Spotlight Writers: March 2016

OrangeCrushToucan | The Coffee Reward

The clicking of heels against a newly paved sidewalk had always been one of the most reassuring sounds in the world to Allison Roberts. There was something about the way it resonated with the song of nature, and complimented the colors that blossomed around it.

On the other hand, the most reassuring sound to Eryn Williams was the screaming of vocalists framed around the screeches of heavy beats. That paired together with the aesthetic of laced up combat boots, and more eyeliner than Marilyn Manson, was the final peace for Eryn.

Ally was merely taking a stroll on another bright spring, investing in the confidence that her little, red heels brought her. She pranced merrily down the sidewalk, acting like an overzealous Snow White. She waved to the old lady at the apple stand and the young man peddling shoe laces. That was indeed the life in her city.

She primly sat herself down on a wooden park bench, pulling out her phone, scrolling through the minimal notifications that glowed on her phone. She looked up only to see a fellow teenage girl plop herself down on the opposite end of the bench, scanning through what seemed like an infinite amount of notifications. How could she have so many? Ally questioned, her mind racing to find the perfect answer.

The brunette crossed her legs that were topped off with big white boots, flattening out her red and black plaid skirt. Ally cringed her nose up at the sight of the girl. She seems to think she is one of those grunge hippies from the nineties!

"Ew!" Ally exclaimed, not meaning to. Once she realized her external emotions, her face flushed with embarrassment. Ally did not need a mirror to know what she looked like – she was staring straight at the girl, her lips curled in a disgruntled pucker and her lips reading her expression.

The brunette flattened out her hair and batted her eyelashes. "Oh, sorry?"

Ally shook her head, her strawberry blonde hair brushing in front of her face. "No, it's my bad. I didn't mean to say that."

"Out loud, you mean?" the girl responded, a flicker of sass gleaming through her.

"Well, I..." Ally began, her voice trailing off. She did not like this girl, but if there was anything good to be said, the girl sure knew how to get the truth out of people.

"And that's what I thought!" The girl smiled brightly, her hands continuing to text someone with her face staring straight at Ally. "And just out of curiosity, why did you say 'Ew'?"

Ally let out a shrill of laughter, playing with the string of beads placed gently around her neck. "Okay, so I'm usually not this judgmental person, but honey, you look like you just walked out of a Green Day music video!"

To Ally's disdain, the girl's eyes lit up at this. "Really?"

"Oh, I get it," Ally said slowly, studying the girl's excitement. "You are one of those wannabe emo people."

"Wannabe emo people?" the girl repeated, slowly placing her distaste on each syllable.

"Oh, you know what I mean!" Ally responded, dismissing the topic with a wave of her hand. "All the real emo people were from the early 2000s. Anyone after that is just a wannabe. Honestly, the look is old. Grow up."

"Well, you are not judgmental at all! I hope you go home to your parents with your mommy baking you cookies and daddy handing you a wad of cash because you're just a little angel," the brunette sarcastically said with a roll of her eyes.

Ally's eyebrows shot up like a bat out of hell. "Excuse you?"

"I don't know who you are, honey, but sometimes it is better to keep your mouth clamped shut, than sputtering out wise words of hypocrisy!" The brunette rolled her and locked her gaze on her screen, her fingers tapping against the glass to send a message to someone who shared a name with a certain leafy green.