A/N: I love anything sweet.
Enjoy!
∞
“Z’ev, you’re lamer than Azrel on clutches!” I spat teasingly and ran for it when he took out paper ninja-stars from his back pocket and started flinging them at me. We scampered round the living room with my father muttering something along the lines of ‘ninja-obsessed kids’ and I took no time in darting up the stairs.
My breath was ragged when I reached the second floor and my dimly-lit hallway seemed so woozy. The wall lights casting that evening glow on the somewhat narrow corridor did calm me down though. Z’ev already caught up with me and was beaming at my exhausted self. “S-Stop,” I whizzed, my voice an agonized whisper, “I’m tired.” With that, I trudged to my room, the familiar oak-coloured door with intricate patterns of flower carvings greeting my gaze.
Z’ev trailed behind me silently and I plopped onto my forest canopy bed, with four carved trees on the corners, its branches extended to meet in the centre. “So what are you doing here, Z’ev?” I eyed his slightly curled red hair and strong build intently. His gaze flickered shyly to meet mine, but his huge ebony eyes soon darted away to my huge arched window, its view openly revealing the darkening sky and my neighbour – Bre.
“Oh, so you came to watch her get on the computer again?” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. Z’ev was head over heels for Bre and he’d come over to my house just to sneak a glance at her. My eyes following his gaze, it soon landed on Bre who just came out of the shower. Her eyes landed on my window and Z’ev immediately retracted to the corner so Bre wouldn’t be able to see him.
I smirked and waved frantically at her. “Oh hey, why haven’t you bathed you stinky hobo?” Bre asked while reluctantly waving to me, as if I was some hybrid of a rhino and horse. Oh, that meant I’d be a unicorn.
“Oh, I don’t know, I was just staring at your beautiful face,” I hollered and swung my gaze to the cowering Z’ev. It was definitely a funny sight, watching how a jock like Z’ev would crumble at the sight of his crush. Bre shot me her signature glare and grunted, “Spare me your sarcasm,” as she rolled her eyes and ruffled her damp hair with her baby pink towel.
“Fine, bye-bye Bee!” I stuck out my tongue at her and got up to draw shut the velvety brown curtains, staring at Z’ev with utmost revulsion.
“I’m planning to ask her out on her birthday.” He muttered lamely, his heart probably hammering against his ribcage and my eyes widened.
“What?” I blurted and started towards the mini-fridge beside my walk-in closet to get some candy-coated strawberries. They were my favourite past-time, yep.
“You’re going to get diabetes if you keep restocking your mini-warehouse there.” Z’ev tittered and let out a snicker, tip-toeing to the curtain, peering through a tiny gap. I opened up my magical stash and reached out for one box of the delectable goodies. As if the world was against my desire for those candied heaven, my mother’s peevish voice echoed from downstairs, “Z’ev, Lyly, get your bums down here, dinner’s ready!”
Grunting, I trudged out of my room and Z’ev decided it was a great time to caper downstairs and spread his unbelievably great amount of optimism. All my mind could think about was the fact that Z’ev is going to risk it and ask Bre out, when Bre obviously didn’t harbour any feelings for him. I had to stop it, but how?
I couldn’t openly tell Z’ev something like “Hey Z’ev, as Bre’s sister I have absolute confidence that you’re no match for her and she doesn’t like you at all,” right? It’d break his fragile little heart. However, if I didn’t stop him, could I warn Bre instead? Oh, wait… No. Her dense head wouldn’t be able to take the guilt of rejecting a friend.
So what could I do?
Just then, the scent of beef fillet tangoed with my nostrils and all the worrying thoughts disappeared from my head. That was the reason why I loved eating. All of us were seated at the dining table with Z’ev beside me and my parents on the opposite. I didn’t spare a second thought before tucking in greedily.
“So Lyly, where did you go with Bre earlier on?” My father asked coolly after swallowing a chunk of beef and my nose involuntarily wrinkled at that nickname, “We went to the nearby park to enjoy the breeze and have ice-cream.” I muttered a little incoherently while chewing on my share of beef.
My dad simply nodded and just then, Z’ev stood up with his empty plate in hand, smirking down at me. “Movie?” He inquired light-heartedly and I nodded while stuffing the last piece of meat into my mouth.
Finally wolfing down my food, I stood up and paced to the kitchen just as Z’ev made his way out to the living room. Hurriedly, I scrubbed my plate clean and dried my hands before bolting to the couch, letting out a war cry and claiming the spot beside my best friend.
“What are we watching yo?” I piqued, and he rolled his eyes. Someday, both Z’ev and Bre’s eyes would go haywire and remain cross-eyed from the excessive rolling. They seriously needed to give it a rest.
Snuggling the pillow on the couch, Z’ev muttered pointedly, “You’ll see.” Just then, the opening credits of my most-watched movie Anacondas appeared and I groaned, openly showing my dissatisfaction with his choice of movie. Z’ev shot me playful glare and flung the pillow at my face lightly, “Just enjoy it.” He sighed and went back to watching the boring starting.
I decided it was time for dessert so I wasted no time in dashing up to my room and fetching a box of those delightful candy-coated strawberries. On the way down, I popped one into my mouth and savoured the tangy flavoured of the slightly sour strawberry mixed with the sweetness of the candy. Am I tempting you?
“Oh no, you’re high on those again.” Z’ev said with a sniff of disdain and I leered menacingly at him before popping another one, its goodness bursting in my mouth. Soon, a blanket of comfortable silence descended on the room and my eyelids felt like hippos, threatening to shut. I wasn’t an early sleeper, but I guess it was my body’s way of saying it wanted to enjoy digesting those strawberries.
∞
Something damp was slithering down the edge of my mouth and I jolted upright, sheepishly scanning my surroundings. The living room was empty and the only light was emitted from the television which apparently was on the Nat Geo Channel. I squinted my eyes and stretched, letting out a little whine as my bones cracked into place and glanced at the wall-clock.
11:59PM, it stated. Sighing, I swung my legs off the couch, switched off the TV and plodded up the dark staircase. Fortunately, the hallway was still lit up.
Something struck me.
Where’s Z’ev? I thought and shrugged it off, perhaps he left already. When I got into my bedroom, however, Z’ev was at my window holding up a signboard and repeatedly crying out, “Bre!”
It was like a disconnected live wire in my head finally touching, static running through it exuberantly and the first thought that flitted past my mind was,
Holy candy-coated strawberries, this is bad.
∞
Yay cliffhanger ^^b
YOU ARE READING
Between Candies And Strawberries
Proză scurtăLya, Z’ev and Bre are in a platonic best-friendship, well at least only on the outside. Lya is the link between Z’ev and Bre, who’d only talk to one another when Lya is around. Other than that, they’d be like strangers. Why? Z’ev is harbouring an un...
