the truths no matter what? Either way, with no hate for Elle, I should stop staring at others. It was a bad habit that the majority would find annoying.

"Uhm," I fidgeted with my shirt sleeves before glancing at Tris. Damn Tris, quit that chat and come here fast. Wow, that slightly rhymed too. But this wasn't the correct time to self-compliment; everyone was in a rush and had their work. Again, this rhymed! Focus, Flora — there would be enough time for this rhyming game. Elle frowned at me.

"Yes?" She tapped her feet impatiently.

"I completed the story in a different way." I blurted out, counting the seconds until the Elle Outburst would happen.

"That's amazing!" She beamed and tiptoed to wrap her arms around my neck. Now that was the last thing I expected. I couldn't picture Elle hugging me in my wildest dreams — no, not happening. But wait. This was happening. Elle Simpson was sharing a tight embrace with Flora Summer. I felt like my eyeballs were coming out of their sockets. Well, honestly, I liked this gesture. It felt warm and genuine — the way I felt when I was with Harry. This hug was something I needed amid shit things started flying in and around my life. I felt my fingers brushing something smooth as skin when I realized I was hugging her back. 

"Thank you, Flora. You're the best!" Her voice came muffled as she placed her mouth on my shoulder — a brief and gentle brush of her full lips before she pulled back. My hands still lingered around her arms, my mouth partly open, and I could feel my cheeks heating up for some unknown reason. My eyes went around me before landing on Tris's face. It seemed like he was as dumbfounded as me. But his mouth hung wide enough for anyone to shove his fist into it. After all, no one could imagine one of the popular girls hugging a nerdy A+ student like me.

I quickly took my hands off her and straightened the wrinkled hem of my plaid shirt before forcing a smile. Perhaps, it looked like a little frown on my lips. "I'm so thankful to you, Elle," she rambled, "I totally forgot about it, and I was so busy all this weekend with so many things." I knew what they were — parties and a million dates with hot guys. "You just saved me." She kissed my cheek roughly before grinning like a five-year-old kid with a Christmas gift and rushing out of the hall. 

My hands went up to my shoulder and then to my left cheek. "Elle Simpson hugging Flora Summers" was surprising news. But "Elle Simpson cheek kissing Flora Summers" was never-in-my-wildest-dreams news. Absolutely unexpected and horrible.