“Because there’s finally a guy out there who sees me for me and not as someone to sleep with. So it matters,” Laura breathed, looking at him though his eyes were on his feet. “Because flirting with you is different. And I like that. I don’t know why. I just do.”
Then she sighed. “Do you have any distinctive features on your body?”
Josh temporarily forgot how to breathe.
Because flirting with you is different. And I like that.
His heart began to pound with wild abandon as he tentatively raised his head. "What–What do you mean 'distinctive features'?"
“Oh, tattoos, scars, beauty marks, birthmarks,” Laura said, a bit disappointed he hadn’t commented on her earlier statement. “Do you have any of those?”
“Scars on my back,” Josh told her, though his voice became slightly strained. “I, uh, actually have freckles everywhere. Back, shoulders, etcetera. And I’ve got a tattoo on my rib cage. A bunch of watercolour-esque flowers. You?”
Laura looked at him dead in the eyes, trying to lighten up the mood. “Freckles everywhere? Now that’s something I’d like to see,” she purred, batting her eyelashes before she continued as if she hadn’t said anything. “And I guess we have two things in common! I have scars. On my legs, hence why I always wear leggings,” she pointed to her legs covered with the black fabric, “The uglier one is on my right leg. There’s just tiny ones on the left. And I have a butterfly tattoo on my lower back. Maybe I’ll show you that one day. And uh, I have moles everywhere. I think I have sixteen in total. I’ve never been able to count the ones on my back, but it’s to be expected.”
Josh’s facial expression faltered a little when she began to flirt again, becoming sad. But he pretended otherwise, nodding along to what she was saying, all the while wondering how she could have gotten an ugly scar on her leg.
“That’s cool,” he answered after a pause, “What kind of butterfly?”
Laura noticed his change in behavior when she flirted, but she pretended she hadn’t. Maybe she should stop. She didn’t want to lose this with Josh, even though she wanted something more than that.
“Um, it’s a bit hard to explain,” she chuckled nervously, scratching the back of her head. “I uh got it during my junior year of high school.”
“In other words, with a fake ID,” Josh attempted to joke, pulling a teasing smile onto his face. “Is it coloured or not?”
“The tattoo artist owed me a debt,” Laura said instead, grinning. “It is. It’s rather large, blue and black. There’s a bunch of smaller ones around it, and sort of sprinkles of light?”
“That’s cute,” Josh smiled again, and this time, it was more genuine. “Can I ask you something?”
Laura decided she liked the smile on his face. It suited him. It also made her heart skip a beat.
“Go on,” she prompted him.
Josh pointed a finger at the corner of his right eye. “Your eyes—Why do you change the colour of their contact lenses? Like, what does the colour change depend on?”
Laura’s smile faltered a bit before she offered a shrug.
“It’s silly,” she mumbled, crossing her arms, “The colors depend on my mood. It depends on how I wake up, but it also how my day is progressing. Sometimes I change the color during the day, but that doesn’t happen often.”
“That’s not silly at all,” he argue with a shake of his head, taking hold of her elbow a second time to steer her along the road. “That’s really cool, actually. Quirky. What do the pink and blue mean?”
Laura’s eyes went over his hand on her elbow as he steered her along. Her hands suddenly felt clammy and her throat felt parched. All he did was lead her along the road, for God’s same. What was he doing to her?
But his question registered, and she blushed, scratching her cheek with her free hand.
“Um… the pink is uh affection. At least, for today,” she mumbled, “And blue is… it’s usually for strength and positive emotions, but I was feeling a little under today, so I chose it for the saying ‘feeling a little blue.’”
Why was she blushing again? She looked so nervous…. Josh released her elbow, thinking he might have made her uncomfortable.
Affection? he wanted to ask, For who? But he didn’t, instead focusing on the other colour she had mentioned. “Why are you sad?”
Laura immediately missed his touch. She wanted him to grab her arm, her blush disappearing into a frown before she shook it off.
“There’s… something I want,” she said softly, looking forward instead of at Josh. “But the things I want are always things that can never be mine.”
“Ah.” A bittersweet smile tugged at Josh’s lips. “I know the feeling. Well…” He offered a shrug as they turned onto a larger street. “I hope you get what you want, soon.”
“I don’t think I can,” Laura responded quietly. “This thing I want isn’t… for me to claim.”
“You never know, I guess,” Josh murmured, “So, good luck anyways.”
Laura wanted to chuckle. Ironic how the person she wanted was the one telling her good luck.
“Thanks, Josh…”
They arrived at the A&W, each lapsing into silence when they ran out of things to talk about. Josh held the door open then followed Laura in, already pulling his wallet from his back pocket.
“What do you want to order?”
"I want a cheeseburger with some fries," Laura said, crossing her arms over her stomach. "And again, you don't have to pay for me. I can do it myself."
“If you must insist,” Josh sighed, eyeing the menu depicted in the screens above the counter. “But I’m happy to pay.”
“It’s okay,” Laura shrugged, taking out her wallet from her bag. “I like paying for myself. We’re just going as friends, so you don’t need to pay for me.”