Of the Twisted and the Lost

Chapter 8:

"I still can't believe that Avelyn would have the nerve to act so innocent!" Cami growls, her lips turning downwards. 

Sera stares pointedly at her friend's ice cream cone. "You should probably focus on eating," she tells Cami. "Otherwise you might end up spilling all the good stuff." 

After the long and dragging hours of school, the students are finally dismissed. Sera and Cami are at their usual bench, eating strawberry ice cream. 

"Oh, shut up." Cami waves a dismissive hand, and Sera watches in satisfaction as a glop of pink liquid drips onto the stone concrete. "But you can't tell me I'm not right." 

Sera hesitates. "She honestly seemed like she was telling the truth," Sera says, grimacing as her friend shoots her a dirty look. "But then again, what do I know?" 

Cami pouts. "You do realize she was born a liar, right?" she replies. "Her first word was probably a lie."

Sera bites her lip, before licking her ice cream. The familiar taste of creamy strawberry melts in her mouth and Sera shivers slightly. 

"Let's change the topic," Sera says. "I'm kind of tired of hearing about Avelyn."

Cami nods in agreement. "No offense, but is she the only one they can talk about?" Cami scoffs. "Like, hello?" 

Sera has to agree with her friend. Everyone in their school is buzzing about Avelyn like she's a celebrity after her debut movie. 

"But she also just came home after a coma," Sera adds. "And she hasn't had physical contact in a month." 

Cami just rolls her eyes. "Let's talk about something else," Cami says. "How about the fact that Junjie isn't interested in you — and you literally just tackled him this morning." 

Heat travels through Sera's cheeks. That action had been a spur in-the-moment thing, and now that she looks back, the girl now regrets doing that. 

"That was an accident," she lies. "Someone shoved me and I bumped into him." 

Cami smirks. "Girl, stop lying," Cami says. "I know for a fact that you purposely bumped into him. So spill the tea." 

"What tea?" 

"You know, why you like him so much? I thought you used to think he was a self-centered, arrogant jerk who dumped you as a friend." 

"I used to think that." 

"What changed?" 

"Didn't I already tell you?" 

"You did, yes, describe his physical appearance and how hot he looked — but you didn't say why you liked him." 

Sera crosses her arms. "You're just trying to make me embarrassed, aren't you?" she points out. "Because seriously, I swear I already told you why." 

Cami's lips turned upwards. "Tell me again!" Cami chirps. "I want to know all the details, okay? Do not leave anything out." 

An irritated sigh escapes Sera's lips. 

* * * * 

It was raining — hard and heavy, pounding against the stone floor, each drop splattering against Sera's five-foot frame. 

Usually Tevine City had more sunshine, but that day, it rained. 

The fourteen-year-old freshman student at Tevine High huddled against the bus stop, the metal bench pressing against her purple blouse. 

Is the whole world mad at me? Sera wondered, lips tightening to a thin line. I get a B minus on my French assignment and then my mother starts flipping out on me. 

Kaelin and Sera had gotten into a huge fight, about Sera slacking out on work and Kaelin being too much of a pressuring parent. Chen, Sera's father, hadn't been there to soothe away the argument like he usually did, so after a few minutes of yelling, Sera had taken off out of the house. 

It has been about twenty minutes since Sera was in this position, resting her head into her arms, back leaned against the protruding metal. 

Tears leaked out of her eyes and Sera sniffled, hugging her body closer. 

"Hey." The voice was soft, barely hearable against the noise of the rain. "Are you okay?" 

Sera looked up, her mouth dropping open in surprise. It was Junjie, holding out an umbrella in her direction. 

Before, they had been best friends since elementary. But after the whole "girls don't hang out with boys" thing in middle school, they split their different ways. 

"I'm fine," Sera mumbled, embarrassed that someone caught her crying. "But thanks for asking." 

Junjie studied her, before raising an eyebrow. "Why don't I believe you?" he asked, voice full of seriousness. 

"I don't know," Sera said, trying to quench the fluttering in her stomach, as the boy moved closer. 

She held her breath, watching as those tantalizing blue eyes settled on her. "Come on." Junjie extended his hand. "I know a place where we can go." 

"What?" she blurted. "But it's raining!" 

Junjie lifted one shoulder in a dismissive motion. "The rain doesn't hurt anyone," Junjie said. "Now are we going or not?" 

Sera gaped at his outstretched hand. "You barely talk to me now," she said. "Why are you doing this? Are you trying to kidnap me or something? Because if you do, I have a salt spray." 

His lips tilted into an amused smile. "Shouldn't it be pepper spray?" he corrected. 

She felt herself turning small. "It's a salt spray," Sera answered in a quiet voice. "My father wouldn't let me buy a pepper spray, so I filled a bottle with salt." 

This time, Junjie laughed out loud, his voice bouncing across the empty street. "Still the same, I see?" he teased. "Now come on, let's get out of here." 

Sera didn't hesitate this time. She took his hand. 

Junjie started running and Sera followed. The rain twirled and swirled, the wind dancing around her dark locks, but Sera didn't care. 

She liked the feel of her sneakers pounding against the cement, and she also liked the fact that someone warm was touching her hand. 

They ran and ran until Sera was gasping for air and Junjie panted beside her. 

"We're here," he said, pointing at a small mini overhang. "We can wait here until the rain is gone." 

And so they sat, until time ticked by and the wind stopped howling and the clouds cleared. They huddled together, until the rain slowed to a soft drizzle. 

"So," Junjie said. 

"So," replied Sera. 

Heat flooded her cheeks, as she tried to think of what to say. 

"Uh," she finally mustered out. "I have to go home now." 

Junjie held her gaze for a second before a soft smile graced his lips. "Then I suppose we'll see each other later?" he suggested. 

Sera nodded slowly. "I'd like that."