Tillie’s mouth locks in a grin. “Or maybe,” she starts, gently poking the other girl’s nose. “You’re just too good at it. And the universe knew we needed you. Well, me, anyway. I needed you. Need.” She pauses for a moment as to collect her thoughts. An exhausted sigh escapes her parted lips. She was too tired to elaborate. Acacia would just have to understand what she meant and be okay with it. She smiles when the girl returns her flask back to her, but it disappears just as quickly as it came. A frown now plaguing her face, she clicks her tongue twice.“A Wonderbra? Acacia.” Her spiel was incoming and inevitable. Even in her tipsy state she was prepared to give it. “We both know those are tools for the patriarchy. You don’t need one.” She stops her tangent then, thinking about how the events of the evening had previously unfolded. She hums quietly. “But I am quite glad it saved me tonight, regardless. Well, it and you.”
There was this sense Acacia got to always go somewhere and she usually chalked it down to what her parents and friends deemed her impulsive nature, but she was always there when a friend needed her. Sometimes it was off for some reason or another, but most of the time, Acacia was spot on even when she didn’t realize it. “I’ll always be there if you need me,” Acacia reassured after scrunching up her nose, “but I will not endure the nun’s wrath in your place. I’m not a martyr.”
Acacia had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. She could hear the inevitable change in tone that signaled Tillie’s spiel, as the older girl has heard it many times and completely agrees with every word. “I know, I know,” she was quick to say, in hopes to not get the drunk rendition of it, “but I didn’t do it for any male, I did it for me. Suffocating yes, but I don’t hate the confidence boost. Isn’t the root of it all to just be unashamedly female and do things for yourself, as a female, and not for or because of men?”
It was a moment of normalcy when they had both expressed their remarks simultaneously at how the other was dressed. It brought him back to his high school prom with Ana. That feeling of going to a dance, experiencing the one of the many moments that teens get. While it was something that he wrote off for his college experience, suddenly he realized how much he had truly missed these moments. Just two people, pining for the other, attending a dance where they would awkwardly sway to the music. The small pitter of his heart seemed the be reverberating in his head.
His eyes followed Acacia’s hand and scrunched his nose slightly when she made his hair messy. “Oh, that’s hardly true. I’m not… I’m not perfect. Especially standing next to you,” he gestured to the girl sheepishly. “If there was something close to perfection, it would be Acacia Buchanan,” he mused holding out his arm for her to take. “I’m glad you feel that way you know,” he paused, “er… Not wanting to do it with anyone else I mean,” he couldn’t gather his thoughts quick enough. They were all running through his head in this moment, teetering on the brim of what he more clearly wanted to say to her. They started making their way to the dance, which wasn’t that far from the boy dormitories. “I uh,” he cleared his throat. God he was so awkward around her. “I wasn’t really expecting you to ask me to the dance that is,” he chuckled sheepishly. “I’m sure there are other guys out there that can hold your attention far better than I can.”
She really could have just pushed the stray strand of hair back, but Dae somehow looked better with the loose strands, a little messing and falling on his forehead like they want to be. Of course, he also looked amazing completely dolled up with every strand in place, but letting it go for a little just made him look like it was all so effortless. To be Dae seemed effortless, to care about others, to be there for others, to be there for her. Acacia wanted to be like that, to have a positive mindset at the end of the day, regardless of how many hardships she faced. To be someone that people could depend on and rely on with no hesitation or issue. To be able to live life so effortlessly good, and living every day with such a good head on his shoulders. She admired all that and more about him. She loved that about him.
“I--” Acacia wanted to refute the statement, but her head was drawing up a blank. It was hard to not believe him when he said it, because Acacia knew she was not but he saw her as perfect and she wanted to be. She wanted to be for him and for everyone else, and that was the problem. “Thank you,” she settled on while taking his arm. They easily fell into step with each other, and Acacia for once realized she didn’t have to strain her neck too much to look up at him. “Not really. It’s weird. I feel like any guy who wanted me to ask them were just hoping to win a challenge. I would have been something to flaunt. I really wouldn’t have their attention much less have a good night. They’re nice, alright, but I don’t want just nice.”
