When a 14-day dating challenge erupts between skeptical Blossom and her secretly smitten best friend Hunter in the waning days of 1999, their easy friendship is plunged into a maelstrom of teenage angst, unrequited affection, and the terrifying poss...
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~ ~ ~ 1999
On this day in 1999 The Spice Girls were still topping the charts, the internet was a novelty for many, and for Blossom, a sixteen-year-old with a cynical view on romance, life was a tapestry of school, family, and a healthy dose of teenage angst.
The previous night's argument still hung in the air, a cloud of unresolved emotions that left Blossom feeling slightly unsettled. They had been at odds about the bet, the absurdity of it all, and she had been particularly cutting, questioning his motives. Now, as the new school day dawned, she found herself both hesitant and curious about what Hunter would do next.
The early morning air was crisp and refreshing as Blossom donned her school uniform, a familiar routine that offered a sense of normalcy. The bike ride to school was usually a solitary affair, but today she was joined by her younger sister, Elena. Elena was animated, her cheeks flushed with excitement as she gushed about her boyfriend, Nick. Usually, Blossom would roll her eyes at the sappy details, but after the previous night's family meeting and finding out the truth about Elena's ex who had said and done such hurtful things, she found herself oddly content to listen to Elena's lovestruck ramblings. There was something comforting about knowing her sister was happy and in a healthy relationship, a stark contrast to her own experiences with romance. This knowledge brought a genuine smile to her lips, a rare occurrence these days.
Their next-door neighbor, Chance, a childhood friend, caught up to them with his service dog Frodo in tow as they neared the school gates. He threw an easy, warm smile at both sisters. "Morning, Elena, Blossom," he said, his green eyes twinkling.
But Blossom's smile disappeared as quickly as it had surfaced. A deep unease settled in the pit of her stomach. She had a bad feeling. A feeling that Chance had done something to her younger brother, Ethan, something that wasn't good. After witnessing first hand their confrontation on his porch and how Ethan completely shut himself off from the family last night she knew it had to be something regarding him. 2 best friends who were recently glued at the hip, now acted like total strangers in the halls of Westmount High. And she was just supposed to continue on like nothing was happening? That wasn't Blossom. She simply stared straight ahead, not acknowledging him, and gave Elena, next to her, a look that silently demanded their conversation end.
Elena, ever perceptive, picked up on Blossom's subtle signals right away. She gave Chance a small, apologetic smile. "Hey, Chance," she replied, "we are a little late and need to hurry, see you later." She then quickened her pace, keeping up with Blossom, and spoke again when they were further away, "What was that about?"
Blossom shrugged, trying to ignore the guilt that was nudging at her. She knew what she did was rude but she couldn't just ignore this feeling that she had. "I don't want to talk about it," she muttered, her eyes fixed on the school building looming ahead. She tried to push the feeling away, reminding herself that she had bigger things to worry about, like figuring out this bizarre bet and the lingering awkwardness between her and Hunter.
