Ah, sorry if this is really bad. :P
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My flip flops clicked against the rocky pavement as I walked down the street. My hair cascaded halfway down my back, blowing smoothly with the wind with each step I took. It was a nice, hot day for the beginning of summer. The England air smelled of a mix of fully bloomed flowers and scents that were pouring out of the windows of bakeries and restaurants.
“It’s too hot, Emma,” Winter groaned from beside me, dragging her feet loudly against the ground. Her breathing was heavy and I could tell she was about just as tired as I was. The heat could really do a beating on you.
Winter had been my best friend for quite a while now. We both had plenty of friends besides each other, but we both bonded together in a way that many people didn’t. The two of us shared many of the same interests and were able to tell each other just about everything. It was the kind of bond that many people wished to have. Sure we argued and fought quite a bit, but it never affected our friendship.
“I know, I know. We’ll find somewhere to go. Just give it a few minutes,” I said, reaching back and running my fingers through my hair. It was damp with a thin layer of sweat that made me frown and pull my hand away.
Winter let out an annoyed sigh from beside me. “You’ve been saying that for the past hour, but we haven’t stopped. We’ve passed plenty of places. What could you possibly be looking for?” she mumbled, pulling her sunglasses down from the top of her head and setting them over her dark brown eyes.
In all honesty, I didn’t know what I was looking for. All I knew is that there was somewhere that I had to be, but I wasn’t sure where. As much as my feet wanted to stop dragging my limp body along, my mind protested and forced me to keep going. It was as if it was planning on telling me when to stop.
I glanced over at Winter out of the corner of my eye before shrugging. “I don’t know. We’ll find somewhere, okay? Quit complaining and keep walking.” I looked down at my feet, absentmindedly beginning to kick a small rock with every step I took.
My gaze eventually made its way back up to the shops surrounding each side of the beaten up street. Many places that would usually catch my eye didn’t seem to do the trick this time. Instead, I just kept pushing myself to go further and further, my body needing water more and more by the second.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket with a sigh and began to scroll through the tweets on my Twitter account. As the name ‘Harry Styles’ popped up on my screen, I angrily exited out of the website and shoved my phone back into my pocket. I was supposed to forget about him and the rest of them. They had no part in my life anymore. None.
Winter watched me intently, arching an eyebrow. “What’s your problem?” she asked her eyes moving downward as my phone was set in my pocket. Her voice was neutral, but I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was concerned.
I just shook my head, stretching my lips into a believable smile as I let my feet continue to move me along. “Nothing, nothing. I’m fine,” I replied, taking in a deep breath through my nose. Everything smelled so good. My mouth began to water. I was so hungry, but I couldn’t stop just yet.
“This has to do with your old best friends, right?” she asked, letting her eyes scan my face quickly one more time. “You know, I heard they were coming back into town today. Maybe you could meet up with them and finally make up and solve all on the tension. It would probably be for the best.” She shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.
My head began spinning and I felt my stomach churn. You know, I heard they were coming back into town today, her words echoed in the back of my head. My throat became even drier than before and my feet stopped dead in their tracks. I turned my head just slightly so I could glance over at Winter. “They what..?”
Winter slowly nodded her head at me, a puzzled expression taking over her face. “You heard me…” she replied, nudging my shoulder with hers gently. “I thought you knew that, anyways. I was almost positive that that’s why you’ve been dragging me around all day. I thought you were looking for them or something…”
I forced my feet to continue moving, my bones and muscles aching. “No, I had no clue…” My voice came out in a whisper as my palms began to sweat. If I did come in contact with them, I wouldn’t know what to do. “I just… I just wanted to walk. Now I kind of want to go home…”
As I glanced at Winter again, she began shaking her head rapidly at me in reply. “Oh, no. We’re not going home just yet after all of this walking. We have to make some good out of it. I’m starving and it’s about a thousand degrees out. Can we please just get some ice cream or something?” she pleaded, letting her eyes fix on each of the shops around us. “It’s the least you could do for me right now after dragging me around all day.”
I let out a sigh of defeat, nodding my head. “Yeah, sure. Whatever,” I said, my voice hoarse and raspy; in the need of water. My mind was elsewhere now. I couldn’t think straight. I took in a few deep breaths, walking a few paces behind Winter. I knew the ice cream shop was about five minutes up the road. I’d been plenty of times in the past.
The two of us walked the rest of the way to the shop in silence. It wasn’t an awkward silence, though. I felt comfortable. Winter was the kind of person who wouldn’t push you to talk about your feelings if you didn’t want to. She would always have your back, though.
As the ice cream shop finally came into view, Winter began running, tripping and falling onto her knees as she attempted to step over to curb. “Damn it,” she murmured under her breath, pushing herself up onto her feet and brushing herself off.
I put a hand to my mouth as a fit of giggles flew out. My feet pushed me on, leading me over to her. “Are you alright?” I asked, a smirk playing across my pink lips as I let my arm fall back to my side. At least something finally got a laugh out of me.
Winter rolled her eyes at the mischievous expression on my face, hitting my arm lightly. “I’m fine,” she murmured before releasing a laugh of her own. “Now let’s go get that ice cream before I push you on the ground,” she joked, shoving me toward the door with a soft chuckle.
I laughed quietly and pulled open the door of the shop, the chimes placed on top of the door ringing as I did so. My mouth began to salivate as I took in the sweet and sugary scents of the familiar shop. I didn’t even take a moment to let my eyes wander the people in the shop, but instead rushed up to the counter with Winter by my side.
My eyes skimmed through each one of the flavors on the menu, my body perking up as they passed over chocolate. Although it was such a common flavor, chocolate would always be my favorite. My lips formed a smile as I asked the lady behind the counter, “Can I please have one medium cone of chocolate ice cream?”
As she returned a small smile and nodded her head, I turned to face Winter. Her eyes were fixed on something on the other side of the shop, a worried expression written across her face. I foolishly ignored it and slapped her arm lightly instead. “Winter, it’s your turn to order.”
She swallowed hard and nodded her head, forcing herself to shift her body to face the menu. She ordered her usual: cookie dough. After she did so, her gaze shifted back to where it had been before, that same concerned look on her face.
I ignored it and sighed at the lack of attention and conversation, letting my eyes fall down to my feet. My body stayed still and numb until our ice creams were scooped and we were able to take them and finally be able to enjoy a refreshment of coldness on such a hot day.
Little did I know is that she had a reason for that troubled look on her face.
A reason that would affect me.
