Tramp Stamps | Lookism

7. Festival

Good lord is this a chaotic chapter. One thing about me is that despite writing fanfiction, I suck at rewriting actual scenes from the original media. 😭 I hope it isn't as bad as it feels it is

The first thing that came to Cleo's mind when she arrived at the festival was 'God, it's crowded.' The event was crawling with teenagers, music blaring from the DJ booth, and various scents and smells wafting from the numerous food stands. Talk about sensory hell.

Cleo grumbled, plugging her ears with her beloved earbuds, and shoved her hands into the pockets of the uniform skirt. Why did they even have to wear school uniforms to a festival? It's a festival, not a stupid school assembly or whatever. Once again, she groaned.

She was pretty obviously not in a good mood, having been affected not only by the overwhelming atmosphere of the festival, but also by the events that took place only a few days ago. Being robbed. Twice. And then breaking that gangster's face with her foot. Ugh, she groaned, she thought of him again.

Cleo's nose twitched in irritation, forcing herself to take a deep breath in and out. She had been looking forward to this festival ever since Daniel informed her of it. There was no way she'd let that uggo, nor the not-so-distant memory of being mugged, ruin today. She was going to have fun. Like a normal teenager.

"Cleo!" a voice called to her with a smile— Daniel, taking place by her side, "Hey, I was waiting for you."

The girl tilted her head playfully, her previously grumpy expression becoming more mirthful, "Waiting? For me? Aww," she cooed, coyly clasping her hands together and enjoying Daniel's sigh of embarrassment.

"Cleo..."

"Sorry, I just can't help myself," she laughed, amused, "So, why were you waiting for me? I thought you'd be with Zoe, or Jay," the raven inquired curiously.

"Well, I just thought that since this was your fist school festival," he adverted his doe-like eyes, bashful, "I— I would hang out with you. Maybe, kind of be your guide?" Daniel explained, his reason sounding more like a question than anything else.

"Aww!" the heterochromatic-eyed girl cooed once more with a big, toothy smile, reaching up to pinch at his blushing cheeks, "Danny, you're so cute it makes me want to rip you into itty bitty little pieces—"

He grabbed her wrists before she could do any damage, "Please don't," Daniel pleaded, a bead of sweat running down his temple.

Cleo lightheartedly rolled her eyes, "Whaaatever,"

She proceeded to twist her hands out of Daniel's hold to instead grip his wrists, swinging them around playfully, "Alright, Mr. Tour Guide! Show me the wonders of the J High Fest!"

He sighed, "Okay," unable to suppress the grin tugging at his lips, he glanced at the hand wrapped around his wrist before turning around, face warm.

If I just moved my hand a little bit... he thought, we would be holding hands. His face flushed. God, what was he thinking?

But before he realized, Cleo's hand wrapped around his— he flinched, but didn't pull away, turning to look between their intertwined hands and Cleo's "innocent" expression. And apparently, the shock on his face was as clear as day.

"What?" the teen smirked, a small, teasing tilt of her head, "Never held hands with a girl before?" she gently squeezed his hand— she felt his pulse, beating at the speed of light.

"I..." Daniel whipped his head away, hiding how completely and utterly red he was, but he made no move to retrieve his hand, "L-let me show you around," he muttered shyly.