Emmett’s muscles immediately relax from their tense state as he registers the face in front of him. Thank fucking god. Someone he actually liked. “Look, the punch bowl was closer than the water fountain and I was thirsty, okay? And actually, this punch isn’t half bad. You want some?” he smiles a little, “Also you look nice, Acacia.”
He could tell that she knew something was off about him, despite how well he was able to handle himself while drunk. This didn’t come as a shock. Out of anyone at Letroadec, Acacia knew him the best. She was like the older sister he never had and Emmett still held her at arms distance. He didn’t always like to think he did, but it was the truth. Emmett raises a brow when she tells him he owes her a dance. “Do I? Well, I’m honored…and I accept.”
“Won’t drink a drop of pop but will drink that when it’s necessary. I see how it is, Emmett. I understand.” She said it all with a teasing smile, but that was her relationship with Emmett. He reminded her of her little brother if he were to be in college with her, but the boy was still living it up his days in high school. “Thank you and you clean up nice as well, but that is to be expected of you, isn’t it?”
She looped his arm with his, pulling him away from the refreshment table and taking him to a place where they could sit. It was a pick or choose for her tonight, suffocate with the things she’s wearing while she’s sitting or ache in the heels that were on her feet. Even though Acacia did enjoy dressing up, being in the actual get up when there was nothing else to distract her, did come with its costs. “You do, but I’m not pulling you away from your actual date tonight? Or are you like the others from our French class that seemed to only come here for the extra credit?”
Tillie doesn’t understand what is happening until she’s wrapped up in Acacia’s arms, the two of them linked together like some two-headed entity. She’s thankful for her friend in that moment, quick witted enough to pull her through the predicament unscathed. She doesn’t know what she would’ve done had it been someone else. Tillie gave the chaperones a quick shrug of her shoulders, nonverbally telling the women that she was okay. Or, rather, would be okay. And as Acacia carries her somewhere private, she does believe that to be true. When they’re finally alone, she wraps her arms around the girl, pulling her in for a hug. It isn’t until she feels the cool metal against her on skin that she pulls away. “Yeah, I see that,” she says, a slight shiver running down her spine as her body recalls the feeling. She takes Acacia’s hand in her own.“I’m so sorry. Do you want some? It’ll be like, uh - a thank you sip!”
Acacia was already on her way to take the thing out of her dress when Tillie asked, already going to a decent swig. “You know, I thought I was done playing mom in high school when my friends would pull this, but apparently the only difference between public high school and a private religious college is repression, but that shouldn’t be a surprise.” The flask was already pretty light in her hands, which answered some questions of why Tillie didn’t seem like her normal composed self, however, that was like the rest of the student body at the moment so that really wasn’t a problem. She did put the thing straight into Tillie’s purse, not having another place to hold it on her person that wasn’t the top of her dress. “That was the most boob I’ve ever had in my life and there’s even a Wonderbra under here trying to help me out, but I can’t hide it for you so don’t drop it again.”
Dominick groaned at the idea of this night lasting any longer, that he would have to continue standing in his place by the wall for several more hours, watching the dull display. At first it was an interesting, a cultural lesson, but he’d heard the same song by the Beatles five times now and he was ready to go home. To himself, he wondered if he could just write everyone up and end the dance prematurely, but certainly another chaperone would stop him before he could succeed.
“Well, I’ve sold my soul for the rest of all eternity,” his tone was sarcastic but, technically, he wasn’t joking, “but yes I would like to know how much longer I have to stay at the dance.” He pondered over the idea of just walking out, but there were only two other chaperones. Certainly someone would notice, and then he’d be in hot water. It didn’t help that none of the other professors liked him at all. “You don’t seem to be having much fun either.”
