Chapter 18. Flavor

Chapter18. Flavor

Ester loved to read all kinds of books. She didn't stick to science or math. She enjoyed romance too. Months before Gene left Bear Creek, I remember her whipping out a tattered novel while we were eating at Bertha's. She read aloud.

"Girls are sweet like candy. Boys are bitter like coffee. Do you believe that, Des?"

"I don't know," I said between bites. Genesis and Spencer were absent that day. It was just me and Es. "I get it with the girls, but why compare boys to something negative?"

Ester snapped her book shut and hugged it against her chest. She took a deep breath, smiled at me, then said, "Haven't you ever wondered why people like bitter coffee? It's difficult to swallow at first, but once you get used to it, you love it. I think that's where the comparison comes from. Boys are difficult, but they have good qualities too."

"Oh?"

"You'll get it when you have a boyfriend."

"But you don't even have one," I pointed out.

"I have my books. Same thing."

A playful smile spread on my lips. "You're cheating on your book boyfriends! There are probably millions of them by now."

She placed a finger on her lips and winked. "Shh! They don't know."

The smile from the memory didn't leave my face as I went to my locker that morning. Ester could be unbearably pushy, but she had a funny side too.

"Having a good day?" someone whispered on my ear.

Electricity traveled to my fingertips as I turned to Gene. She was just leaning on the locker doors, staring at me.

I finished the combination on my lock and tugged mine open. "My day hasn't even started yet, but thanks for asking."

"All of ours," she confirmed. "So what are you smiling for again?"

"Nothing. It's just a stupid memory."

I froze when her hand went to my back. It was warm for an autumn morning, like she'd wrapped her fingers around a steaming mug of chocolate.

"Memory of who?" she asked.

"E-Ester."

"Oh." Genesis withdrew her hand and shoved it in her pocket.

"Is there a problem?" I said.

"No." She sniffed and pulled out a hair tie. Genesis drew her locks into a ponytail, then straightened her posture. She looked every bit the Governor's daughter with her preppy clothes and poker face. I just wished she wasn't wearing her contacts. It would be wonderful to see her real eyes.

I noticed the ribbon on her collar and abandoned my books. She stiffened as I adjusted her strap. "You shouldn't skip the small details," I murmured. "That's important, you know."

"It is." She breathed out.

"Uh-huh." I stared at her when I finished the knot. A part of me wanted to stay there in that hall, just us fixing each other's shortcomings. Another part knew that the bell would ring, and it was crazy to think such things. I stepped back from her and beamed. "There. You're ready to run for the elections."

"Of course she is." Brad appeared out of nowhere and kissed Genesis on the cheek. His cologne reeked the air like poisoned gas. I gagged and fanned my hands. "Hello to you too, Destiny." He smelled himself and grinned. "Love my new scent?"

"Eau de toilet bowl?"

"Hahahaha!" He ruffled my hair. "Such a funny little kid." He hooked an arm on Genesis' neck. "Your best friend is so funny, babe."

"Destiny's not my best friend," she snapped.

"I'm not?"

"You're more like her sister," Brad clarified.

Genesis and I both glared at him.

"Hey. . . What's the hostile looks for?" A large arm wrapped on my waist before I could move away. I'd always forgotten how big Spencer got over the years. He'd gotten tall, muscular, and more difficult to shake away. "Hi Des," he greeted.

My eyes went to Genesis again. She was looking at me beforehand, and though I couldn't understand what was behind that stare, it made me uncomfortable, guilty, like what I was doing was wrong.

I pried Spencer's arm from me and got out of everyone's reach. "Okay, that's enough. We should all probably go to class."

"There's like fifteen minutes left," Brad complained.

"My homework isn't finished yet," I lied.

Unreasonable joy spread on my chest when Genesis moved away from Brad too. Seeing them touching, seeing them in the same vicinity, breathing the same air, made we want to cut someone with scissors.

"I'll help you with your homework," she said.

"No need," Spencer said curtly. His hand would have gone to me again if I didn't budge further back. Enough of this excessive contact from the boys. It was getting stuffy in here. "I know you're busy with the campaign, so I'm going to help my girlfriend with her homework."

