Chapter 2

Honey-Mouthed
Smooth, soothing, and sweet in voice, especially in a persuasive or seductive manner or intent.

• o 🦋 o •

I woke up because my six year old sister was pouncing on top of me.

“Lila! Stop it!” I groaned.

“Not a chance! Kyle told me to wake you up!”

“I’m awake, now get off!” I lifted my little sister off my stomach and put her on the ground.

“Breakfast is ready!” Dad called from the kitchen.

I could smell the pancakes from my room. That gave me the strength to get up.

I rolled out of bed and crawled (yes, crawled) into the living room.

Mom was already stuffing her face with dad’s pancakes and my older brother Kyle was helping dad in the kitchen.

“Morning sunshine.” Kyle teased.

“Be quiet and feed me.” I answered as I lifted myself onto a chair.

“Why are you so groggy? Your match is today.” Dad said.

That was true. Today my team had a really important match. One that Riley had been bugging me about for eternity.

It was now February. Riley and I had had our movie night in December though sadly enough Mica hadn’t been able to make it. He’d been really busy with school and ballet apparently. I hadn’t seen him since we met. It really bummed me out but that was not the reason I was so low energy this morning.

The reason for that was that it was morning. And mornings were a punishment from God himself.

Ugh!

I slammed my head on my plate.

Not long after I felt something piping hot on my neck.

“Ahh!” I screamed as I lifted my head up. A pancake fell from my hair to the floor.

My whole family laughed at me.

Kyle held a pan and a spatula in his hand and he was grinning at me evilly.

“I hate you.” I grumbled.

“Do you want some syrup with that?” He teased.

I threw a fork at him, which he easily dodged.

He grabbed the bag of flour from the counter and started throwing flour at me.

“Kyle!” I complained.

He began to laugh.

That did it.

I grabbed the syrup and started spraying it on him. Soon enough we were stuck in a food-fight.

Mom watched us happily while dad tried to stop us and Lila tried to join. This was generally the dynamic of my family. And even though Kyle and I were usually quarreling, we were really close.

• o 🦋 o •

After a long de-flouring shower, I arrived at the field. The grass was lush and the sun shone bright. It was a nice warm day for February. I was in a good mood. My family usually came to watch my matches but today my little sister had some big school performance so I told them all to go watch her.

“Jay!” Riley waved at me from the field.

I waved back and came towards her.

Our team was complete and Riley was doing her job as captain by giving us a pep talk.

She was a great public speaker and I always loved her speeches but today I was distracted.

I looked up at the bleachers and there he was.

He was sitting perfectly straight as always and when he noticed me he gave me that stunning smile and a gentle wave.

I waved back at him and I was so incredibly happy. I couldn’t believe Mica was here. I hadn’t seen him in a month and now he was right there. Riley hadn’t told me he was coming at all.

“Jay!” Riley screamed.

I paid attention to her again.

“Where’s your head? The game’s starting, come on!”

• o 🦋 o •

The match went well. In fact, I’ll have you know that we won. 7-3. Yep. I was proud. More proud than normal and that might just have been because Mica was there to see it all. I’d scored two points and helped my team score the other few.

Mica made his way to us. My heart pounded excitedly.

“You guys were amazing!” He said.

“Mica!! I’m so glad you came!” Riley embraced him tightly.

“I totally should’ve brought flowers!” He said.

“Huh?”

“You know? To celebrate.”

“That might be normal in that whole ballet world of yours but that’s not how we celebrate around here.” Riley had an sneaky smirk on her face.

“…It’s not?”

Riley laughed and grabbed Mica by the hand. She led him and the rest of our team to our club’s cafe. It was right on campus. We always came here after a match or sometimes even after practice.

The old, lived-in wooden interior made it feel cozy. They had painted some accents pink and green and blue in an attempt to make the place feel more modern but.. the only effect it had was that it looked like a 60s diner now. Well.. with cracked brown seats anyway.

We all ordered drinks and fries. Lots of fries.

I was very happy we’d won. But I was happier Mica was here.

I noticed unlike everyone on the team, he ordered water instead of soda and he ate his fries incredibly slowly.

