burning red

- 7 -

Finch spent the day with his lips shut tight.

He was especially silent when the sun just began to lower from the sky, indicating four o'clock. Justine had been dismissed from school and made her way to Harley, Elmer and Finch's selling spot, after hastily throwing her basket and books onto her bed. As Justine played with Harley, she occasionally snuck glances towards Finch- who looked down each time she caught him staring. As much as she tried, she couldn't help but smile to herself, but she immediately wiped it off once she recalled who she was smiling for. She hated him; she hated everything about him.

She hated the way he smiled.

She hated the way he held her.

She hated the way she felt butterflies each time she thought of him.

Although there wasn't a single word that was shared between them, Justine determined that she has had enough of Finch. She concluded that his mere presence was enough to irritate her, so she whispered in Harley's ear to go on a walk for the sole purpose of getting away from him.

Harley had on a wide smile- the kind that showed that she knew something- as she skipped on the cobblestone road. "so..."

That bird butt told her, didn't he?

Justine raised an eyebrow. "so," She echoed, a tone much less enthusiastic.

"I heard you and Finch... kissed." The girlsie's eyebrows danced up and down as she smirked.

I'm going to kill him.

"not my proudest moment." Justine rolled her eyes.

"both of you don't seem too thrilled about it."

"I just didn't think I'd have my first kiss with him." She grimaced in disgust, which thankfully made Harley laugh. She was talking about her best friend after all; she'd better take the bashing down a notch maybe.

Harley's eyes widened and she gasped. "that was your first kiss?!" She started to jump up and down in excitement for her friend.

"like I said, not my proudest moment." Justine pressed her lips in a thin line.

The two continued their way down the streets as Harley waved at whichever newsie they came across. Justine kept her eyes on the ground the entire time, kicking small rocks whenever she found one that laid in front of her.

"so, how do you feel about him?" Harley spoke up after a few minutes of agonizing silence... well, to her. How she hated silence when they could be filled with words instead.

Justine scoffed. "don't like him." She simply replied.

"but you kissed him-"

"I know I did!" She threw her hands up and let them fall, hitting her sides. "I don't know how it happened. The last thing I remember is that we were yelling at each other and he was right there, and maybe he looked really cute without his cap on, and- I- I don't know!" Her breaths became shorter and she threw her head back, groaning loudly.

Justine looked at Harley with desperation gleaming in her brown eyes; she was desperate for answers. As far as she knew, Justine hated Finch and he hated her too. It was no secret, they both knew it and neither of them hesitated to show it. Yet she still felt a sort of attraction when she kissed him- one that had just hit her at that moment.