"May I kiss your forehead, Crimson?" She doesn't recoil or say a word, so I press my lips gently against her forehead. It's a tender and fleeting moment, but it fills me with a warmth that I can't explain.
"Just because a relationship has an expirat...
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CRIMSON DONOVAN
Today, which was a bright and sunny Sunday, we were headed to Jed's house for what Archer dubbed as "The Cleaning Day". We were going to wash the ruined uniforms of the basketball team. Drexel had already completed one punishment of cleaning the teachers' cars with us sneaking out to assist him whenever Mr. Denver had a class. Now, all that was left was for Archer and Drexel to serve their two weeks of detention and clean the uniforms.
And imagine how horrified I was to learn that Kash Grater was the nephew of Mr. Denver. No wonder Mr. Denver believed whatever Kash blabbermouthed against the boys.
Shaking my head to get rid of those thoughts, I stand by the local café waiting for Drexel's car to take us to Jed's.
As I wait, I take in my surroundings and notice a florist's shop adjacent to the café. The shop has already opened for the day, and the delightful aroma of flowers wafts through the air. A lady steps out and begins arranging a display of flowers at the entrance. I silently observe her delicate and meticulous handling of the blooms, admiring her skill and grace.
As she retreats into the shop, my gaze lingers on a stunning bouquet of yellow tulips. My body reacts instantly, and I am unable to process the emotions that flood over me. My vision becomes blurry, and my breaths are shallow and uneven. The sound of my heart beating rapidly rings loudly in my ears, making it difficult to focus on my surroundings. I steady myself against a nearby wall and try to calm my racing thoughts.
I am startled into reality by a melodious jingle of bells and I shakily turn around to see a middle-aged woman opening the door of her café. She notices me watching and gives me a kind smile. I quickly smile back at her, still trapped in my startled state. I compose myself by taking deep breaths and waiting for my heart to settle, trying to erase the scenes that reeled in front of my eyes and the emotions of the past few seconds.
After taking a deep breath, I thoughtfully look up at the café sign after a few seconds. "Bakes and Cakes," I read to myself.
Intrigued, I peep my head into scan through the various foods displayed. The woman greets me with a cheery hello and inquires about what I want. I mentally count the number of people I'm meeting today and buy seven slices of 'Fruit Galore Sponge Cake' that I've never tasted in my life before.
When I come out, I see Drexel leaning on his car, waiting expectantly for me. A smile involuntarily makes its way into my face and my heartbeat speeds up. He had offered to pick me and Zeke had agreed to pick Ayla and Archer on his way.
"I'm here!" I declare as I quicken my pace toward the Ford.
Drexel swirls in the direction of my voice and sends me a bright smile that warms me.
"Hello. Where did you go?"
"Thought of buying some treats for us today."
Rowan pops up from the front seat. "That's awesome! What did you buy?" she eagerly gets out of the car and takes the bag for inspection. "Oh! Looks delicious!"