“Considering what you revealed to the class on Monday, something about that does not feel like a joke, Professor.” Acacia had been meaning to talk to him about it all, but she could never find time in her schedule. It wasn’t even hesitancy because she was curious and wanted to know. There always were some issues and questions she had hidden away in her brain, too curious for her own good sometimes but there was no one there to give her answers or even humor her in her theories. It wasn’t for lacking confidence in herself to ask, but it really was lacking confidence in others, especially now that she was at such a religious institution (with only a curfew on female dorms, of course.)
Acacia barely shrugged her shoulders, looking back around to see Dae where she last left him. It was still very early in the night, despite how drunk and rambunctious the rest of the student body seemed to be, but then again, there were only so many hours they had to enjoy this kind of freedom before all the girls were ‘locked-up’ again. “I’m having as much as I can be at the moment. The night is still young and I’m not the one waiting that the clock’s hands would move faster.”
Eve was lost in her thoughts, mindlessly humming along to the music. She wasn’t necessarily sad she didn’t have a date - she wasn’t at school for dates. Although it would’ve been nice. She jumped at the woman’s voice, not noticing her advance, “Hm?” Eve’s automatic response, she analyzed the girls face before quickly realizing it was Acacia from her French class. She didn’t know much about her, only that she was an upperclassman and Eve was one of the younger students in the course; the age gap made making friends harder for her. It took her a moment to remember where she was, she looked down at her dress and it clicked. “Oh, um, thank you.” It was one of Eve’s Sunday’s Best dresses, which rarely made appearances outside the church.
“I’m alone, by choice though.” Eve didn’t bother asking anyone, she wasn’t interested in entertaining a sweaty mongrel didn’t exactly excite her. “I’m here for the extra credit, really.”
The short responses didn’t really throw Acacia off too much. Somehow, she’s managed to get a knack for getting conversation out of anyone that was willing, or at least getting it out when the other person seemed uncomfortable about the situation as a whole. It wasn’t as if she seemed to be troubled, but something did seem off and Acacia was a little worried about the younger girl. Well to be fair, she was worried about most of her classmates from their shared French class since Monday. Maybe worried was the wrong word, but there was mild concern and intrigue to what the professor revealed.
“By choice?” Going alone to a dance was nothing new but Acacia only ever did once. It wasn’t unheard of, and with this day and age, it wasn’t going to be uncommon, but somehow in the spirit of these changing times, their Catholic school decided it was time for the girl’s to ask and for the most part it seemed like most of the female population jumped at the chance. “Any reason why?” Acacia asked, hoping she wasn’t prying too much
The thought of being seen at a school dance made Emmett want to vomit. Why did Professor König have to assign their attendance as extra credit? Of course, Emmett was going to take advantage of that, but why the dance? He would have done an extra five papers if it meant he could have skipped it. So, as a way to combat his nerves, he put back an entire bottle of Merlot in the entirety of the time he spent getting ready, which was about fifteen minutes. He arrived in Baker Hall fashionably late to find that the room was full of people. The music, the decorations, the lights - it was all a great distraction for his hazy mind. However, his mouth needed to start smelling less like alcohol, so he made his way to the bowl of punch. After serving himself some, he turned, unexpectedly coming face to face with someone familiar. “Shit! Jesus. You scared me.”
“You’re more jumpy than usual,” Acacia replied, way too amused by his reaction. Of course, he did scare her too, but she managed to tone her reaction down to just a quick widening of her eyes. She usually was more easily spooked, but with the music going on and the loud chatter around her from people trying to talk over the music, Emmett’s loud burst was nothing. “I’ve never seen you beeline it to something so unnaturally sugary.”
Seeing Emmett at a school gathering was not odd, but knowing there was extra credit involved made more sense for Acacia to run into her dear friend on this fair evening. But him downing something red that wasn’t red wine seemed wrong. Although Acacia really couldn’t say how much she knew of the male to safely assume anything. “You owe me a dance tonight, sir.”
