***

Cali looked around, working her legs and pedaling along the abandoned street. Mandy could hardly catch up to her, her breath becoming shorter and louder. She stopped, sitting down on the sidewalk and yelling out, "Stop, dumbass, I'm tired." Cali looked back, turning her bike around and stopping it with a loud screech! sound. She leaned on her left foot, narrowing her eyes and staring at Mandy with a glint of anger and annoyance in her eyes.  She, as an answer, glared back, flipped her off and started massaging her legs with her palms. Cali rolled her eyes, turning around and sitting down on the saddle. She crossed her arms, fidgeting with her fingers.

Cali was the first one to break the silence that had somehow turned awkward, quietly asking Mandy if she was still tired. She just nodded her eyes and flipped her legs around, making the silence heavier. It was Mandy who couldn't stand the awkwardness anymore, so she finally rose her voice and asked: "Uhh, what are you doing for your birthday? You can't throw a party anymore since you're grounded, right?" Cali made an annoyed face and started rambling about how illogical her mother was. So what if the police station had called her for the second time this week? Mandy couldn't help but burst out laughing, even though she almost always scolded Cali when she got in trouble with the authorities. Taking in mind how many illegal things they both did, it was kind of unbelievable they weren't in juvie yet. Well, more like considering how many times they were caught, which was a lot.

Mandy opened her bag residing on her bike and took out the two joints. Cali smirked and pulled a lighter out of her bra, her signature place for hiding them. Mandy always laughed at her and told her one day it would fall out in front of her parents. Then, she would remember Cali's mom finding her stash of weed in her tampon box, a place Cali thought she would never check out. Sasha, her mother, was easy going, so a month of no Mandy and no going out was all. Well, a month without Mandy was really something Cali never wished to experience again.

Cali lit the joint and put it on her lips. They were both sitting on the sidewalk now, and Cali couldn't help but stare at Mandy. Her blue, twinkly eyes were staring at the sky, her mouth blowing smoke out. Cali's eyes were fixated on her lips, those lips she wished to taste someday, even though she knew that was impossible. Mandy had always liked guys, and Cali doubted that would change for her. It was stupid, and unbelievable how she could ever think Mandy could be hers. Even though they were just 17, Cali knew what and who she wanted, and she also knew that wish she wished on her 12th birthday would never come true. It was unfortunate, really, but she couldn't do anything other than to suppress it and pretend her heart didn't race whenever she came in her line of sight.

Mandy looked at the sky and the pretty clouds, one resembling a shape of a cat slowly drifting away from them. She looked over at Cali, who she found staring at her. It was not unusual, and Mandy had gotten used to Cali looking at her frequently, although she never really got the reason why. She didn't care, though. To be honest, she liked it a lot.  

Her legs didn't ache anymore, but sitting here was calming and a moment of just utter silence was good. She liked moments like these with Cali, just them and nobody around. It was the best part of her day, week, month. Her parents arguing at home, the obnoxious people at her school, her siblings constantly crying for attention. Cali was the one she sought refuge with, she just looked at her mom and step-dad, who was more of a father than Cali's biological one was, admiring the family she never had after the age of ten. Her home life was something they never really talked about, but when they did, Cali was always gentle and understanding. Mandy sometimes felt like a burden, even though Cali never did anything to show it.  Cali was one of the only people who she felt truly comfortable with, though she had other friends too. You could say she was her person, but to Mandy, that came out romantic and she didn't want to make Cali uneasy by saying that.

Mandy finally took one deep breath to brace herself for the bike ride and stood up, grabbing her bike and sitting on it, surprising Cali. She quickly followed her, and as they sped down the hill with the wind fanning their faces and messing up their hair and yelling with excitement, they both felt their happiness could supply the world.

***

Hello! How was your day? Hope it was good:)) Sorry for the shorter than the usual chapter, not feeling quite motivated right now. I'll edit and make it longer in a few days, no worries. Sad times will hopefully be over soon :)) Reminding you, you are loved and appreciated.

Word count: 899 words

Love,

Talia