I tried hard not to stare at him like last time but somehow everything he did was of interest to me.

After finishing half of his fries Mica excused himself and went to the bathroom.

I waited for him to come back. In the meantime I tried to keep up with the conversation but all I could think about was how excited I was to see Mica. I stared at the bathroom door.

“No, Gustav, that was a great catch!” Riley said. “So what if you missed a few, no one could do your job better than you!”

“Thanks, man.” Gustav nodded. He always needed a little encouragement and Riley knew exactly how to give it.

“And you, sir!” Riley pointed at me. Everyone at the table gawked at me. “You have some explaining to do, mister ‘i’ll just wait till someone passes the ball’, you were on fire today! Explain yourself!”

“Well…” Butterflies are very encouraging.. “Well, I just felt inspired I guess.”

“I am going to expect this at every match from now on, you know that, right?”

“I won’t let you down, Cap.”

“Good.” Riley smirked.

She went on to compliment every single person on our team and give them tips as well. This was why she was a great leader. She was dedicated and sincere.

After a while Mica came back in, this time he didn’t sit across from me, where he’d been sitting before. He sat next to me.

I was caught off guard and looked at the other side of the room in an attempt to seem normal.

Why was he sitting here now?!

“Hi.” Mica said.

I didn’t respond. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to. He could be talking to anyone.

“Jay?”

I slowly turned towards him. I looked into his eyes.

They were pools of blue, green and gold.

“Can we talk outside?” He asked.

“Me? With me?” I asked stupidly.

“Yes. If that’s okay.”

“Sure. Sure, sure.” I tried to sound cool. I failed miserably.

I followed Mica out of the cafe.

“We’re finally alone.” Mica laughed.

I was confused and surprised. He wanted to be alone with me?

“First of all: Congrats on your victory. You were really amazing out there.”

My heart made a little jump. “Th-thanks!”

I’m glad you came. Come on, say it. Come on, Jay!

“So.. I actually came here for you.” Mica said suddenly.

Whaaat? Maybe he’d been thinking of me like I’d been thinking of him.

“You— you did?”

Mica took a step closer. His honey-flower scent entered my nose again.

“So, you know how Riley’s birthday is coming up? I was thinking we should plan something. Since you’re her best friend I figured you might be able to help me. I really owe her a lot.”

Oh…

Oh.

I sighed. I don’t know why I thought he liked me? I’m just a toad. Not that I liked him but.. you know.

“Did I say something—”

“No! Not at all! I just… I’m just tired from the match.”

“I see. You really worked hard, huh? If you don’t want to that’s fine too.”

“No, I want to! I really do! But.. Riley’s birthday isn’t for like.. four months.” I said.

“I know, but I want it to be a really big party. It’s going to take while to plan.” He sounded very excited.

What a good friend he was. Riley was lucky to have him.

“I’d love to help.” I said.

Mica seemed pleased. “Really? I appreciate it a lot. Riley is going to be so happy!”

He was so cute when he got excited.

“Yeah. We’re just going to have to make this her best birthday yet!” I tried to match his energy. It just came out weird. Sigh.

“Can I get your phone number? Then we can start planning and stuff.”

He’d asked it so easily. I could barely even get my words out the last time I saw him.

“Of course!”

After exchanging numbers I realized that Mica and I would probably be spending a lot of time together from now on. We’d be planning things together, maybe he’d even come to my house. I was so excited already.

“Let’s go back before Riley notices we’re gone.”

“Right. Okay.” I followed Mica inside.

• o 🦋 o •

Mica: Hi Jay! How are you?

It was a day after we’d exchanged numbers. I didn’t expect Mica to text me so soon.

Jay: Great!

My hands were shaking and I was unbelievably nervous.

Mica: We should meet up soon to start planning. When do you have time?

Jay: Um… How about Friday? I can come right after school.

Mica: That’d be great! Can we do it at your house?

Jay: Sure!

Mica: I’m so excited to see where you live.

I couldn’t believe he cared that much. What was so exciting about going to my place?

Jay: Thank you.

THANK YOU?!

Mica: Hahaha

He was laughing at me. I’m a dork.

Mica: I’ll see you on Friday!

Jay: see ya!