Girlfriend. The word made my stomach twist.

"I'll do the homework myself," I mumbled.

"You should have done it during the weekends," Genesis scolded.

Spencer twisted to her. "Can you not talk to Destiny in that tone?"

She rolled her eyes at him. "I'll be sweeter when we're in the shower later." I gasped when Genesis pulled me to her. "Want to try that? Bathing together?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. This day, this whole thing wasn't working out as Spencer promised. He said I'd be closer to Genesis without worrying about the Governor. He said I'd be happy. But why was being his girlfriend this tedious? Why did it feel like it was backfiring on me?

Brad slicked his perfect hair and shrugged. "I'd like to shower with Genesis too."

"You're such a pervert!" I shouted. The students walking on the hallway stopped and stared, but I continued. "Don't come anywhere near Genesis, understand?!" I glared at Gene. "If you do that! If you. . . Grr!" I pushed Spencer out of the way and stomped to class. Some boys were bitter alright.

Majority of the classes were spent with my head bent down, my eyes kept firmly to my books. I wasn't sure if talking to Spencer was the right thing. I mean, shouldn't we concentrate on education or something?

Dad had no clue that I got a boyfriend too. If my grades fail because of this and he found out, he'd ship me straight to Alaska. Or maybe I should do that on purpose.

"Lunchtime!" a guy from the front hollered. People got up from their seats, collected their things, and talked among themselves. Spencer gave me a confused look as I shoved my books in the bag. "Why are you in such a hurry?"

"I have stuff to do." I shouldered the bag and nodded to him. "See you around."

"What about lunch?"

"Not hungry."

I dashed to the door before he could follow me, and used the other students walking on the corridor as a cover. Most of them gave me a second glance. What? Why? Then I realized that being Spencer's girlfriend, being seen with Brad, and being Genesis' best friend came with a status. A status that I never asked or wished for. I ran to the second floor to avoid the crowd.

"That's not how you make a rocking chair."

"Then what do you call this, huh?"

"That's not a rocking chair."

"It is a rocking chair!"

The voices subsided when I entered the room. Woody and the potatoes all turned to me.

"Look who's back," the girl with the short hair said. I might as well call her Shorty at this point. She didn't even give me a proper name.

Top, the girl with the nicest smile and freckles splashed on her face, beckoned to me. "Hi, Destiny. We weren't expecting you."

"We're not expecting anyone," Woody clarified. "Ever." She removed her gloves and tossed them to the workbench. "But since you're here, why don't you give us your unbiased view about something. We can use some help."

"Sure." I kicked the door behind me and went further in. The woodshop smelled like home. The part about wood shavings anyway. It was all over the place. "What do you want to know?"

Woody motioned to a chair. "What do you call this?"

"Err. . ." I looked at the three of them. They waited with bathed breaths, not indicating for a second if they were pulling my leg. "I'm pretty sure that's a rocking chair."

"Aha!" Woody gloated to Shorty. "See?! See, that's a rocking chair."

"What's the big dea—" Top covered my mouth before I could continue.

"Oh dear," she said. "You don't want to be caught in the middle of this."

I breathed in when she let go. "Why? What is it?"

"They've been trying to work on this rocking chair for days," she explained. "They can't get it right."

As if to prove her point, a cracking sound tore in the room. Shorty had tried to sit on the rocking chair and crashed to the ground. She was now glaring at Woody whom she obviously blamed for her fall.

"I told you it's not a rocking chair. It's trash."

"How dare you?!" Woody gasped. "I challenge you to a duel!"

I glanced at Top and chuckled. "A duel? Are they serious?"

She nodded solemnly. "I'm afraid so. Wait here." Top went to a chest on the far-right corner of the room and bent down. I didn't see what the chest contained, but she was holding a wooden wand when she straightened and raised her hand.

"What the hell?" I muttered.

"Are the duelers ready?" she asked.

Woody and Shorty gave each other challenging stares.

"Begin!"

The two girls scrambled to the workbenches. I stood there dumbfounded and amused as they each took a block of wood and began to shape it with their tools.

Top came to my side and folded her arms. "Welcome to the group," she said. "Here, you'll typically see two disturbed individuals trying to outshine each other with their creations."

