Chapter Forty: Rooftops// Fiery Rainbows
I met her the next day at a coffee shop and we walked out when the doors closed, a cup of frappuccino in her hands and an espresso in mine. I gave a slight laugh.
"What's up?" She looked up at me, sucking at the straw between her lips.
"There's a friend back home who's...obsessed with coffee. I was just reminded of her. This is the kind of thing she'd do."
"Girlfriend?"
I stopped in my tracks. "No. No, of course not. I— I mean..." I stammered. "Not that there's anything wrong with her. She just....she's more of a little sister." I pursed my lips and smiled awkwardly.
Cecilia gave me a long look. "Oh. I just assumed..."
"I'm single."
"Oh." She gave a small laugh.
"That was a bit abrupt. I didn't mean..."
"It's fine. I get it. You don't have a girlfriend. I'll keep that in mind." She glanced at me slyly and kept walking. My ears warmed up and I tossed my empty cup in the trash before catching up with her. She took another sip and stared at the cloudy sky, eyes following the flocks of birds that flew past.
"Y'know... "
"Hm?" I waited.
"I always wanted to see one of those fiery rainbows."
"You've never seen a rainbow? You're kidding."
She smiled and shook her head rapidly. "No, that's not what I meant. I mean, one of those rainbows that isn't a full curved arc. It's...a partial rainbow, but the shape makes it look like fire. Flames." She looked at me. "You know what I mean?"
"Um." I nodded slowly. "I guess."
"You have your phone?"
"Yeah." I slipped it out of my back pocket, put in the password, and handed it to her.
"Thanks."
A few minutes later she handed it back to me. "That. That's a fiery rainbow."
I snorted, scrolling through the pictures. "Looks photoshopped."
She chuckled and turned away, cheeks turning pink. "No, it's not. It's real." She pouted, going back to her drink.
"Sure it is."
Clicking her tongue, she pushed my arm. "Oh shut up. I just...it would make for a nice picture, is all. Nevermind."
I laughed. "If it's real, I'm sure you'll see one eventually."
She smiled. "Will you be there? Watching things like that isn't fun alone."
"Of course."
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A/N: An example of a fiery rainbow has been added in the images part of this chapter! :)
Cheers! See you tomorrow! ♡
-Autumn
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The Moth
Teen FictionNoel Lane is a worn-out college student, spending nights on his rooftop looking for answers in the silence and sky. When a strange girl with broken eyes and a soft smile appears one night, he's intrigued. She claims she's a "moth," drawn to other...
