IT'S FINE, it's fine!
Assured the red-headed girl, a big smile reaffirming her carefree words.
Her friend, however, was a bit more skeptical, as her one slightly arched brow indicated. The worried abyssinian look didn't stop her friend from accompanying her home, so the two girls ended up talking all evening until the sun was dropping on the now orange horizon line. But, little did she know what path she had chosen.
Shit!
Adda flinched as another menacing shadow brushed her shoulder, cursing internally and verbally at every sinister encounter she suffered. The night was set and the fint light of the crescent moon was barely enough to guide the girl's route home. She took a look at her luminous mobile phone that seemed to engulf the moonlight. Her eyes instantly grew wide open.
Shit, shit, shit! My mom's gonna kill me!
She whispered, a bit too loudly, increasing the speed of her steps. Once she got safe home and made sure to lock the front door as quiet as a mouse, she glanced around frantically, searching for her wrathful mum. A noise came out of her little brother's room and thinking she had recognised her mom's steps she jumped, her now sear throat wringing. She remained petrified until a bantam silhouette crossed the white painted wood door, revealing Ben instead. Without thinking twice, Adda sprinted upstairs, predicting her brother's next move barely five seconds prior to the catastrophe.
Muuuuum, Adda's hooome!
Like a dog whistle, the woman rapidly appeared enraged and with a killing stare. As the door that separated Adda from her consequences started to get pounded frantically she pressed her eyelids until they hurt, her hands slightly trembling. Then, for what seemed an eternity and a flash coetaniously, everythings went blank, until peace greeted her in her room again. There was no screaming, only a menacing silence that disquiet her subconsciously. She looked down to her hands, that, until a moment before, were fidgeting with the cell phone, and then, holding it with both palms, smiled asymmetrically and cackled nearly noiselessly.
Tsk, I didn't give her my phone.
Adda amused herself with the nonsensical scenario of her mind fixating on the pretty young girl she had met with that night after what had just happened, even if it practically seemed like a feverish nightmare. Her musculature relaxed as she sighted, somehow relieved.
• • •
With a bored look on her face, Adda was looking through the square-shaped window, her now warm left hand placed under her chin. She glanced in the distance, until, with the ravine of her eye, she saw a small shadow blotch casted over her arm. As she redirected her sight, she realized what it was, and quickly covered it with her black and green sleeve. Probably no one had been staring at her, or so she wished. Then, she paid attention to the teacher's words, forcing herself to take notes, even if she had lost the thread of the conversation fifthteen minutes ago.
Once the bell had rang and she had put a foot off the class, a big presence made her aware of who was following her: Travis, a friend of hers. The tall boy adjusted himself to Adda's pace and without saying a word accompanying her down stairs. The girl was expecting him to ask for the homework, for the next class after the playtime or for the subject that had just ended, but he seemed to have already learnt that Adda never had any of that information.
Once they were outside, Adda stopped without previous warning, annoyed by the intrigue. He stopped too, and laughed under his nose before answering the silent question of his friend.
I just wanted to ask you if you are free this saturday. A couple friends and I wanted to go party so I thought...
His phrase was left unfinished, as he expected her to respond before he could repeat himself, but Adda was thinking, her eyebrows lowered and her mouth shut tight.
Lemmy guess, you can't.
A tone of disappointment in his voice and his rolling eyes were enough for her to understand that rejecting him every time was the best way to lose her friend. To try and amend it she rapidly responded with a half excuse.
Believe me when I say I would go, It's just-
Don't tell me you're studying all weekend, I know it's not true.
His sharp reply denoted anger, but his face softened in a second and changed to sadness.
Whatever. See you later.
She raised her hand to reach for him, she wished she could explain to him the real reason but she really had no clue how to solve it. Instead, she let him walk away to reunite with other classmates, probably resenting her.
The guilt only grew bigger when Adda was writing her phone number on her beautiful girl friend's mobile, although she was the one allowing those feelings to run down on her as a defense against the embarrassment and tingling she felt when she accidentally touched with her bony fingers the girl's soft hand. She was unable to look at her in the eyes, convinced that the act would reveal her burning cheeks that contrasted against her pale skin.
Here!
She returned gruffly the device, contained energy flowing electrically through her arm and face. Caught off guard, her friend retrieved slightly, with her round eyes open wide. Despite everything, the little smile the pale girl put seemed enough to take things back to normal and continue chatting all afternoon long.
You know? I don't know if this is a "church girl" thing, but you sure act a bit weird.
That blunt answer felt like a waterfall on Adda, who was left despondent, with her mouth half open. But it was nothing compared with what came next.
Leaning over her, Tania wrapped Adda with her nude arm and drew her over, their bodies touching for the first time. The red-locked girl felt her body paralyzed against the soft warm feeling of Tania's cheering gaze as words came out of her big soft lips.
But you sure have your charm, girl, just don't be so awkward, okay?
A broken smile was the only sign of response and soon her arm came down, leaving a sense of loss on the other girl that extended to more that her words.
By the way, next time I'll show you a bit of ma' neighborhood, 'kay?
When no response came the previous sentence was decorated with some reassuring words.
I swear you'll like it!
Finally, a single-worded response left Adda's mouth, agreeing to the plan. Before she could add anything else to fill the silence her friend threw a warning accompanied by a serious and worried look.
Just don't wander there at night again, please.
Sure not! Last time was horrible! Like, a man...
Adda stopped herself when realized what she had just implied. It was too late to retract herself before the awaited reaction came.
A man WHAT???!!! FUCK!!! Someone harassed you?! Did you get hurt?
Her small hands leaned to hold Adda, but barely at one millimeter from her face the girl tried to sulk away from her hands, sinking her left elbow on the park grass, with her other hand in front of her, palm half-opened. To put it worst, when trying to maintain some distance between the two of them, her right hand slipped, ending too close to Tania's chest, who was only midway-down covered by a black sleeveless top with a wide scot.
I-I'm fine! Really!
Panicked Adda.
Putting her hands on her friend's knees Tania expressed her worry and apologized for letting her walk on such a dangerous scene alone, hugging her as she could. At this point, Adda was no longer resisting, but rather puzzled by why she was making such a fuss about it.
Tania, I'm fine!
This time her tone was more soft and sweet, her mind focused on calming down her anxious friend.
Adda's heart raced, as her gaze crossed with Tania's eyes. She wanted to say something, but her lips were sealed against her will.
Like a dream too good to be true, the time to end came, abrupt, and that was the only signal needed for the pale girl's mind to obstruct any type of thought unrelated to the past event. Adda already knew that night was gonna be quite a long and torturous one.
At least It has been a warm moment shared together.
________________