Tillie stumbled down the old corridors of Le Troadec with a hazy mind and a belly full of liquor. It wasn’t like her to openly be in such a state, but she figured the circumstances more than justified her behavior. School functions made her nervous. In the three years she’d been at her university she managed to avoid them. She much preferred the safety and quiet of her room, where small talk and dancing were not a requirement. She thought she’d be able to make it to the end of her fourth year without giving in. But here she was, spending her Friday night in a dress she hated, succumbing to the fear of missing out on extra credit.
She’d assumed the alcohol would calm her nerves, but in truth she felt the same amount of anxiety. Though, now, she was a bit more willing to dance if the music was acceptable. Tillie takes a swig of the alcohol again, wiping her chin with the back of her hand as she makes her way towards the event. She doesn’t know who the flask belonged to. Having stumbled upon it while sitting on a bench in the SLUG earlier today, she decided to keep it. What were the odds that the universe would give her exactly what she needed to get through the night? She wasn’t going to pass it up, that was for certain. Upon opening it, she couldn’t tell what the dark liquid was sloshing around in the container. However one whiff clarified that it was rum. It’s so strong she almost gags, and when she takes a sip it burns her throat. But it’s all she’s got, so she doesn’t complain.
The swing of the music guides the girl to Baker Hall. She’s dreading seeing the familiar faces of her peers, but she feels a few sips braver than she did before. After taking one last discreet swig, she reaches into her purse to hide the flask. But in the brief moment where her eyes neglect the view ahead, her body knocks into someone else. Her feet don’t quite catch up and she’s falling forward before she has the chance to stop herself. A desperate hand clutches the other person’s arm to avoid crashing into the ground, but her flask flies out of her grasp and slides a few feet away in the process. “Shit-” She whispers sharply. She wants to shout a thousand insults, but she knew that her mouth wouldn’t work as fast as her brain wanted it to. She also knew that this mess was probably her fault. Realizing her hand is still clutching their arm, Tillie releases and stands up straight as quickly as she can, restoring her balance. “Um watch out?”
Acacia barely heard the sound of metal hit the floor over the music, but then she felt something hit her heel and the girl had to push away too much skirt to see what it was. Then she heard curse and her attention was pulled over to Tillie acting extremely unlike herself. The blonde girl quickly scooped up the metal flask, shoving it into the little room she had in the top of her dress––almost hissing at the cold pressing against her skin, and rushed to the aide of her friend before it caused a scene.
“Hi. Sorry about that,” Acacia quickly said, pulling the other girl into her arms. “She borrowed my shoes for the night and they don’t really fit.” Giving the best acting she could muster to get out of an awkward situation and before any of the chaperones could take notice. The older of the two managed to get them away, letting the poor other student get back to their night, and Acacia let out huge sigh of relief, well the best she could in how much her own dress was pressing against her ribcage. “Don’t worry about your compact. I have it.”
The idea of a Sadie Hawkins dance didn’t interest Eve much, it was the people who would be attending. She was looking forward to seeing familiar faces from her Advanced French course, everyone was fiending for any form of extra credit so their attendance was expected. Eve was also looking forward to seeing her Professor there as well, she knew something was bound to happen. The dance was held in Baker Hall, which was known to have ridiculously slick wooden floors, which was also bound to be interesting, Eve had fallen victim to it a few times herself. Although hopeful, she was also dreading this stupid dance. Eve wasn’t a big dancer herself, and she didn’t have many friends; acquaintances plenty, but few people she would expect to acknowledge her at a social event nonetheless. She figured she would stay, have a chat with the few she knew and head back to finish up on her reading.
Eve walked into the dimly lit meal hall, which had been cleared into a massive dance floor, she noticed the punch bowl, an unhuman colour red liquid sloshing in the crystal serving bowl. She winced at the thought of the drunkards trying to spike it, ultimately resulting in disaster. The music was playing just loud enough to be able to hear it; Eve checked her watch, 7:52pm, she was early, as usual. A few people lingered around the sides of the wall, pairs of dates. Eve didn’t bother asking any boy to the dance, she knew the answer would’ve been no regardless. Eve clicked her tongue and walked over to the punch bowl and grabbed one of the paper cups provided and filled her glass, bringing it to her lips and taking a sip. The juice was untainted, and devilishly sugary. Eve spun on her heel to find a seat. A few tables had been set up in the back, probably for dates wanting ‘intimate time’ or whatever they expected. She cut across the floor, and sat down alone. Placing her cup on the table, she glanced over the scene once more, eager to make her departure and just get it over with.
