U.H Book One // Hegemony {ON HOLD}

• Chapter Fifteen •

   The walk was rather short, since Leila lived so close to the snow cone shack. We were all chattering along as we walked. We talked over one another about my dreams and about Cedric, and the upcoming competition. Everyone was incredibly shocked I had joined since I tend to preach 'Make peace not war' all the time.

Except for Leila of course, she knew why I joined. I didn't tell the others about what the deal was about, I just said we made one. They all seemed very curious, but luckily they left it alone. Star asked me about six times before getting the hint, but the others gave up immediately. I wasn't going to budge.

We arrived at the snow cone shack quickly, and a sweet-looking giraffe hybrid with a lot of freckles asked us what we wanted.

"Blueberry please!" Leila exclaimed.

"I'll have cherry." Violet said thoughtfully.

"Watermelon raspberry!" Star said excitedly.

"Uh..Blue raspberry." Silas muttered uncertainly.

I was attempting to hide the smirk on my face.

'My friend group has so much diversity'
I thought, amused.

Then I realized it was my turn and I hadn't even thought of a flavor. I quickly skimmed the board, and said the first thing that I saw. I didn't even know what I said but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a good flavor. I wasn't going to correct myself, though. I was too shy.

We all sat down at the picnic table under the cherry blossom while we waited for our snow cones.

"Everyones been saying the competition tickets reflect the bearers personality," Violet said suddenly and whimsically, "I noticed yours is practically golden." The spider hybrid looked thoughtfully at Leila, who smiled proudly in response.

"Hmm.." Leila mumbled, "Maybe it means I have a heart of gold!"

"I believe that." I said unknowingly. In the corner of my eye, I saw Star's eyes snap towards me for a second. Then she looked down at her paws.

A while later we all got our snowcones. Everyone was eating theirs happily...but when I took a bite of mine (whatever it was) it tasted disgusting. I slid it to the side.

"Beatrice, your ticket was two different colors." Silas said softly, "I believe it was purple and..."

"White." I said. "Yeah. Purple and white. It looked pretty cool." I shrugged.

"Yeah you should find out what they mean. You read a lot, don't you?" Leila asked. I nodded.

"Well you can look it up in one of your many books." Leila joked. I smiled and shrugged.

"Don't like your snow cone?" Star asked glancing at my uneaten black snow cone. I felt my face beat up.

"Yeah...I kind of panicked and said the first flavor I saw." I heard her chuckle, "It doesn't taste very good."

She grinned, her eyes sparkling as she swapped my snow cone with hers.

"Wha?! You won't like that!" I exclaimed, pushing her snow cone back at her. She jabbed the spoon into it and shoveled a scoop into my mouth. Everyone laughed as I glared at her, red-faced, and mouth full of watermelon raspberry snow cone.