Forever (Original)

Forever [27: Hearts of Gold and Feather Boas]

Forever: Hearts of Gold and Feather Boas

"Oh, my gosh, Nigel, isn't this place amazing?" Lucille squealed, her thin arms coiled tightly around his arm.

Nigel rolled his eyes and sent an irritated face in Maria's direction

Maria snickered silently as she wrapped her scarf around her neck. Ian leaned down, his lips hovering next to her ear.

"Can she not take a hint?" he asked.

Maria shook her head. "I don't think so."

Nigel (finally) was able to shake Lucille off and went to stand next to Maria.

"I think I hate the color pink now," he said as he took her hand in his.

Maria scowled.

"Well, looks like I'm never wearing this bra again," she said.

Ian bit down on his tongue to keep from laughing as Nigel's eyes widened.

Maria laughed, a cheery stream of fog coming out of her mouth as an exhale.

The group of four (or three, and Lucille, who was sulking as she walked behind the other three) bustled down the sidewalks of New York City.

“Come on, there’s a Starbucks,” said Ian, pointing across the street.

They stood at the light for a few minutes before the light turned red and the little white man flashed and they crossed the street.

When she stepped into the Starbucks, she loosened her scarf and stepped right up to the counter.

“I’ll have tall hot chocolate,” she said.

“And I’ll get a grande java chip frappuccino thingy,” said Nigel, winking at Maria, leaning down. “I’m paying babe.”

Maria scowled, punching him on the arm.

“Don’t call me that,” she said.

“Whatever you say,” he said.

“I’ll be right back.” Maria set her small backpack on the chair next to Lucille and went to the bathroom.

When she walked in, Lucille was right behind her.

“Listen, I know you’ve never been one for the rules, but really, Nigel’s mine,” she said nastily.

Maria turned around to face her, snorting.

“What is in your head, Lu?” she asked. “What makes you think that you can claim a person? Don’t you remember all those years back in elementary? ‘You can’t force someone to like you.’ Remember that? That’s right – you said it. What happened to that?”

Lucille stared at her, shocked.

“You remember that?” she muttered, her voice not sounding it’s usual high, stickiness, but a more natural sound.

Maria shrugged. “I remember a lot of things,” she said. “I remember that day in third grade when Cody tripped you in the cafeteria and you poured strawberry milk on him.”

The corner of Lucille’s mouth quirked up for a fraction of a second, but then it was gone and she scowled.

“That was a long time ago,” she said, the high falsetto back. “And things have changed.”

“Thanks for that, Captain Obvious,” Maria said, raising an eyebrow.

“Whatever,” Lucille scoffed, turning on her heel and stalking out.