Acacia and Dae didn’t get to the dance too late, but it seemed like it as there were a considerable amount of people continuing to make their way into Baker Hall. Despite the fact that she did have a date for the night, Acacia didn’t want to be hanging on his arm all night. They had the whole night to be around each other and she wasn’t going to drag him around. A glance around the hall, Acacia saw a familiar face by herself, which seemed odd. She told Dae in a few words that she would be right back, waiting for his understanding, before leaving his side to go to the table that a bored girl in pink seemed to have acquired as her date for the night.
“You look lovely tonight,” Acacia said, hoping to not intrude on the girl. Although she knew many faces around the campus, she still struggled with names. What Acacia did know was that she was in her French class, and she was pretty sure it was Eve, but Acacia wasn’t going to take a chance in the chance she was wrong. “Are you here alone?”
The nerves had definitely got the best of Dae as he got ready for the Sadie Hawkins dance. Earlier in the week, he was convinced that Acacia wasn’t going to ask him. So surprise was definitely the feeling that had been brewing inside of Dae when she popped the question. It was just a silly dance, right? One that they were going to simply for the fact Dom had decided to make going to the dance extra credit. That’s why she asked him right? Not to mention that they were friends, and strictly that. Yet, he found himself a bumbling mess when she asked him. Playing it cool around Acacia was not an option for Dae.
Whatever. He couldn’t spend all of his time overthinking her decision to ask him. And now here she was set to pick him up before they made their way to the dance. He stood in front of the mirror, fiddling with that stupid piece of hair that would never sit with the rest of them for an extended period of time. It always ended up falling. He was a little startled when he heard a knock at his door. He rushed over, trying to play it cool, even though that was pointless. He let out a big sigh before opening the door to reveal Acacia standing there, in a stunning blue dress that hugged onto her curves. “Wow,” he couldn’t help but smile, feeling his hair fall out of formation again. “I guess we should go to this thing, right?”
She had her arms behind her as she stared at the wood door. Her elbows were cradled in her hands behind her, holding back all attempts to knock on wood because Acacia was nervous. She barely had any memory of asking him, but she did somehow and somehow he said yes and now here she was with way too much hairspray in her hair and wear a beautiful dress sent from her parents that, although it was very flattering, she was barely finding any comfort in. It was maybe just a tinge too tight in the chest area and a little too low in the back for a Catholic school, but it was the only thing she had to wear and she wasn’t going to not go.
Acacia wrestled her arms out of the weird entanglement she got herself into and knocked on the door, not wanting to stall any longer. And the moment the door opened to reveal his face, all worries she had just a moment ago disappeared, blown away as if there was a small gust of wind that blew through the halls of the boy’s dormitories. “Wow,” she said, if not at the same time as him. The stray piece of hair fell onto his forehead and Acacia reached out to pull down a few others, barely brushing his forehead with her fingers. “There. Now you don’t look absolutely perfect and I feel better about myself.” But somehow being within his gaze was enough for all the confidence in the world to surge in her. Being anywhere around him just made Acacia feel better. “We should. Last year of doing these things and I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else.”
Dominick was now thirty-two, almost thirty-three years of age, and was currently attending his very first dance. They simply were not the norm during his time in school, and to an extent, he found the concept a little silly. So, when they practically demanded he chaperone the Sadie Hawkins dance, he was more intrigued than vexed. Would anyone actually care or show up? Most of his students would, he know that, after he offered extra credit, but beyond that, he had no idea what to expect.
