Admiring the Light

Ep 36

Flashback

"Hey, Lola- what's up-" "Lola, you-" "Lolaaa-"

"See ya-" Lola ducked away into the restrooms, met with the delicious mixing smell of garbage, bleach, and smoke.

A bombardment that her nose twitched at. It felt like she was underwater without holding her breath.

But she was surprised at how empty the restrooms were. Other than the big girl that sat in the back of their history honors, reading books with her hood up, blocking most of her face. The one that always wore really artistic outfits, today seemed to be a leather jacket with some green sweatpants.

"Hey- Natalie, wanna do that packet together?" She peered down at the other girl, she couldn't recall ever having a proper conversation with her.

But Natalie just curled up in her jacket, as she brought her phone closer to her face.

"Wanna work together?" Lola tried again.

"No, I remember you from dance." She muttered, shooting a quick glance up.

"Dance- oh... it's you?" She tried to get Natalie up. "Come on, we'll-"

"I already said no." She balled up her hands, her words coming out in more of an exasperated sigh. "Just don't. Find someone else."

Lola just sat down anyway. "I'm not just letting you sit here alone."

"Mmph..." Natalie popped her earbuds in.

"You don't strike me as a reading kind of girl." She tried to get a direct answer, but the other girl really just seemed more interested in whatever she was doing. "Alrighty then-"

"You can't just sit down here and force conversation."

"Then let's just sit in silence. Earbud?" Lola asked.

Surprisingly, Natalie passed her an earbud.

"Carrie Underwood, I see you've got good taste." She chuckled.

"You said you'd be quiet..."

"Sorry, sorry." She just stared up at Natalie in silence, resting her head back against the cinderblocks and enjoying the quiet between them, until Natalie finally spoke up. "Where do you sit... like, normally-" She whispered.

"Just- the library. Interested?" Lola asked.

"Fine..."

"I've seen the books you get out, you like them big?" She chuckled.

"You pay too much attention to me-" Natalie grunted.

"You're right! I'd rather watch you than focus on history."

"I can't believe you don't like history. We learn so much in that class."

"Yeah, we learn about gardening and her weekend plans."

...

Present

"Going out shopping, love?" Natalie chirped,

"Can't enjoy it, why would you even suggest that-"

"Black Friday deals, Lola!! You could pick up Until Dawn for a better price."

"More like fucking Bleak Friday."

"It's really not that bad! Tomorrow's my birthday, riiiight Lola?"

"Not if you're fucking sick."

"No no, not what I asked." Natalie smiled. "Tomorrow is my birthday, right?"

"You're gonna be sick as a fucking dog!"