Results Day
The smoke is like a balm; it smothers Sugarcoat's throat with acrid heat, driving back the unforgiving sting of winter. She regrets inhaling anyway, even before the warmth surges down, filling her lungs and making her gag.
A stupid decision, one to round off a month of stupid decisions.
Still coughing, she passes back the cigarette and wipes her eyes. Lemon Zest takes it with a carefree swagger, and for a moment Sugarcoat hates her for it. Then she's once again aware of the downpour, a relentless march of drums against the roof of the bus shelter. She's aware too of the blades in the breeze, slicing through clothes and skin alike.
More than anything, she's aware of how lonely she feels, and how hate is too trivial an emotion to rival that.
"Yeah, I totes didn't peg you as a smoker, dude," Lemon Zest is saying, her eyes fixed on the water pooling above. "But, you know... I guess that's a good thing."
Sugarcoat isn't sure whether she's making a statement or throwing her a line. But by the time she finds the shape of the words the world has surged on without her. She's aware of Lemon Zest gently shoving her with her elbow.
"Ah, come on," she continues, "they're just dumb exams. Who the hell cares?"
"Spoken like a true queen of flunk."
The words betray her with their speed and form; Sugarcoat screws her eyes shut, but is too slow to avoid the flicker of uncertainty on Lemon Zest's face. In the comforting darkness, Sugarcoat can hear the blood pounding in her ears and the rain throwing down its judgement. Then, above it all, she hears Lemon Zest sniggering.
For a moment, Sugarcoat loves her for it.
"I'm sorry," she manages, the words cracking like ice in the air. Inhaling, she opens her eyes. "I wasn't thinking. Again."
Lemon Zest frowns at the cigarette dangling between her fingers, but then elbows her again. This time, though, her arm loops under Sugarcoat's, and she squeezes as though she's running through a workout routine. When Sugarcoat squeezes back, Lemon Zest grins and looks away, the cigarette returning to her lips.
"It's gonna be a-ok," she says. "Or, uh, I dunno." She bumps her head against the hard plastic of the bus shelter. "I mean, you ain't gonna know jack one way or the other until you tell your folks, right? Whether they're pissed at you or not, it's gotta be better than this."
Sugarcoat tries to think about that, but her mind all too quickly returns to the results. Of a life suddenly cast adrift. Her stomach starts to contract, threatening in pulses to betray her. Her vision swims, the world around her bleached and lurching. Desperation floods her lungs—she wants to howl and punch and kick and scream, but even now, even now, her mind refuses to bubble over. Instead it starts forming lists of what she could do differently if the impossible happens and the clocks turn back.
"No, it definitely can't be any worse," she concedes, trying to shake her thoughts free from cruel hindsight.
For a moment Lemon Zest looks as though she's about to say something profound, something reassuring. For a moment it looks as though she's going to verbalise a safe harbour for Sugarcoat to drop anchor in. But then she shrugs.
"Yeah. I mean, Coach is always telling us that even if we don't win, we never leave anything out on the pitch. What-if's are the worst."
Sugarcoat watches the reflections of shop lights bleed across the floor. "They're just exams," she says, but the words don't sound as carefree coming from her mouth.
Lemon Zest tugs at the zip of her hoodie. Smoke is curling around her face, softening the frown on it. "Heh, yeah I knew when I said it that it was a sucky thing to say; those exams mean a lot to you, the results too. I get that. I wish I could say something more helpful. I'm kinda more of a do-er, you know?"
"You should be organising your time better," Sugarcoat says, because it's less painful than acknowledging. "You're missing training being here."
Her friend studies the cigarette between her fingers, the grin forming on her face absolute. "Ah, it'll be fine. I'll run 'til I puke later."
"Gross." Sugarcoat shifts against the needling waves radiating from her stomach. She wants to be angry with Lemon Zest—should be angry with her. After all, her route won't change. Whether it's music or sport, there won't be any obstacles to her achieving her dreams unless she wills them into existence with her own inaction.
Up until this morning, Sugarcoat could have said the same about herself. She almost laughs as that thought sinks in. It feels like a lifetime ago. Now, everything has to change. Everything.
Her vision starts to swim, turning the streetlights into blurry fireflies that wink in and out of existence. Sugarcoat scrubs at her eyes. She can hear Lemon Zest's intake of breath—half wince, half nervous laugh—but everything else is soon lost in the vortex. The air snags in her throat, panic wraps itself around her heart.
