Poppy and Lotus [COMPLETE]

•❀Ten❀•

I stared at the paper in my hand, utterly shocked and unsure of how to react. There were the characters of her name, clear as day at the top of the paper in the assigned spot.

Sumire Watanabe.

"But..you said you were in the tennis club.." I looked up at Sumire, who was still smiling. When she looked into my face, I couldn't help but notice her joyous look falter for a second.

She reached up carefully and slid a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Actually...I just quit."

My eyes widened and I immediately considered the fact that perhaps I had pressured her into joining by mentioning her name in my presentation in front of the entire class! As I started to panic, I recalled how shy she always seemed. Maybe I scared her into it. Did I just make her quit a club she really enjoyed?!

I lift the application up and shove it at her, shaking my head and overcome with guilt.

"Watanabe-San--"

Sumire shook her head and pushed the paper back at me, "I know what you must be thinking, but I've been wanting to quit for a long time now. It was just a pastime, I never had a real passion for it. Besides...I joined right after you quit and.."

My stomach twisted in realization. Sumire probably heard all about the incident I had with Chise. I never spoke about it to anyone else, but of course the entire club knew and probably gossiped about it to others. The fact that it hadn't been brought up for a long time meant it had been opened up all over again. I wasn't sure how to feel about Sumire now.

"Chise stopped me and she and the others kind of attacked me for wanting to quit. When they found out about me wanting to join your club they told me what happened right before you quit...I'm so sorry, Hinageshi-San. They've always been horrible girls, I never thought they could go that far."

I smiled back at Sumire, my worries beginning to ease just a little.

"I try to put it out of my mind. In fact, that's why I'm making a club of my own."

"Well I would really love to join!" Sumire walked up to me and covered my hands with hers. When I got a whiff of her perfume I beamed.

"Is that Miracle Peach?! I just bought that at the mall the other day! It just went on sale and I kind of freaked out!"

Sumire nodded and even jumped up and down a little, "I know! It's always been so expensive I could never get my hands on it! You go to the Crystal Mall, right?"

My heart was singing with excitement as it bounced around in my chest. The words flew from my mouth and before I knew it we were having a wonderful conversation like we were old friends, right there in the school hallway.

It was a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time.

SugarSugarHeart and BonbonLove's July 31 Day Writing Challenge Day 22

The two of us will post a chapter every day this month of one of our stories! If life happens and we don't get a chapter up, we make up for the days with that number of updates (multiples) in one day. Or just as much as possible before the month is out lol.