Snakes and Ladders

Chapter 17: Sucking On A Lollipop!

Glaring lights was the first thing Emilia witnessed when she woke up.

Bright, unforgiving brightness blinded her. She winced instantly, snapping them shut.

After several seconds, she took another shot at it, slowly opening her eyes again, her vision gradually getting better as her eyes adjusted to the lights.

She glanced around, and noticed she was in a white tent. Medical and cleaning supplies scattered messily along the grass.

She tried to sit up, but almost momentarily her head erupted in jarring pain. She felt like she had just been smacked in the head with a hammer, several times over.

Clutching her head, she laid back down, in the process, gripping her bundle of wrapped blankets tighter around her midriff.

Content in being sandwiched between various blankets, Emilia easily began to drift off once more into unconsciousness, darkness greeting her.

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Emilia's body flexibly jerked back when she felt a cold object against her forehead. She blinked several times, until February's face came into view. She offered her a kind smile, as she gently brushed the cold cloth against her.

"How are you?" She asked her voice almost a murmur.

Emilia smiled weakly "I'm fine" she said ignoring her pounding headache.

February made a little sound in her throat, obviously not believing her blatant lie.

"Really?" She inquired, unconvinced.

She bit her lip.

Guess there's no point in lying.

"Okay fine. My brain feels like mush, and my head hurts, like a lot" Emilia muttered out

February nodded, ushering her with her hand to continue.

"I guess...I don't know, like my brain guts are bowling, pounding down the pins of my head" Emilia grimaced "It really sucks" she lamented

February offered her a apologetic smile "Well I'm sorry you feel that way. From what info you gave me it appears that you have a mild concussion, luckily nothing too major. A few well rested nights of sleep and the occasional water bottle and you should be good to go" She reported acting like I was her patient.

"Wait hold up. How do you know all of this?"

"I've had my fair share of concussions and cuts and bruises. I know the basics and symptoms" She replied back, while she shuffled her hand through her purse, looking for something.

"Aha!" She exclaimed finding the lost item, pulling out a plastic wrapped lollipop.

She held the candy out towards Emilia "Here you go!" She chirped

Emilia stared blankly at it.

Was this girl serious?

Noticing her facial expression, Emilia deemed it not. She opened her mouth to politely reject when February cut her off.

"Ooh! Wait! Do you want a different flavor instead?" She asked frantically scanning her face.

"No-" but she was once again interrupted.

"Hold up! Don't worry sweetie I'll find a different flavor. Who likes peach flavored lollipops anyway?" She responded, rummaging through her bag hastily.

Emilia sighed, giving up. She decided she would just take the damn lollipop.

February threw out several makeup appliances, one after another. Chucking shimmery lip glosses, bold tubes of lipstick, black mascara, concealer, basically anything that a makeup guru would have out onto the grass.

In her silent examination of February's vast number of products, a voice jolted her from her inspection.

Not even glancing at February, he spoke. "February the girl doesn't want any of your weird tasting grandma lollipops"

She stopped in her searching, giving Tatum a heated glare.

"How would you know?" She accused then proceeding to shift her gaze onto Emilia "You want one of my wonderful lollipops right?" She asked sweetly, looking hopeful with her doe brown eyes.

Emilia gulped glancing between the two "Yup. Totally" she choked taking February's side.

After all, it was just a lollipop right?

Tatum narrowed his eyes "No she doesn't. She's just being nice!" He came closer to her, leaning down towards her ear.

"It's really fine if you don't want Feb's stupid lollipops. It's totally understandable" He whispered into her ear. His cinnamon chocolate scented breath making Emilia blush from his close proximity.

She was initially surprised by the genuineness of his tone. From what she had seen so far, he acted cold hearted and calculative. This was a whole new side to Tatum Beaumont, and it was a change she deeply liked. She let out a giggle, making if she saw correctly, a small smile curl onto his lips.

February however wasn't having any of it.

"Alright you romantic weirdos, flirting hour is done. Emilia" she called her name bringing her attention to February. Her face was strict as she announced "You are having this damn lollipop whether you like it or not"

Tatum looked like he was about to object, but Emilia held up a hand stopping him.

"It's fine" She held out her hand, palm side up. "Give me two peach lollipops"

Both Tatum and February looked confused.

Emilia decided to clarify. "One for me" Emilia said pointing to herself. "And one for Tatum" she finished moving her finger to him.

Tatum's face twisted with disgust "Absolutely not" he spat out with contempt, looking at the lollipop like it was his greatest foe.

Emilia ignored him, February wearing a smirk on her face as she placed two lollipops into her hand wordlessly.

Emilia quickly threw away the wrapper, popping the sucker into her mouth before practically jamming it into Tatum's hands.

She didn't why it happened, but after seeing Tatum's soft side she was significantly less afraid of him.

A overwhelming amount of new confidence in herself she uttered "Eat" her voice muffled due to her lollipop.

Both girls looked expectantly at him. When Tatum remained unresponsive, February took the matter into her own hands.

"Oh my god! Just eat it you big baby!" She exclaimed irritably

"No Feb! I won't" he argued back

Her eyes darkened immensely. And lemme just say Emilia was hella glad she wasn't the one in February's line of fire.

"If you don't eat it. I will revoke your weekly mint chocolate chip cupcakes" she threatened with a growl.

Seeing his horrified look, Emilia resisted the urge to laugh. If the situation wasn't so deadly serious, she definitely would have.

Tatum's electric blue eyes still widened, he finally surrendered with a resigned sigh and stuffed the candy into his mouth.

"Happy?" He grumbled

February beamed "Very! Now say cheese!" Before any of them knew what was happening February snapped a picture of them both, lollipop sticks hanging out of their mouths. Eyes startled like deers caught in traffic lights.

Both were still frozen in shock after the picture was done, too aghast to say anything. February's excited shrieks penetrating their ears as she proclaimed that the picture was "Instagram worthy!"