"Hate to break it to you, but you're more disturbed than us," Woody piped up.

"Sorry, babe, but I have to agree with her," Shorty said. They gave each other high-fives and worked on their projects again.

"I'm. . . I'm not joining the group," I said.

"Really?" Top smiled at me. "But this is your third time here. Why do you keep coming back?"

Why, indeed. I didn't know the answer too. All I knew was I was in need of a place to escape from my boyfriend, my complicated status, and my life in general. This was a good as place as any, a downgraded version of the Ruins at school.

"I'm just here to observe," I said again.

"Alright. Want some cotton candy? We always stash some for snacks."

A message was waiting on my Blackberry when I checked my bag that afternoon. Spencer wasn't in my last few classes, so it was unsurprising to see that the text came from him.

'Football practice with the boys. Come watch. Puh-leeeeassse!'

I sighed and put the phone back in the bag. Football was important for him. I'd be a jerk not to go once.

The sun was preparing to set when I made it to the football field. I had to hand it to Bear Creek High. They didn't skimp on anything, even the uniform of the boys. Their jerseys were brown and yellow to foster the color of home. All of them were wearing helmets, but Spencer was easily distinguishable, as he moved quicker and surer, like a fish to the sea.

He, or at least one of the boys, must have noticed me because they all paused and stared my way. Spencer removed his helmet and smiled from ear to ear. Hoots followed his back as he jogged to me.

"You made it," he panted.

"Yep." I opened my bag and handed him a handkerchief. It wasn't like I was using it anyway.

"Thanks." He wiped his brow, neck, and arms. The smell coming from him wasn't something I look forward to. How could people tolerate that?

"Uhm, you know I'm not at good at football or sports in general, so I'll just sit over there and wonder what you're all doing until practice is finished. Is that cool?"

"Sure."

We began to part ways. From behind me, the laughter and jeering of the boys were louder than ever. I chose to ignore them as I made my way to the bleachers.

"Des, wait."

"Huh?"

Someone twisted me around, and before I knew it, a wet sloppy kiss was planted on my lips. My stomach squeezed when I realized what was going on. My hand acted in my defense. It slapped the insolent bastard who stole my first kiss. The first kiss that every girl had been dreaming of.

"Fuck!" I cried. "Fuck!"

Spencer's eyes widened in fear. "I thought. . . Destiny."

Something soft grabbed my hand. Something relaxing, assuring, and smelled oddly of strawberries. "Stay away from her!" Genesis said. "I mean it, Spencer!"

"But. . ."

I was pulled towards the bleachers before the sentence was completed. But we didn't stay on the seat. I was dragged underneath, beyond the prying eyes of every popular boy in school.

The sun was shining between the sloped beams when Genesis pressed me against a large pole. My heart skipped a beat when she leaned forward. "That's not your first kiss," she whispered. "Don't worry." Her left hand went to my waist.

"Genesis. . ."

"Yes, Des?"

"W-what's happening?"

Her other hand went to my chin. "Relax and close your eyes."

"I. . ." My chin was tilted up. "Genesis. . ."

"Yes?" Her breath was on my face.

"What are we doing?"

"Mmm."

I closed my eyes when her front pressed to me. She was warm, comfortable. She made me feel safe. My mouth parted to receive her.

"Did I make your heart beat fast?" she murmured.

My eyes opened again. Genesis had leaned back and was studying me with an unreadable expression. Her eyes though, were like meteors exploding. They were bright as the sun. They were happy.

"That's how you're supposed to feel," she said. "A first kiss is supposed to make you feel something special, not mad."

"But we didn't. . ."

She put a hand on the pole behind me. "Spencer is not your first kiss, understand?"

"Y-yes."

Calmness took over her features. "Good."

Nothing but tenderness surrounded her as she took my hand next. Maybe that's why I was so shocked when she suddenly licked my finger.

"Gene!"

She pulled it away and closed her mouth. "I thought that was cotton candy I smelled."

I collapsed on the grass as she turned around and walked to the exit. What was this hurricane in my chest? What was this strange feeling? It was hard to explain, but between bitter coffee and candy, I liked candy more.

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