He was pondering this idea while glued to the side of the large mess hall the dance was taking place in. Admittedly, he was a little stoned and a little late to his duties. He hadn’t expected the event to be such a big deal, but the dance was bustling with taffeta and tulle and drunk minors who were not hiding it well. He supposed perhaps his duties would include throwing said minors out, but what was the point of university if you didn’t have a little fun, anyways?
“You wouldn’t happen to know how long this thing lasts, would you?” He asked the person standing next to him, refusing eye contact in fear that his eyes might be too pink.
Her decision to skip out on many of the pregame invites in lieu of getting an extra hour to work on one of her assignments was now turning into a bad one. It was an odd sense of being relaxed and on edge at the same time as the whole place was filled with young adults pushing their limits with the Catholic restrictions that were in place for a social gathering, but it seemed like none of the more prim professors and campus staff were in attendance, much less any of the more secular of the staff. Students were still expected to show up to chapel tomorrow but apparently if half of the usual attendees weren’t there, it wouldn’t be a surprise.
“Probably too long for anyone’s liking but mostly everyone breaks off for their own thing before the night is really over,” Acacia answered, finding her French professor looking more out of place than some. She happened to show up next to him, a little away from where the smell of alcohol seemed to congregate with the various perfumes and hairspray in the room. The air was electric and everything was fun but Acacia just didn’t feel like participating just yet. “Are you asking because you need to know how long you’ve sold your soul for? I’m pretty sure you can sneak out and no one would really tell.”
King of Swords Reversed
–– quiet power, inner truth, misuse of power, manipulation
The box was thrown onto her bed with little thought while Acacia searched room for a pair of scissors slice through the tape. Her dorm apartment address was in the familiar scrawl of her mother’s handwriting and Acacia could not think of what her mom could have sent over despite the younger girl was back in her childhood home a few weeks ago. Acacia pulled out a second box and along with it, a note that seemed to take flight with the wind that it gathered. Amused having to catch a flying note, the young girl scanned the words of her mother’s pristine penmanship before letting out a deep sigh.
Opening the box to find a beautiful new dress in a light blue, the satin catching all the light was supposed to make Acacia happy. And for the most part she was. It was a considerate gift from her mom to have sent down, her parents knowing of the forthcoming Sadie’s Hawkins dance from the school newsletter, but even if it wasn’t directly said, the message was clear: College is almost done, find yourself a husband, and settle down.
The worst part of it all was that Acacia really understood where it came from and it felt like what they wanted was the easiest path for her. No matter how smart she was, no matter how well she did in school, her role in life had one true end, no matter what else she had to offer the world. And the scariest part of it all was she was starting to believe it. She didn’t know what was going to happen after her final school year. There were decisions to make that are looming over her head but even then Acacia was starting to doubt her own judgement.
Eight of Wands Upright
–– movement, fast paced change, action, alignment, air travel
It was only the fourth week into the semester but it felt like time was moving too fast. Midterms and term projects were looming around the corner and all Acacia wanted to do was scream at time to stop, just for little. Day to day, she at least knew what she needed to do. Read those chapters, find five more sources for her research paper, get her notes back from Cameron from her Public Admin class––her to-do list was never ending but Acacia managed with the level head. The short-term goal always was good grades, regardless of what was to come next. Grad school, public administration, a law firm? It wasn’t as if it was a gaping black hole at the end of her school career, but none if it felt right and none of it made sense.
Acacia had no time to really worry because at least everything else felt like it was falling into place. It was her final year and she was stressed, but she was flying through. She was like a leaf in the wind, letting the current take her where it needed her to go, harnessing all the energy and joy there was to life. To get to spend time with her friends and learn things, to welcome the cool autumn nights and socialize with her peers between classes with toasty cups of coffee in their hands discussion how the world is changing and how it was theirs to do with as they wish.
Even if she felt like she wasn’t doing enough, Acacia at least knew she was at least doing good.
