Chapter Six: Bubblegum and Butterflies by Lynette Ferreira
The air in the library was heavy with the scent of books and
the faint hum of the air conditioning. Charlize sat at their usual table. Her
notebook was open but blank. Her cast-covered arm rested awkwardly on the edge,
while her left hand hovered uselessly over the page. Her frustration simmered
beneath the surface, threatening to boil over.
Daniel was late. Again.
She tapped her pen against the table, the rhythmic sound
echoing in the quiet space. Just as she was about to text her mom and call it a
day, Daniel sauntered in, his skateboard tucked under one arm, earbuds dangling
from his neck. He dropped into the chair across from her, the faint scent of
pine soap and asphalt following him.
"You’re late," Charlize snapped, her voice sharper
than she intended.
"Relax, princess," he drawled, leaning back in his
chair. "I’m here, aren’t I?"
Her glare was enough to make him sit up straighter. "I
need your help," she admitted grudgingly, her cheeks burning. "I
can’t figure out how to organize my notes for the essay on To Kill a
Mockingbird. The pain in my arm makes it impossible to hold a pen long
enough."
Daniel raised an eyebrow, a flicker of genuine interest
crossing his face. "Let me see what you’ve got."
Charlize pushed the notebook across the table, her movements
stiff. Daniel flipped through her notes, his dark eyes scanning the messy
bullet points she’d managed to scribble before the pain had overwhelmed her. He
tapped the page thoughtfully. "You’re overcomplicating it. Keep the points
simple and focus on themes, like justice and morality."
Charlize sighed. "That’s easy for you to say."
"No," Daniel said, his tone softening. "It’s
easy for me to help."
For a moment, she stared at him, her annoyance giving way to
something she could not quite name. She watched as he bent over the notebook,
his pen moving quickly as he jotted down clear, concise notes. His handwriting
was surprisingly neat, each word carefully formed.
"There," he said, sliding the notebook back.
"That should make it easier."
Charlize glanced at the page, her frustration ebbing
slightly as she read his work. "Thanks," she murmured, barely
audible.
Daniel leaned back, a satisfied smirk tugging at his lips.
"Told you I’m not completely useless."
She rolled her eyes but did not bother to retort. Instead,
she reached for her phone, needing a distraction from the strange warmth
spreading in her chest. Scrolling through her playlist, she hit play on one of
her favourite songs by accident. The soft strumming of an acoustic guitar
filled the air.
"Is that City and Colour?" Daniel asked, his voice
cutting through the quiet.
Charlize blinked, caught off guard. "Yeah. You know
them?"
Daniel shrugged, but his expression betrayed him.
"Their stuff’s not bad. That one’s ‘The Girl,’ right?"
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
"Yeah. It’s my favourite."
For a brief moment, the tension between them dissolved.
Daniel leaned forward, propping his elbows on the table. "They’ve got this
raw honesty, you know? Like they’re not trying too hard. Just... real."
Charlize nodded, surprised by how much his words resonated
with her own feelings about the music. "Exactly."
The corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin.
"Maybe you’re not as basic as I thought."
She rolled her eyes, but there was no bite in her response.
"And maybe you’re not as insufferable as I thought."
The words hung between them, and for a second, Charlize
thought the hostility might be fading but then Daniel leaned back again, the
smirk slipping into something more guarded.
"Don’t get used to this, princess," he said, his
voice laced with faux bravado. "I’m still me."
Charlize felt her walls snap back into place, the brief
connection slipping away like sand through her fingers. "And I’m still
me," she replied coolly, pulling her notebook closer.
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