Jupiter Challenge - Week 7
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“How’s your assignments going?” I recline on my seat and she looks away immediately. “We’re on the same boat here, Annika. I won’t tell on you.”
She blows a strand of hair out of her face. “Fine. But let me preface this by saying that it’s barely been two weeks.” I withhold any comment about excuses and defensiveness, gesturing for her to continue. “Okay. So, one’s a total forbidden love thing and the other’s the garden variety best friends thing. They’re both the makings of a great fanfiction story if you replace them with characters and make them gay.” She pauses, her focus going a whole new direction for a moment before her pupils constrict. “Speak of the devil.”
The doors behind us open and two people walk in with wide grins on their faces and remnants of gut-busting laughter trailing behind them. The taller one is a natural beauty, dark skin, immaculate bone structure, bright smile. But that smile can’t compete with the boy’s, whose lips are spread wide to their breaking point. They walk arm in arm to the table a few feet behind us. Annika’s eyes follow them until they sit. A faint blush colors her cheeks. It’s not hers. It’s one of theirs, specifically the boy with the short red hair tucked in a beanie. He’s trying so hard to push his feelings down. Judging by the way his electrifying elation permeates the two cupids sitting not five feet away, none of it’s working.
Annika puts her chin on her palm, fingers wiggling a little as she plays with their Thread. “Rick and Gwen. Childhood best friends.” She says in a distant voice. A spike of pleasure comes from someplace else a little to the right. Annika pouts. “Gwen’s a tough one to convince her feelings for Rick isn’t just fondness that aged well.”
“Do you think it’s because Rick is the name he gave himself when he found how what being trans mean?” I comment.
“There’s that. But she’s as open to exploring her sexuality as anyone can get. At least, I hope.” Annika side-eyes me. “College has been good to Rick. Lots of people accept him and he’s found it in himself to be more confident. Now if that confidence can extend to taking the risk with his best friend…”
“That’s easy,” I begin, “all of you have to do –”
“I’d much rather figure that one out for myself, ex-trainer.” She interrupts, her attention off of her assignment for the moment. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I admire not wanting to seek help even when it’s right in front of you.” I say as the first wave of food arrives. “Gracias.” I smile at the server and he gives off a very distinct kind of glee. Annika snorts.
“D-De nada.” The breakfast sampler plate lands on the table a little too hard. “Oh god.”
“Hey, dude, it’s cool.” Annika lifts her hands. “No harm, no foul. My friend here does that to people.” What the hell is she doing? I keep smiling but I let her feel how much I don’t want this. She ignores me. “He can be a little dense,” I send a wave of annoyance at her, which she ignores too but her voice is tighter, “so if you want to make a move, make it very obvious.”
The server starts babbling, glancing at me, becoming more panicked by the second. He excuses himself before he gets sick in front of us. Annika evades the kick that is meant for her shin. She keeps herself from laughing. “You have to practice deflecting unwanted attention with a bad accent at some point.” She leans on her elbows. “This is revenge for that guy you sicced on me last year.”
My eyes narrow. That was a valid test to exercise her ability to think on her feet and she knows it. “You vindictive little girl.”
She waggles her head and flips her hair from both her shoulders. “I swore vengeance and vengeance is served, mofo.”
I drop my head into my open palms. There’s really no one else to blame but myself. “C’mon, don’t act like you won’t be able to do it in the smoothest way possible.” She nudges my knee with her foot.
“While true, it doesn’t mean I’ll enjoy it.” I sigh as the server comes with more food and I can see that I’ve been given more whipped cream than is prescribed. I’ve got two options here. Either I play ignorant foreigner who can’t pick up on social cues or I can play not-so-ignorant foreigner who can pick up on social cues and is going to turn down this presumably fine young man outright.
“Here you go, chocolate chip and strawberry banana pancakes.” He sets the plate with too much whipped cream beside my chorizo fiesta omelet and winks. “Will that be all?” He smiles at Annika then to me. It pains me to feel how excited he is with the prospect of me returning his attraction when I feel not a single thing. I can’t bring to shoot him down at the high of his emotions.
Ignorant foreigner it is.
“Uh,” I glance at Annika, who is biting down both of her lips, “yes, that will be, uh, all.” I smile kindly. Annika does an “okay” sign for effect. Desire rises in him. I think it’s because of the accent, although I still can’t comprehend how an accent can make someone become more attractive. Everything was monosyllabic! How in the world is he turned on by that?!
“Just holler if you need anything.” He titters before walking away.
Annika is shaking the table in an attempt to hold in her laughter. I start digging into my omelet. “Enjoy it while it lasts, you monster.”
“Trust me, if I could film it I would.” She giggles as she starts with her pancakes.