Chapter 1
Popsicles
Song(s) recommend: Hello by Claire
Young dumb and broke by Khalid
The sun is blisteringly hot today, relentlessly beating down on both high schoolers as they slump under their favorite tree near a 7-Eleven. The sun sneers down on them with harsh rays that cause even the all-perfect Claudia to break into a sweat. Beads of it slide down their foreheads as Sarah desperately hangs onto the last of her melting store-bought popsicle. Claudia has already deep throated hers long ago, what Sarah thinks is a stupid move. "Don't worry, it will get better soon." sighs Claudia as she leans into Sarah who puts her arm around the other girl. Their school bags sit neglected to the other side of the tree as the girls bask in the hot sun, not a care in the world. "Hey I heard about this party that's happening tonight, you wanna go?" asked Claudia as she melted into the other girl. For some reason, Sarah's body tensed up at the touch. "Sure it sounds like fun." replied the girl. The two girls continue to sit in the blistering heat. They're close. Not brave enough to be lovers but pathetic enough to be best friends. "I'm going to get another popsicle," says Sarah standing up and stretching. "You want anything?" she asks the other girl. "Just refill my cup please," she replies, handing Sarah a red solo cup with soda residue sitting in the bottom. As she walks into the 7-Eleven, she hears the bell ding prompting the cashier to come out from the back room. She refills the cup with soda and heads up to pay. The cashier looks at her weirdly and then almost as if he made a connection says, "Hey Sarah!" She looks at him confused, "I'm sorry, do I know you?" she says, trying to figure out how he knows her name. "I'm Trent! I sit next to you in science," he explains while giving her change back. "Oh. Well, it's nice seeing you." Sarah says, starting to head to the door. After heading back outside, she hands Claudia her drink and the two start to walk away. While they are walking, Sarah realizes it's much colder without Claudia's body against her even in the suffocating heat.