Then she feels a tentative hand against her shoulders. The gentle slaps of camaraderie merge into something that's awkward and yet reassuring, and Sugarcoat can feel the rhythmic motion pull her senses back from oblivion. Her emotions find rigidity again, and her body quickly follows.
The wind feels less cold now, the world a little less lonely.
"You're a good friend," she manages to say. The sound and the words ground her further.
"Uh-huh, the best!" Lemon Zest's hand becomes insistent, pushing Sugarcoat from her position. "Now c'mon! Let's do this!"
Sugarcoat nods, but her body is less certain. She draws in the cold air and waits as the terrible feeling within her stomach creeps down to her legs. It's a mirage, though; Sugarcoat shuffles her feet and digs her hands into her coat pockets, and life returns, stuttering and uncertain.
"Yes," she replies. "Let's."
"Alright!" Lemon Zest grins and launches herself from her seat. Beyond the shelter, the rain is unforgiving. Within moments her vibrant green hair is hanging in strands, the colour of her hoodie darkening, but Lemon Zest is still a picture of ease. Sugarcoat studies her as she pulls up the hood of her coat, the academic part of her brain attempting to convert the image into something she can learn from.
Then she follows.
The rain brings with it clarity as it splashes against her face. As they run, Sugarcoat presses a hand to her stomach.
She wonders when she will start to feel something press back.
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I saw the ending coming, but that didn't make the story any less amazing.
10141035
Ah, you're very kind. Thanks! I really appreciate you taking the time to read my work.
And yeah... Truthfully I'm not sure I wanted it to be too hidden. I could have used a lighter touch in places for sure, but I don't mind that you saw it coming, and I'm glad it didn't detract from the story too much for you.
Thanks, again!
10141049
You're welcome! =)
Ah, exams.
I didn't see it coming.
Even rereading it didn't drop any too-obvious hints.
Aww...
Poor Sugarcoat. You made me feel for her.
Another paperhearts story? Now that's always something to be excited about! Sugarcoat getting some love and character development is excellent too. Your prose continues to be the good stuff.
10141520
That's cool too! I'm still not too sure whether I struck the balance right, but I'm glad to hear an opinion from the other end of the spectrum. I appreciate you taking the time to read my work, and I sincerely hope you enjoyed it!
10141640
I take some satisfaction in those feels, of course. I'm glad it evoked those for you, and I'm really delighted that you took the time to read my story and let me know. Thanks!
Mwahaha!
10142216
I appreciate you reading my work, especially after so long. I was coated in a fine layer of horsewords dust, that's for sure. Hopefully it won't be so long next time. Thanks again, and I hope you're keeping well!
Aw, that's really nice of you to say! You're a star!!
10142807
I am, and I hope you are too.
And I mean, 'star' is in the name.
Solid work, I was engaged all the way through by this character piece with Sugarcoat. And that ending. Wow...
10146037
Ah thanks! I really appreciate you having taken the time to read it, and I'm glad the story, and the ending, worked for you! I've not really had the time to write lately, so 1,000 word stories is about my limit. I'm pleased that I can still make something so short enjoyable!
This was a real neat story. I really liked it!
10179637
Ah, thank you very much for taking the time to read it! I really appreciate that. Yeah, I enjoyed writing this one; it was fun trying out a different style of prose, and taking on a different universe too.
Cheers for being a reader!
I'm always happy to see the EqG Shadowbolts in stories. Wasn't expecting this particular set of circumstances, but you capture both to a fantastic degree. Excellent little vignette. Thank you for it.
If this was an expanded flashfic (https://www.fimfiction.net/group/212112/folder/56912/expanded-flashfics) then where is the original flashfic? Reading this makes me very curious to see it.
(Partly because I really liked this version.)
10782268
Heya. The flashfic version was entered in this round.
Thank you for the kind words too. I enjoyed writing this one, so always pleased to hear people enjoy reading it.
A brilliant story with a excellent build up to the final reveal. Nicely done!
Of all the Shadowbolts, Lemon Zest always did strike me as the one most likely to smoke.
10803639
Ah, thank you very much. Kind words always mean so much, and I appreciate you taking the time to read one of my stories. Delighted you enjoyed it.
The smoking thing wasn't something I considered across the Sb group as a whole, but on an individual basis I figured it seemed like something Zest would have dabbled in. At any rate, it gave me descriptive opportunities, and I do love descriptive opportunities!