Knight of Cups Upright
–– creativity, romance, charm, imagination, beauty
But even as she sat on her bed looking at the beautiful dress, the satin feeling like water under her finger tips, Acacia felt this weight in her heart warm like its own mini sun. A dance where it was in the girl’s power to ask felt very right and there was only one person that Acacia would want to ask, even if it was against her better judgement.
Even if she was a little annoyed at the hidden message, it was still a beautiful dress. She pulled it out from the box and let it cascade down like a fabric waterfall before holding it close to her body, pretending like there were arms circling around her from behind with a head coming to rest on top of hers, forming that wonderfully goofy grin she loved so much.
It was a scene in her head that Acacia could only wish she could capture on paper. Her own doodles were taken from real life, scenes that really showed no emotion than through the roughness of her lines. She’s never tried to really capture human likeness, no that was for someone that was truly talented and gifted with a pencil, and had the time to practice and practice. Acacia was good at art, but she was better at studying, even if one was a little more fun,
As she put the dress away in her wardrobe, a decision was made, her heart for once talking a lot louder than her head. She had the dress and it was her last year, even if she felt like it was she has aged out of by now, going to the dance was a better way to spend an evening before her nights were taken by group study sessions and essay writing. And she had a date in mind.
“Uh…” Dan didn’t mean to stare, but something about the girl seemed off. “A cup of coffee?” He awkwardly glanced at the clean coffee machine behind him, then back to the girl. “Right, well-” he scratched at his cheek, trying to make a decision. Acacia, he knew her from Advanced French. Actually, he knew her before they shared a class. One of the shining fourth-years, Acacia was someone he heard about the moment he entered Le Troadec. He never actually met her, just saw her in the halls, heard praise about her. Maybe it was her reputation, but suddenly he was reaching for a fresh bag of coffee beans. And maybe he should have told her ‘no’ and closed up as he planned. He wouldn’t know, he just began instinctively filling the coffee machine. “Want sugar in it?” He asked her over his shoulder.
“It’s fine, not the first time,” Dan smiled to himself. He grabbed a clean coffee mug from the cupboard, then grabbed the coffee decanter. “Funny enough, I’m pretty sure we have a class together,” he spoke idly as he placed the decanter under the machine’s nozzle. Once the machine began to warm up and a few drops of coffee leaked into the decanter, he turned around and leaned against the counter. Folding his arms across his chest, he smiled warmly at the young woman, “You wouldn’t happen to be in Advanced French with Dom, would you?”
.
The moment the boy started moving and she could smell the fresh beans being ground, Acacia’s heart rate seemed to ease. There was no explaining exactly what happened to her outside and Acacia wasn’t looking for an explanation. It was an odd occurrence and she didn’t need the worry of it to hang over her like the other thoughts that already festered in her mind. She reached for her bag, patting the space where it should be and feeling very reassured that it was there, even if it was slid behind her, but it was still there. There wasn’t too much in there, but she found the few bills of cash she carried with her at all times. “Oh yes. Please,” she said, turning her attention back to the boy. Acacia hoping her reply was quick and she didn’t seem so distracted, especially by the most mundane task.
She gave the boy a friendly smile as she finally made her way away from the door and to the counter. “I promise it’ll be the first and last time,” she replied, meaning to hope for the situation as a whole. “I am. You’re Dan, right? I recognize you. Advanced French with Dr. Dominick König. I’m Acacia, but I think you may already know that.” Acacia appreciated the smile, feeling it as warm as the coffee he was brewing and easily returned one, eased by the presence of the younger boy. The paper bills were pulled out of her bag, placing a crisp five on the counter. “You can keep the change. It’s the least I can do since you’ve already cleaned up by the time I ran in here.”
“the truth is, i do love you, more than i should. and with you, the lines between platonic and romantic are blurred and i’m sort of fucked up like that, i’m kind of a tangled mess of affection for you that can’t sort itself out. i don’t know platonic from romantic when i’m near you, and i do love you. i just don’t know how.”
— the truth always hurts, but i never meant to tell you (via hcneybaby)
